Discovered Azamara last summer on the Ireland intensive . We were hooked instantly. I think your analysis of Azamara and its culture is spot on. I’m not looking for a floating amusement park/ shopping mall and Azamara fills that need
We thoroughly enjoyed our Ireland Intensive that we just wrapped up. Was ideal getting into ports that only a handful of ships can visit. Glad you had a great time!
Thanks for a very informative clip. We're thinking of doing our first Azamara cruise in May traveling from Osaka to Singapore and you have just about convinced us. We have been on larger ships but prefer to avoid crowds. The deal we've been offered through a travel agent seems almost too good to be true but the details in this clip have made the opportunity allot more believable so we're probably going to go ahead.
That's amazing. I think that would be a great way to do the journey you mention especially if you like the small ship experience and would enjoy the casual elegance of Azamara. If you can get a great deal on it - all the better. Let us know if you decide to book it!
Looking at our first Azamara cruise. Been on quite a few cruises ranging from larger Princess and P&O ships (Royal Class) and smaller, older ships with 1800 passengers. At over 70 we do not need climbing walls, flow riders, roller coasters etc. We like to be comfortable with decent food, good staff and enjoy the ports. We cruise a lot with Marella in UK whose ships are older (exc RCI and Celebrity - the type of ship people bemoan losing). They are all inclusive (no gratuities) - we hate nickel and diming and great service. Your video is making our minds up to try Azamara
That's great to hear. It really does sound like you'll be going into an Azamara cruise with the right expectations, and will really appreciate what it does best. Does definitely sound like an excellent match. Report back once you sail and how you liked it. Enjoy the journey!
Just booked a third Azamara cruise. Beautiful experience, first class service and meals. Especially love carefully curated shore excursions with a guide and staff member on board. Sometimes ship is docked in middle of the city.
Looks like we gotta play a bit of catch-up with you! We're one behind. Glad you are enjoying and have another one booked. Where you off to on this one?
A balanced review based on our experience aboard Pursuit last Feb-Mar2024. We sailed 19 days from Cape Town to Las Palmas. Chose Azamara for the great itinerary that included southern and western Africa. Pursuit was well maintained and the crew were great. Our verandah cabin was small but comfortable. Tiny shower. Food was generally awful from beginning to end which was a great disappointment. We found the White Night over-hyped. The demographic on our cruise was mostly recently retired which suited us fine. Lots of Brits, Europeans. Rather than an upscale line we felt Azamara was more like a floating pub. Endless Trivia and free-flowing G&Ts, which appears to attract the British clientele. We have returned to a Holland-America booking for our next cruise (prefer their food and the expanded range of activities on slightly larger ships), and don't think we would try Azamara again.
Thanks for the great feedback. Glad you enjoyed certain aspects of the cruise. It certainly is about the destinations and the small ship experience. We've had pretty good success with the food especially when we compare across so many different cruise lines we've been on, but it definitely can be subjective and we've also seen differences at times between sailings and ship even on the same line. Glad to hear you are back out there for more cruising. That's the best news! Enjoy the upcoming adventures!
Just sailed on the Pursuit for a 7 day Azamazing cruise from Italy to Barcelona - 7 day Med. - Our favorite stop was Santa Margherita/Portofino. Everything was beautiful. The room. We upgraded to a Continent suite. We had a butler, ate at the specialty restaurants every night, had breakfast in our room every morning delivered by our butler. Can't say enough great things about the experience. We booked 2 Azamara shore excursions and did the rest on our own. Looking to book another cruise to Italy and Greece.
What an amazing experience. We made the leap to the Continent Suite our first 2 sailings on Azamara - fantastic rooms. The last two we did regular balconies. There's a difference :) Glad to hear you have a future cruise booked. Nothing better than looking on the calendar and seeing future bookings!
Azamara felt like nice hotel that moved location every day. Food on buffet way above most cruise lines, though small. Long port times makes Azamara the only cruise line I would consider booking cheaper half day trips via something like Tripadvisor. Showers tiny. Overall agree, Azamara a hidden gem cruisers miss out on. Highly recommend if you can make it happen!
