Itinerary appealed to us. Croatian ports and inner passage. We are used to travelling on Princess and Seabourn. We expected something from Azamara that was “in between” but feel we didn’t get it. The food was bland and there was little fish offered as main course on any day. The lunchtime buffet on the final day was outstanding but lunch on other days was not. If you chose to eat light and have a salad there was nothing much to go with the salad unless you had a Caesar salad. We were very impressed with the pre embarkation information and duly loaded our details including photos and set up the Azamara app but when came to check in at Venice the receptionist chose to discard all this and made us start again. Ridiculous. The information on the app was not updated properly so the menus were never accurate. So all in all the app was a shambles. Nonetheless we had an enjoyable cruise but would prefer Princess in future. Read Less

My wife and I have been on dozens of cruises on almost all the major lines. This company is part of the Royal Caribbean/Celebrity family of companies. The cost of Azamara is at least double of Celebrity for the same size of room and three times the cost of Royal Caribbean. They are using cost to imitate a high end cruise line, sorry Azamara, you’re a long way from being a top tier line. Pros: Cabin attendant service was good, especially after a nice tip to start the cruise. Food service was good and the attitude of the servers was good. The White Night party was fun with good entertainment. While there was not any big shows, the entertainers they did have were very good. Food was OK, but not at the level of Celebrity. Bar service was good and the “free” drinks were OK. Buses for the shore excursions were good. The Captain was very communicative except then the rockets were exploding over our ship in Israel. Cons: Shore Excursions were very poor and not well defined. The ship was sold as Israel Intensive so we booked many excursions. However, after the first excursion we learned that the next day was almost an exact repeat of the one we just completed. The Shore Excursion desk offered (with no luck) to sell our tickets but would not let us change to a different tour. They hid behind the 48 hour cancellation policy. It didn’t matter that their Excursion people on the phone booked the tours and told us they were much different. I would have expected a RCL company to stand behind their own mistakes, but they don’t have that quality of executives. The Shsore Excursions that we took were mediocre at best. Room size is way too small and the furniture is too big for the room, look at this before booking as we had the biggest room not being a suite. Even the comedians made fun of the room size. Conclusion: Either book a Celebrity Cruise or spend more and go to Crystal or one of the high end cruises. This is actually the low end of the RCL company at a ridiculous price. Read Less

Boarding in Athens was quick and efficient. Ship is very clean and easy to get around We departed Athens facing some high winds and the ship rocked quite a bit on our first night. Food was good but service was better with the wait staff making sure your glass of wine was always filled. No need to purchase the ultimate drink or wine package as the choices for completely beverages are fine. All premium coffees and bottled water is also included in your fair and is plentiful They conduct two signature events on board. One being their white party which is held on deck by the pool and their Azamara Amazing night which was a concert held at a remote location. Both were excellent Cabin had plenty of storage, bed was comfortable and kept clean Disembarked in Venice after a nice breakfast with no rush. All n all a very nice experience Read Less

10-Night Israel Intensive Voyage and 7-Night Adriatic Pursuit Voyage This was our first time of the Pursuit after several trips on both the Journey and Quest, and our first back-to-back, but definitely not our last. The Israel Intensive voyage gave us overnight stays in both Haifa and Jerusalem. Lots of time to explore this historic area. The second part of the cruise gave us an opportunity to explore destinations that we had not visited before and were on our bucket list. Dubrovnik & Kotor are must visits! We took several private tours as well as some excursions from the ship. Guides were friendly and very knowledgeable in all cases. As usual the food and service on Azamara was excellent. The Azamazing Evenings on both cruises were exceptional. The officers and crew, from Captain Carl, Ryszard and Tony lead by example and this is reflected in the crew as a whole. They were visible throughout the voyages and ready and willing to stop and talk with the guests. Within days we were being called by names by all. The Pursuit is a beautiful ship. They have removed the casinos and replaced them with “The Den”. A wonderful place to sit, relax and have a quiet drink before dinner. The Pursuit entertainers are professional and just excellent! 10 Forward is now the “Living Room”, a beautiful area for relaxing during the day and partying at night. Overall, the refurbishing of the Pursuit has been excellent. On the down side, the bathrooms in the non-suite cabins are a little small. An arced curtain rod or shower doors could help. In 17 days in cruising at 12 ports we only tendered once. The Azamara ships are small enough to dock places the larger ships cannot. We are loyal Azamara and will continue to be so! Read Less

The itinerary was the reason for this cruise, even in this time of the year without cherry blossoms or Indian summer colors (too late, too early). It was a time of intense activity as there was another port every day and the climate which was hot and humid made it streneous as well. We knew the Quest from one other cruise, our other 18 cruises with Azamara we have had with Journey and Pursuit. This time the food was awsome, Chef Colin surprised us every day with local cuisine dishes which led us not to book the speciality restaurants but use the Discovery restaurant every evening. Service in the restaurant and bars was very good, we only found one person which was not smiling at all the entire cruise. In regard to entertainment we went to the Living Room every night and found the live band "The Smooth Sensations" as the best we ever had on an Azamara ship, hope to see them again soon. The sound volume of the pianist and singer in The Den we found disturbing loud and unpleasant. We enjoyed the live music of traditional Japanese koto. In general the temperature on deck 5 was by far to low, lots of people caught colds and asking to increase the temperature brought no result during the entire cruise. So bring a lot of sweaters and jackets and ask for blankets in the restaurant. The Azamazing evening took place in Busan/South Korea with stunning performances of music and taek won do. Also the white night party was a success. We had booked shore excursions privately with local english speaking guides and were very satisfied with the results. We found an American couple to take part so the costs were reasonable compared to excursions the ship offered and we could take influence on what to see or not. Read Less

