Azamara Cruise

Hello, I was thrilled to be invited onboard the Azamara Quest for a 3-night cruise from Pisa to Marseille with an overnight stay in Monte Carlo. Azamara Cruises are luxury small ships that accommodate up to 700 guests and are perfectly sized to sail and dock into locations that bigger ships can‘t reach. With a fleet of 4 ships that are practically identical in layout, the ship felt very intimate but never crowded. The Azamara Quest has seven types of staterooms, ranging from the owner‘s suite which has a fabulous marble bathroom, separate lounge, and huge outdoor area, Club Ocean stateroom also offers a lounge area and marble bathroom. A variety of ocean view cabins with and without balconies and lastly an Interior cabin. I was lucky enough to stay in a Veranda Cabin with a balcony which was spacious and very comfortable. All staterooms include luxurious cotton bed linen, bathrobes and slippers, and freshly cut flowers. Fancy breakfast in bed or on your balcony then no problem this is all included! On board, you can enjoy the pool, two hot tubs, a gorgeous spa at the front of the ship offering various treatments, or just enjoy the spa facilities by purchasing a day pass or pass for the duration of your cruise. The entertainment is a wide variety of wonderful singers and dancers performing songs from various genres and a “White Night” where everyone is encouraged to wear white clothing which is held once a week, usually held out on deck. On board are seven restaurants to choose from including two specialty restaurants where you can pay a small cover charge to dine. I ate in Prime C 'The Steak Restaurant' and had the best chateaubriand I have ever eaten! Discoveries buffet restaurant choice was outstanding, or if you just fancy some chicken wings or a burger then head to The Patio by the pool. I ate a variety of food in all the restaurants, enjoyed breakfast al fresco in the Windows Cafe, and sampled the room service breakfast on my balcony. A real benefit is the self-laundry on deck 7, washing machines, dryers, and iron with ironing board are all at your disposal so no need to come home with a case full of laundry. Some of the benefits Azamara offers are “Always Azamara” which on all cruises includes - 5 Dining Options, Beverages including bottled water, Alcohol 24/7, specialty tea and coffee, Tips, and Gratuities, Exclusive Cultural Events, and Unlimited self-service laundry. Suite guests also include butler service, complimentary internet, and onboard credit. The difference I found with Azamara compared with other cruise operators is that they offer more overnight stays in ports. Since they can dock right in the heart of the destination (Monte Carlo on my trip) I could disembark for the evening, and enjoy the Casino as if I were on a little city break but with the comfort of returning to the ship, without costly hotel or restaurant prices to pay. The itineraries also offer more country-intensive voyages and whilst on board I was advised that if they have forewarning that a port may have a number of ships due to dock on the same day, the captain will switch days and alter the itinerary to ensure their passengers do not experience crowds of cruise passengers all at the same place at the same time. Larger cruise liners will not have this flexibility, so a great benefit when choosing a smaller ship. Something completely different is the AZAMAZING CELEBRATIONS which cruise passengers are invited to attend. These are unforgettable experiences in spectacular ports, held for Azamara guests only, such as an exclusive showing of La Traviata in Livorno. This is just one of the 35 celebrations on offer and unique to Azamara. Whilst docked in Monte Carlo we did a trip to Nice for a wine-tasting experience in Cave Bianchi. This included not only tasting the wine but a history lesson on French wine, combined with a walking tour around the city and market. I have only ever cruised on large cruise ships and was a little apprehensive about how a small ship would compare. I shouldn't have worried as I found the whole experience a delight and I am now a small ship convert. If you are looking for a more immersive cruise travel experience then Azamara is definitely for you.