You may not be familiar Azamara Club Cruises. Having just two ships, this small cruise line specializes in big ship amenities with small ship feel. Cruising with Azamara is like staying at a fine boutique hotel, except this one moves around to visit some of the best cities in the world. My husband and I were fortunate enough to take a voyage on the Azamara Club Cruises ship the Quest during Easter week 2013 to celebrate our anniversary. Azamara exceeded our expectations in every way! We are smitten with the cruise line and cannot wait to return. While it has been months since we got home, we often say things like “I wonder where Tony (our cruise director) and the crew are now” or “this is the best food I have had since Azamara”.

The Quest and Journey, Azamara’s cruise ships, are smaller than the typical cruise ship (what I consider “just the right size”). Holding about 700 guests each, the Azamara ships will never leave you feeling lost in a crowd. In fact you will feel like part of an exclusive club in no time. Another nice thing on these smaller ships is a more personal touch from officers that dine with guests, bartenders who remember your favorite drink, and a concierge who is truly interested in your day’s activities and feedback. You meet lots of new friends, and maybe some that make you feel like you’ve known them your whole life. Being on an Azamara ship is like being at a family reunion, without the bickering or bowls of awful orange jello salad.

Both ships offer a first rate spa, many options for dining, great nightly entertainment and a fitness center with daily classes. In addition to options you may find on all cruise lines Azamara ships have a library, afternoon tea, trained English butlers and enrichment programs and classes like wine tastings hosted by the on-board sommelier and cooking classes with your cruise director.

The state rooms are beautifully decorated with modern amenities and European linens. For our trip on the Quest, we had a club oceanview stateroom on deck 4 with a large window.  Deck 4 was a great location, but anywhere on this ship would be a good location as it is small and you can get around quickly and easily. Although small compared to land accommodations, the stateroom was comparable if not larger than most cruise staterooms and was laid out well so it did not feel cramped. The word “cozy” comes to mind. We had a large closet area with enough storage for 2 full size suitcases. The bathroom was a standard cruise ship bathroom with a shower only, but on the plus side it made me appreciate my small master bathroom at home more. We had a sofa bed and lounge area, complete with a fruit basket when we arrived.  We also had other small luxuries like fresh cut flowers daily, a stocked mini fridge, 24 hour room service, a plush robe and slippers (that you can take home with you!) and a complimentary Azamara tote bag.

The dining options on the Azamara ships have much to offer. After 7 days, we still hadn’t tried them all. There is a traditional cruise ship dining room, a buffet offering, poolside grill, 2 specialty restaurants and don’t forget the 24 hour room service!

Discoveries is an elegant traditional cruise dining room. With no reservations assigned or required, you can be seated anytime during posted dining hours. Couples can request a table for 2 or choose to be seated with other guests and make some new friends. Twice we ended up at the same table with a lovely couple from the UK and got to know them quiet well. Discoveries also offers breakfast and lunch on some days and hosts special events. Our cruise included a special Easter Brunch with 4 piece jazz ensemble.

 

The Quest’s two signature restaurants are Aqualina and Prime C. Aqualina specializes in Mediterranean seafood and has subtle decor reminiscent of a Mediterranean village with soft hues and relaxing colors. Prime C is a classic steak house decorated like a classy English manor with wood-paneled rooms. It features steaks in a variety of cuts and other entrees including veal chops, game hens, and lamb. When we decided to try Prime C one evening, they were booked up, but our wonderful concierge Guy, found a way to get us in. Our table was just beside the window looking out the stern (back of the ship) with a beautiful view of the lights of Seville. Our waiter provided the best service I have ever had at any restaurant, land or sea. Attentive and friendly, but not overbearing or vultury (yes I just made up a word), he made recommendations and took us through our meal like a great tour guide would lead a group through an historic site. We were tempted with the non-beef offerings, but it was a steak house, so my husband had filet and I ordered the rib eye. When we could not decide on sides, we decided to order different ones so we could share. When we told our waiter our plan, he brought us each samplings of all the sides so we could try them all. It was such a great experience and we loved every bite. I’m salivating just thinking about it!

