Azmara for a first timer....

[KsLs185]

I am interested in Aamara's cruise for Nov 22, 2009 12 night(Rome, overnight Sorrento, Taormina, Valetta, Tunis, at sea, Florence, Portofino, Monte Carlo, St. Tropez, and overnight Barcelona). While doing some searching I found a cruise on Celebrity's Century for Nov 21, 2009 7 night(Barcelona, Cannes, Portofino, Florence, Rome, Naples, at sea, Barcelona). What are the main differences between the two ships other than size. Do you really sacrifice service when going on a slightly larger ship? Would the second option be less overwhelming for first time cruisers and first time over sea travelers? There is an obvious price difference, but that's not out deciding factor. I'm afraid to take on too big of a trip for our first time. We are 25-35, never been on a cruise, or to Europe, like the idea of a smaller ship, but since we haven't been on one don't know if we'd mind a bigger one, not looking for casino, entertainment, or nightlife. But I'm also afraid to sacrifice food quality, service the two main things we really look for. The only thing is that on Azmara we would be booking an ocean view room where as on the Century we could book up to a concierge class verandah room. Any advice or reviews?

[goody1]

My wife and I cruised on the Century in 2005 and 2007 and are cruising on the Azamara Quest in August. The food on the Century was very good but it is set dining times, i think it was 1830 and 2015 always at the same table which we enjoyed. Although Azamara is freestyle dining it would appear from recent reviews is that the food is comparable to Celebrity if not better.

With it being your first visit to Europe, both itineraries are great. I would probably choose Azamara although you would not regret it if you chose Celebrity.

[John&Betty]

Hi,

 

We have sailed from Barcelona to Venice on both the Millennium and the Azamara Journey and we loved both cruises but I think the Journey was slightly better for this kind of intense itinerary.

 

Most of the time we prefer sitting at a table of eight where you have the same table mates and wait staff every night, but it was nice on the Journey not to have to rush around to get ready for formal nights and fixed seating times. There were six of us traveling together and we never had a problem getting a table in the main dinning room or at the specialty restaurants when we wanted one.

 

Also it's easier to get around a smaller ship and getting off or tendered at the ports is faster. We loved the food and the service on the Millennium but it was even better on the Journey. Either way you are in for a good time. You picked a great itinerary and two great ships to choose from for your first cruise.

 

John

[Susan-M]

Would the second option be less overwhelming for first time cruisers and first time over sea travelers?

 

In some ways I think the shorter itinerary (Century) would be more overwhelming ... a week flies by and with the distance that you'll be travelling to get to Europe and back, it would be nice to stretch your trip out as long as possible.

 

Our first cruise was on a small ship (<700 people) for 12 days, which was a good length of time (although they never seem long enough :)). We loved the size of the ship...easy to get around on and nice to see familiar faces each day. We've really enjoyed our Celebrity cruises, but we're looking forward to the small size of Azamara Quest for our October cruise...and will be glad to be able to pack lighter since we won't need to take formal clothes.

 

Just another thought, is there any way that you can move up the dates of your trip? Early October will give you longer daylight hours, warmer temps and the likelihood of less rain.

[KsLs185]

Thanks for the great responses. I didn't realize that Century had set dining times. That alone will make us definately go for Azamara.

 

Nov really works well with our work schedules, but I think I might check out the Oct itineraries too :)

[Andy]

Hi Ksls !

 

I believe I answered your question on the Celebrity board. I would choose Azamara over Celebrity, even though both lines are great. I truly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on Azamara, and that will come in very handy on your itinerary. The food, entertainment, and crew on Quest, were wonderful too.

 

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask ! Enjoy your Cruise !

[Aussie Gal]

Andy,

 

We have just booked our first Azamara Cruise for the end of February next year - North East Asia cruise.

 

We have just come off Oceania's Nautica after a great 35 day cruise and I wonder if you would mind answering some questions.

 

The first is the non smoking policy. Is that similar to Oceania's with no smoking in the cabins or on the verandahs.

 

Secondly, how many times can you eat in the alternative restaurants? Is it once in each or once including either of them.

 

Thirdly, is there entertainment at night in the show lounge? This is the one thing that we missed on the Nautica, there really was very little in the way of shows at night.

