Jump to content

Celebrity cruisers considering Azamara


jkgourmet
 Share

Recommended Posts

We nearly always book inside cabins - not Blu or Aqua Class.  Hence, our loyalty points are too low to provide anyreal benefit.  We always take the classic beverage package - which now costs $89/day pp plus gratuity.   We are senior citizens and not parties anymore. 

 

At this point, we're seeing some very competitive pricing on Azamara, including a very basic alcohol package.  

 

Has anyone tried both cruiselines?  Especially interested in comments from those that don't upgrade to Blu or Aqua Class. 

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Azamara is really nice, from what you say it will most likely be a perfect fit for you. They include everything gratuities, wine, beer and soft drinks. The ships are smaller but are well maintained, the staff are wonderful.

Hope you enjoy

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We sail with both Celebrity and Azamara in balcony cabins and were lucky enough to sail once in a suite in Azamara. We enjoy both lines. The entertainment is much better on Celebrity but we think the food is slightly better on Azamara. The balcony cabins are smaller on Azamara and the bathrooms are tiny with a shower curtain. We usually upgrade to the Ultimate drink package for better wines and cocktails. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, jkgourmet said:

We nearly always book inside cabins - not Blu or Aqua Class.  Hence, our loyalty points are too low to provide anyreal benefit.  We always take the classic beverage package - which now costs $89/day pp plus gratuity.   We are senior citizens and not parties anymore. 

 

At this point, we're seeing some very competitive pricing on Azamara, including a very basic alcohol package.  

 

Has anyone tried both cruiselines?  Especially interested in comments from those that don't upgrade to Blu or Aqua Class. 

 

 

 


 

We have booked Azamara for next year to give it a try. We don’t cruise in suites either. The package offered with everything included was very reasonable and my DH wants to try the small-ship experience.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, villauk said:


 

We have booked Azamara for next year to give it a try. We don’t cruise in suites either. The package offered with everything included was very reasonable and my DH wants to try the small-ship experience.

what's the itinerary?  will it go to diff ports than Celeb?  Might be a nice chang!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely recommend Azamara.  Hits unique ports, food I think is better than Celebrity.  Yes the ships are smaller, and entertainment is less but I found the service better and much more relaxing overall.   

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, hcat said:

what's the itinerary?  will it go to diff ports than Celeb?  Might be a nice chang!


 

Yes, some of the ports are new to us as the larger ships don’t visit them. It’s the Spain intensive we’re taking, sailing right up into Seville overnight 👍. Motril and Cueta are new to us as well as a couple of others. Our balcony package included flights, 2 nights at either end, premium drinks package for two, gratuities and WiFi. Looking forward to a change 👍.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did Azamara last year in Italy.  They definitely hit smaller, unique ports.  In our experience, the food was much better than X, although there are fewer choices.  Entertainment is almost non-existant, mostly just a few musicians.  The service is much better than X.  We will definitely do Azamara again, given the right itinerary and price.  Sea days are pretty boring given the ship size, unless you just want to lay around.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, wahlct said:

Sea days are pretty boring given the ship size, unless you just want to lay around.


 

I have noticed that many of their itineraries only have one or two sea days, even on the longer cruises - great for us 👍. Our 11-night cruise only has one sea day, so a nice time for R&R 😉.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We took an Azamara cruise last year and loved it. The small ship experiece and shipboard offerings made for a memorable vacation. We flew from BOS to Lisbon, three nights at their recommended Corinthia Hotel - and arranged tours on our own. Onto the ship on day 3 [regular balcony room] and from then on, had a flawless, trip.  We booked their steak house for our first night - presentation was best we've ever seen. Crew and officers were very friendly, every evening we had flowers and sweet treats set out on the coffee table. Ah, complimentary laundry washers and dryers including detergent and softeners. Yes, it's port intensive and Azamara provides one spectacular evening ashore for everyone. We traveled from Barcelona into the wine making region to an historic cava for complimentary tasting, musical entertainment and then an evening flamenco show, culminating with the ship's master on stage.  Great to have an overnight in port!  Their tours are all about the history and culture, not shopping trips! The ship's photographer gave a presentation on using your iphone for optimal photography - very hands on! Best event was "white night," on deck, with officers doing the serving and crew interacting with passengers. Port lecture was a highly educated gentleman whose specialty was Etruscan history, along with being a retired JD. He presented on various evenings and the info could be watched again on our cabins. Entertainment isn't like on larger ships - remember these are former Renaissance ships - smaller, understated but very nice. Hated to get off the ship when we got to Rome. 

