Azamara Journey

[beatnix]

Some pics I took on different cruises. Except on Onward they all seem to be the same style.

[Lookyboy]

37 minutes ago, B17 said:

Yes Onward

You are correct - I have just checked our photos from June 2024.....no arm rests on Onward.

[takemewithyou]

I went back and looked at my pictures right after @B17 posted the picture of Onward.   I have been on all 4 ships since 2017.  
The picture I posted (post #22) was Quest!  I got my cruises mixed up! 
 

I was on Onward in 2022…..I don’t have any pics of the deck loungers from that cruise.  
But B17’s picture looks familiar.  I remember that many things on Onward were different in the way of furniture from the other three ships.  
I think the arms on the deck loungers were one of them.  It had to do with supply chain issues during the pandemic at the time Onward was renovated.

Edited August 6 by takemewithyou

[excitedofharpenden]

Bottom line for those worried about going on an Azamara ship (with lounger arms). There was not a problem for me and this is the first time I've ever seen any mention on this board of it. Seems like loungergate has struck. 

Phil 

[B17]

4 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Bottom line for those worried about going on an Azamara ship (with lounger arms). There was not a problem for me and this is the first time I've ever seen any mention on this board of it. Seems like loungergate has struck. 

Phil 

I know I have an acute sense of attention to detail and notice the tiniest thing.!  It was down to two things really, we were in extreme heat and the arms were so hot to touch and really did burn if you touched them and also it was a very full ship so the chairs were packed together like sardines, the arms just seemed to get in the way.

[uktog]

Never had the burning problem even in the fierce Middle East sun. However I did notice last cruise there was virtually no space between any chairs. I need to get onto a chair from the side and that was an issue. 

[combine]

Journey 30 July, docked in Chania. 11.23am 681 guests. We never had a problem getting sunbeds either on pool deck or deck 11.  The spacings were better than on previous cruises. I think they have taken out  a couple of beds in various places, and there were blocks of 2 or 3, making them more accessible. Yes, we noticed the arm rests got hot, but it’s a touch it once and then you’ll  remember for the next time and wont do it again ! Ouch 🔥! 

[villauk]

We’re seriously thinking of booking a cruise on Journey for next year. Previously, we had considered Azamara but our travelling companions couldn’t get the dates, so we never booked. Would you say that this Azamara experience is similar to Celebrity but on a smaller scale? I’ve also been reading the reviews on CC and Journey isn’t painted in a very good light regarding cabins, furnishing etc. We want to try something new, however, we also don’t want to be disappointed that our expectations of a notch above Celebrity are ill-founded.

[Toronto Guy]

3 hours ago, villauk said:

We’re seriously thinking of booking a cruise on Journey for next year. Previously, we had considered Azamara but our travelling companions couldn’t get the dates, so we never booked. Would you say that this Azamara experience is similar to Celebrity but on a smaller scale? I’ve also been reading the reviews on CC and Journey isn’t painted in a very good light regarding cabins, furnishing etc. We want to try something new, however, we also don’t want to be disappointed that our expectations of a notch above Celebrity are ill-founded.

I think if you start from the basis of comparing to Celebrity you will be disappointed.  It is a very different product.  If you are seeking good entertainment, a casino and a lively atmosphere, you are going to be disappointed.  If you want good service, a much quieter atmosphere and relaxation you will like it.  If you spend a lot of time in your cabin, you will also be a bit disappointed unless you are sailing in a suite. Azamara has some great itineraries though, so you have to weigh that in as a factor as well.

[uktog]

4 hours ago, villauk said:

We’re seriously thinking of booking a cruise on Journey for next year. Previously, we had considered Azamara but our travelling companions couldn’t get the dates, so we never booked. Would you say that this Azamara experience is similar to Celebrity but on a smaller scale? I’ve also been reading the reviews on CC and Journey isn’t painted in a very good light regarding cabins, furnishing etc. We want to try something new, however, we also don’t want to be disappointed that our expectations of a notch above Celebrity are ill-founded.

If you are ok on a cruise where you are just a number and staff very much are handcuffed by rules then Celebrity is fine, if you want to be someone who is recognised and looked out for by many staff as an individual this is where Azamara really comes into play. There is only limited upselling onboard and no one hassling you as you walk past the two very small shops on Azamara. 
That said you have to realise it’s not glass and chrome and unless you are in a suite recognise you have a tiny but very serviceable shower 

[villauk]

1 hour ago, Toronto Guy said:

I think if you start from the basis of comparing to Celebrity you will be disappointed.  It is a very different product.  If you are seeking good entertainment, a casino and a lively atmosphere, you are going to be disappointed.  If you want good service, a much quieter atmosphere and relaxation you will like it.  If you spend a lot of time in your cabin, you will also be a bit disappointed unless you are sailing in a suite. Azamara has some great itineraries though, so you have to weigh that in as a factor as well.

 

Thanks for the comments. No, we are definitely not party animals 😁.

