Cruise line products are divided into numerous categories, so I was told at an Azamara Journey onboard seminar about the "behind the scenes" ship operations. The categories were described as: Budget/Economy, Standard, Deluxe, Luxury, and Super Luxury. Based on the impressive and beautiful Azamara brochure, my prior sailing experience with Crystal Cruises (my yardstick as a REAL luxury cruise line) and my travel agent's encouragement (she had just returned from an Azamara fam in Europe), I chose the Azamara Journey's Norwegian Fjords cruise. This cruise was my first cruise on a Celebrity/Royal Caribbean product and my impressions are from that viewpoint.

Our decision to take a cruise was last minute; we reserved the cruise about a month before departure and we chose to use Celebrity's flight package with transfers. My husband and I are seniors, in good health, and prior "cruisers" on several different lines. The total package price, including onboard credit, was appealing (though not cheap) for a "luxury" cruise. The promotion offered a reasonable base price with the possibility of an upgrade. We did receive an upgrade to a cabin with a large window on the same level as Guest Relations. The more expensive cabins are located on upper decks.

First impressions are signals and can be reliable predictors and our first exposure to Celebrity/Azamara was our first warning signal. We requested to leave at least one day early in order to sight see in Copenhagen and to adjust to the time change. We were told that option was sold out because of the last minute booking. Odd, because our flights departed on Friday, a premium day of travel, rather than the midweek travel we requested. The extension at the end of the cruise was also sold out. Our flight details were not advised until almost the departure date and we had no opportunity for modification. We did not like the return reservations, which had two plane changes. The transfers from the airport to the ship and vice versa proceeded smoothly and were essential to weary travelers. Read more