We chose this cruise because it was next on our bucket list. We really wanted to know Japan, not just from Tokyo, but from the aspect of the people in the smaller towns and ports. We have also had great experiences with the Intensive cruise on Azamara in the past. We hold Azamara to a very high standard based on past sailings. This cruise met and exceeded our expectations. The high points are as follows 1. The food in Discoveries has greatly improved with Azamaras new policy of giving the executive chefs free reign. Chef Colin and his crew executed imaginative menus. The food and service in prime C and Aquafina was as expected....flawless and delicious! 2. White night was a blast! The captain delayed it twice due to weather concerns. He was right and the weather was perfect. Again, freedom to act. 3. The azamazing evening in Busan combined unusual and imaginative Korean traditional music and dance with a truly amazing performance by the Korean university Tae Kwan Do team. 4.Shore excursions were executed flawlessly. My Daised and Kyoto were 2 of the many highlights. 5. The visibility of the officers of the ship makes the Quest different from all other cruise lines. They are always there to give a helping hand or just to talk. A perfect example was clearing Korean customs. I could go on but I think you all get the message. Go for the adventure. If you expect shows and glitz and the other trapping of superficiality, choose another cruise line. If you really want to have great food, great service and immersion into culture, this is your ship! Read Less

We are experienced cruisers going back to the '80's. We prefer crossings and repositioning since most port visits are superficial at best. Substituting tour buses for luxury ship ambiance and tacky-tacky retail stops that seem to be about accommodating the local businesses rather than providing the cruiser any real opportunities. Thus the itinerary from Seward to Tokyo with stops in unusual way ports caught our fancy. Our Virtuoso Travel Agent forewarned us that Azamara was not quite up to true top notch all inclusive lines and that we would in particular find the cabin bathrooms small. All in all it sounded worth trying. We took the "unlimited package" which provided top shelf beverages, unlimited internet access (disappointingly slow and erratic). and three alternate dining experiences. Worst aspect of the experience was a feeling of overcrowded spaces. This was particularly so in the buffet area at prime lunch and dinner where seating was difficult to secure and the space between buffet lines was severely clogged. Food quality was better than you now get on mass market lines like HAL but not as good as we have had on Crystal, Windstar, or Seabourne. Really, it was only somewhat better than a recent experience on RCL. Service was slow albeit friendly and professional. My wife adheres to a rigorous low sodium diet and was very disappointed in the ship's efforts to accommodate her despite their continual protestations that they would. The enrichment speaker was a disappointment. She was overly pedantic and long winded. And, incredibly, she had a pronounced stammer. I can't imagine that anyone who took the trouble to be familiar with her speaking ability would hire her for this purpose regardless of her academic credentials. NO excuse for this management oversight. Read Less

We booked this cruise to get a comparison of our extensive experience with Viking. We’d lost our affinity for Viking due to a nasty situation regarding a cancelled cruise credit due us. So, we felt Azamara might be our next logical choice to try. Embarkation: We landed at 7:00 am in London, waited in a crowded seating area for other passengers to board a bus to Southampton. That was okay, but upon arrival at Southampton we were given instructions to sit in a large waiting area. No estimated time of checkin, no information at all. The soon to become oft-vaunted suite passengers were invited to line up for security and checkin. The remaining dross like us were cattle called into a lengthy line for security, the somewhat shorter numbered lines for checkin. Checkin took three hours from arrival in Southampton. Had I known, I would have booked a private transfer after snoozing in the Virgin Revival lounge available to Delta One passengers. We booked the near-lowest cabin class - an Oceanview Stateroom. Much has been said about the tiny bathrooms and it’s all true. What’s hilarious is you have to upgrade to a suite to get an adequate bathroom. I would have been livid to pay a veranda stateroom price for that same shower that cannot comfortably contain a size 8 woman. The finishes were fine and the toiletries on offer were equal to a two star hotel. We were in 4002 and had no problems with noise from the Caberet Lounge above. We did have some bow thruster noise, but overall, a quiet cabin. Bed quality was just fine. Our stateroom was everything promised - in distant, low-res pictures. Upon closer examination, the noted “full refurbishment” of 2016 has had a hard life, based on our observations. The furniture in our cabin was nicked and worn. It was also mismatched. The carpet was worn and grimy to the point I wouldn’t walk on it without slipper or shoes. It was interesting to note our nightstands didn’t match. There was no clock available except on the standard def tv. This provided extra fun as I used my phone for an alarm in oft-changing time zones, depending on having an Internet connection to update my phone - no luck there, more later. Storage was adequate, the bed was comfortable, it was easy to control the cabin temp in the cool Baltic weather, and the room cleaning was adequate if not terribly speedy (we’ve seen Viking staterooms cleaned in less than a half hour). Wi-fi service was an expensive rip-off. I spent endless hours simply connecting to the network. I’d log on, move to a new location (once as short a move as two deck chairs) only to be dropped. We never had this issue on Viking except some intermittent issues at sea. All our problems with Azamara’s network took place both in port and at sea. Don’t buy it. Most ports on our cruise worked just fine. We logged onto a giant MS ship in port. Food was generally excellent. Service in the restaurants ranged from ok to terrible. The specialty restaurants were a waste of money. They offered nothing superior to what we could get in the main restaurant and the Italian Aquafina served us the two worst meals we had. Book your own excursions. Azamara’s were expensive and offered poor value. For the most part guides didn’t use the popular headphones/receivers and they had to have us crowd in to hear. One plus was plenty of room to spread out. Azamara’s air booking is fabulous compared to Viking. You get to choose your preferred itinerary and price based on the buying power of Royal Caribbean. Public areas on the Journey were uneven. The furniture in “The Living Room” was grimy and worn. Most windows had eroded finishes and uncared for brasses. Entertainment was okay and varied. I don’t cruise for the floor shows. Once again I think Viking takes this whole category - all finishes are crisp and new looking. The entertainment is geared more toward informational lectures applicable to ports visited. I wish I could take the two lines and pick and choose the best of each to come up with a great value cruise line. Read Less

