Azamara, Greenwich to Lisbon: Pirouette’s observations

Great review so far. I have to agree, excellent food in all venues, particularly the specialties!!

We took our first AZ cruise this summer, the Journey to the North Cape (Norway fjords). We are long time Celebrity cruisers and have decided this is our line of choice now. I love the country-intensive itineraries and we booked two of them while on board!

I have a comment about a couple things and it's of course just my opinion. The key card holders. Never in all our cruising have we wanted one, used one, or kept one. I just don't get the big deal. I certainly am not a fob wearer - it just goes in my pocket or in my husband's pocket or a little purse and that's all I want. We have always left them in the cabin. And, we received two of them. I supposed I'll have to be educated on the big deal with a card holder.

We are serious wine drinkers but we didn't upgrade and found the included wines pretty much to our liking. We only drink a glass or two at dinner, nothing throughout the day. If we weren't particularly fond of one, we could always get one of the ones we liked from a previous day. There were a couple merlots that I enjoyed and they always had a bottle ready. We almost always say like one poster above: "we'd like to look at the menu while we are sipping our wine" or something to that effect.

We always had nibbles presented in all the venues. Sometimes we didn't even want them. They were just brought to us. Perhaps....they don't want waste, so it's probably not a bad idea to order your drink and "something to nibble on." Once we just wanted peanuts and we got a tiny little carafe of peanuts. Perfect. I say just ask for something. It would never occur to me that it was less than 'luxury' to have to ask for something to eat with a pre-dinner drink. I'd rather do that than have something go to waste.

As far as wait staff not looking out and surveying their tables, that's definitely a training issue. That was the one issue we noticed too. Maybe there's something cultural in there too, I don't know --

I hope you continue to enjoy your cruise. We've never sailed Oceania - perhaps we never will. For now AZ suits us just perfectly. We did upgrade our cabin - to one of the club continent suites - for our 2020 cruises. We met people onboard who had one and they invited us back to see their cabin. That's all it took. The regular verandah shower - yeah, it's something else! I did put a couple magnets on the curtain to keep it in place. I carry a few of them on every cruise for holding things on the wall, etc.

My observations. There are certainly some new staff onboard. It's a mix. Some are great, some need a little training and some I don't think will last the course. I'm lucky because having been on the ship a few times I know the ones to head for or ask!

Phil

My observations. There are certainly some new staff onboard. It's a mix. Some are great, some need a little training and some I don't think will last the course. I'm lucky because having been on the ship a few times I know the ones to head for or ask!

 

 

 

Phil

Thanks Phil, you know how it should be so that’s helpful.

Our experiences on Journey were the issues were with bar staff rather than wait staff plus one new butler. The management know where the issues are. Magic up a solution mic contract not so easy if the individual is not trainable.

People need to keep highlighting issues in feedback to help management and shoreside

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Last night’s Azamazing evening was truly amazing, for the logistics alone. The Basque music and dance show was also fantastic. Somehow Azamara was able to transport more than 500 passengers to the show venue, a delightful art nouveau theatre, and return them later with almost military precision. The whole evening went off without a hitch and Azamara deserves major credit for its incredible management of this undertaking.

The performance itself offered a one hour immersion into Basque folk music and dance. The performers’ enthusiasm was appreciated by the audience. The accordion seemed to be an extension of the lead performer’s being. It was also rewarding to observe the large group of youthful dancers embracing and sharing their Basque culture with us. It truly was a wonderful evening.

Because of the early dinner and departure time, there was a late night snack buffet for those of us who could not go two hours sans food. Much appreciated and very well done. Bravo Azamara!

Today we cruised into Gijon, Spain, a port that we were not familiar with. The weather is warm and we were provided with a shuttle for the 20 minute ride into town. We wandered for a couple of hours, through a scenic park with spectacular views over the bay and beaches. I waded briefly in the water-refreshing but not really cold. Lots of locals were swimming and enjoying the warm weather.

There is a lovely old town with some interesting shops. Timing as everything as most shops close at 2pm for siesta, re-opening around 6pm. An early start is a good idea here.

We have still had service issues but are learning to seat ourselves near the more experienced waitstaff. This morning I suspect we were directed there deliberately. Our server was the best we have had-second double espresso already waiting before being requested. It was the best service we have had. We will try to be seated there again tonight.

On to La Coruna tomorrow.

I am pleased to report that I received a telephone message yesterday acknowledging my mid cruise feedback and indicating that my comments had been forwarded to “management”. The dining room manager also approached at breakfast today and was again grateful for the feedback. He wanted to know where they could improve. We had a brief and open discussion and I am satisfied that the concerns raised are being taken seriously by Azamara.

 

I understand that there is a learning curve for new staff. Given an option, we will now try to sit in the section of the dining room served by the more experienced servers. That being said, I reiterate that the food on Azamara, from our perspective, is superior to the other cruise lines we have cruised, including Regent and Oceania.

