We hadn't cruised in years and only on larger ships (which we didn't like), when a friend recommended Azamara. We chose this cruise for the itinerary and it didn't disappoint. Embarkation in Venice was incredibly smooth (took all of 10 minutes) and we were soon on board and enjoying lunch. We had an aft balcony cabin that was comfortable and had plenty of storage and the bathroom and shower, while snug, was not as bad as I had been let to believe (lol). Our cabin attendants kept it all spotless. We found the food to be very good. We ate most of our breakfasts in the Windows buffet and dinners in the MDR, although we bought a package for the 2 specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina and the Chef's Table. We found the food at Prime C and Aqualina not all that much better than the MDR, but the Chef's Table is really not to be missed. Outstanding! I can't speak too much about the entertainment, as we didn't partake that much. We found the group in the Living Room that played during cocktail hour too loud to promote conversation, though and much preferred the pianist in the Spirits lounge. The Azamazing Evening was the cellist Ana Ruchner in an outdoor venue in Split - a rock version of Yo Yo Ma - not to my taste, but a beautiful venue and very well organized. MY azamazing evening was a couple nights later when they brought an Italian tenor onboard as a surprise for a late night concert on the pool deck. We only booked 1 ship sponsored excursion, but it was a great one - at Dubrovnik, an excursion to the town of Ston, about an hour away for an oyster and mussel tasting, followed by a fabulous seafood lunch. The rest of our excursions we arranged privately with folks we met on our CC Roll Call. Although we loved all of the ports, we feel we could have used an extra sea day. We ended up skipping Florence (to our regret) because we were just so exhausted from Rome the previous day. We were struck by the friendliness of both the passengers and the crew. It was easy to meet people and because of the small size of the ship, one would tend to see the same people frequently. I feel like I have forged some lasting friendships. Read Less

We had previously travelled with Celebrity and Cunard on 2500 to 2800 size ships. This is a quarter of those. The food was good but no better than the larger ships that don't claim to be luxury at the same level. Service was excellent with very friendly and helpful staff. Most drinks are included and it was nice to have wine with a choice at each meal included. The smaller ship meant that we met friends more easily whilst around the ship. The entertainment was much more limited than for the larger ships due to space and budget. It was more personal but also a bit more amateur. The 'Amazing' evening ashore when Azamara put on a an evening event for all the travellers was brilliant and free. There was also a 'white Knight' barbecue evening on the higher deck which was superb with excellent food. So, the cruise was very good and different from the larger ships. Would we travel again? Probably only if the itinerary fitted. Read Less

We normally sail with Celebrity but had a tight timeline and wanted to see something new. Azamara was going somewhere we hadn't been and exactly on the day we needed to go, so we paid the much higher fare and expected a higher level of service than the normally very good service we have experienced on Celebrity. The best part about Azamara is the smaller ship. Getting closer to the ports is nice and everything onboard is a short walk. Also, no crowds or lines to get into restaurants etc. The bad news about the small ship is the shower is way too small. The below may be an issue with the crew on the Quest as I can't believe a premium line would survive long if our experience was normal. 1) Half our onboard credit was missing, but the problem was really the attitude of Guest Relations. Regarding the OBC, they said it wasn't their problem and would have to be solved by "headquarters." That isn't the type of issue ownership that we see on Celebrity. Also, got wrong information on multiple occasions from Guest Relations that caused us to miss events. They also forgot to give us the requested wake up call on the last day and if I hadn't looked over at the clock, we would have been in trouble. 2) We typically have room service for breakfast as it serves as a wake up call and gives us more time to get ready for the day. 3 of the 7 days we had room service the order was wrong (e.g., hot water instead of coffee, no cream for coffee, no milk for cereal...). 3) Room attendant was below par. One day we left at noon and came back around 6pm and our room hadn't been made up even though we left the "make up room" magnet on the outside of the door. Needed new towels one evening to get ready for dinner and was told they were on break and would be 30 minutes before they could get us new towels. The towels showed up damp, so more likely they hadn't run a load of laundry and gave us towels that hadn't finished in the drier. 4) Dining room wait staff, other than 2, seemed like trainees. Slow service, cold food, missing items. The menu was varied but seemed to just be a rotation of items with different preparations (e.g., several nights of lamb and seabream). As I said in the title, I expected a big jump up from what we experience on Celebrity but didn't get it. At 2-3x the price, we'll be back to Celebrity the next time. Read Less

We choose this ship as we liked the itinerary and we were keen to try a smaller ship. We traveled with 2 other couples and we all loved Azamara. We had traveled previously 3 times on celebrity cruise ships which we loved and twice on priinces cruise ships. Azamara Quest is our new favourite. The staff are so helpful and friendly. The food in all areas was some of the best food and meals we have ever eaten on a cruise ship. We did bistro C one night and the steaks were mazing as was the service and the rest of the food. Amazing night in Dubrovnik was a highlight with a cellist player who captured the audience with her talent. Captain Jose was so involved and we seen him many times around the ship and at the tenders. The pool area lovely and quiet and we never had trouble getting a lounge chair. The ship was tastefully decorated throughout . Thankyou Azamara we will Be definitely back. Read Less