[villauk]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

If you are ok on a cruise where you are just a number and staff very much are handcuffed by rules then Celebrity is fine, if you want to be someone who is recognised and looked out for by many staff as an individual this is where Azamara really comes into play. There is only limited upselling onboard and no one hassling you as you walk past the two very small shops on Azamara. 
That said you have to realise it’s not glass and chrome and unless you are in a suite recognise you have a tiny but very serviceable shower 

 

Thank you. It’s the smaller ship feel that we are interested in.

[Dynacruiser]

7 hours ago, villauk said:

We’re seriously thinking of booking a cruise on Journey for next year. Previously, we had considered Azamara but our travelling companions couldn’t get the dates, so we never booked. Would you say that this Azamara experience is similar to Celebrity but on a smaller scale? I’ve also been reading the reviews on CC and Journey isn’t painted in a very good light regarding cabins, furnishing etc. We want to try something new, however, we also don’t want to be disappointed that our expectations of a notch above Celebrity are ill-founded.

 

 

I have enjoyed all four Azamara ships.  I don't think that the Journey is in any worse shape than the rest of the fleet.   If there is mismatched furniture, it hasn't bothered me.  Worn carpets?  not worn enough to bother me.  Lack of paint?  I haven't noticed anything that bothers me.

 

Azamara can disappoint folks who choose it because some folks misrepresent it as being LUXURY.  You may want to ask specific questions, or mention what you like of Celebrity, so you can make an informed decision.  

 

[excitedofharpenden]

4 hours ago, Toronto Guy said:

I think if you start from the basis of comparing to Celebrity you will be disappointed.  It is a very different product.  If you are seeking good entertainment, a casino and a lively atmosphere, you are going to be disappointed.  If you want good service, a much quieter atmosphere and relaxation you will like it.  If you spend a lot of time in your cabin, you will also be a bit disappointed unless you are sailing in a suite. Azamara has some great itineraries though, so you have to weigh that in as a factor as well.

This is a good summary. I tried Azamara 12 or so years ago after quite a number of Celebrity and very much enjoyed the experience of the smaller ship. I haven't been back to Celebrity very much and when I have I've been left disappointed with the service. The music around the ship that ranged from annoying background to just plain loud also drove me away. Azamara is my happy place. 

 

Phil 

Edited September 4 by excitedofharpenden

[ghstudio]

we are elite plus on Celebrity and much prefer Azamara. Yes, celebrity ships are newer, the entertainment is better, the cabins (and the showers) are larger and there's a casino....but the total small ship atmosphere, the staff friendliness, the lack of buy this, buy that, spend, spend really make a big difference in our cruising enjoyment.  Some love the big (6000 passenger) ships....the "instead of disneyland, take our cruise" ships. Celebrity now does shorter cruises..it's hard to piece together a good B2B cruise..  Azamara has some excellent itinerarys and offers more interesting B2B's. (HAL probably has the best longer itinerary cruises...and that's our long cruise choice (21+ days)....but after your first Azamara cruise, you'll talk about what they are lacking...but you'll book another Azamara cruise because your overall experience was wonderful

Edited September 4 by ghstudio

[ExArkie]

We generally only book ocean crossings rather than port-to-port cruises. (Many reasons, all irrelevant to this discussion.) The advantage of Celebrity M and S class ships (no interest in the E class, too much “high energy” for my blood) is that their larger-than-Azamara ships tend to be more stable in rough seas. Not a major issue for southern (northern hemisphere south, that is) route transatlantic or most transpacific, but the North Atlantic could be exciting. 
 

We have done the southern transatlantic route twice on smaller ships (Seabourn and Oceania) and have our first Azamara crossing from Lisbon to Boston next month. Should be interesting starting in the near equatorial waters and proceeding north as we cross.

 

[villauk]

Thank you @ghstudio. We’ve not been on an E class ship as the fake balcony cabins haven’t been interesting enough to us. We tend to like the more relaxed feel and don’t hang around the Martini Bar etc; we much prefer sitting at the coffee bar. I’m a little confused about the casino comment as it does state on the deck plan there is one on Journey. Is this not the case? Are the balcony cabins exactly the same on deck 6 and 7, and it’s just the case that deck 7 have cabins below and above that warrant the extra cost? Is the WiFi expensive on Azamara as we obviously won’t get any free minutes like we do on X. TIA.

Edited September 4 by villauk

[uktog]

14 minutes ago, villauk said:

Thank you @ghstudio. We’ve not been on an E class ship as the fake balcony cabins haven’t been interesting enough to us. We tend to like the more relaxed feel and don’t hang around the Martini Bar etc; we much prefer sitting at the coffee bar. I’m a little confused about the casino comment as it does state on the deck plan there is one on Journey. Is this not the case? Are the balcony cabins exactly the same on deck 6 and 7, and it’s just the case that deck 7 have cabins below and above that warrant the extra cost? Is the WiFi expensive on Azamara as we obviously won’t get any free minutes like we do on X. TIA.