Great video, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I’ve sailed on many cruises, mostly on the mainstream lines and in recent years more on Princess and Holland America. After watching this video, I will start planning a cruise on Azamara.
We took a back-to-back Azamara cruises in 2019 and LOVED it!! Norway intensive & Scotland/Ireland intensive. We recently took a Seabourn cruise, and we were less impressed. Azamara set the bar very high for us! We would highly recommend Azamara and are looking forward to cruising with them again!
Great video. Cruised twice with an all inclusive cruise line and been looking out for a different cruise line that offers all inclusive, or near as because when on holiday you want to enjoy it and not want to worry about additional daily cost. We are destination focused and prefer smaller ships plus a big bonus is looks like Azamara can sail from Southampton whereas the other cruise line does flights to board their ships only. Will definitely follow your videos as after watching this I think we've found the cruise line we were looking for 🎉
new subscriber here & thanks for reminding me of all the reasons why we enjoyed our one & only Azamara cruise and now, with your information sharing, I am going to go back and look at where we might want to go on our next one...that is, after we get back from our Sept cruise on Princess to New England & Canada - cheers to many more journeys!
Awesome, glad to hear. Comeback in the future and let us know how the Sept. cruise goes - we've thought about taking a very similar cruise. We did one from New York up into Canada and over to Iceland but like the itinerary you describe.
We're booked on our fourth Azamara cruise next month on Onward from Stockholm to Southampton. As you point out, it is all about the unique itineraries and the modest size of the ships. We also like Oceania and Windstar. We love the informality, and have no real interest in a casino or floor shows. Its about the culture of each place we visit.
We just booked our first Azamara cruise, and we're excited to experience it. We booked a balcony room. The one negative we've heard about Azamara is that the rooms, and especially the bathrooms and showers, are quite small and are uncomfortable for some people. How has your (or anyone reading this) experience been in that area?
Congrats on the booking! And yes, the bathrooms and showers are small. We know this going in. Make that your expectation. Have a good laugh about it. But seriously, it is very workable just don't expect the bathroom to be similar to the newer, larger ships. We have never had a problem with this since we're there for the small ship experience and the destinations. The room itself, while small is very comfortable and well organized.
Thank you so glad I found you both .you are very helpful .I'm excited about trying a new cruise line. I need help with coordinating a cruise to and from instead of having to fly. I usually book my own cruise on an online large agency that allows me to search price and book and offers me special perks for loyalty. Thanks for your help with various iteneries
It's a great way to get there. Makes the journey way more fun than flying in a cramped airplane :) Sounds like you are doing it right working with an online agency and getting those added perks and bonuses.
We wish we were! That looks like a great intensive around Norway. We'll be leaving out down to the Netherlands and after Albania. Have an amazing cruise! We'll try to leave some food and drink for you.
Glad you had a chance to watch. Given the small ship and personalized experience it does cost more than the larger ships but you'll get a very different and unique experience. Hope you enjoy.
I have a little 4 day cruise booked with Carnival this fall, chosen by some friends. We spent 1200 for the cruise, for a slightly upgraded balcony (with tips and taxes). Carnival now wants 80 a day for the drink package, which made me shudder. There is no onboard credit. I added internet. When I compare that price per day... to the price per day for Azamara that you showed us.... I realize that perhaps I have been doing this all wrong. Thank you.
It is important to pay attention to all the extras. Virgin Voyages is another example - it tends to price out quite a bit higher (usually) than the mainstream cruise lines but when you start to factor in things such as no speciality restaurant uncharges, internet included, gratuities included, etc. it gets quite comparable.
Short answer is definitely yes. While we have and you can have movement even on a large ship, it is much more likely on a small one. If you are on a smaller ship we always advise having a cabin midship and lower in the boat. Stay away from the top floors for your cabin. I always take chewable meclizine, one per day and it gets me through most anything even though I'm sensitive to the movement.
Do you find that since the ship is smaller, it rocks more and causes more sea sickness? I’m looking at the Scotland intensive, and it looks like it hugs the coast pretty much. So hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad?