 

Fourthly, I know food is very personal matter, what one likes, another detests but overall is the food up to a high standard. On Oceania, every morning every kind of fruit was offered including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries as well as all kinds of tropical fruits. I don't expect all the berries but is there a good selection of food available?

 

Thanks.

 

Jennie

[fPetrarca]

Aussie Gal-On my Quest "Best of Italy" cruise (April 26th) there were huge bowls of various berries (I specifically remember the raspberries) at the breakfast buffet. The best feature, however, was the smoothie bar which also offered tall glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice (the huge juice machine was in constant operation). As for specialty restaurant reservations, they are theoretically rationed but, if you are flexible, you can eat in them as much as you want. Most people tended to try them once but then gravitated back to the main restaurant because of the numerous large tables there (better for socializing) and the equally great food.

[Mexfolkart]

We, too, are just off of Oceania and have booked Azamara Baltic for next year..We LOVED the Library on Oceania and borrowed many books..is there a Library on the Journey?

Thanks, Sherry

[Jancruz]

Jennie,

You will really like Azamara as it is almost identical to O with a few subtle changes..on deck 5, Azamara has the Mosaic Cafe which is open in the evening aafter the show also with specialty coffees, mini sandwiches and sweets..love that!!

Jancruz1

[John&Betty]

Hi,

 

1. There is no smoking in any of the cabins or on any of the verandas.

 

2. You can eat in the specialty restaurants as often as you like, there is a $5 per person charge.

 

3. There is entertainment nightly but not on the same scale as the larger ships.

 

4. The food is the best we have had on any ship with lots of fruits and lots of great cheeses.

 

5. There is a very classy library, it looks like it belongs in some stately old mansion.

 

John

[Aussie Gal]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Azamara does sound very much like Oceania with a few little differences.

 

We do hope that the food in the dining room at night is not as salty as it was on the Nautica. We were expecting a wonderful food experience due to so many reports about the meals but were disappointed for a couple of reasons.

 

Firstly it was far too salty for our tastes and secondly we found the menus quite limited with not a lot of choices especially for appetisers. We have cruised on HAL a number of times and have done a 34 day cruise with them too and yet we never tired of their food in the evening.

 

Perhaps our expectations were far too high due to what we had read about the food.

 

We know about the lovely library, it is the same on the Pacific and Tahitian Princesses as well.

 

Do you have to pay for the coffee in the Mosaic cafe? If not, that is a great addition.

 

Jennie

[fPetrarca]

"Saltiness" is a matter of taste, of course. Most cruise line food, I believe, is too bland but intentionally so (given the passenger demographics). I thought the food on Quest to be "spot on." It will not offend you in any way. I loved it.

[Susan-M]

"Saltiness" is a matter of taste, of course.

It's more than taste when your hands and feet swell from excessive amounts of it and you have to ask to have your water jug refilled 6 times a day.;) I'm glad to hear that that won't be the case on Azamara.:)

[Aussie Gal]

It's more than taste when your hands and feet swell from excessive amounts of it and you have to ask to have your water jug refilled 6 times a day.;) I'm glad to hear that that won't be the case on Azamara.:)

 

I am slim and yet I also swelled up more than normal. I weighed myself up in the gym -we tried to work out every sea day - and I had put on weight and yet the day after we arrived home, it miraculously disappeared and I was not only back to my old weight but had also lost "my tummy".

 

Obviously the salt in the food and the heat of the trip caused me to swell unnaturally.

 

Jennie

[BillyC]

I have just returned from a Med cruise on the Journey(see my review) a few weeks ago, I have also sailed with Celebrity six times including a short break on the Century.

 

The Journey scores on atmosphere, the service, lack of queues, sun loungers and chairs always available and in my opinion much better food in the main dining room., but having said that Celebrity is my favorite line and have a few future cruise planned with them including the Century next year. If you like Vegas style shows, then Celebrity would be the best bet.

[Jancruz]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Azamara does sound very much like Oceania with a few little differences.

 

We do hope that the food in the dining room at night is not as salty as it was on the Nautica. We were expecting a wonderful food experience due to so many reports about the meals but were disappointed for a couple of reasons.

