Overall We have cruised with Celebrity in the past and we endorse the quality and service of the line. We had three bookings to the Panama Canal (two on Summit) and decided to give Azamara a try based on the marketing information we reviewed. Azamara claimed to be a "deluxe cruise experience" with "service unparalleled on the high seas". We knew that this was not going to be Celebrity because of the size of the ship and the upscale yet casual approach. As the sailing date neared, we read the Cruise Critic threads and began to worry about our decision to go with Azamara. This review mentions a number of concerns but we want the readers to know that we say these things to help Azamara improve. We believe that Azamara has the potential to fulfill the expectations they promise to "discerning travelers". This cruise was incredibly relaxing. The Quest is lovely, intimate, and friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the dining, the staff, and the experience. It was a good value and we would cruise Azamara again for the right price, level of service, and itinerary. Being back in Philly (we're teased that we're just a suburb of New York) is just a temporary exile! The people we met, the friends we made, and the laughs we shared will long be remembered. We send our warmest wishes to Howard & Cheryl, Pete (Pierre) & Carol, Isabelle & Mike, Ron, Sang, & Richard, Steve & Kate, Ken & Kathy, Denny & Cheryl.

Embarkation Smooth overall. At the pier, we had to pick a seating time for the first night in the dining room, which surprised us since open seating was the only option for all other nights. When we arrived on the ship, we were greeted with champagne but no one offered to escort us to our cabin or carry our carry-on bags. When we went to the Windows Cafe for the lunch buffet, it was ungodly hot inside the restaurant. No air conditioning for some unknown reason? Guest Relations said it was a repetitive problem in Miami. Why does the location matter?

Butler We liked our butler (Vazio) but he's really a cabin steward in disguise. He offered no special services although he did deliver raspberries every day upon our initial request. He had 18 cabins to take care of with an assistant on hand. We suggest that Azamara lose the butler title and assign him less cabins. Split the responsibility between him and his assistant. Vazio was very kind to offer us his own personal DVD player and movies when we found out we had none in our cabin. Guest Relations said that suites have DVD's but none were available for any other cabins. Read more