The difference between Decks 6 and 7 are purely location. I think you are looking at an old plan, all the casinos were removed several years ago

All the wifi costs and packages are on this page of the website.

https://www.azamara.com/gb/booked-guests/before-you-board/stay-connected

 

 

[Dynacruiser]

15 minutes ago, villauk said:

Thank you @ghstudio. We’ve not been on an E class ship as the fake balcony cabins haven’t been interesting enough to us. We tend to like the more relaxed feel and don’t hang around the Martini Bar etc; we much prefer sitting at the coffee bar. I’m a little confused about the casino comment as it does state on the deck plan there is one on Journey. Is this not the case? Are the balcony cabins exactly the same on deck 6 and 7, and it’s just the case that deck 7 have cabins below and above that warrant the extra cost? Is the WiFi expensive on Azamara as we obviously won’t get any free minutes like we do on X. TIA.

No casinos in any Azamara cruise.  

Approx prices for Azamara wifi are $20 a day for 1 device at a time, basic package (pure garbage, in my opinion), and for about $10 extra a day, you can upgrade to Starlink, which most people love.   You can monitor their website and buy a package when they run a promotion, or wait until you are onboard.

[ghstudio]

54 minutes ago, villauk said:

Thank you @ghstudio. We’ve not been on an E class ship as the fake balcony cabins haven’t been interesting enough to us. 

Like you, we have no interest in those cabins/ships. Celebrity has recently said that their new ships will have less of the "infinity" cabins as they now realize that not all customers love them.

[Host Jazzbeau]

You may get WiFi included during a sale.  The current sale for US customers is:

 

Azamara won't let me in to their UK website, so I don't know what offers are there.  But you can always book with a US travel agent to get the US offer [but you will carry a currency risk between now and final payment and you will lose UK customer protections].

[Zoey123]

We are considering booking on the Journey but are worried that it will be old and rundown. It looks like the Onward and the Pursuit have been upgraded, but the Journey and the Quest have been ignored and really look unappealing in contrast. 
 

Does anyone know if they are planning to update those two ships anytime? I’ve watched several YouTube videos with Azamara corporate sales people and they only show pictures of the Onward but imply that every Azamara ship is like that. It’s almost false advertising once you realize two of their ships are nowhere near as nice.

 

Any advice would be appreciated. We don’t want to be stuck for 16 days on a ship with smelly carpets and worn out sofa cushions…we have sailed on Oceania on a R Class ship and we do love the ships.

[Host Jazzbeau]

On 9/4/2024 at 9:53 PM, Zoey123 said:

We are considering booking on the Journey but are worried that it will be old and rundown. It looks like the Onward and the Pursuit have been upgraded, but the Journey and the Quest have been ignored and really look unappealing in contrast. 
 

Does anyone know if they are planning to update those two ships anytime? I’ve watched several YouTube videos with Azamara corporate sales people and they only show pictures of the Onward but imply that every Azamara ship is like that. It’s almost false advertising once you realize two of their ships are nowhere near as nice.

 

Any advice would be appreciated. We don’t want to be stuck for 16 days on a ship with smelly carpets and worn out sofa cushions…we have sailed on Oceania on a R Class ship and we do love the ships.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  The image of a CW suite on the website must be from one of those 'upgraded' ships you mention.  To us, it looks like cheap formica veneers in place of the real wood in the original suites.  Yes, our CWs on Quest and Journey were unfashionable in their 'design grammar' [as they say in artsy circles], but everything was REAL and looked more fitting on this classic ship.  Thankfully our next cruise is on Journey again, where we look forward to enjoying the classic design – and patina – of a historic ship [look up Renaissance Cruise Lines to learn why these ships were so revolutionary].

 

The only ships we prefer to these are the even-older first-gen Renaissance ships, now sailing for Noble Caledonia.  There is real classic design and décor! [even if the door to our walk-in closet did fall off mid-cruise – a reminder that we are even older than the ship, and our bits are always in danger of falling off too...  😀]

[DS]

6 hours ago, ExArkie said:

We generally only book ocean crossings rather than port-to-port cruises. (Many reasons, all irrelevant to this discussion.) The advantage of Celebrity M and S class ships (no interest in the E class, too much “high energy” for my blood) is that their larger-than-Azamara ships tend to be more stable in rough seas. Not a major issue for southern (northern hemisphere south, that is) route transatlantic or most transpacific, but the North Atlantic could be exciting. 
 

We have done the southern transatlantic route twice on smaller ships (Seabourn and Oceania) and have our first Azamara crossing from Lisbon to Boston next month. Should be interesting starting in the near equatorial waters and proceeding north as we cross.

 

Lisbon (38.7 N) is only about 220 miles south of Boston (42.3 N), so, not nearly "equatorial." But you are right that the weather in the northern Atlantic can be different than the "southern route," which tends to end in Miami or the Caribbean.

[ExArkie]

9 hours ago, DS said:

Lisbon (38.7 N) is only about 220 miles south of Boston (42.3 N), so, not nearly "equatorial." But you are right that the weather in the northern Atlantic can be different than the "southern route," which tends to end in Miami or the Caribbean.

Heck, I live in Michigan. Anywhere south of the Ohio River is “near equatorial” to me…