I am personally sensitive to motion of the ocean so I take a Meclizine tablet once per 24 hours. That does the trick and honestly most of the time it's not even necessary. Better safe than sorry. We have had an occasional choppy day on Azamara and it has been ok but you will notice it a bit more than a large ship. I'd book a mid-ship (maybe lower floor - though they don't have a lot of decks) cabin but don't think you'll have many issues.
Thank you We will do our 5th cruise with Azamara. Love everithing you said in the video. Sept 3 from Southampton to bordeaux. We are discover and we cruise based on the itineaty. With Celebrety Azamara and HAL.
Awesome! That sounds a really nice cruise. Another one we have to look into. You'll have a great time for sure. We've enjoyed Celebrity a lot as well - we haven't yet tried HAL.
Drinks in Azamara’s basic included package are available throughout the day and evening, not only during lunch and dinner. That is true of Viking River Cruises, for example, however, unless an upgrade is purchased. Not true of Azamara.
Thanks for watching. Very good question. In the case of Silversea and Regent I'd say you are more in the "ultra" luxury segment and I' put Azamara in the "comfort" luxury segment. Not as formal. Definitely more destination focused and long times in ports. They do not have new ships like you'll get sometimes from the other two. I would expect the per diem to be better however on Azamara. As for Oceania, we much preferred our Azamara experiences but we will be trying Oceania again on their newest ship in January. Will report back.
Hi, Thanks. I was on Azamara in June this year by accident (my other cruise cancelled-re red sea) and this was the only one going to where we needed to be.. We loved the Cruise , But was our first time on a cruise HAHA - group of 7. I am now looking to book again for next June with a group of 6 (3 rooms). How far out do you book ?? I have been looking at the prices ,but no great promotion as yet.
That's great - sounds like it happened the way it should have :) I would always book out as far as possible. Most times pricing does go up. Be sure to book through a cruise only travel agency who will likely rebate you back some of your cruise cost (up to 10% is not unheard of, but 5%-10% doable) as onboard credit, etc. And, if you book now and fares go down - before final payment - you can typically get that matched. Also, once you book you may get an offer from Azamara to pay before the final payment date in exchange for up to 8% additional onboard credit that you can use immediately (shore excursions, etc).
Great question. I would consider Regent more in the "ultra-luxury" segment and will likely be considerably more money. It does have more included such as some shore excursions, specialty restaurants, etc. Azamara has a lot included but not "all" inclusive. I'd describe Azamara as "comfortable-luxury" - more casual, less formal. You won't find butlers or white gloves. Regent probably more about the opulence, Azamara more about the destination and a casual social vibe.
Hello, new subscribers. Great video on the Azamara experience. We are Seabourn sailors and looking to try Azamara for their Japan experience. Would you recommend Azamara over Seabourn for this? Thanks
Yes, we had an amazing time on our Japan Intensive. There were a number of very memorable experiences that had as much to do with each Japanese port pulling out some special performances and welcomes/goodbyes. It was a great way to see a number of places we'd never have been able to visit. I do think you might find Azamara more "casual" than Seabourn. It's less top tier luxury - I like to say more comfortable luxury. Also, the ships are likely going to be older - though well maintained and still modern in their way. You'll save money I believe just know the differences going in.
Thanks for the informative vlog! I have heard of Azamara and are looking at a Tahiti cruise in 2025 or 2026. Just curious if you you book your cruise with CruisePlum?
Hello - they are not an agent just a price search engine. You'll want to book your trip with either the cruise line direct or a cruise only travel agent. We prefer the latter since we can get some extra bonuses such as additional onboard credit. The price of the cruise will be the same.
On ours we went off the ship and were taking to a really nice performing arts center in Seville and they had a condensed showing of Carmen (flamenco, etc) - even though it wasn't in our usual type of shows we go to - it was a great experience and something different. Keep in mind this year they have transitioned to doing a lot more of these evenings onboard. There's pros and cons to that but so far it has been pretty good - we've done two on the ship and two off.
Very informative, thanks. My wife & I (early 70s & 70+ countries) are considering an Azamara cruise including an extended cruise in an inside cabin. We’ve never done inside cabins before but the value proposition looks incredible. From the cabin layout we saw, it looked like there was a small sofa, which would be crucial. Would you feel comfortable inside for an extended cruise? Safe travels!
