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

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

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

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 sailed on the Quest from Seward to Vancouver and it was one of the best (of many) cruises that we have done. The voyage through the Alaskan scenery is almost indescribable. We have taken so many pictures and everybody says they are wonderful but we don't think that they show the beauty of the area as much as looking at it "in real life". The different ports were very good, perhaps with the exception of Icy Straight Point. It's good to get off and have a walk around but if you're looking for lots to do or see, then you'll be disappointed. Our cabin was the 1st level of suite, it was roomy and exceptionally well looked after by our room steward. The bathroom is small however. We did have a bath with the shower included with the dreaded shower curtain but that is being picky and certainly didn't upset us in any way. The MDR was very good and we also ate in the steak restaurant (twice because it was so good) and the Italian. We didn't enjoy this as much however this was due to personal taste rather than quality of food or service. What can i say about the staff - they were wonderful. Whether you dealt with staff in the buffet, MDR, speciality restaurants or in the service areas (guest relations, concierge or house keeping), they were wonderful. They find a way of being friendly and very helpful but still getting the job done. A great balance ! regarding excursions - I did the whale watching trip in Juneau which i would highly recommend (i couldn't count all the whales we saw) and my husband did the salmon fishing trip - both of which were excellent. Very well organised both on and off the ship. My husband did the salmon sports fishing in Sitka and was very disappointed with it, particularly after such a good trip in Juneau. We met lots of passengers that did the fishing trips and by the sounds of things Sitka trip was the "odd one out" of high standards. It's also worth mentioning the Azamazing evening which was local to a port and where we watched a Lumberjack show. It was great fun and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Praise is also due to the Buffet staff as we all landed in there when we got back on board and it was exceptionally well organised. Embarkation and disembarkation were both handled very well and were very smooth. As you meet passengers during the cruise you realise how many folks are return "Azamara's" and suffice to say, we enjoyed the ship so much we have booked again for next year (albeit a different destination). My final point is praise for a few folk. Air Canada lost our luggage and we were facing the possibility of having nothing before we sailed. Luckily, one case just before we left but it was another 5 days before we got the 2nd one. The Concierge (Adrian i think) was superb, he took over and said that he would speak and sort. It didn't resolve the situation but it certainly made everything easier so our thanks to him. Also to the shop staff (Lois) who went out of their way to try and help us get the items that we needed. Due to this out first few days weren't ruined. Here's to next year :) 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

We chose this because it was "all inclusive" and small. We assumed that due to its size it would cruise up an Alaska fiord but instead it headed out into the open ocean to dump its holding tanks. We did circles for a day doing this. The cabins are small but still very functional. Dining in the main restaurant was excellent with great food and wine and fairly attentive staff. The buffet food was good but service terrible. The wait staff have no assigned tables so you can be finished breakfast before you get served water and tea. Entertainment is not up to big ship class but the six regular performers were good and most enjoyed the basic shows. Azamara is new to Alaska and have yet to figure out that it is not the tropics. They held their "dinner in white" around the pool deck in very cold temperatures and howling wind. The poor staff worked very hard to make it happen but many gave it a pass or ate and ran. Ports of call were the standard Alaskan fare but because the ship is so small we had to tender in twice as the dock was well above the gangway deck. They figured out how to make deck five an egress point. This ship is not good for children. We will not travel Azamara again. Read Less

