Azamara Quest

Azamara Quest South Africa Intensive Voyage 12 Nights

As experienced cruisers (20+) this was a first-time cruise for us with Azamara and therefore a trip into the unknown. Although a great deal of information is available on the internet views differ greatly from one contributor to another and I can only comment on our actual experience. The cruise was a last-minute decision and booked through Cruise Monk in the UK about a month before sailing date. The booking was handled efficiently and without problem, Flights (LHR/DHA/CTN return), accommodation (2 nights) in Cape Town pre-cruise were included in the price, as was the Azamara basic drinks package and gratuities. With hindsight we should have asked about additional cost for direct flights and possibility of a longer stay in Cape Town. Azamara Quest is the smallest cruise ship we have been on (700 guests), so clearly a new experience for us. First view of the ship in Cape Town was wow, what a great looking ship. Embarkation was faultless. We were booked for 2:30 pm, but arrived about 12:45pm, there were no queues and we were abord within 15 minutes or so. No massive atrium or flash staircases, just well-functioning facilities which would have been considered as state of the art when the ship was designed in the late 90’s/ early 00’s. Our cabin was an OV on Deck 4 about midship on the starboard side. The cabin was perfectly adequate with power outlets, empty fridge for our use, adequate storage and hangers etc. Yes, as many have said, the bathroom is rather tiny with a small, curtained shower, but perfectly adequate and got used to it after a day or so. The staff on this ship share a passion for quality and service which is reflected across the whole ship. Cabin, Dining, Bars, Guest Services…nothing is too much trouble and the smallest request is greeted with a smile. If you are not happy with the basic drinks package other options are available starting at around $35 per night, but we were happy with the Gordons/Beefeater Gin, Wersteiner Beer 5%, Baileys and the choice of House Wines (Red, White and Rose) included in the basic package. The Windows Café (Buffet) was our choice of breakfast venue and again the service was excellent. On finding a table a waiter would immediately come over to take our order for juice and coffee whilst we selected our breakfast choice. Omelette, fried eggs made to order and brought to your table. Discoveries Restaurant (MDR) on Deck 5 was our choice for evening meal. Occasional wait 5 or 10 minutes during busy periods (7:00pm to 7:45pm) but again attentive staff who listen to you and quite happy to “tweak” dishes to your preference. We found the choice of menu more than sufficient for our needs. We also tried the Prime C and Aqualina (Italian) speciality dining restaurants which were both great, but our preference was for Aqualina. We were both a bit wary of the White Night, but our fears were unfounded. Neither of us are fans of buffet style evening meals but this was exceptionally well managed with the most amazing food and entertainment. There was also a BBQ lunch towards the end of the cruise which again was brilliantly carried out. A huge well done on the food. There is no theatre on the Quest, but instead a far more informal Cabaret Lounge with the ships Entertainment Team (Performers and Musicians ) presenting a range of energetic shows to cover a broad spectrum entertainment styles and wow did these guys work hard. Quality! Shore excursions were pretty much aimed at those wishing to visit Game Parks guaranteed to see the Big 5. Having experienced Etosha in Namibia and Kruger in SA this was of no appeal, so we did our own thing. Azamara provided local transport from the ship to local shopping malls for those wishing to get off the ship. I think the thought being the safety of the passengers, which is understandable, but dissuaded many from doing “their own thing”. This was the case in Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Durban. Being more familiar with SA we chose to explore the locality using Bolt and/or Uber to visit a few local landmarks and try some bars with local craft beers off the beaten track. In Durban port there was an announcement on the PA with TEN Safety rules about visiting the city which I know put the fear of God into many who just went to the mall and back on the provided transport. Such a shame as Durban is a fabulous city and we had a great walk along much of the Golden Mile (Addington Beach) stopping for a few beers and in the middle of the day there was nobody hassling any of the few brave cruisers taking advantage of the sea and the sunshine. Unfortunately, due to heavy seas were not able to disembark in Mossel Bay which was a tender port (the only one). The highlight of the cruise, of course, Cape Town (The Mother City) possibly the finest city on the planet and has been a favourite destination of mine for over 40 years. Yes, maybe a few little niggles, but nothing of big concern to stop us cruising again with Azamara. Thank you for reading this and I hope it may encourage you to cruise with Azamara and/or visit the beautiful city of Cape Town or simply to visit SA.

A small friendly ship

We recently had our first cruise with Azamara. We had an intensive cruise along the South Africa coast. Our first impression was that the ship was small. We had a very good experience with customer relations as we were able to move our stateroom. Our original stateroom was directly below the Cabaret Lounge. We were moved to mid ship. This proved to be an excellent place to be. All the Staff were helpful and friendly. As the ship was small you were able to get around easily. There were some quiet places to go to read. The food quality was outstanding. You got to know other guests as there were not so many of them. There was good choice of food in the main restaurant and the buffet. We had 3 meals in the specialty restaurant which was included in our package. The service was good and you weren't rushed. We went to the Cabaret Lounge where they put on shows. The singing was good. There were other areas where they had entertainment. It was great to be in port overnight. The only downside was the motion. We couldn't get I to Cape Town because of the weather so we had to sail around. It was quite uncomfortable as the motion was such that we had to lie down. Fortunately we were not seasick. Overall we had a great experience on board Quest and would go with Azamara again.