Thank you for a very thorough video. Have you cruised with Viking? Would be interested in a comparison. I have looked at Azamara, but I really like that Viking is all veranda and very spacious rooms, and mostly inclusive of costs (exception gratuities)
Yes, we have sailed on Viking on 3 cruises (2x on Orion and 1x on Saturn) -- it's a great idea to do a comparison since there are overlaps but also distinct differences. No questions the ship itself and the rooms are excellent on Viking. You do tend to pay more in my experience and there are some differences we've found once onboard. We've enjoyed our cruises on Viking and will look to do a review and comparison video in the future. Thanks!
With Azamara there is going to be a supplement. They do not have any purpose built since the ships are older. I do believe there are some reduced single supplement rates. Perhaps others who have sailed solo on Azamara can chime in. We always meet people on these ships who are however. It's pretty common.
Can't disagree, we find many of theirs overpriced. Which is why whenever we can we either book on our own or just work out our own shore excursion adventure.
I would say the average was running between $75-$125 per person. Ideally you have some on board credit you can use. Usually we have in the neighborhood of $500 to put towards these. And, as mentioned, we try not to overdue it since normally they are a bit overpriced.
Just came off Azamara Onward. Although fine, in my opinion Azamara is not luxury by any means. The smaller ship to be able to get into the ports is a plus. Food was a bit disappointing.
Thanks, and appreciate the feedback. A lot depends on what you expect and look for. I agree it is not perfection and there's always room for improvement. Hard to beat the flexibility of the small size however.
One great thing about cruising is there are many ways to go. You can pick shorter cruises, cruises from local/close ports, finding ones that have a great sale, etc... Even if this line is not in reach at the moment there are many others. Hopefully it can work out. Thanks for watching!
I don't recall on this one but there are always small signs of wear & tear on these older ships. They keep them sparkling clean but you do see some areas of age no question.
Regent is the best but expensive. Value for money has to be Azamara. Silversea fine but too formal. Seabourn overrated and Oceania has a misguided view of its food and the marine crew is invisible.
Great assessment there. Agree. We haven't yet been on Regent,but have been on the others. You are right I think on Oceania, while the food is good it is not up to their best at sea billing. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Discovered Azamara last summer on the Ireland intensive . We were hooked instantly. I think your analysis of Azamara and its culture is spot on. I’m not looking for a floating amusement park/ shopping mall and Azamara fills that need
We thoroughly enjoyed our Ireland Intensive that we just wrapped up. Was ideal getting into ports that only a handful of ships can visit. Glad you had a great time!
Thanks for a very informative clip. We're thinking of doing our first Azamara cruise in May traveling from Osaka to Singapore and you have just about convinced us. We have been on larger ships but prefer to avoid crowds. The deal we've been offered through a travel agent seems almost too good to be true but the details in this clip have made the opportunity allot more believable so we're probably going to go ahead.
That's amazing. I think that would be a great way to do the journey you mention especially if you like the small ship experience and would enjoy the casual elegance of Azamara. If you can get a great deal on it - all the better. Let us know if you decide to book it!
We are going on our third Azamara cruise in May. We love this cruise line the best. And we cruised on Seabourne last year!
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. High praise - enjoy the voyages.
Thanks for promoting Azamara. I would love more smaller ports and more information on the ports I'm visiting.
They would be an ideal choice for both. We have been to quite a few ports that we never see on the larger ships.
Looking at our first Azamara cruise. Been on quite a few cruises ranging from larger Princess and P&O ships (Royal Class) and smaller, older ships with 1800 passengers. At over 70 we do not need climbing walls, flow riders, roller coasters etc. We like to be comfortable with decent food, good staff and enjoy the ports. We cruise a lot with Marella in UK whose ships are older (exc RCI and Celebrity - the type of ship people bemoan losing). They are all inclusive (no gratuities) - we hate nickel and diming and great service. Your video is making our minds up to try Azamara
That's great to hear. It really does sound like you'll be going into an Azamara cruise with the right expectations, and will really appreciate what it does best. Does definitely sound like an excellent match. Report back once you sail and how you liked it. Enjoy the journey!