After having completed over 100 cruises, covering some 1300 nights, we wished to try the "small ship" experience of Azamara. After reading reviews of a number of various smaller "up-scale/luxury", we decided on Azamara, for our "test run". Being on a "smaller" ship, there was a discernible ( but not annoying) feel of some ship movement in open choppy seas. This was somewhat expected, if we encountered rougher sea conditions. One of the advantages of cruising in this category suite is the varied dining options. For dinner there are two specialty restaurants, "Aqualina" and "Prime C" available each evening (complimentary) as well as the main dining venue "Discoveries Restaurant", or the buffet "Windows Café". Of course en-suite dining is also available, for all meals (complimentary). One would have no need to "go hungry", at almost any hour. We did not attempt to find food at 03:00, but surmise it might have been available. We did have one issue that was somewhat of a nuisance. When we initially entered our suite the temperature was very warm, so we lowered the setting on the thermostat, in the living room.. After a while and not seeing any change we found another thermostat in the bedroom. We lowered the setting there also -- still no change. When our suite attendant and his assistant stopped by to introduce themselves, we mentioned the too warm temperature to them. They attempted the same changes that we tried, with no discernible change. Shortly after that Wayon (Cabin Attendant) returned with a technician to resolve the issue. The tech removed the covers from the thermostats, and checked some electrical connections, and shined his flashlight into the output vents. He then told us that "all was now, O.K." Two hours later, no real change was evident. When we met out butler, Xaviar, after that, we told him of the air-conditioning situation, he said he would have it fixed. He returned a short time later, with the same technician and another person, possibly the tech's supervisor, They went through a similar routine, and declared the situation resolved. There was actually a bit of cooler air coming out of two of the three vents (one in bedroom and two in living room). One of the vents in the living room was still putting out warmer air? The next day, we received a received a request from the Hotel Director for comments as to how the cruise was going, so far. We commented that the only "issue" we had encountered was that of the air conditioning, and said that was not something we expected to encounter on a "luxury cruise line" -- three (four, counting our response to his note) requests for relief, with no real resolution of the issue. Right about then, our Suite Attendant stopped by to inquire how things were progressing -- we told him about all that had transpired with the air conditioning. He said he would look into it again, and within an hour, another tech (actually two different techs) came by to look/see and made a few adjustments --- Voila !!! COOL air. Wayon surely saved the day (and perhaps the cruise) and allowed us to enjoy our, now comfortable suite (Sweet/Suite). We only had one other hiccup throughout the rest of the cruise -- more on that later, We had read a number of comments about the "poor quality" which are included (complimentary) for all passengers. We found the quality ranged from "drinkable" to "pretty good", and the prices for 'exceptional" wines was not totally out of line -- even left the ship with some unused OBC (On Board Credit). We ate dinner in the specialty restaurants just about every evening, and cannot recall any meal that was less than excellent. Some of that was assuredly due to the wonderful/attentive care of Kris (our usual waiter in Prime C), and the excellent Sommelier, Milena. There were also other advantages afforded to guests staying in Club Owners Suites. One of these was the "Best of the Best" dinner -- even though the title is a bit "over the top". For this event, the "Drawing Room" (see Deck Plan) was converted into a private dining venue for the evening. The dinner was by invitation and hosted be the Captain and the Hotel Director, also at the table were the Staff Captain and Chief Engineer (don't ask who was driving the ship). Each course was presented by the Executive Chef, with an explanation of the preparation, and the wines were presented by the Sommelier, with the rationale for each pairing -- these wines were definitely "top shelf". All of this was coordinated by the Ship's Concierge. The Guest List, as best as we could determine, were the occupants of the six Club Owners Suites and (perhaps) the couple on-board with the highest number of Azamara cruises. Along with the invitation to this dinner, the same guests were offered the opportunity for a private Bridge Tour and also to experience a tour of the Engine Control Room, hosted by the Chief Engineer. Whilst on the subject of Senior Officers/Managers, they were very visible (and approachable) to just about any passenger, throughout the cruise.-- a very nice touch. The only disappointment we encountered was the "Azamazing Event" which took place in Sitka -- we were contacted , via telephone, prior to the cruise to ascertain if we would be attending the event, supposedly to allow for "special" seating arrangements. Despite what we had read about the Azamazing Events on past cruises, on this particular cruise, no special seating arrangements were made for those passengers in the top suites. Instead disembarkation for transfer to the event venue was done by "Deck Number". We were assigned to Group 5. When we arrived at the venue, we were directed to seating by Group Number. Instead of being in the "Reserved Section" on the main level, our group (5) relegated to a cramped corner of the balcony, where the temperature was very warm. From what we could see/hear of the presentation/show, it seemed to be very good. We felt like we were perhaps in the upper deck, corner seats at something like the Super Bowl. When we were leaving the venue, we asked the Hotel Manager, "Why the change in seating?" He told us that he was not consulted on the "arrangements" ??? Truly the "low point" of the entire cruise, even worse than the "air conditioning scenario". That situation was at least reconciled. Overall, we enjoyed the cruise, and would do another cruise aboard Azamara, just not in the immediate future. Whilst on board, we did book another cruise -- on Celebrity. Azamara has a cruise with a similar itinerary to the one we booked with Celebrity, but we are more confident about the total experience we will receive aboard Celebrity. That does not mean we will not return to Azamara - - just not in the near future. Read Less