There were 6 of us on this cruise, one couple with 4 other women. We started our trip with 3 days in London. Some of us had been on the Journey before and looked forward to coming back. Those new to it loved the cruise. We choose this for the ship and the itinerary. The service was excellent as expected. We loved "welcome home" every-time we returned to the ship. Embarkation was slow because of a technical problem. Our first stop was Bruges. We did it on our own, took a train into town, the station was right at the dock. Lots of walking but a beautiful place. Next Amsterdam. We did a ship excursion to the countryside to see windmills. Lots of rain all day, but we enjoyed the scenery. The amazing evening was at a maritime museum, we enjoyed the music and the canal boat ride. The next day some of us went to the Rijksmuseum on a ship excursion and others enjoyed the city on their own. The next day was the Kiel canal. It was like a sea day, but so interesting to go through the locks. We did a ship excursion to Berlin. It was a long bus ride (3 hours) and our driver forgot to make a comfort stop. Near the end of the drive they announced that there was a bathroom on the bus for emergencies. Glad I saw Berlin, but was not my trip highlight Next was a sea day. Always enjoy these and we had a wonderful brunch in the dining room. Helsinki was the next stop. We did not do a tour, but enjoyed a nice little marketplace at the dock. The next 3 days were in St. Petersburg, the highlight of the trip for me. We did a tour with ALLA tours and loved it. Only 12 people on a small bus and so much to see. Great guide and lunches were included. The white night was in St Petersburg. The food and entertainment was great but the weather was cold so it was not as enjoyable as it could have been. Tallinn was next. We enjoyed a tour from our travel agent of the old town and visited a manor home in the country where we had a wonderful meal. Our last port was Stockholm and we stayed 2 extra days. We visited the Vasa museum and Old Town. Enjoyed Stockholm except for the rain. There were many tourists everywhere since it was August. So glad we did tours or ordered advance tickets to most places. The cabin worked well for us - plenty of storage space. The bathroom is small, but not an issue. Better internet service would be welcomed. I love Azamara cruises. This was my fourth - 3rd on the Journey. It has been a few years and i wasn't sure if it would be the same. The service was still wonderful and it was nice to see some familiar faces. I enjoyed the Living Room area, but it did fill up at times. The food was still excellent and I enjoyed the included wine. We had several amazing buffets during the trip. The Chocolate buffet was unbelievable. We ate mainly in the dining room; did not do any specialty restaurants. Breakfast was either Discovery, Windows or room service - all were good. We had one lunch at the Patio and I really enjoyed an Azamara burger and onion rings. Entertainment was good, but not as good as I remembered. Cruise director Eric was not on this trip and I missed him although Danny and Lee were good. Captain Johannes was always around greeting people and letting us know what was happening. I still love Azamara and in several weeks I will be on the Azamara Journey around Spain. Read Less

We sailed in July with Azamara for the second time. Our first cruise with Azamarawas on the Pursuit in the Autumn of last year. The only real difference we could see between the ships was the Casino, when that is removed and the Lounge becomes bigger it is a definite improvement. However The Journey is a lovely ship, we did not notice any shabby areas, she gleamed! Add to the experience the wonderful crew, a Captain who was so personable and who made in scheduled ‘stops’ so the chef could source local Norwegian berries and cheese and you have a recipe for a fun time. We even did an oil rig safari! Not many can say that! The food, service and overall holiday was first class. We are already booking two back to back cruises with Journey in November, can’t wait. Caribbean here we come! Thank you Azamara for Azamazing holidays Read Less