Just booked a third Azamara cruise. Beautiful experience, first class service and meals. Especially love carefully curated shore excursions with a guide and staff member on board. Sometimes ship is docked in middle of the city.
That's fantastic to hear! Sounds like you had a great one - what ship and itinerary did you do?
@@DigitalRoamadsDR have you ever taken a Ritz Carlton yacht cruise? Not sure if it is worth the money as Azamara looks great.
Thank you for review, glad we have other choices that offer a lot more to more demanding passangers
That's what is great about current cruising - there is something for everybody at this point.
We've done 5 Azamara cruises and are booked for our 6th. Their ships are like a second home for us. Love Azamara 😊
Looks like we gotta play a bit of catch-up with you! We're one behind. Glad you are enjoying and have another one booked. Where you off to on this one?
A balanced review based on our experience aboard Pursuit last Feb-Mar2024. We sailed 19 days from Cape Town to Las Palmas. Chose Azamara for the great itinerary that included southern and western Africa. Pursuit was well maintained and the crew were great. Our verandah cabin was small but comfortable. Tiny shower. Food was generally awful from beginning to end which was a great disappointment. We found the White Night over-hyped. The demographic on our cruise was mostly recently retired which suited us fine. Lots of Brits, Europeans. Rather than an upscale line we felt Azamara was more like a floating pub. Endless Trivia and free-flowing G&Ts, which appears to attract the British clientele. We have returned to a Holland-America booking for our next cruise (prefer their food and the expanded range of activities on slightly larger ships), and don't think we would try Azamara again.
Thanks for the great feedback. Glad you enjoyed certain aspects of the cruise. It certainly is about the destinations and the small ship experience. We've had pretty good success with the food especially when we compare across so many different cruise lines we've been on, but it definitely can be subjective and we've also seen differences at times between sailings and ship even on the same line. Glad to hear you are back out there for more cruising. That's the best news! Enjoy the upcoming adventures!
Thank you!! This is what I am looking for. The last thing I want is to be on a floating city of 6 thousand people. Azamara sounds like heaven.
Great to hear - it is definitely the opposite of a floating city. Definite small ship experience.
Just sailed on the Pursuit for a 7 day Azamazing cruise from Italy to Barcelona - 7 day Med. - Our favorite stop was Santa Margherita/Portofino. Everything was beautiful. The room. We upgraded to a Continent suite. We had a butler, ate at the specialty restaurants every night, had breakfast in our room every morning delivered by our butler. Can't say enough great things about the experience. We booked 2 Azamara shore excursions and did the rest on our own. Looking to book another cruise to Italy and Greece.
What an amazing experience. We made the leap to the Continent Suite our first 2 sailings on Azamara - fantastic rooms. The last two we did regular balconies. There's a difference :) Glad to hear you have a future cruise booked. Nothing better than looking on the calendar and seeing future bookings!
Definitely gonna check Azamara out. You did a great job covering this. We are now subscribed 😊
Thanks for subscribing. Have fun checking out all the options and itineraries. There's some great ones.
Thanks for the information on Azamara. We booked a 4 day cruise in 2026.
Awesome! Glad you got one on the calendar. You'll enjoy it.
Azamara felt like nice hotel that moved location every day. Food on buffet way above most cruise lines, though small. Long port times makes Azamara the only cruise line I would consider booking cheaper half day trips via something like Tripadvisor. Showers tiny. Overall agree, Azamara a hidden gem cruisers miss out on. Highly recommend if you can make it happen!
Great points. And yeah, those showers are small :) Nice way to describe it as well - your luxury hotel moving with you.
Great video, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I’ve sailed on many cruises, mostly on the mainstream lines and in recent years more on Princess and Holland America. After watching this video, I will start planning a cruise on Azamara.
That's great. You will have a great time. Enjoy the planning.
We took a back-to-back Azamara cruises in 2019 and LOVED it!! Norway intensive & Scotland/Ireland intensive. We recently took a Seabourn cruise, and we were less impressed. Azamara set the bar very high for us! We would highly recommend Azamara and are looking forward to cruising with them again!