We chose this cruise based upon advertising and online recommendations. In a nutshell, the Azamara Quest over-promises and under-performs in many areas, all while charging premium dollars for the cruise. First, we have been on well over 100 cruises and my wife and I agree that the crew on the Quest was the best of any of our many voyages.They were consistently "GREAT". Also, the Captain interacted with the passengers daily, something you rarely see in today's cruise world. The food was hit or miss. We did not go to alternative dining. Food in the Discoveries Restaurant was good, but not great. Hit or miss! For example on several nights, I ordered fish, and without exception, it was very dry. Food in the windows café was varied and again, good, but not great. Based on our cruising experience, most of the shore excursions were grossly overpriced. While we were in port most days, and many passengers left the ship, activities on board were almost nonexistent. Those they had, included such things as "table tennis get-together, unhosted", "Enjoy a caprese Panini in windows café", "bridge game get-together, unhosted" and a "Last chance art sale". Entertainment on "The White Night" and the "Amazing Evening" was extraordinary and enjoyed by all. On balance, most of the other entertainment was good. The ship itself showed some signs that it was due to be refurbished; however, it was well-maintained and very clean. There was a daily trivia however unlike most ships, many of the questions were very difficult, to a fault. We have played a lot of trivia and Azamara must learn to ask questions that are age-appropriate for their passengers and challenging, but not impossible, to answer. I did use the fitness center if you times and the equipment was good, but very limited. The ports were fine and very interesting, but for the most part, very crowded, as you might expect in Europe, in the summer. One last thing. We were told not to make flight arrangements before 11 AM on the last day. As it was, passengers were told to disembark beginning at 8 to 9 AM. Had we known this, our plane travel home could have been much more direct and would have allowed us to get home without overnighting in New York City. Read Less

Although this was our 7th Azamara cruise, it was our first ever Mediterranean cruise. We chose this ‘Rome to Venice’ itinerary because it included the Amalfi Coast. As we had been to Rome before we stayed in Civitavecchia for 3 nights before the cruise, giving us two full days there. We spent a day wandering around the town, looking at the market and the harbour especially. We also spent a day in Tarquinia, getting there by the local bus. What a beautiful walled town. We stayed in the San Giorgio Hotel which is well located across from the promenade along with a number of others joining the cruise. The hotel provides a free bus transfer to the ship. Embarkation was quick and easy, as usual, and we were onboard by 12noon. As always what stood out for us on this cruise was the friendliness of the officers and crew and their willingness to go the extra mile to make the cruise enjoyable. We ate most evening meals in Discoveries (MDR) and every meal was excellent. The two dinners we took on the speciality restaurants (Prime C & Aqualina) were very good indeed. At lunchtime we mostly ate in the Patio (on-deck grill), where my DH loved the Greek burger (freshly cooked lamb burger topped with a Feta cheese). The World Cup was on during the cruise. We were able to watch one of England’s games on the big screen in the Cabaret Lounge. For the other evening game, we watched the firsthalf in the Cabaret Lounge, and the second half ( once it was dark) on a giant screen on the pool deck. They had also set up a buffet on deck with a variety of snacks (mini- slides, croquettes, empanadas, desserts etc). Other entertainment extras included a soprano who provided a concert on the pool deck with the back-drop of the Amalfi Coast and the tenor who sang as part of White Night. The Azamazing Evening ( an evening excursion provided free on most Azamara cruises) was a Jazz concert in the Dante Alighieri Theatre in Ravenna. The setting was wonderful and the musicians were very accomplished, but the music was not really to our taste. White Night (an on-deck party) was in Venice to coincide with the Redentore festival there. The buffet included grilled lobster (served by Captain Jose) steak, lamb, sushi, wonderful salads and great desserts including crepes Suzette served by the ahotel Director. The tenor who sang was wonderful. Unfortunately just after Captain Jose had introduced the crew, the heavens opened (the only rain we saw during the 9 day cruise). Everyone decamped to the various indoor areas until 11:30 when we all came out on deck to watch the fantastic 45 minute firework display provided by Venice for the festival. We loved all the ports we visited. I had done a lot of research beforehand, so we had planned what we wanted to do. In Amalfi we took the open topped bus up to Ravello to see the wonderful gardens at Villa Ruffolo, then took the local ferry from Amalfi to Positano and back. We had been to Dubrovnik before so when we got off the tender in the old town harbour we took the ferry along the coast to Cavtat, which is a beautiful little seaside town. Sibenik is a lovely town. We went to see the St Lawrence Monastery gardens, the walked up to St Michaels Castle where the views over the Bay were marvellous. Azamara provided a free shuttle bus into Ravenna where we bought a ticket to see the wonderful Byzantine mosaics in churches around the town. The mosaics were done in the 5th century BC. They are designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. In Venice we bought a 2 day Vaporretto ticket. The first day we went to the Rialto market, then on to the Peggy Guggenheim modern art gallery, for which we had pre-booked tickets. On the second day we walked across the temporary bridge to the Redentore Church. This bridge is built across the Guidecca Canal for the festival, which is to celebrate the ending of the plague in Venice in the 16th century. Read Less

