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5 or 6 star? Never!!! |
| Reviewed By: Bailey, Stockport on 17th May 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Azamara Cruises |
Times cruised before: 10+ |
| Cruise Ship: Azamara Journey |
Sailed:
May,
2008 |
| Destination: Adriatic |
Age: 56-65 |
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I have just returned from an 11 day cruise round the Adriatic on the Azamara Journey. Azamara/Celebrity by whatever name they like to call themselves for these small ships, claim this to be a 5 or 6 star vessel. It may have been ....once, in its first existence with Renaissance, but not now.
I was travelling with my 86 year old aunt who walks with a walker. I had previously taken the best cruise I had ever had on the Pacific Princess, another ex Renaissance vessel and knew the layout and facilities provided would be suitable for her. In the main that was absolutely true. However, some parts of the service provided left much to be desired for her comfort and welfare.
Our journey was to start in Venice with a stay that lasted 2 days. Embarkation was swift if not frustrating. I had previously given all the information requested on line which was supposed to speed up the process. At the terminal I was asked to complete the information all over again!!!! A wheel chair was produced and my aunt was wheeled onto the ship at great speed, so much so that I was left behind, My aunt was carrying all the paperwork and hence delays at the gangplank! In the end we entered the lobby and were given champagne and then taken to our cabin. This was a Deck 8 balcony cabin. Azamara R ships take more passengers than the 3 Princess R ships and it would seem that the extra space required to accommodate the passengers is "pinched" from the cabins. Having seen a similar grade on a Princess, I know that our cabin was smaller in size. I had to call the steward to rearrange the furniture in order for my aunt to reach the balcony at all with her walker. However it was clean and well maintained, the bathroom was very small which was a good thing for my aunt since she could get around it safely without her wheels. I am glad that the journey was not longer since hanging and drawer space might have been a problem for 2 people in those circumstances. There were fresh flowers and fruit, bathrobes and slippers and lots of cushions/pillows.
The start of the cruise was very slow with 2 days in Venice. Obviously due to its nature, this city is not really suitable for a disabled person and so time dragged somewhat. There was only one sea day en route and we both felt that this was more like a floating hotel than a cruise. Many tours were on offer but were mainly full days of 8-10 hours duration, which involved lots of walking and in the main I felt many were extortionately expensive for what they were. We only took 2 short ones where walking was minimal. One particular port was a total waste of time being a sprawling industrial city with very little to recommend it unless you took an expensive tour into the hinterland beyond.
There were no formal nights on this ship, which did not unduly bother us, but it would have been nice to have one.
The ship operates an anytime dining policy in its dining room. This was the biggest bone of contention and the subject of much complaint from lots of the passengers. Basically everyone wanted to eat at the same time and so long queues formed, service was slow when you actually got seated, and passengers missed the shows as a result. It would seem obvious to me that this policy is fine if you have a ship which is large enough to have a separate dining room to do it. Where you have a small ship, this is not acceptable as some people are bound to have cause for complaint if everyone turns up at roughly the same time. I also feel that they tried to put too much on the menu. A choice is lovely, but too wide a selection means delays in preparation and some cold courses. Sitting at a different table everyday means that no rapport is achieved with one waiter, who usually learns your personal likes, dislikes and most importantly for me, about any allergies you may have. Twice I had food placed in front of me, which was rapidly removed luckily before I could touch it which contained my nemesis, garlic. The chefs on this ship put it into everything and I had to order special meals the day before to ensure a healthly cruise. Result - lots of dry meals as it seemed they were incapable of making a small batch of sauce without garlic. There were also a lot of use of ingredients we had never heard of. Presentation though was of the highest order.
Azamara add 18% to bills as a service charge. This makes drinks and services more expensive. We had constantly to wait in certain bars to get any service and feel that this was excessive since Princess only charge 15% and service in all their bars was prompt. These ships are all so similar that one cannot help but make the comparisons. Whilst on the subject of service I feel I must mention a further comparison. On a recent cruise on Princess with my aunt, whenever we chose to have lunch/dinner/breakfast in the buffet restaurant, someone was there immediately to help my aunt choose her food and find us a table. On the Journey, we ate in the Windows restaurant 3 times and on not one occasion did anyone apart from a fellow passenger offer her or myself any assistance whatsoever. Yet there were waiters, supervisors etc stood around talking.
Disembarkation in Barcelona was from our point of view a disgrace. It was as though, we were being told, thats it, you've had your cruise, we have to prepare for the next lot and you're gone. No assistance was given to my aunt and she had to walk the long route into the terminal. When we got there, there were no available porters and we had to wait until one was, no seats were available at the front of the bus which is normal and she hhad to struggle all the way down after climbing high steps.
Fortunately, I managed to book this cruise at a bargain rate and it did provide a much needed break for my aunt. Would I use Azamara again? Probably not when I could sail on another 6 of these lovely ships with other companies who would seem to provide the service and experience I would expect. I have already booked to sail on the other two Princesses ex Renaissaance.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Extensive menu, nicely presented but maybe too extensive to provide constantly hot food without a long wait. | | Entertainment | |
| Small ship with professional entertainers. Some nice different touches eg harpist in Cova Cafe. One or two shows below par | | Shore Excursions |  |
| Large choice but too long and too expensive | | Staff | |
| Cabin staff excellent, drinks staff not so, particular bad in the main restaurant, SOME waiters were excellent but....luck of the draw as to where you were seated at each meal so no rapport established | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| Plenty to do which was well supervised | | Cabins | |
| Smaller in size than on competitor vessels but spotlessly clean and well equipped. Hanging/drawer space could have been better | | Overall Rating | |
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