My husband and I just returned from the 12 Night Rio Carnival & Buenos Aires Voyage on the Azamara Journey and we can't stop raving about the trip. We are well-seasoned travelers who have taken more than a handful of cruises, but this experience was really "la creme de la creme."
We love cruising for the ease with which it allows you to see multiple destinations: you unpack your bags once, you see many amazing cities, and the time spent traveling between them is an opportunity to unwind in a hot tub, to lounge by a pool with a fruity cocktail, to play trivia, to sing karaoke, to eat abundantly, to visit the casino, or to do whatever the heck it is you like to do. However, on other cruises, the typical downsides are that your time spent in each port is usually limited to a fast-paced day trip, the food is usually B+ at best, and it is hard to feel truly relaxed when you are rushing around so much.
Azamara has unlocked the code to facilitating a superb vacation. This trip had four full days at sea, so there was plenty of time to unwind and relax. We visited the astral spa twice for facials and massages, which we really enjoyed. We also paid extra to use the Thalassotherapy pool and private deck (it's free for those who book a suite), which we felt was a worthwhile expense for the VIP privacy benefits it provided. We had a blast in the casino and the entertainment on board was better than most.
Great central location. We were worried that there would be a lot of noise due to the cabins proximity to Guest Services, but it wasn't noisy at all, and the central location made it super easy to get around.