Friends had been on Azamara and suggested we join them. We were happy woth the itinerary, the ship was very nice and there were 2 very special events. I gave a lower score because the service was less than acceptable. It seemed that the wait staff was staffed with a majority of new employees. It was very obvious. Entertainment was extremely weak, food was slightly better than average and the cabin steward was not impressive. Communication about the “white night” was not mentioned until we were on board. We had booked an excursion, so we were late. Very poor information was available regarding the ports. It is a small ship but late afternoons we could only get a cocktail by the pool or in the living room on the top deck. The laundry room was always overly crowded and 2 machines were not working. We had fun but I was not overly impressed. The price was a bit higher than other ships and the alcohol amenity was nice. I do not think we would book with this line again. Read Less

The staff ! the staff ! the staff! from the second you are on board the Azamara crew becomes second skin . Everyone who works on the Quest is first class in both service and smiles . You feel as if the staff would fullfill any request with a smile and a wink! From the wait staff to the captain from Russ and Meg to the Azamazing performers this cruise ship is all about pampering .performimg and providing the greatest adventure the seas have to offer on shore and off shore .. Food is flavorful ,filling and reflects the port of calls and the passenger profile so well you would think the chef(s) live in our respective countries and towns ,from Italian to American cuisine as well as Indian Asian and Mediterranian .. Entertainement was over the top from on deck Arias to Azamara nights and Azamara whites . Russ the cruise director was delightful ,energetic and robust in his performance. Meg ,The assistant cruise director infused the cruise crowd with her ebergy talent and spirit a most wonderful performer My only complaint ~~~~ the cruise ended too soon but we will be back to enjoy all that Quest has to offer .. Thank You Quest for employing a staff that becomes family after only one day .. BRAVO Russ & Meg for the music the magic and the life style .... Read Less

First, let me describe who we are and what we were looking for in a cruise. We are two Americans in our early 40s, looking for a romantic/tropical vacation (without kiddos, of course). We enjoy food and wine, relaxing on the beach and a little bit of sight seeing. The 7-day Western Mediterranean cruise aboard the Azamara Quest was perfect for our needs. The ship’s small size allowed us to get into ports like Ibiza and Minorca that larger ships would either have to tender in, or dock at a more remote location and bus to the city center. In 7 days, there were only 2-3 times the boat ever felt even remotely crowded. We were always able to find loungers by the pool, and never waited for a two-top in any of the dining rooms. There were a few small children aboard (maybe a dozen under the age of 10), but generally they did not intrude our “escape” from our own kids. The ship is in good condition, and the crew does a great job of constantly cleaning and organizing behind the passengers. Each day felt like a new ship! The food and beverage was excellent. Not “fancy” by any means, but a large variety of high quality ingredients, prepared well. And many were locally sourced. Most of the included wines were from Italy, Spain, and France...the three countries of our cruise. As far as food, we dined on local cheeses and tomatoes from Italy, avocado from Spain, and seafood from France, just as an example. They served tapas (appropriate for a cruise departing from Barcelona) every evening in the Cabaret Lounge; perfect afternoon snack with a glass of wine to tide us over until dinner! The servers were very competent, but never pushy or intrusive...just what we were looking for in a romantic getaway. The fitness room was nice, modern and the perfect size. We did yoga and Pilates classes, and I utilized the locker room with steam and tropical showers. The entertainment was OK, but that’s not really what we were looking for. The entire entertainment crew was out for the White Night party, and they played/sang for 2+ hours without a break! The food for the White Night party was over the top with regard to quantity and quality...again, many locally sourced items on the menu. It was great seeing the ship’s officers out serving/cooking. The ports were great. We took a taxi to beaches in Ibiza, Minorca, and Corsica. The Azamazing Evening was on Majorca. We boarded buses to a 400+ year-old cathedral, enjoyed local dancing and music, and then were treated to a performance by a children’s choir in the cathedral. Overall, the event was well organized. Read Less

First off I should say I do love Azamara. The combo of relaxed and yet slightly luxurious vibe is a winner for me. But after a couple of years away, previous experiences with Azamara seemed much more luxurious than they do now. On embarking, it immediately felt different as there were a number of noisy children dominating the pool. Azamara is kind of billed as an adult ship, so this was disappointing and set the tone a bit. The cabin service also seems less good than previously - eg., favourite soft drinks not topped up in cabin fridge, despite asking cabin steward for this. Food was good, but a lack of lobster in main restaurant. What happened to the regular ‘surf and turf’? I should say that restaurant service was superb and friendly, as ever. Officers also seem a bit more distant/less friendly than in previous years. They used to walk the decks much more. Except for the Captain. In this case, Captain José, who is always very approachable. On my cruise the Azamazing evening trip to a Majorcan cathedral was pretty poor. On the plus side, the White Night was very good - except for the queue to eat which was just silly. My advice would be to eat in the Discoveries Restaurant and then go up to that event, but not rely on it for your evening meal. I will return, but probably only for an itinerary that really appeals. Read Less