This was our 5th cruise with Azamara and our first time on Pursuit since she was taken over by Azamara, we had sailed with her previously as P&O Adonia so it was interesting to see the refurbishment. Emarkation was not good; when we arrived at the port at the Trade Centre in Barcelona we were told we could board immediately however it was clear when we had gone through security we were going to have a wait as we were given numbers and asked to take seat. There were no facilities in the area for tea/coffee etc., and no announcements or information from Azamara staff to let us know why we were delayed boarding so not a good start. After sitting for about an hour our number was called and we were taken to mini buses, it was fairly heavy rain and I think Azamara were waiting on the buses to come and transport us to the ship which was about 100 yards away, however we still weren't given a reason for the delay in boarding. Once onboard we were quickly checked in and our photo taken again, I had uploaded a photo online but this wasn't used, seems a waste of time doing it before hand so wouldn't do it again.There was a table for upgrading to the Ultimate Drinks Package and we had planned to do this anyway as it gave us more options, the selection of wines in the package were good and suited us. The Complimentary Drinks remain the same 2 whites, 2 reds which change daily, rose and a sparkling wine which are the same everyday. The ship has an identical layout to Journey and Quest with the exception of the Casino, which is now accommodating the Future Cruise Desk and The Den, it's actually a better use of the space. The ship was in good order and well looked after, staff were constantly cleaning which is understandable. Food in Discoveries Restaurant was a bit of a hit or miss, sometimes it was good other times bland, the service was also good in the restaurant but if you were on a large table there was a longer wait. The food in Aqualina and Prime C were excellent we had the 3 restaurant package and it was worth the additional payment, it was a nice atmosphere and a lot quieter. Service was also first class in these restaurants. Windows food was good but never stayed hot for very long, this was something I did raise at the time and it was acknowledged, but there was always a good selection. The Patio had a good choice of food, the baked potatoes and Chilli were excellent, again service from Vishal 1 and Vishal 2 was excellent, very attentive and helpful. Entertainment, Paul Martell an impressionist and Jane Scali singer were in the show lounge and were very good, Signature singers again in the show lounge were good. Vasi Katina a pianist who played in Den was good. White Sand Trio who played in The Living Room were not good, the young lady who was singing was good enough however there were 2 elderly gentlemen, 1 played drums and the other key boards and sang but they were not good, they didn't gel as a trio. We like The Living Room however we only went there once and never went back as this trio were on every night. The White Night was well attended and everyone enjoyed the Signature Singers and Tony Markey the cruise director singing. We didn't attend the Azamazing Evening which was advertised as an opera but I believe it was 3 Sopranos who sang a mixture of song types. We enjoyed pre-dinner drinks in the Prime C cocktail bar, Ruby was in charge and she was very efficient and knowledgeable about the drinks and made a mean French Martini. The included drinks remain the same 2 whites, 2 reds which change daily, rose and a sparkling wine which stay the same. One of the reasons we enjoy Azamara is the smaller ships usually get the good berths which means being close to the town, also the early arrival and late or overnight stays. We enjoyed all the ports, Port Vendres was cancelled due to rough seas and this was substituted by a stop in Sete which was very nice, Marseilles, Monte Carlo and Livorno were the other ports. We didn't book any excursions. The Captain and crew were noticeable around the ship and all the staff we had dealings with were very helpful, friendly and efficient. Overall this was a very good cruise and we met some lovely people, the passengers were mainly from USA, Australia and Canada and some from GB. The reason for the 4 star review was due to poor embarkation and the entertainment, however this would not put us off booking again as we very much enjoyed our time onboard Pursuit. Read Less

Several of the destinations were new to us and the overnight in Florence, Italy - we spent the night I the city due to the distance to the port - and ending up in Rome where we last had been in 1996. Weather caused us to miss two of the original ports but the extra day in Marseille was a bonus. We did not take any shore excursions offered by the ship since they were almost all early morning - not our thing. We did engage guides in two ports. Florence did not have a bus to the city which made it difficult to book our own tours - our normal preference. The Pursuit is a welcomed addition to Azamara even though the service had some minor hiccups due to the number of new employees. We were surprised to see the old dressing table in our cabin - would have thought it would have been replaced. The entertainment times and type were a disappointment - we normally take in several shows. The food and overall service was excellent. Read Less

7th Azamara trip. Glacier was the main event and did not disappoint. Most cities looked alike. Shops and not much else. First day on board and it was self serve. Usually staff serve first day to make sure no one is sick. Azamara should go back to this best practice. I got a bad case of flu on board and it is awful to be confined for 5 days in you room. I’m sure this tainted my feeling about the trip. Wish I had better things to say but both my husband and I are just working hard to get back on our feet. The food in the dining room was good but missed surf and turf night. The white night party was a lot of fun as usual. So good that we had decent weather that night. Warren (coffee/bar) is such a nice person. I would like more lectures on board. Another negative is there was no TV for days. WiFi should be free to everyone and faster. Read Less