 

Darcy

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, WatchHill said:

We took an Azamara cruise last year and loved it. The small ship experiece and shipboard offerings made for a memorable vacation. We flew from BOS to Lisbon, three nights at their recommended Corinthia Hotel - and arranged tours on our own. Onto the ship on day 3 [regular balcony room] and from then on, had a flawless, trip.  We booked their steak house for our first night - presentation was best we've ever seen. Crew and officers were very friendly, every evening we had flowers and sweet treats set out on the coffee table. Ah, complimentary laundry washers and dryers including detergent and softeners. Yes, it's port intensive and Azamara provides one spectacular evening ashore for everyone. We traveled from Barcelona into the wine making region to an historic cava for complimentary tasting, musical entertainment and then an evening flamenco show, culminating with the ship's master on stage.  Great to have an overnight in port!  Their tours are all about the history and culture, not shopping trips! The ship's photographer gave a presentation on using your iphone for optimal photography - very hands on! Best event was "white night," on deck, with officers doing the serving and crew interacting with passengers. Port lecture was a highly educated gentleman whose specialty was Etruscan history, along with being a retired JD. He presented on various evenings and the info could be watched again on our cabins. Entertainment isn't like on larger ships - remember these are former Renaissance ships - smaller, understated but very nice. Hated to get off the ship when we got to Rome. 

 

Darcy


 

Thank you for the excellent mini review 👍.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We spent 28 days on Azamara Pursuit in South America and Antartica just before the pandemic. I agree with all the comments above. It was a wonderful experience. I am doing my first solo cruise on Journey in 28 days.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We did one Azamara cruise a few years ago for the itinerary.  We never returned.  We had to wait 15 - 50 minutes  to be seated every night in the dining room.  In 10 nights we only got seated in the same area with same team twice.  Food quality was good but it was never served hot.  The included wine was 👎.

Bars were empty, 4-7p.m in the Living Room every evening there was a table of  5-6 off to one side and no more than 6 other people in there.  Sunset Bar was even less busy.  
 

The Captain and Officers were visible and engaging, service excluding MDR was excellent.  
 

Just not a good fit for us. 
 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

We did one Azamara cruise a few years ago for the itinerary.  We never returned.  We had to wait 15 - 50 minutes  to be seated every night in the dining room.  In 10 nights we only got seated in the same area with same team twice.  Food quality was good but it was never served hot.  The included wine was 👎.

Bars were empty, 4-7p.m in the Living Room every evening there was a table of  5-6 off to one side and no more than 6 other people in there.  Sunset Bar was even less busy.  
 

The Captain and Officers were visible and engaging, service excluding MDR was excellent.  
 

Just not a good fit for us. 
 

Was that cruise with the new owner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Was that cruise with the new owner.

No.  Just before the pandemic.  
BTW the ship sailed full, so the dead venues were not for lack of passengers. 

Edited by jelayne
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We sailed with them on the Pursuit last year (2023). I would add a couple of observations:

1) You need to be able to negotiate stairs and steep surfaces. They often use their own gangway, which, depending on the tides could become very steep. And it has stairs so no wheelchair assistance. Their pool only has a ladder, no graduated entry or a chair lift.

2) The executive chef was from Indonesia. The presentation was OK, by the taste of most dishes in both MDR and on special occasions (Best of the Best dinner) was not to our liking. We ended up eating most of our meals in their buffet.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Really your comment mean very little , different owners now 

Interesting, you called out my comments as meaning  very little as before the new owner.  However a more positive post re a pre pandemic experience is meaningful 🤔 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

we did not like the  look of the ships/ cabins and pre paid  deposit policy....maybe things have changed..

 

We will give it another look for the Carib..looking for less crowded ports!  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, jelayne said:

We did one Azamara cruise a few years ago for the itinerary.  We never returned.  We had to wait 15 - 50 minutes  to be seated every night in the dining room.  In 10 nights we only got seated in the same area with same team twice.  Food quality was good but it was never served hot.  The included wine was 👎.

Bars were empty, 4-7p.m in the Living Room every evening there was a table of  5-6 off to one side and no more than 6 other people in there.  Sunset Bar was even less busy.  
 

The Captain and Officers were visible and engaging, service excluding MDR was excellent.  
 

Just not a good fit for us. 
 

I wouldn't expect the bars  to be busy between 4 - 7pm. Surely most passengers would either be off the ship or by the pool or getting ready for dinner. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, barneyboy said:

I wouldn't expect the bars  to be busy between 4 - 7pm. Surely most passengers would either be off the ship or by the pool or getting ready for dinner. 

Our experience on  Celebrity is that the bars are busy between 4-7. The OP who cruises on Celebrity was looking for experience of X cruiser who sailed on Azamara, one of the things we noticed was how dead the bars.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are elevators on Azamara so I don’t get the comment about wheelchairs.   There were two different, no charge, specialty restaurants.   Like both the Italian and the Steak, the in one of them frequently.   The Azamazing event is great and occurs in one of the ports.   The white night is a wonderful party for everyone.   It’s a close knit passenger and crew experience with little evidence of better treatment for upper suites.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tried Azamara and didn’t like it. Food was no better than Celebrity in the MDR however I loved the Patio which was an included restaurant. I  thought the food in the buffet was slightly better but less choice than Celebrity. We were in a Continental suite which gave us free speciality dining and a decent size cabin and bathroom. Regular cabins are tiny, We were on the Quest and found it badly in need of renovation. The entertainment was awful and during the day there was little going on if you didn’t like lying   by the pool squashed together like sardines. The service was good however. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Set sail with your next reads

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Save $2,000 & Sail Away to Australia’s Kimberley
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...

If you are already a Cruise Critic member, please log in with your existing account information or your email address and password.