A Western Mediterranean cruise on board Azamara Quest
With two ships currently and another joining the fleet in 2018, Azamara Club Cruises is a 'boutique' cruise brand. They have money behind them in the
shape of the Royal Caribbean group though and, over the past decade, have been
busy building a loyal following for their very distinct style of cruising. It’s
evident as soon as you start chatting to others on board - we were first timers
but almost everyone we met seemed to be repeat passengers. I even heard of one
couple who have taken no less than 52 cruises since the cruise line started in
2007. So what is it about Azamara that fosters such loyalty?
Many people we spoke to cited the size of the ships as a key
factor - carrying around 600 passengers they are large enough to offer a good
range of facilities but small enough to offer very flexible itineraries as well
as a more intimate atmosphere. The styling is also relatively understated compared
to some ships. Both the Azamara Quest and the Voyager were 'reimagined' in 2016
and, as a result, the overall feel is contemporary, classy and comfortable with
a blissful absence of 'bling'.
The food is also outstanding with tons of choice from buffet
to a la carte, cafes to casual deck dining and, for a small supplement, two
speciality restaurants that raise the bar even higher. Alcohol and soft drinks
are also all included plus there's afternoon tea, tapas with early evening
drinks and 24 hour room service. I've been on other ships where the sheer
amount of food (and drink) can seem over indulgent, almost off-putting but, on
Azamara, it doesn't feel like that - you won't see passengers with plates piled
high at the buffet, there are never any queues, you can eat wherever and
whenever you want, linger as long as you want and its always a pleasant and
relaxed experience.
Pleasant and relaxed sums up the whole on board atmosphere
really and that, in no small part, is down to the staff. Staff on ships in my
experience are generally smiley and friendly to passengers - cynics might say
that's because they are anticipating a generous tip but that's not the case here as
tipping is also included in the cruise fare. I think again the size of the ship
is the main factor. There's a high ratio of staff to passengers and that means
that people get to know each other quite quickly, the service feels personal,
the attention to detail is well thought through and, as a result, contented
passengers give staff very little grief. Everyone has plenty to smile about.
As much as the on board atmosphere is important though, the
other aspect of Azamara cruises which sets them apart is the time ashore. The
size of their ships means they can access a wider variety of ports and, more
often than not, dock centrally. They also aim to arrive early and leave late,
maximising passenger's time ashore and, in some instances, even staying
overnight. This means of course that their port fees are higher and that
translates in to the cruise cost but again, makes for a much more relaxed and
enjoyable experience as well as opening up more options for shore excursions or
independent sightseeing.
Our cruise began in Barcelona and ended in Civitavecchia
(Rome). With hindsight, I wish we had booked a night pre and post cruise to
have some time in both these wonderful cities - if you book a flight inclusive
package your time in the start and end ports will be very limited. However, in
between, we had plenty of treats in store to ensure this was a memorable week
cruising the Western Med in Spring sunshine.
In Palma de Mallorca we arrived at 8am and had a full 13
hours in port. We opted for the half day cycling tour of the city. Azamara have
their own bikes on board so setting off direct from the dock could not have
been easier with a flat ride along the prom that lines the cruise port to reach
the historic old town. With a local guide up front (giving us information along
the way via a 'quietvox' audi system) and a member of the cruise excursion team
at the rear to ensure no-one got lost, it was a stress free and really fun and
informative way to explore the winding back alleys and key tourist sites of the
old city.
In Ajaccio, with 10 hours in port, we took a morning guided
walking tour of the town and market. This was less successful - guides can make
a break a tour and we were unlucky on this occasion. It also transpired we
could easily have got ourselves to the market as it was literally just along
from where the ship was docked. You win some you lose some. We did however get
to to spend a very pleasant afternoon on a beach that we would probably not
have found without the guide's input so every cloud.
Monte Carlo was the only port where we had to tender ashore,
our dockside spot having apparently been nabbed by a Russian billionaire and
his super yacht. Having been before, we decided to wander independently here
but made use of the ubiquitous 'hop on, hop off' sightseeing bus. Monte Carlo
may be small but the hills are steep and certainly, if you want to visit the
palace, this is a great option. As well as ticking the tourist boxes, we also
whiled away a few hours enjoying the spectacle and throaty roar of luxury
sports cars being road tested. With the Grand Prix only weeks away, the streets
were full of them.
And finally on to Livorno where we had the luxury of an
overnight stay and 48 hours in port, giving everyone the chance to take their
pick from visiting Florence, Pisa and Lucca. We opted for the latter two which
can be easily accessed independently and cheaply by local train. To get to
Livorno you have to change trains in Pisa so its more than possible to do both
in a day.
It was also in Livorno that we had our first taste of an
'Azamazing' evening - another Azamara innovation. The idea is to treat
passengers to an exclusive evening that captures the essence of local culture -
in this case, it was a Three Tenors performance at the ornate Goldoni Theatre.
It is included in the cost of the cruise but is of course optional - I'd say
probably 90% of passengers participated. We were all coached from the ship to
the theatre and greeted with a red carpet welcome from the captain and senior
crew. The concert itself was memorable - I don't really count myself as an
opera fan but no-one could fail to be impressed by the sheer power and harmony
of those three, very different, male voices. It was an impressive finale to an
impressive week.
*Update* Azamara’s third ship, the 690 passenger Azamara Pursuit, has recently joined the fleet.
For more information visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk
Silver Travel Advisor recommends Azamara Club Cruises
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