I chose this ship mostly due to the itinery. Having sailed numerous times with Celebrity, Holland America, RC and carnival I decided to upgrade to a luxury cruise. I brought along my husband who isn't crazy about cruising but, but since it was close to our 30th anniversary he did it for me. I also brought along a couple who have never cruised before. So Ill start with the good....Staff was wonderful!! Food was very good (with the exception of my husbands New York Strip in Prime C that wasnt good at all...everyone else loved theirs) Other than that food was good. Buffett could stand to be hotter. Now comes the bad...and there was plenty of it. Starting with the toilets not working on and off ALL WEEK. Its pretty bad when you use the toilet to not be able to flush it and the fan doesn't work work so our cabin smelled bad a lot. Day two they told us they were sorry, but no other cabins available. Day three they told us and our guests to pack our bags, come after our 9pm dinner and they will move us. They move our friends first while we wait patiently...around 12:30 am they tell us they have no other rooms...!?!? Finally one magically appears and we get into our room about 1:30am. Around 3am after listening to a jet engine noise coming out of the ac unit (which did I mention wasn't working anyway and the room was unbearably hot?) we could not sleep..called and they told us to go back to original room... basically we did not sleep that nite which totally ruined our day since we were exhausted. Now we tried to make the best of a bad situation, but the ac never really got cold in our room, in fact the whole ship wasn't very comfortable. BUT there was one day getting ready for a private tour in Italy..my husband had excited the shower I was going to brush my teeth and shower when …..I HAD NO WATER!!! They had decided that 8am was a good time to address a plumbing issue (their words not mine...) on would have thought that maybe noon after everyone left for the day? My friends toilet didn't work more than it did despite changing rooms. I was beyond embarrassed since I talked up Azamara, being the one who arranged all this and this is what I bring them on for a luxury cruise that we spent ALOT on? So I have been told by my husband and my friends husband THEY WILL NEVER CRUISE AGAIN....and I blame that on Azamara. This was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime and it was anything but. And the insult was after telling management the men would never cruise again ...they offered us a $400 future cruse credit!!!! I will leave my reviews all over so all will know to beware the pursuit. We wanted to love it.....wanted to but they made it impossible. Please remember the beginning of my review the staff were awesome and itinery phenomenal BUT it was the problems with the ship. It has plumbing and ac issues and cannot imagine it will resolved between the time I left the ship and the new passengers come onto it hours later. Read Less

We thoroughly enjoyed this cruise which we choose on the basis of small ship and ports of call. This turned out to be the correct decision on both counts. We boarded the ship in Civitavecchia (17/7/19) and we were in our cabin within 15 minutes and the cases arrived soon after. Our cabin (7007) was adequate for our needs with sufficient storage. As others have highlighted the 'bathroom' is small and if our cat was with us I couldn't have swung him round in it!! Food Generally speaking we enjoyed the food which was of a good standard. We took breakfast in the Windows Café and dinner on occasion. Any buffet offering is going to suffer from how the food is presented and how hot they can keep it. In this area they did pretty well. Included in the fare is wine (or other alcohol) of your choosing. We found the wine to be of good quality and they keep your glass topped up if you so request it. We saw no need to choose any other beverage plan. Windows restaurant does suffer from being Cafeteria offering with at times it felt like a bit of a bun fight with some fellow guests having very sharp elbows. The dress code for Windows is very laid back with shorts and T shirts being perfectly acceptable. We also ate in the Discoveries restaurant which is a whole different experience. Its A La Carte with a reasonable choice with some repeats and a couple different specials each night . People 'dress up' with men in say smart trousers and open neck shirt and the ladies (as they do) going that extra mile with smart dresses etc. All this lends itself to a nice atmosphere where the waiter brings the food (3 courses) and tops up your wine. We also used the Mosaic Café for coffee and tea which was included. We did not eat in the Prime 'C' or Aqualina as we did not wish to pay the extra cost. People we spoke said it was OK without being blown away. Ports of Call Our ports of call were very good with most if not all were within walking distance of where the ship was moored or where the Tender dropped us off. We did not buy any ship excursions as they are ridiculously expensive. Besides you can plan and do your own thing or at the very least jump on the Hop On Hop Off bus which was parked up ready for punters at the point where you left the Ship/Tender. Enrichment Activities We had the AzAmazing evening in Mahon which was Flamenco and very entertaining. There was also the White Night evening where we all dressed in white and danced the evening away to live music and a very good buffet. Tip if you are intending to attend this event do get there early as tables fill up quickly. Facilities The ship was nicely furnished in a traditional manner leaving you to think you were in a 4/5 star hotel. There were a few public areas where you could relax if you didn't want to be outside. Outside in the pool area and on Deck 11 are loads of quality sun loungers for those who wish to take in the sun. Overall We found the staff to be friendly and professional. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and we would consider sailing again with Azamara if they address the price of excursions as an example $89 to go on a ships tour is an unbelievable price and also in this day and age WiFi should included. Read Less