Sounds like a great back to backer. We've looked at the Norway Intensive - looks great. Maybe next time!
Thanks for the great info-we just discovered this cruise line-I think its going to be perfect for us!
Fantastic. Let us know what you book - have fun out there!
Great video. Cruised twice with an all inclusive cruise line and been looking out for a different cruise line that offers all inclusive, or near as because when on holiday you want to enjoy it and not want to worry about additional daily cost. We are destination focused and prefer smaller ships plus a big bonus is looks like Azamara can sail from Southampton whereas the other cruise line does flights to board their ships only. Will definitely follow your videos as after watching this I think we've found the cruise line we were looking for 🎉
That's great! Does seem like an ideal choice for what you are looking for. Now you have the fun part - choosing from all the available options :)
new subscriber here & thanks for reminding me of all the reasons why we enjoyed our one & only Azamara cruise and now, with your information sharing, I am going to go back and look at where we might want to go on our next one...that is, after we get back from our Sept cruise on Princess to New England & Canada - cheers to many more journeys!
Awesome, glad to hear. Comeback in the future and let us know how the Sept. cruise goes - we've thought about taking a very similar cruise. We did one from New York up into Canada and over to Iceland but like the itinerary you describe.
Second video I watched about this cruise line prices destination celebrations. Thought of you guys
Thanks much for watching. Let us know if you get something booked.
There were 8 R Class Ships. Oceania now has 4 and Azamara 4.
We're booked on our fourth Azamara cruise next month on Onward from Stockholm to Southampton. As you point out, it is all about the unique itineraries and the modest size of the ships. We also like Oceania and Windstar. We love the informality, and have no real interest in a casino or floor shows. Its about the culture of each place we visit.
Great way to describe it. You are exactly right about what makes them special.
We just booked our first Azamara cruise, and we're excited to experience it. We booked a balcony room. The one negative we've heard about Azamara is that the rooms, and especially the bathrooms and showers, are quite small and are uncomfortable for some people. How has your (or anyone reading this) experience been in that area?
Congrats on the booking! And yes, the bathrooms and showers are small. We know this going in. Make that your expectation. Have a good laugh about it. But seriously, it is very workable just don't expect the bathroom to be similar to the newer, larger ships. We have never had a problem with this since we're there for the small ship experience and the destinations. The room itself, while small is very comfortable and well organized.
@@DigitalRoamadsDR I'll just strive to lose a few pounds before it's time to board! 😄
❤ very informative and great tips... azamara has always been on my list when the time is right for long cruise 😊
Great to hear. Let us know when you book something - I'm sure it will be a great journey.
Thank you so glad I found you both .you are very helpful .I'm excited about trying a new cruise line. I need help with coordinating a cruise to and from instead of having to fly. I usually book my own cruise on an online large agency that allows me to search price and book and offers me special perks for loyalty. Thanks for your help with various iteneries
It's a great way to get there. Makes the journey way more fun than flying in a cramped airplane :) Sounds like you are doing it right working with an online agency and getting those added perks and bonuses.
We will be boarding the Onward in Oslo July 13. I hope you are doing a b2b and staying on the ship for the Norway intensive cruise.
We wish we were! That looks like a great intensive around Norway. We'll be leaving out down to the Netherlands and after Albania. Have an amazing cruise! We'll try to leave some food and drink for you.
I saw a prior video am impressed
Looked at price seemed ok
Glad you had a chance to watch. Given the small ship and personalized experience it does cost more than the larger ships but you'll get a very different and unique experience. Hope you enjoy.
we had two cruises with Azamara and will be cruising with Azamara again in august 2025 in Greece
That's awesome! We have another one scheduled in June 2025 - very much looking forward to it as well. Enjoy yours!
I have a little 4 day cruise booked with Carnival this fall, chosen by some friends. We spent 1200 for the cruise, for a slightly upgraded balcony (with tips and taxes). Carnival now wants 80 a day for the drink package, which made me shudder. There is no onboard credit. I added internet. When I compare that price per day... to the price per day for Azamara that you showed us.... I realize that perhaps I have been doing this all wrong. Thank you.
