Review - Norway 2022
The newly updated decor is muted, stylish, and sharp. All ships in the fleet will move to the same look and feel.
The cabins are not huge. But feel luxe and are very comfortable and you get a full clean twice a day. Absolutely spotless. we had a plus cabin with a free minibar and asked once for a diet tonic and this was always topped up after that.
The balconies are not too small. The full-size table on the deck is nice for room service or to catch up on work/emails.
Many in our group had breakfast in their rooms, all for no additional charge. Small but adequate 24-room service menu but you can order the main dining each night. Bonus!!
The enrichment lectures were interesting and could be watched on TV. Pro-tip. These are worth scrolling through as you will often get great insights into ports and history.
Limited movies to watch, but who wants that? You are in amazing ports.
The main dining room is great in ambiance, food, and service.
On all cruises, we always ask for a table with their best waiter on the first night. Or the most fun one. Then we ask for the same waiter and table each night.
There are two specialty restaurants. Prime C and Aqualina are both at the next level. At about $25 per night. Extra. On a short cruise, you'd only really need to do one. Book that same day you board.
We did the chef's table at $100 extra, which we didn't think was worth it.
Afternoon tea in the front bar changes daily and is lovely. However, many miss it as there is so much on.
Great free laundry onboard will save you money compared to the big lines.
OJ in the morning is fresh—order specialty Expresso coffees instead of pots of drip coffee.
We were surprised by the variety of wines and drinks available. There was not just one red and one white.
Full cocktails like an Expresso martini were only $7.50 extra. But a word of warning to cruise virgins. One becomes 6 and will quickly blow your budget. As too those fluffy drinks can easily add a kilo or two.
You can pay $25 or so extra per day and upgrade to two different drink packages. We didn't feel we needed to.
Tips are included which is one of the biggest joys of Azamara and makes you feel like you are on a six-star line. Almost all of our group thought the service was so good they felt comfortable leaving $50 for their cabin attendant. But there is absolutely no need to do that.
The only thing we noticed that is not 100% kosher is the size of the showers with curtains. They are stuck with the footprint size and can't change it. This was absolutelyn't a problem for us. You are never in your shower anyway, and if you go in forewarned, I don't see it detracting from the whole experience. And as that was the only thing on our radar, they are kicking goals in all other important areas.
The Plus Cabins include a free mini bar, one specialty restaurant, 120 minutes of internet per person, and one laundry bag per cabin. That's a free wash for all you can squeeze in.
Always turn the internet off each time to save your juice. If you doze off while surfing you will wake up on empty. As with all cruise lines at sea, the internet is crap, but it is just enough for emails.
As Azamara spends much longer in port, use shore-based plans. Vodaphone, at $5 per day for both calls and data, is by far the best for overseas roaming.
Pool Deck and lounges are all top-shelf.
It's an awesome size ship. It's small, exclusive, and exceptionally easy to get around, yet it has a variety of dining options.
Captain Johansen is a rock star.
So all in all, 5 stars for everything. Very clean, very well run, a very happy ship. Very loyal caring intuitive service. Not forced.
So many things to love. Nothing to hate. Buffett was ok not great, others raved about it, and yet others thought it was substandard but the main dining room more than made up for it.
Perhaps their biggest point of difference - if you prefer to spend longer in port - Azamara does this whenever can - whereas other ships will sail away at 4 or 5 pm. Azamara will routinely slip out at 10/11 pm or even overnight. I wish more cruise lines did this.
Azamara is upmarket rather than luxurious. There are no formal dinners, so there is no need to pack to that level.
Their signature White Night deck party and cultural events - such as a night at the opera in Moscow or dinner at a local winery, are incredible inclusions. It is quite an exercise to cart 700 people and many of the ship's company to one venue. Again this is something the big lines can never offer. Azamara could get away with not putting on these events, but they choose to invest a lot of cash to give you a truly boutique and elevated experience. Good on them.
That's about it - I will ask others for their feedback.
If the budget is tight, just avoid drinks that are not on the free list. There is no need to do specialty dining. But it's a nice treat if you do. But if you have a late-night departure save your money and eat local. That is why people travel so far to get to Europe.
In small ports, actually in all ports, just walk off and find local operators—or use our discounted tour operator (LINK), which will often have the same tours at a discount of about 25%—with a reassuring guarantee back to the ship.
Azamara has 5 ships in the fleet and all are the same with a few having an older clubhouse decor, at least until they all get refurbished.
Onward, having been purchased from another line still has some ongoing work to bring her up to the same level as the rest She is almost there.
The one reason Onward has the jump is the other ships is the new up-market bar concept, where for a set price of about $25, like a specialty restaurant, you get unlimited fancy cocktails from a set menu and tapas in a bar with a NYC vibe.
Feedback is that they have created something unique, an amazing space, concept, and wow pricing.
In summary.
Azamara is the best value at sea.
If you are used to the big ships of Princess, Royal, and Celebrity you are in for a treat and I can tell you now you will find it hard to go back to big ships after Azamara. Everything is elevated.
They are not Seabourn but make no pretense to be. They are stylish and upmarket but with a super chilled and relaxed vibe.
Service simply can't be faulted, and I found a universally professional and super happy crew.
The food in the main dining and specialty restaurants is great. The buffet was ok. Shore excursions were a bit expensive but not more so than other brands.
The cabins are super comfortable, the new decor is really sharp and warm. Some ships will have an old clubby feel which is a tad dated, and some silly accents, eg over-sized high back wing chairs, but if these haven't as yet been pensioned off, they soon will be. Not unlike the glorious old jumbos. Some can look older than new plastic Airbus models, but I prefer the old classics any day.
Their big, big claim to fame, apart from the exclusive small ship vibe, is how much more time they will give you in port.
This means that in Europe especially, you find yourself at dusk, in quaint little villages without the crowds, after the bigger ships have all sailed before sunset. That really sets them apart and you can't put a price on that.
As a total package, no one can come close to all that they include at prices many thousands below other operators.
Recommended for experienced mid-range cruisers from Princess to Royal and Celebrity who want a bigger bang for their buck and to go up to the next level.
For first-time cruise virgins - you will be spoilt forever and will have trouble even considering going on other bigger ships or brands.
For those accustomed to 6-star ones like Seabourn, if Azamara is the only one offering the itinerary you want, don't hesitate, you will still enjoy the small ship vibe and no crowding.
They are not six star but elements of their offering and service really is up there. And they will take you to the same ports and identical itineraries for one-quarter of the price, or less.
Not a ship for young kids and families. No kid's clubs. But young adults who appreciate business class and fine hotels will love it, as they will enjoy days by the pool and the port-intensive voyages.
Ask us to find the best Azamara options for your next holidays. You'll be surprised at the pricing.
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