Chose the cruise based on the itinerary and comments from our cruise company that Azamara was really good! It was excellent! Smaller ship with 690 people and very much adult focused which we loved, room was great - bed super comfortable and kept neat and tidy and clean always. Common areas including The Living Riom and Thw Den we’re so inviting and warm. Really enjoyed them. Pool was perfect .never crowded, nor were the hit tubs! Lots of dining options.. Food was outstanding as was the service. Captain Carl was great and his team did some pretty impressive manoeuvres! Tony the cruise director did a great job órgano for many events and entertainment... especially the Azamaxing evening in Koper Slovenia... very impressive! Really liked having a local tourism rep come on at every por and provide some guidance! All round a 10! Will be sailing (soon we hope) with Azamara again! Read Less

We chose this cruise for itinerary and dates. We were celebrating our 50th anniversary. We flew into Vancouver on Canada Day. Took a taxi from the airport to the Hyatt Regency. Traffic was light. Taxi rates from the airport are fixed. $35 CD All taxis take credit cards. We were happy that we were able to check into the hotel early. We were upgraded to a beautiful suite with a balcony. We ate dinner at Black and Blue. Food was delicious, service was outstanding, decor was plush, and they had AC. Many restaurants in Canada do not have AC. After breakfast at the Hyatt, we were picked up by tour guide. While we were touring, our luggage was taken to the cruise ship. At the end of tour we were dropped off at Canada a place where we checked in, cleared US customs, and boarded the ship. Our luggage was waiting for us in our cabin. Ship was renovated in 2016. Still looks fresh and clean. Cabin was bright. The dark woods are gone. New furnishings were beautiful. Bed was very comfortable. Linens and toiletries were very pleasing. Our cabin stewards, Juan and Andrew, were attentive. We ate in most venues. We liked Buffet and discoveries dining room. Small sandwiches and pastry at Mosaic was good. Tapas in the Living room was ok. Food was mostly good. Our best meal was dinner at the Patio. Seafood platter. It is a lovely venue with table service. We enjoyed watching the gorgeous Alaskan scenery during dinner. We were underwhelmed by Prime C. It used to be better. Live music was excellent. We did not like the DJ or some of the evening shows. The Azamazing Evening at the Chihully Museum in Seattle was fabulous. Great venue, good weather, nice entertainment, and amazing food made for a memorable evening. White night had bad weather and had to abort to living room. Not the best white night. We enjoyed our stops in Seattle and the Alaskan ports. In Ketchikan, we took the Alaskan adventure and crab fest. It was really interesting and delicious. In Juneau, we took the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon bake. Unfortunately, our bus had a broken AC and windows that did not open. Bus driver guide was a real jerk. Bus had 49 guests and no crew escort. Salmon bake put us in long line with lots of guests from other ships. We were on a small ship waiting in line with guests from Ovation of the Seas It was a bad tour. Spoke to shore excursions who didn’t seem to care. Do not take the tour. Our stop in Nanaimo ,BC was a waste of time. Took an expensive excursion that was a real waste of time. Last day, brunch was well done....great food beautifully arranged, good service, and nice music. One of the best features of the Quest is the friendly crew. They really want guests to have a great time. We had a great time. Read Less

We chose this cruise as we wanted to visit Alaska and we chose Azamara on the recommendation of my brother & his wife, dedicated Azamara cruisers. We enjoy small ship, port intensive cruising and the cruise met our expectations as it made six port calls as well as some beautiful coastal cruising in the inner and outer passages. We were lucky enough to secure one the forward facing VX staterooms which had sensational views, albeit it was too cold to sit out once the ship was sailing. We scored Canada Day in Vancouver the day before the cruise and Independence Day in Seattle on the third day of cruise. We enjoyed Seattle, particularly the Underground Tour which gave a unique insight into the unique history of the city. Also, the Azamazing Evening in the Chihuly Museum in Seattle, was one of the cruise highlights. In Alaska we found the most interesting visit of the four locations was to Sitka. Its links back to Russia are still evident and we enjoyed the folk dancing in the local town hall, the raptor centre and the totem poles in the historic park, all on the one coach tour. It was less crowded than the others. In Juneau we took the coach trip to the spectacular Meldenhall Glacier and the salmon hatchery. Whilst In Ketchikan it was the interesting Misty Fjords boat cruise. In Skagway we took the coach trip to the White Pass summit as an alternative to the popular and expensive White Pass railroad trip. We learned that some other passengers booked this trip but the train did not leave even though it was fully loaded. Not sure if the cruise ship refunded their money. Skagway is a very interesting place due its historic links with the Yukon gold rush. The buildings are beautifully preserved with several museums but, alas, numerous gift shops and jewelers, which detract from its uniqueness. In Nanaimo, BC we took the waterfall hiking trip (excellent) combined with the wildlife centre visit (disappointing – no bears). The excursions were mainly funded by the generous cabin credit provided by Azamara, albeit the prices charged by the ship are generally considerably more than can be can achieved externally. One disappointing aspect was that Azamara changed port times (at short notice with no explanation) losing us >6 hours in port over the cruise. The time was mainly lost in Juneau which meant we had to reschedule excursions, at some financial cost to us. We are still discussing compensation for this with Azamara. Overall, we enjoyed the cruise and felt we received good value for money. Eating options were plentiful and the food/service were good quality. We liked the absence of a casino which we gather had been converted into a lounge area where the trivia quizzes took. We were however disappointed with the lack of any classical music onboard. We also found the port information was a bit light on compared with other cruise lines we have sailed with. We particularly like Azamara’s all-inclusive pricing policy and the inclusion of Azamazing evening Read Less

