this guy just sounds like a moaner.as basil faulty says always poking his nose everywhere looking for things to complain about! i hope to go on this ship 2009 and i will go with the 99% who loved it

I have just returned from a cruise with Azamara (21st Nov) and I can honestly say that I think this reviewer was on a different ship. Staff, service, food and ambiance were outstanding. We loved it and will certainly be back. If you're wanting glitz it's not for you, the azamara journey is like a beautiful , floating,country house hotel ! The food was outstanding and Aqualina was incredible. take no notice of the naysayers... book Azamara, you won't be disappointed.

We just returned from Journey Oct 30th sailing and all I can say is WOW! It was our second Azamara cruise having been on the Quest earlier this year and our 15th Celebrity and It was our personal best cruise ever. The staff must of forgone their sleep to make us happy. We did not have one meal that wasn't excellent. Service was outstanding. There is always one person who complains... I watched an Italian woman throw a temper tantrum at guest realations that I have never seen a 3 year old do. She was also rude to other passengers. We met the most awsome people on this ship and had 3 hour dinners chatting the night away. I can't wait to go back. Do not hesitate to book this ship it will be the best money ever spent!!!

We returned from a 10 day western Med cruise on Journey last Sunday and can only say that Journey is absolutely wonderful - the food, the service, the staff, the ship - I don't think I know enough ways of saying how superb our cruise was. We can't wait to get back on board.

Thank you for the lengthy and thorough review. Judging by the other comments there is perhaps a difference in acceptable standards with some agreeing with you and others not. Your review however is so comprehensive that I feel more inclined to believe you than those who rebut you so comprehensivly.

If you like the ship styel and sieze then you should try the variosu sister ships (ant of teh ex "R" ships from Renaissance Cruises - either the Royal Princess or any of the Oceania Cruises ships, Insignia, Nautica and Regatta. Oceania Cruises in particular has received some very good reviews for delivering a quality yet relaxed luxury experience - something that I can personally vouch for having cruised with them on numerous occasions.

Looks as if nothing has changed on Azamara Journey since our cruise to Brazil last year. The same faults and lack of passenger care we experienced are still appearing. The consensus on our cruise was that it was at best 3 star level. To call the product deluxe is a travesty!

For what it's worth, we were on this same cruise and this is nothing more than a "hatchet Job", IMHO. We saw NONE of the items negatively mentioned, certainly no dirt or the like. We enjoyed the food, and found the service on the ship to be outstanding. As for the port comments, Chios is quiet on a Sunday, but the ship has to be somewhere on a Sunday, and cannot always be at sea. We actually had a very pleasant morning walking the streets of the Old Town and found it very interesting and relaxing after the long flight the previous day. I would have never selected Masada as a shore excursion as it is a long time on a bus and probably is better visited on a land-based tour. Sometimes, a little prior research on the Internet is a good investment. Reading this review makes me wonder what it does take to make some people happy as our experience was so dramatically different.

Then did you wake up from a bad dream?? We have just return from a cruise on the Quest. Best cruise we've ever had and "I WOULD recommend to anyone that they cruise with Azamara. Period"

And for all this they charge you EIGHTEEN PER CENT yes not the normal 15% but EIGHTEEN PER CENT. Your experiences mirror a lot of ours for our May trip to the Adriatic. The service is dreadful. , methinks mainly because of the 18%. I still love these ex Renaissaince ships for their size and usually house party atmosphere. Try any of the 3 Princess trio (Pacific, Tahitian or Royal), or for a more informal Oceania. I'm told they are excellent too.