We chose this cruise a we wanted to go back to Alaska and wanted to go on the Azamara Quest for the second time. It didn't disappoint. The food was excellent and the itinerary was good although we missed Victoria because on high wind. We were able to get closer than the larger ships and only had to tender one time. The smaller lounges on board were very nice to meet and converse with other cruisers. The elimination of the Casino was disheartning, however probably saved me some money. The Captain was one of the most outstanding officers I have seen on a cruise ship, very personable and visible to keep us informed on every phase of the cruise. Hope I get another chance to go on the Quest and cruise with him. Embarkation was the quickest and easiest I had ever been through in nearly 20 cruises. Disembarkation was also easy with our luggage removed from the ship the night before and were close to our transportation. Canada and US Customs were very professional and smooth. Read Less

This cruise visited 12 ports around Japan. There was only 1 Sea Day which makes it a very active cruise. We docked at all ports so there was no need to tender. This was our first visit to Japan so we were able to add a pre cruise land tour of or own. With the back to back option we were able to go by ship from Japan to Alaska. They return to Japan in late July so that re positioning cruise would be attractive as well. The retrofit of the Quest is great. They removed the Casino and now call the area The Den. The bar is still there and the piano has been moved from the corner to the wall in the middle of the room. There is also and extensive of collection of travel books to all destinations. Great for guests to research destinations for future cruises. There were no children on this cruise. But beware, Azamara does allow children on their cruises. Unlike Viking which allows only children over the age of 18. Most guests were over the age of 55. Very few wheel chairs or those with walking issues. Entertainment by 54 Below at Sea was very good. This is affiliated with Studio 54 in NY which is famous for their small venue entertainment. Azamara's enrichment lectures were fantastic. Charles Richardson spoke about the history of some of the destinations - was not talking about tours available. One topic was Japan: Land of Culture & Tradition. Another was Korea: Two Nations, One Peninsula. Very interesting. Read Less

This was our first Azamara cruise and we chose it because of the itinerary. We loved everything, the crew, the service and the food. As a bonus, we met some wonderful people. The included Amazing Evening was just that, a really nice amenity on this cruise line. The ship had been in dry dock for a week prior to our cruise which resulted in a few glitches in the beginning of the cruise. Azamara corrected the issues as quickly as possible and compensated everyone for the issues. Our second Azamara cruise is already on the calendar! Good to know: The cabin bathroom is quite small. Laundry facility is a nice amenity on the 7th deck and it is heavily used. Detergent is provided. The Mosaic Café offers coffee and great snacks throughout the day. The casino has been removed and replaced with a very nice piano bar called The Den. Read Less

My first time on this ship and with this cruise line, we picked this because of its itinerary and its smaller size. It didn't start off smoothly but the cruise line fixed the problem and everyone was compensated very well. We did explore the embarkation port which was Singapore stayed 5 days and loved it a most beautiful city with so much history. The Quest ship is still being updated, there was some construction going on during the voyage, not too intrusive. I was in a suite club continental, everything was new and updated huge bathroom, king bed, new carpets, large balcony and many more perks that come with the suite cabin. There are unlimited dining options in the specialty restaurants all included and wonderful we ate in both Aqualina and Prime C excellent service! Also, all international buffets were outstanding. Entertainment was fantastic loved all of the local shows, Ports and excursions were good the only thing, I found it very hard to understand and hear the local guides speak, especially when in a group of 25 or more, they should provide headsets on all the tours. Overall we did enjoy this trip and all the beautiful ports, service by the cruise is outstanding and they really go out of their way to make you feel at home. I would consider another cruise in the future for sure! Read Less

TOTAL DECEPTION !!! We have just experienced our worst cruise for life !!! We are a couple with more than 15 cruises of experience. The AZAMARA QUEST is too old and poorly maintained, they have done renovations and repairs throughout the cruise. And the worst happened: with outside temperatures of 34c, we ran out of air conditioning for 36 hours, because there is only one compressor for the whole boat and it broke. Our outside patio room was dirty as I have never seen any of the last 15 cruises I did, I put on my shoes to walk on (pictures), there was a metal bar on the floor that had to hold the window that separates the patio of our neighbor, the bar was laid 5 days later, after several reminders. The 3 Jacuzzis on the boat had no water and did not work during the first 10 days of the cruise. The 2 shops of the boat were closed and under renovation, they opened after half of the cruise. This is the first and last time I chose Azamara, yet this company has the reputation of being the cruises Mercedes ... it's the utmost disappointment. We had the announcement, after the problem of air conditioning, that we were credited with 50% of the price of the cruise, I confirm that we did not even celebrate the credit of several thousand dollars because this boat is not worth more!! Our last cruise a few weeks before the QUEST was on the Celebrity EDGE, the average daily price was 40% cheaper than on the '' Quest '' and we had a brand new boat with tons of restaurants and shops, and all and all ... I do not understand how Azamara can charge us such exorbitant prices for a comparable service with other extremely inexpensive boats. This is outright abuse !!! Read Less