We picked this cruise because of the itinerary as we have never been to Alaska or Canada before. We stayed extra nights in Vancouver before the cruise which i would highly recommend as it is beautiful city with so much to see & do. i must say that we had exceptional weather and were able to see so many wonderful sights.. The scenery was spectacular as was the wildlife which included whales, Orcas sea lions & eagles. The only blemish was white night. after a very warm day we were expecting lovely temperatures during the evening, however it got very cold up on the pool deck with a strong wind. everyone moved inside but this didn't dampen the spirit and it turned into another wonderful night on board a wonderful ship. The staff were so attentive and couldn't not do enough for us and we felt at home from the very start of our cruise. The food in the main restaurant was exceptional and we really could have been satisfied with that, however we tried the 2 speciality restaurants as well. Aquilina is the Italian restaurant with excellent dishes and wines. my favourite was Prime C as it has a wide variety of steaks which are cooked to perfection. Read Less

Azamara folk are incredibly loyal and proud of their ship, and that’s just the guests! (Well, the staff are loyal and proud too). This was our first Azamara cruise, so I’m barely qualified to write this review, surrounded as we were by guests cruising Azamara for their fifth, tenth, even twentieth time in its ten-year history. The Captain set the tone, sociable, warm, and happy to show us Norway through his eyes. Our two (three?) sets of cruise directors brought enthusiasm and warmth to the trip. Entertainment maybe leaned too heavily on Broadway, but we appreciated the effort and I really liked the house band and the lounge performers. The cultural lectures were pertinent and valuable to appreciating our all-Norway itinerary. The cooking demonstrations were enjoyable and offered a peek at the professionalism and mutual respect that exists among the kitchen crew, which surely is not always the case. The AzAmazing evening featured a brilliant concert in Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral, and the White Night gave us an opportunity to cheer for the staff as they paraded through. Shore excursions were hit-and-miss and overpriced as usual, but we followed the pre-cruise Roll Call here on CruiseCritic and had a good mix of internal and external bookings. Well done Azamara! Read Less

Our first Azamara was on the 8-day Croatian Intensive out of Venice. Previously we have cruised Celebrity and quite a few on RC. We were delighted with the experience. No one pushing drinks, spa service or pricey add-ons. Standard beer, wine and cocktails are included. The only option is for a high end drink package. We did not buy that but had excellent wines. We seldom encountered question lines anywhere and the staff was uniformly delightful. The excursions were well done, the Azamazing evening was incredible and White Night was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the more mature group on board, and met fascinating, friendly people. The food was uniformly good at every venue. Captain Tony was visible and accessible, as was CD Tony and the rest of the crew. We read previous staff reviews, but this crew seemed to be jelling nicely. I’m afraid, though, that this was a costly cruise...as we are spoiled now and cannot return to the bustling crowds, belly flop contests and waiting lines of less costly cruises. Read Less

Over the years, I have been privileged to sail on forty cruises. These cruises were on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Cunard, Princess, NCL and some other lines that don’t even exist any longer. Out of all of those cruises, Azamara was simply the best. I am confused as to the Azamara Pursuit’s low ratings and inconsistent reviews. I concluded that since I am moving up from mass market ships, that maybe a reason why I feel that this cruise was really one of my best. People moving from higher level lines such as Seaborn, Silversea and the like would possibly be disappointed. Azamara is not a true luxury cruise line they live in between premium lines like Celebrity and luxury lines like Seaborn. Azamara, Oceania, Viking Ocean and Windstar are considered deluxe cruise lines in between premium lines (like Celebrity) and luxury lines like (Seaborn). I think if people understand and set their expectations correctly, they will enjoy a cruise on Azamara. What I loved about this cruise was the size of the ship, easy to get around and lines were a minimal. What a pleasure it was to not wait to be seated for dinner or for an elevator. The service was, for the most part excellent. The ports were fantastic and staying late is a nice feature. The particular Azamara cruise I sailed on was a Croatia intensive voyage. If you get a chance to visit this part of the world, take it. The ports were beautiful and historic. The décor on the Pursuit was very stylish and the ship looked brand new even though it has been sailing for many different cruise lines for the past 18 years of her life. I especially enjoyed the Azamazing evening and the White Night Party. All unique and gave the cruise a special touch. Food was also plentiful and mostly of high quality. The included drinks were enough for me as I drink very sparingly. I would have like to have seen more port/historical lectures. We had a gentlemen who presented on each port and he was great. I wish he could have done even more seminars on the history and geography of the region. I think Azamara could do more learning activities such as Cunard. Also, boarding in Venice could have been handled better however I think these issues have to do more with the port of Venice than Azamara. I will definitely be returning back to Azamara soon, it truly was the best cruise I have been on. Read Less

