Azamara Quest Review

How do I love thee? Let me count the waves.....

Review for the Middle East Cruise on Azamara Quest
User Avatar
UESCruiser
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Oct 2015
Cabin: Club Oceanview Stateroom

What a pleasure to be back on the Quest - - my four most recent Azamara cruises were on the Journey, which I also love. The two ships are equally welcoming; however I would give the Quest a slight edge for one reason: the entertainment. I never thought I would say this, but this cast of singers (and dancers) were a cut above! And they worked on a ship!

Herewith some random observations and comparisons:

Embarkation and disembarkation: both were a breeze. We took our own suitcases on and off. Never a problem, and cabins were ready in Piraeus at 1PM.

Cabin Review

Club Oceanview Stateroom

Cabin 04

It turns out I had stayed in this cabin a few years ago! It was in a perfect location and completely quiet (except for the early anchorage prior to the Suez passage). This time I had a single and loved having it all to myself.

Port Reviews

Athens (Piraeus)

Arrived only one day prior to embarkation, which is not enough: Athens is full of bucket list sights. Despite the Greek economic quagmire, it is a lively city full of great museums, iconic ruins and delicious restaurants.

Rhodes

A first visit to this Greek island. It has a wonderfully intact medieval old town, which was perfect for a day's exploration on foot. An added bonus was a wedding taking place that day in the one surviving synagogue, with the bride and groom and guests coming from the UK and Israel. We were able to observe the festivities from the Mare d'Estate Cafe, where a "small" beer comes in a boot-shaped glass the size of Italy. More on the Synagogue: it also serves as the Jewish Museum of Rhodes. The once-sizable population of 4,000 was decimated under Nazi occupation, and now numbers 37.

Muscat

We took an 8 hour all day tour that was arranged by our American Express-affiliated travel agent, who registered us in the Mariners Club. It was excellent and included a terrific lunch at Kargeen Cafe. The tour included all the highlights, and Raj, the guide was informative (and a big fan of Oman. He himself is a Sikh from India): The Grand Mosque, Muttrah Souq, Bait Al Zubair Museum, Old Muscat and Al Alam Royal Palace.

Dubai

This was my fourth time here, and the hop-on, hop-off bus is a great way to see this immense and every-changing version of Tomorrowland. The distances are vast, the traffic lights are endless but there is a lot to see. We bought a three day pass right at the cruise terminal (the cleanest and biggest you will ever see) as we were staying two extra days in Dubai. You can bargain with City Sightseeing on the price, and there are lots of extras included: a dhow river cruise, the Dubai Museum, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, etc.

3 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find an Azamara Quest Cruise from $1,260

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.