It is important to pay attention to all the extras. Virgin Voyages is another example - it tends to price out quite a bit higher (usually) than the mainstream cruise lines but when you start to factor in things such as no speciality restaurant uncharges, internet included, gratuities included, etc. it gets quite comparable.
Can you please let me know how about small ship at open sea, Do you feel more rocking compare to bigger ship?
Short answer is definitely yes. While we have and you can have movement even on a large ship, it is much more likely on a small one. If you are on a smaller ship we always advise having a cabin midship and lower in the boat. Stay away from the top floors for your cabin. I always take chewable meclizine, one per day and it gets me through most anything even though I'm sensitive to the movement.
Do you find that since the ship is smaller, it rocks more and causes more sea sickness? I’m looking at the Scotland intensive, and it looks like it hugs the coast pretty much. So hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad?
I am personally sensitive to motion of the ocean so I take a Meclizine tablet once per 24 hours. That does the trick and honestly most of the time it's not even necessary. Better safe than sorry. We have had an occasional choppy day on Azamara and it has been ok but you will notice it a bit more than a large ship. I'd book a mid-ship (maybe lower floor - though they don't have a lot of decks) cabin but don't think you'll have many issues.
@@DigitalRoamadsDR thank you!
Thank you
We will do our 5th cruise with Azamara. Love everithing you said in the video. Sept 3 from Southampton to bordeaux. We are discover and we cruise based on the itineaty. With Celebrety Azamara and HAL.
Awesome! That sounds a really nice cruise. Another one we have to look into. You'll have a great time for sure. We've enjoyed Celebrity a lot as well - we haven't yet tried HAL.
Drinks in Azamara’s basic included package are available throughout the day and evening, not only during lunch and dinner. That is true of Viking River Cruises, for example, however, unless an upgrade is purchased. Not true of Azamara.
Great point! Thank you.
Thank you. Very informative. We have cruised with SilverSea, Regent, and Oceania. How do you compare Azamar with those?
Thanks for watching. Very good question. In the case of Silversea and Regent I'd say you are more in the "ultra" luxury segment and I' put Azamara in the "comfort" luxury segment. Not as formal. Definitely more destination focused and long times in ports. They do not have new ships like you'll get sometimes from the other two. I would expect the per diem to be better however on Azamara. As for Oceania, we much preferred our Azamara experiences but we will be trying Oceania again on their newest ship in January. Will report back.
23:09 @@DigitalRoamadsDR
Hi, Thanks. I was on Azamara in June this year by accident (my other cruise cancelled-re red sea) and this was the only one going to where we needed to be.. We loved the Cruise , But was our first time on a cruise HAHA - group of 7. I am now looking to book again for next June with a group of 6 (3 rooms). How far out do you book ?? I have been looking at the prices ,but no great promotion as yet.
That's great - sounds like it happened the way it should have :) I would always book out as far as possible. Most times pricing does go up. Be sure to book through a cruise only travel agency who will likely rebate you back some of your cruise cost (up to 10% is not unheard of, but 5%-10% doable) as onboard credit, etc. And, if you book now and fares go down - before final payment - you can typically get that matched. Also, once you book you may get an offer from Azamara to pay before the final payment date in exchange for up to 8% additional onboard credit that you can use immediately (shore excursions, etc).
How do they compare with Regent Seven Seas?
Great question. I would consider Regent more in the "ultra-luxury" segment and will likely be considerably more money. It does have more included such as some shore excursions, specialty restaurants, etc. Azamara has a lot included but not "all" inclusive. I'd describe Azamara as "comfortable-luxury" - more casual, less formal. You won't find butlers or white gloves. Regent probably more about the opulence, Azamara more about the destination and a casual social vibe.
Hello, new subscribers. Great video on the Azamara experience. We are Seabourn sailors and looking to try Azamara for their Japan experience. Would you recommend Azamara over Seabourn for this? Thanks
Yes, we had an amazing time on our Japan Intensive. There were a number of very memorable experiences that had as much to do with each Japanese port pulling out some special performances and welcomes/goodbyes. It was a great way to see a number of places we'd never have been able to visit. I do think you might find Azamara more "casual" than Seabourn. It's less top tier luxury - I like to say more comfortable luxury. Also, the ships are likely going to be older - though well maintained and still modern in their way. You'll save money I believe just know the differences going in.