Lovely Ambiance Fabulous Crew: Perfect for Some…

We were on an 11 night Scotland intensive followed by an 11 night Ireland intensive. In any case it was a tremendous experience. If you aren’t familiar with Azamara , do some research. They aren’t for everyone. If you need flash, party party party and someone entertaining you 24/7, it’s probably not your best choice. There are activities for sure but it’s not like the big mass market floating amusement park/ shopping mall experience. Azamara has a low key elegance that we love. Many of the public spaces are places to relax , read or play games with fellow passengers. The one shop is small. There is no casino. As I said, not for everyone. If I haven’t lost you yet, I’ll go with some more details. Activities: Frankly a bit limited during the day. There are fitness and spa offerings. Trivia games are pretty popular and offered several times a day in different lounges, public spaces. Because Azamara is often port intensive most people are off the ship. In the evening there are several music offerings and dance parties. Service: Absolutely off the charts. The crew is genuinely warm, friendly and welcoming. Waiters and servers are attentive without being intrusive. Staff cleaning or doing other tasks stop to acknowledge guests and wish them a good day. Bar staff quickly learn your likes. In 20+ years of cruising on several different lines I’ve not come across better crews. We’ve been on 3 Azamara cruises now on 2 different ships. Crew friendliness is a core value. Cabin: We have always chosen a balcony cabin, can’t justify a suite. With the exception of the bathrooms I find the cabins spacious enough. There is plenty of storage. My wife is a fanatic about adequate storage and she is pleased. Beds are comfortable The bathrooms are another story. Yeah, they’re pretty small. The shower is especially small. I’m 5ft 10 and about 180. I fit ok buy I can understand the frustration of people much bigger. There’s only a shower curtain so you’re likely to get a little water on the floor. The bathroom is designed to manage that however. Sure it’s not ideal but really,how much time do you spend in the bathroom? Dining: Food is quite subjective of course but I think their food is outstanding. There is good variety in both the Windows Cafe (buffet) and Discoveries Dining Room. At lunch there is also a grill on the pool deck. They have burgers , other grill offerings as well as vegetarian options. There are specific times on all these so don’t expect to be able to eat constantly. There are , however finger food, tapas kinds of things in other locations much of the day. Children’s Activities: nada, zero. I’ve seen a couple teens and a bit younger but while children are allowed Azamara is not marketing to families. Entertainment: I can probably count on one hand the number of production shows I’ve seen on other cruise lines in my 20+ yrs of cruises. I went to every show every night on my Azamara cruises. They were so good and so much fun. Emily, the Cruise Director and Lee, the Asst CD are outstanding. They lead such a talented , fun group. Aside from production shows there is a house band who do popular tunes several times in the evenings. There’s also a piano player in who plays at places around the ship. Officers and Senior Staff: The crew is as good as it is because of who they are and the examples they set. Very friendly , helpful and approachable. The Capt had coffee every morning down in the Mosaic cafe. Marcelo, the Hotel Director, Lee and Emily would often be at The Gangway or helping people on and off tender boats. Embarkation and Debarkation: simple and painless. You get champagne during the safety briefing! I hope this gives you an honest review of my experiences. As I said earlier if you’re looking for “Vegas” glitz and 24/7 party energy, this might not be the cruise line for you. If you want a casual understated elegance with a warm and caring staff doing their best to bring you fun and adventure, this is it.

Azamara -- a fantastic way to see Iceland

We booked this cruise on the Persuit last year. The information we received from Azamara prior to sailing was timely and helpful. No complaints as all their comm problems are solved. This is our first trip to Iceland and we are so glad that we did it by ship on Azamara. We used up our onboard credit on some expensive shore excursions, but booked several private excursions on our own. They all went off without an difficulty. We were in a veranda stateroom with was just fine. Our room steward was Jennifer who was very responsive and so nice. We ate most dinners in the main dining room, Discoveries. During the cruise there was a special full brunch in the dining room that was fantastic. Everything from whole smoked salmon to crepes. The barbecue night for the White Night party was also a wonderful meal. Seeing parts of Iceland that are far away from the capital is really nice. Each port had something special to see there. Azamara has great on board talent. Honestly much better than the canned music on bigger ships. We enjoyed all the shows, especially, Emily Love, who is a great singer and Cruise Director. As this was our second cruise with Azamara, we were invited to the Azamara Circle party. We did not know what to expect, but this was a full spread of very good appetizers and small plates with cocktails. Azamara really shows that they appreciate the repeat cruisers. We booked our third Azamara cruise -- Ireland for next year while onboard. There are so many included perks to booking onboard, the I definitely recommend doing so. The embarkation and disembarkation was flawless and just about the only time we saw a line. We had the premium beverage package included. The top one was the ultimate, but we did not see the value in upgrading. Husband's favorite gin was included in the premium and any cocktail that I ordered was made within the premium range of liquor. We also had wine at dinner. Not the top shelf stuff, but it was about what we drink at home.