Windows Cafe is a buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was our first dining experience on the Quest and it was delightful. There is a wide variety of foods to choose from, but not enough to overwhelm. The chefs staffing the buffet tables are eager to explain each dish and answer any questions diners may have (a good thing for anyone with food allergies). Some days there are also “create your own” stations like made to order omelets for breakfast and pastas for dinner. The food theme for Windows Cafe changes each night. On one hand this keeps you from getting bored, but if you really love something one night, it won’t be back the next. On our voyage, themes included Italian, Mexican, Indian and seafood.

The room service menu was substantial and included steak and eggs for breakfast, salads and chicken noodle soup for lunch, and burgers, fries, quesadillas, sandwiches, and decedent desserts any time of the day. We had breakfast a few times in the room. After late nights in port it was a great way to start the day. We also had a midnight dinner one evening after returning to the ship after normal dinning hours.

Azamara on-board entertainment did not disappoint. It seemed there was live music somewhere on the ship at all hours. Enjoy a hot drink at Mosaic in the morning then come back in the evening to enjoy a drink and listen to the live music before dinner. Head to Looking Glass lounge to get your groove on to the night’s feature musician or dance the night away with a live DJ playing hits you request. Casino Luxe is a great option for those looking to spend some time playing the slots or a little three card poker.  They also offer complimentary lessons for those who are in need of a little help. Cabaret Lounge, a large venue hosting a nightly show, offered  Broadway style shows, pop singers and comedians. The lounge has a full bar with wait staff. It is a great place to unwind at the end of the day.

Unique itineraries and longer stays set Azamara apart from other cruise lines. With smaller ships they can port in destinations where larger ships simply cannot fit. Our cruise’s launch point of Seville was a significant part of cruising history. It was the first time a ship of that size had ported at Seville, an inland city in Spain 60 miles up the Guadalquivir River from the Atlantic Ocean. Porting in unique cities definitely puts you in the spirit to explore. With Azamara, many stops stay well into the evening so you can see and experience city life in every aspect, day and night. Some stops include overnight stays allowing the patrons to spend multiple days visiting a city. Since typical cruises port stops are from 8-10am in the morning till about 5pm, Azamara prides itself in having at least one overnight port and other departure times post sunset on each voyage. One of my husband’s favorite experiences was driving from the top of the Rock of Gibraltar to our ship at night. We’d have missed those amazing views, if Azamara was the average cruise line.

Azamara ports all around the world including the Panama Canal, Central American and California, the West Indies, Transoceanic, South America, North and Western Europe, Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and Asia and the Pacific. There are shorter trips like the 4 night Monaco Grand Prix voyage and longer itineraries like the 17 night Antarctica and Faulklands Voyage. Since many itineraries focus on a special events such as Santa Semana (Holy Week) in Seville, the Gran Prix in Monaco and a special sailing for the British Open, you can combine a unique world cultural event with a great cruise.

AzAmazing Evenings are a great way to get a real experience in the ports you are visiting. At Azamara they call it Destination Immersion. AzAmazing Evenings are complimentary onshore events that offer an up-close experience of a local tradition in a private setting or at a landmark. Our sailing in March 2013 was included the first such event for Azamara. We were treated to a concert from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band at St. Michael’s Cave inside the Rock of Gibraltar.  Gibraltar’s Minister of Tourism was on hand to welcome us. The experience of being inside the cave with the great acoustics and the magnificent band playing was one we will never forget. Upon returning to the ship, we were treated to a spectacular fireworks show as we pulled out of port, another gift of the people of Gibraltar. The voyage after ours headed to France and the AzAmazing event was a jousting match. Each voyage offers a unique event.

Before we sailed on Azamara we considered it a once in a lifetime experience. We knew we were in for a treat but that the price of an Azamara Club cruise was not something that we would be able to work into our budget often.  After sailing with Azamara, we are convinced that this is how we want to visit many destinations on our Bucket List around the world. Considered what hotels and transportation in Europe would be for a 7 night journey, cruising on a floating hotel is not unreasonable. Plus you have all the included amenities such as dining, drinks, the included excursions and a trusted staff who knows treats you like royalty. Who knows what you might experience in a hotel in some exotic location? Azamara has special offers throughout the year with free upgrades, onboard credits and airfare credits. If you are planning a vacation and want to see some of the most gorgeous cities in the world, or if you love cruising but are tired of islands and beaches, consider Azamara Club Cruises. We did, and we can’t wait to cruise with them again.