 

Firstly it was far too salty for our tastes and secondly we found the menus quite limited with not a lot of choices especially for appetisers. We have cruised on HAL a number of times and have done a 34 day cruise with them too and yet we never tired of their food in the evening.

 

Perhaps our expectations were far too high due to what we had read about the food.

 

We know about the lovely library, it is the same on the Pacific and Tahitian Princesses as well.

 

Do you have to pay for the coffee in the Mosaic cafe? If not, that is a great addition.

 

Jennie

 

You do have to pay for coffee in the Mosaic Cafe..but it is still a great addition!!

Jancruz1

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm curious about the salt--can't you ask the waiter to hold the salt when you order your food? Surely they are used to passengers with special dietary needs, such as a high blood pressure diet?

 

As for the swelled feet, I've experienced that going to a hot climate, with long hours in the air getting there implicated as well. All the time I was in India my ankles were seriously swollen. Yes, I was eating Indian food, which does tend to be salty, but I don't think it was that, it was the heat and the jetlag.

[Reggiefan]

I am also considering this cruise. The only question is the time of year and the weather--I don't mind the cooler weather, but the amount of rain is a concern. However, the prospect of visiting Europe as Christmas season begins holds some appeal, and the price is a good one.

 

There are really only two lines I would like to cruise on--Azamara and Oceania. I happen to like the Oceania itineraries better, much more emphasis on the western Med. But if I can find an Azamara cruise I like--the late Nov. 2009 cruise is in the running--I would prefe going with Azamara because of the cost factor and greater perceived value. You may wish to check out the long thread on the Oceania forum that I started regarding the value offered by these two lines.

[Moeve]

Its the water if you are drinking ice water. Most modern ships have units in their belly to desalinate salt water. You won't taste it but there is still a certain amount of salt in it.

[Aussie Gal]

The salt was definitely cooked into the food. You cannot ask a water to hold out on the salt when it has already been cooked eg. soups, sauces etc.

 

Australians tend to have less salt in their diet of recent years. We have had a health campaign to limit salt and over the past few years I have definitely cut down in salt when cooking so of course when something is over salted, you immediately taste it and it now does ruin a meal for me. Perhaps North Americans prefer this type of cooking but we don't and that is why we probably find HAL's meals to be more suitable. I am always reading in Frommer's that HAL's food is bland.

 

We love good French food and have eaten out in quite a few 3 star Michelin restaurants in Paris when we visit and have never found their food to be salty.

 

Of course we were drinking bottles of water, especially when going ashore as the temperatures were in the 40'sC (108+F) so that could also could have caused excess swelling.

 

Jennie

[Aussie Gal]

.

 

Australians tend to have less salt in their diet of recent years. We have had a health campaign to limit salt and over the past few years I have definitely cut down in salt when cooking so of course when something is over salted, you immediately taste it and it now does ruin a meal for me. Perhaps North Americans prefer this type of cooking but we don't and that is why we probably find HAL's meals to be more suitable. I am always reading in Frommer's that HAL's food is blandJennie

 

I am so sorry I meant to say Berlitz not Frommers. I was having another of those "Senior" moments! ;)

 

Jennie

[Napi's Mom]

It's more than taste when your hands and feet swell from excessive amounts of it and you have to ask to have your water jug refilled 6 times a day.;) I'm glad to hear that that won't be the case on Azamara.:)

Don't bet on it...I'm a person that has high BP and needs to watch salt intake, we area NO salt house...but won't on a ship as LOW SALT tends to mean NO FLAVOR when eating out. With all the many herb and salt free seasonings you'd think these so called "great chefs" on the cruiselines could find out about them and reduce the amount of salt...nobody needs that much...and they can always add more, but as previously said, you CAN'T remove it! Anyway I had to take extra water pills, as I anticipated swelling ankles...and was very right...needed to take several more than I usually do (OKed by my Dr., as this is the major cause of my BP). On the Quest last Dec., warm climate is also partially at fault. Food WAS too salty...left soup especially, and sauces. I've read that Celebrity has new menus that are more natural and healthier for all venues, going away from the Roux menus Since I'm next on Millennium I was glad to hear it!:)