We travelled last year with Azamara and greatly enjoyed the smaller ship feel, comfort and convenience. This cruise, from Cairns to Singapore offered us the chance to see some things on our ‘to do’ list, especially Komodo and Borobudur. Embarkation in Cairns was efficient and since Quest and Journey are almost identical, it was very easy to settle in. We enjoyed a quick look at Thursday Island which is otherwise quite difficult to visit. Our only real disappointment in the whole trip was the docking location in Darwin. Instead of being at the cruise ship dock, we were more than 30 minutes away, each way, by the provided shuttle bus, at the spectacularly unscenic and inconvenient bulk container terminal. We had 3 things planned for Darwin but saw only one of them because of the docking location. Do visit the RFDS where you get not only the RFDS story but also an amazing virtual reality experience of the bombing of Darwin. The Azamazing Darryl Braithwaite concert was great but also meant 12 buses doing a one hour trip and the inevitable waiting. Food was excellent again in terms of variety and freshness. We mostly used the Windows buffet for breakfast and lunch because we could choose salads and fruit. Dinner was mostly in Discoveries but we did have 2 meals in Prime C and one in Aqualina. We had remarkably flat seas and hot weather for the whole 2 weeks and everything was well-organised. The staff continue to be gems and a very important part of the Azamara experience. The docking location in Singapore, at Harbourfront, is far better than the main cruise terminal. It’s very close to an MRT station, a very large shopping centre ( Vivocity) and Sentosa Island. Shore excursions On Thursday Island and Komodo we did the ship excursions because they were tender ports and it was easier. On Thursday Island it was hot and the fort is at the top of a hill so it’s quite a long way to walk. The cemetery is even further and I don’t think you would have seen both in the time if walking. On Komodo you were not allowed to leave the ship if you did not have a shore excursion ticket or proof of another tour. A safety issue. In Bali we booked a car and driver through Tours by Locals. Ketut Arwan was great and very happy to meet our needs. Highly recommended Same thing, same company for Borobudur with excellent guide, Gregorius Gagat and a very skillfull driver too. It was a long trip on crowded hilly roads and we were so pleased not to be on one of the ship’s 6 buses. In both cases the car and driver option was as cheap or cheaper than the ship bus shore excursions. Read Less

This was our 3rd Azamara cruise. We are very happy with the cruise line, service is amazing from the maintenance workers to the captain. Everyone is friendly and go out of their way to help with whatever.The ship was going in for an overhaul as soon as we all got off. Having said that, the ship was in excellent condition, wish we could have seen the change. The evening shows were excellent...they brought on a few different acts that were good. The singers and dancers on staff were great. The cruise director and her assistant have incredible voices and also entertained. After shows the piano bar was another place to go and watch talent at work. Food was wonderful and again service the best. I have nothing but praise for everyone involved and thank them for another wonderful cruise. Tours in Indonesia were a bit disappointing, but I would imagine even trying to put together things to do there would be a daunting task. Read Less

I am retired in Thailand with a lovely young wife, I have been cruising for over 50 yrs, and done maybe 40 plus cruises, and around 10 with Azamara, we currently have three booked Azamara is at the top of our comfort zone money wise, we do not like crowds, we do not stay up and party all the time, often when in port we stay on the ship, we prefer not to be harassed by children, and the passenger profile, is generally professional and restrained, you do not get pushed out of the way in the buffet We like the pretty well all inclusive policy We do not do many shore excursions The food bearing in mind what is being paid is excellent, with very wide choice and good included wine choice The cabins are a little small but adequate, exceptionally well looked after, and the stewards will do anything possible to make your stay as comfortable as possible We love the white nights, are not so sure about the Amazing evenings but there is no cost The most exceptional thing about the ship is the staff, they are the very top, and go out of their way to help In October we are doing Hongkong to Singapore, then back to back the Myanmar trip that we have done before, in March next year we do Sydney to Singapore on the Journey Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary and an opportunity to try Azamara. We were very satisfied with everything aboard ship. As suite passengers we had free access to the premium dining venues. Prime C was excellent and would have been worth the upcharge non-suite passengers paid. The other venue was hit or miss. Cabin and dining service were everything one could ask for. Entertainment we felt was a strong point. We've experienced the 'shows' on larger ships and been underwhelmed. Azamara's individual performers (esp. singers) were excellent. We enjoyed the White Night. It's a nice extra. The Azamazing (sp?) evening concert was much appreciated by the Ozzies on board but most of us North Americans didn't know the band. I took the 'behind the scenes' tour of the ship and heartily recommend it to anyone interested in what the crew does to make our trip pleasurable. We used private tours arranged by RCCL for Bali and Semarang as one of us uses a wheelchair. We cannot say enough about their efforts and those of the on-board staff to accommodate our needs. Tours: Bali and Komodo Island were fascinating and highlights of the itinerary. Semarang and Surabaya, not so much. Thursday island really isn't worth a stop but Darwin has much to offer. Cairns and Singapore were great start and end points. We've already booked our next cruise on Azamara. Read Less

