We choose this cruise because our country (the Netherlands) were in lockdown and the Canary Island not. And because we had heard that Azamara has a high standard of cruising. And indeed they have. We were pampered all the way with an excellent service, very good food, a cozy atmosphere and easy contacts with fellow passengers.

We were lucky to have only 231 passengers on board (instead of the maximum of 690) and almost an entire crew (408 persons is the standard). And we were double lucky because the ship had just come back from drydock, so everything was spik and span. And we were triple lucky because the weather was good, although we missed two of the eight island due to too much wind. On the islands everything was open although covid was present. The excursions were generally very good and even better because we had a lot of space in the busses (often not more than 10-15 people in a bus for 50).

Azamara sets a high standard of cruising, higher than Celebrity and Holland America Line which we know well. A smaller ship means less crowds, more intimacy, more contact with the staff and more room for special requests. One of us has to eat gluten free and he had the time of his life. But you have to speak personally to the pastry chef to get the real masterpieces: gluten free tarte tatin, gluten free black forest cake, gluten free soufflé etc etc. If you want them to take real good care of this, you have to see the maître ‘D or better the cooks themselves. At the counter in the windows café they don’t always know which pastries are gluten free. Read more