Xcelsior

If you didn't like the mediocre vegas shows on X, you will not be happy with the productions on Azamara. You will really enjoy White Night though. They do a top notch job on that. Hopefully you will have a better guest entertainer(s) on your sailing(s). As with most cruises, it's also about the fellow passengers you meet onboard. I was lucky in that department on this sailing so my gripes need to be taken into perspective. Azamara always has interesting fellow passengers onboard. I hope you have a great time.

The food certainly had its moments - I think they do an absolutely excellent job on the White Night and in the Brunch buffets. I found Main Dining Room hit and miss. The food in Windows Cafe was great at breakfast and lunch. The themed a la carte dinners on deck were not very good at all the times I went there. The staff however are excellent. In terms of the shower size....the first time I sailed Azamara was when the line was first launched and the shower while the same size then, didn't bother me as much. I was obviously younger and the ships of the day mostly all had smallish showers. The last time I sailed I was in a suite, so of course it wasn't an issue. Being in a verandah this time - I actually loved the room, except for the bathroom size. The linens were great, loved the balcony and the decor. They got this part right. I do wish they had put a door on the shower though like Celebrity did when they refit the Millennium and Summit a couple years ago. That being said, these showers are even smaller than those....so maybe not possible. I think someone said Oceania did but didn't like that either. In terms of expectations with entertainment, the singers/dancers and CD did an amazing job with White Night as per usual. It was the rest of it that was a big letdown. The other annoying thing was that the guest lecturer apparently "missed a flight" to join the ship....so there were no lectures. I would have loved it if there had been some lectures on the greek islands/ruins/mythology etc. as I didn't pay much attention to this in school and I would have been more interested in the sights on the islands we visted as a result. Why it was not possible for the lecturer to catch up with a ship that was in port every day is a mystery to me....so I don't think they were trying very hard to deliver on that front. I also didn't like that The Patio was not open for dinner. That would have been a great option. Why they opened Windows every night with an a la carte and not just simply open the Patio is another mystery to me. The food at the Patio was always GREAT. So......will I sail Azamara again? Yes. Is it still my favourite cruise line? No. Will I pay extra to sail Azamara? Only if the itinerary is something I can't do on other lines. If they are ever able to build or purchase newer ships that offer a few other options to keep me a bit more entertained I will re-evaluate. The cruise line needs to realize that the competition is tough, and with older ships, they aren't helping themselves with poor entertainment onboard. While it was never industry-leading, it was definitely much better previously. Another final note, I think there is probably a big difference in the ships right now. The best staff seem to have been moved to the Onward and the Pursuit. I think perhaps those ships are satisfying others better at the moment?

I thought he was from the UK, but maybe he was American....maybe I had too much to drink to tell the difference? Trust me when I say it was not about personal taste or preference in a type of comedian, he just wasn't even remotely funny.

I can absolutely sail on them for same price if I take a lower category of cabin. Oceania usually includes air. But more importantly, I can sail in a much better category on Celebrity and in my opinion, have a better experience all around.

The guest comedian was absolutely terrible. Not a single person laughed at anything he ever said in 2 shows. The cast had a couple of good singers, the rest not. The shows were just really lame. I will say that they did an excellent white night though. Lots of fun. Other than that there was absolutely nothing to do in the evenings other than listen to the same songs played over and over by the DJ who told me he didn’t have a lot of music. Can you believe I asked him to play some Tina Turner and he didn’t have anything? Unless it was Abba, Bruno Mars or Kool and the Gang you were out of luck on that front.

I think it really depends what you’re looking for. If you want to just completely relax and have a good itinerary Azamara will do the trick. If you enjoy entertainment in the evenings and not going to bed early, stick with Celebrity. I am completely puzzled as to why anyone would pay more for fewer options, older ships, smaller cabins and very similar quality in food and service.

Disembarked on Friday. Itinerary was great - 12 night Greece and Turkey. Only 217 passengers and 370 crew. Service was excellent as always. Entertainment was terrible - the worst entertainment of my 35 cruises by far. To be completely honest, I think Azamara has slipped badly, and I now consider it a significant step down from Celebrity. I realize this opinion will upset Azamara loyalists, but honestly, the food is certainly no better, the ships are older and the cabins are smaller of course. The shower size drove me crazy. The bedding and the linens though were great and I like the table on the balcony vs the reclining chairs on other ships. Makes breakfast in balcony very enjoyable. The pluses of Azamara are ship size, service and itineraries. For me, everything else paled in comparison to Celebrity. That being said I will sail Azamara again for the itinerary, but will not pay through the nose to do it. I will go with Oceania or Viking at the same price as they are just a better quality product for the same cost.

Ernest was the best cruise director I've ever had by far. Sad to see him leave but will catch up with him again I'm sure on Celebrity.