Chose this cruise due to an interest in Komoda Island and it was our first adventure with Azamara. Booking and document process was smooth and efficient and also the boarding at Cairns. All the staff were very friendly, helpful and supportive. A minor issue raised by us during the cruise re pillows and laundry was quickly addressed in a very caring manner. All in all it was a positive experience. Very relaxing holiday starting in Cairns and finishing in Singapore. Some ports of call were more interesting than others and in hindsight would have booked more shore excursions from the ship too see more of the surrounding areas instead of the city centres/shopping malls etc in the final 2 Indonesian stops. Positives ------------ Food and dining facilities (very positive) Rooms and cleanliness (small bathroom but manageable) Night time entertainment. All staff were great and drink service was quick and efficient. Small passenger numbers and absence of children aided noise levels and sleep comfort. Darwin,Thursday Island and Komodo ports. Minor Negatives --------------------- Collective 5 days at sea and absence of any worthwhile day time activities.(Not a Bingo fan) Lack of seating at busy times in some pre dinner drinks venues. Last 3 Indonesian ports not all that interesting. Self service laundry is a bonus but too small to accommodate passenger needs. Read Less

We booked a back to back cruise on the Quest after enjoying a great cruise with Azamara from Singapore to Mumbai 2 years ago. We departed from Auckland on the 21.2.19 in a Club Ocean suite 7005. We were really impressed with the ground staff at the terminal who were very helpful and were able to board the ship quickly. Our room was ready with a welcome bottle of Fizz. Once again it was immaculately clean.The bags arrived very quickly so we were able to unpack before exploring. As before we were incredibly impressed with all the staff throughout the ship. They were always friendly and helpful. Cruising around New Zealand was quite bumpy and we did miss the port of Gisborne because of the weather. We experienced quite a bad storm at sea the night before arriving into Wellington. Being on the front we know from experience that usually means you feel all the motion quite badly. The crew knew it was going to be stormy and offered over the announcement system a free acupuncture session the day prior to guests. My husband and I took advantage of this. It was a totally pain free and we never felt nauseous, so well worth trying. In Wellington we attended the Azamazing evening at the Cathedral which was fabulous and well organised. Throughout the trip all food in all restaurants and room service was fantastic - thank you chef Colin. It was still bumpy heading up the coast from Sydney so we missed the port of Mooloolaba. For missing the 2 ports we were promptly presented with a letter giving each cabin a 500 dollar on board spend for future cruises, which was appreciated. After that the seas did improve. At Cairns we stayed on board ready to start our next cruise. Very quickly those staying on were sorted with new cards. We had decided to try a owners suite on the back 6091 and the staff moved everything for us and we were unpacked well before lunch. Once again the suite was immaculate. All Suite stewards and Butlers were very professional and friendly and really worked hard to meet our expectations. For entertainment we felt the ship managed very well considering the size, age range and different nationalities. We enjoyed the quizzes, talks, and shows. The gifted musicians and singers work hard throughout to entertain the guests. The White parties are fun and I recommend arriving earlier to get a table. At both white nights it rained just after the music started and we were impressed to see how quickly the staff moved the party indoors. The ships announcements were helpful and informative, we did feel very safe on board throughout our cruise. We were impressed at how quickly we were able to get on and off the ship, the security staff were very efficient. My husband used the gym on all sea days and found the equipment clean and well cared for. I used the spa once, I enjoyed the experience but would agree with other comments that it is very over priced -which may stop me using it in future. We did do some Azamara organised excursions. As usual we found them excellent, maybe a little pricey but the standards were very high and we felt very well cared for. Disembarkation was in Singapore and the ship was then off for a refit. One small criticism is that once we arrived into Singapore at lunchtime the day prior to leaving. The focus did seem to move from cruising to refitting. However this really was a fabulous stay on a great ship and I already have my next Azamara cruise booked. in case you are wondering we preferred the Club Ocean Suite at the front. Read Less