Thanks for the informative vlog! I have heard of Azamara and are looking at a Tahiti cruise in 2025 or 2026. Just curious if you you book your cruise with CruisePlum?
Hello - they are not an agent just a price search engine. You'll want to book your trip with either the cruise line direct or a cruise only travel agent. We prefer the latter since we can get some extra bonuses such as additional onboard credit. The price of the cruise will be the same.
I'm considering the Spain intensive next spring. What was the Azamazing evening?
On ours we went off the ship and were taking to a really nice performing arts center in Seville and they had a condensed showing of Carmen (flamenco, etc) - even though it wasn't in our usual type of shows we go to - it was a great experience and something different. Keep in mind this year they have transitioned to doing a lot more of these evenings onboard. There's pros and cons to that but so far it has been pretty good - we've done two on the ship and two off.
@@DigitalRoamadsDR Thanks for the feedback!
Very informative, thanks. My wife & I (early 70s & 70+ countries) are considering an Azamara cruise including an extended cruise in an inside cabin. We’ve never done inside cabins before but the value proposition looks incredible. From the cabin layout we saw, it looked like there was a small sofa, which would be crucial. Would you feel comfortable inside for an extended cruise? Safe travels!
Thank you for a very thorough video. Have you cruised with Viking? Would be interested in a comparison. I have looked at Azamara, but I really like that Viking is all veranda and very spacious rooms, and mostly inclusive of costs (exception gratuities)
Yes, we have sailed on Viking on 3 cruises (2x on Orion and 1x on Saturn) -- it's a great idea to do a comparison since there are overlaps but also distinct differences. No questions the ship itself and the rooms are excellent on Viking. You do tend to pay more in my experience and there are some differences we've found once onboard. We've enjoyed our cruises on Viking and will look to do a review and comparison video in the future. Thanks!
Does it have solo cabins?
With Azamara there is going to be a supplement. They do not have any purpose built since the ships are older. I do believe there are some reduced single supplement rates. Perhaps others who have sailed solo on Azamara can chime in. We always meet people on these ships who are however. It's pretty common.
Been on 3 Azamara Onward cruises. The ship tours are way too expensive. We've been on 65 cruises and usually book ship tours.
Can't disagree, we find many of theirs overpriced. Which is why whenever we can we either book on our own or just work out our own shore excursion adventure.
What’s the average cost of excursions on this cruise
I would say the average was running between $75-$125 per person. Ideally you have some on board credit you can use. Usually we have in the neighborhood of $500 to put towards these. And, as mentioned, we try not to overdue it since normally they are a bit overpriced.
I booked the azamara 16 cruise to Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar in Jan 2026...looking forward to trying this line
Fantastic - it sounds like an incredible adventure ahead of you!
No App - great, sign me up!
Be nice if they have one at some point but such a small ship it really hasn't been that necessary.
Just came off Azamara Onward. Although fine, in my opinion Azamara is not luxury by any means. The smaller ship to be able to get into the ports is a plus. Food was a bit disappointing.
Thanks, and appreciate the feedback. A lot depends on what you expect and look for. I agree it is not perfection and there's always room for improvement. Hard to beat the flexibility of the small size however.
Depressing I can't afford to go
One great thing about cruising is there are many ways to go. You can pick shorter cruises, cruises from local/close ports, finding ones that have a great sale, etc... Even if this line is not in reach at the moment there are many others. Hopefully it can work out. Thanks for watching!
Is that a stain on the couch?
I don't recall on this one but there are always small signs of wear & tear on these older ships. They keep them sparkling clean but you do see some areas of age no question.
Regent is the best but expensive. Value for money has to be Azamara. Silversea fine but too formal. Seabourn overrated and Oceania has a misguided view of its food and the marine crew is invisible.
Great assessment there. Agree. We haven't yet been on Regent,but have been on the others. You are right I think on Oceania, while the food is good it is not up to their best at sea billing. Thanks for watching and commenting!