We were on the intensive Croatia cruise. Previously we have sailed on Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise. Azamara was a delight in comparison. No constant high pressure sales, small ship, the all inclusive, and mature passengers made for a relaxing cruise. The staff were exceptional. Our room was quickly seen to every morning and evening and was always clean and everything we needed was always provided. Regarding the Veranda cabin bathroom, it is small, but the shower is ridiculous small. I am 5’8” and 135lbs and it was a tight squeeze for me. We loved the over all decor of the ship. We just wonder how they manage to keep the light carpets and furniture clean! The food was plentiful with many options while not outstanding it was not bad either. The White night and chocolate buffet were a lot of fun and amazing. We were in a port everyday and on the go all day so did not have time or energy for any of the entertainment that was offered. The free laundry was great although extremely crowded on the day we embarked. We found the Azamara excursions to be way over priced so with the exception of two excursion we booked our own. My only complaint was directions on getting to San Basilio and disembarking. We planned on taking a train to Venice and did not want to deal with water transportation to San Basilio. Azamara was of no help with this issue. After researching we found that by taking a train to Mestre we could hire a driver who took us directly by land to the port. On the day of disembarkation we had a driver picking us up at 6:30 am. Again I could not get any information out of Azamara before we boarded regarding what time we could disembark. Once on the ship we had to speak to three different customer staff members to get us on the list to disembark early. A little unnecessary anxiety. All in all we highly recommend Azamara and this Croatian cruise. Read Less

This was our 4th cruise with Azamara and our first on the Azamara Pursuit. We have previously been on about 35 cruises (Costa, NCL, Cunard, Princess, RCCL. Celebrity, Regent, Crystal). This cruise did not disappoint! From the minute we got on the ship until we got off we loved every minute. Our only complaint is that our 7 day cruise was too short! As usual the crew was wonderful, very friendly and always giving us a friendly greeting. The food in the Discoveries Restaurant was excellent. We did not even bother going to the specialty restaurants. Capt. Antonio Toledo was wonderful. We got to speak to him on several occasions. We love the fact that the senior officers are so visible around the ship and greet you as you get off the ship when it is in port. To our surprise we had Tony as our cruise director. He was our cruise director on our first Azamara cruise. We also had another surprise when we were seated in the Discoveries restaurant with Noel as our waiter. He also was the waiter we had on our first Azamara cruise. Noel is an excellent waiter and we hope to see him on the Azamara Pursuit in the future. Chuck Richardson was our destination lecturer and he did a fantastic job. What we like about Azamara is the personal service and the intimate feel of the ship and no nickel and diming as on the larger cruise ships. We also like the fact that Azamara stays in ports longer. We liked the entertainment especially the Croatian dancers they brought on board in Dubrovnik. The violinist was also excellent. Fernando and Matthew were our future cruise consultants. We always had so many questions for them about future cruises and they always were there to help us. By the end of the cruise we booked 2 more Azamara cruises. We loved the Azamazing Evening but felt the music was way too loud. Azamara please keep up the good work. We hope on traveling the world with Azamara!!! Read Less

We have cruised with Azamara several times. After a very disappointing cruise in March, we decided to give it one more try. Azamara is no longer a luxury cruise line. The food was very disappointing and mediocre. The only decent meal we had in the main dining room was the sea-day buffet. The dinner buffets in Windows cafe ranged from outstanding to terrible. Although this was an Alaska cruise, we were never served crab and were offered Alaskan salmon only once. The food is better on Celebrity, and in a different class altogether on Oceania. Our cruise was originally scheduled to dock in Haines, but the port was eliminated. We did not get a price adjustment from Azamara or an alternate port, just another sea day. We had less than optimal dock sites in Icy Strait Point (tendered), Juneau and Ketchikan. Juneau had a free shuttle. The internet was incredibly slow. Also, due to their “upgraded” system, there was no way to tell how many minutes you used each time you logged on and off. Your minutes disappeared with no documentation of where they went. The White Night was a joke. No more grilled lobster tails. Instead, lukewarm seafood kebabs with a small piece of lobster, a shrimp, a scallop, and large chunks of fish. It was very windy, and many folks opted to eat inside. We were in Victoria on Canada Day, and the fireworks were supposed to be an added attraction to the White Night festivities. However, they were difficult to see from the ship. The liquor brands included in the complimentary package are low end. You get better choices with the Classic package on Celebrity. The cruise director, Ernest, was excellent. All of the ship’s singers and dancers were very talented. The entertainment was very good. The ship excursions we took ranged from average to excellent. We especially enjoyed the Sitka raptor center and Sitka tour and the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Bake. The salmon was grilled over coals with a maple glaze. Best food we had on the cruise. Our room was a standard balcony cabin. The bedding was great. Our shower had mold on the floor when we first got to our cabin. It was not removed until we complained to Guest Relations. Other than that, the cabin was very good. The service in the main restaurant was very poor. I always had to ask to get my water refilled. The menu was uninteresting. The daily chef’s specials were the same as the entrees served at the dinner buffet in Windows. Azamara used to be our favorite cruise line. It no longer is. The brand has been cheapened and it’s no longer a luxury cruise line. Read Less