chose for the ports to include NZ and Oz. over 15 nights 5 shows were fairly good, but the 10 others were dire. They use a company called level 54 who are shocking. many nights the audience only numbered about 30 out of 650+ passengers on board which pretty much sums it up. The tv films in the cabin were very old (eg under a tuscan sky) and went on repeat in the 2nd week which is inexcusable. If the weather had been poor then the sea days would have been very boring. Regular Azamara cruisers we talked to were disappointed and felt the cruise line is slipping in the same points we make above. on disembarkation we had to get off the ship by 9am even though our flight was in the afternoon! all other cruise lines we have used always allow you to stay on board after vacating your cabin rather than dump you at the airport! not impressed. Read Less

One of the reasons on deciding to do this cruise starting in Auckland was to meet up with a relative who emigrated to New Zealand back in the 70s. Mission accomplished! On the itinerary, there were several ports in Eastern Australia which we had not previously visited and by sailing back-to-back it afforded us the opportunity to explore ports within Indonesia, and revisit Singapore. Despite its age, the Ship looked in fine condition, and was wonderfully clean and well-presented. In fact, no different to our last cruise in October last year. Therefore, we were surprised to learn it was going into dry-dock for a week for refit/modifications in Singapore. Embarkation in Auckland went very smoothly. This was our third time on the Quest (and our fourth time with Azamara), and it was great to see some familiar faces among the staff when we came aboard. Can honestly say we've always found the staff on Azamara ships to be well-trained, courteous, and helpful, yet very friendly. They are indeed exceptional people so it is no wonder they are offered repeat contracts. The entertainment offered on the ship in the evening, (Cabaret Lounge), is not high on our list of priorities, much preferring instead to listen to the ship's talented musicians on board, individuals and groups, who frequent the different lounges. However, pleased to note the 10-minute short plays and then the four opera singers, have been superseded with the return of the ship's company of 'singers and dancers'. Praise be! Although, tongue in cheek, one of the opera singers is still on board in another guise? On this B2B cruise, we've had two AzAmazing evenings, two 'White Night' events, and then two 'Chocolate Buffets' - so, what's not to like? And, delicious food, always. Have booked further cruises for next year! Read Less

We chose Azamara and this itinerary based on the recommendation of friends who did it a couple of years. ago. We too weren't notified of the change of embarkation point, but noticed the ship in the "wrong port" the night before from the roof top bar of our hotel. Sailing on smaller ships is a great experience. More attention from crew and an altogether sense of community familiarity that just happens among the passengers. We had a balcony room, midship on the deck 6. It was very comfortable and the small shower was adequate. Because of weather or just being out and about we really didn't use the balcony much but it was nice to have. The crew was always attentive, the entertainment very, very good, and most meals were well prepared. However more attention should be given to timing and suggestions as when to eat in the dining rooms if you want to make a show. Any time after 7.15pm creates a rush. Prime C was a disappointment, the food was just ok, the service slow and the room needs to be refurbished. Aqualina though did not disappoint. My only other comment on the food was that there way too much. Something was always there, available and too inviting. We did several exercise classes. More thought needs to given to the space required as many were popular and people couldn't participate. However they were advertised as 45 minutes, but most were barely 30. The Amazing Evening in Melbourne was in a beautiful recital hall with a performance by a top Australian vocal artist. Very enjoyable. The White Night was well done, the production performers professional and personable. Dancing in the Living Room to the Sound Sensations became a nightly destination for us. The crossing to New Zealand was a day and a half of rough seas, but part of cruising. But we found there were too many sea days, especially when they were back to back. All the ports provided something to do, some more that others. Napier was special and unique with its art deco architecture. We don't do cruise sponsored shore excursions. We find better value and choice is always available at the port. Cruise lines ask you think about the environment when using towels, etc, but they don't do anything about the amount of newsletters, brochures, invitations and sale announcements they produce. There must be better and more efficient ways to communicate to your guests and cut down on paper useage. It was ridiculous on this cruise. Overall, there is no reason not to consider Azamara for fun and enjoyable experience. Read Less