 

Again, I recognize that food is subjective, but we are not luxury cruise newbies and have experienced offerings on those Regent , Oceania and Silversea. Oceania touts the best food at sea. It is very good, but to our taste, Azamara is better. Silversea offers better pizza (it’s an Italian run company) and for some reason, better sushi. For the rest of the menu, including desserts and cheeses, Azamara excels.

 

I have complained about the wine list but there is not much that can be done ship side. The cellars are stocked based on orders from head office. The quality of the included wines and those on the beverage packages falls far short of both Oceania ‘s beverage package and Regent’s all inclusive wines. For those who share that view, concerns should be directed to head office.

 

When a cruise line holds itself out as providing a quasi luxury experience, they have to do better than offering a drinkable choice, it should be a quality and enjoyable choice. The options on the ultimate beverage package are what we would drink at home on a Wednesday evening. They are no remotely special and do not complement the excellent food.

 

We were overnight in Bilbao last evening. We took the time explore the outside of the Guggenheim museum yesterday. Today we did the inside and it was spectacular. We were pleased that we did the outside yesterday because we could be more leisurely on the inside today. There is a lot to see. Azamara provided a shuttle to the centre of town (about 20 minutes) and the museum was a five minute walk. So happy to have seen it.

 

We are off to the Azamaing evening in a couple of hours, a Basque concert in a unique venue. More later....

Really enjoying your blog.

Question: Were people allowed to take photos in the Guggenheim?

Signs everywhere for no photos inside the Guggenheim but not everyone was compliant. So much to see inside and out!

A very early start today, at least for me. I am not a morning person. I was contacted by someone in reception last night about a random passport check by Spanish immigration at 7:45 this morning. Apparently my name, along with four others had been chosen from the passenger manifest provided to the Spanish immigration authorities. This has never ever happened in my many years of travel. I hate to set an alarm on vacation but I had no choice today. In typical bureaucratic fashion, the immigration officials were late. They looked at my passport for less than 5 seconds and said everything was fine. The inconvenience was not Azamara’s fault and I am still puzzled as to why I was selected.

We spent a nice day in La Coruna. Lots of walking, lovely old town with many churches, lovely beaches and of course the Roman Hercules Tower. Lots of nice shoe stores too....We did a lot of walking as is our typical practice-usually 8-10 kilometres each porti if we are not on a tour. We don’t want to miss anything because the chance of our returning to any of these destinations ( except Bordeaux) is remote.

Azamara has really improved its service in the main dining room since our discussions a few days ago. It is encouraging that they took passenger feedback seriously and they have made a concerted effort to improve. They also offered a special Indian meal to my spouse, who particularly enjoys Indian food. It was very well prepared- dal, rice and puri, not like home but still very good. Regent made a similar offering on our last cruise with them. It was good but this was better.

The seas are a little rougher today, but nothing like dodging five hurricanes and storms from San Fran to New York last September but still a little choppy for some. The captain gave the appropriate warning to passengers to take precautions if there may be possible stomach issues. He has a sense of humour too. He announced that another officer was taking over the helm for the sail out and that this was the first time ever in his life that he had sailed this route. So far all is good!

Dinner followed by dancing later on. One minor complaint overheard by some elderly passengers, the television offerings are very limited. The movies are not current and there are only a handful of channels, BBC, Sky News, CNBC, MSNBC, two ESPN channels and the usual Azamara channels. It does not matter to us as we use internet for the most part but may be something to consider if one is spending considerable time in the cabin.

On to Porto tomorrow.

Thanks for the many detailed updates Pirouette, it’s great to travel along with you and read both the good and the not so good. Enjoy Porto! The Duoro Valley is one of my favourites.

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Thank you, Pirouette, for this thread. I am enjoying the comments compared to Regent. Enjoy your cruise!

Loving your detailed and interesting report Pirouette!!

Thanks for taking the time to post and take us all along with you on your adventure.:)

Poor you, having to get up so early on holiday - just bad luck I guess that you were one of the 5 people chosen. Thanks for your posts - I’m really enjoying reading them.

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I too have enjoyed following your adventures. Thank you for sharing.

Also enjoying your reports, it is refreshing to read unbiased reviews telling it has you see it.

Pirouette:

Thanks for your balanced and well-written blog entries. Like you, my wife and I have have sailed with Oceania and Silversea (three times on each line, but only on the two largest Oceania ships). Although we like those lines, we've been toying with the idea of an Azamara cruise. Not any more. I know you've said some good things about Azamara but, for me, your negatives outweigh the positives. You've saved us a lot of money!

Jim

For the record, I would never discourage anyone from choosing Azamara. There are positives and negatives with every cruise line and passengers should select the one that most closely aligns with their individual priorities. As I indicated before, we are not new to the luxury or quasi luxury cruise market and know what we can and should expect. What may be “niggles” to some often reflect the difference between an ordinary and extraordinary cruise experience. To each his own.

We value a great itinerary, service, good food and wine. Some may place more emphasis on other aspects of a cruise, and that is fine. We do not often go to shows, we do not play bridge, bingo, trivia or go to the casino though many others do and seem to enjoy it. There is likely a cruise line to suit everyone.

I wanted to acknowledge the excellent turnaround in service in Discoveries. Laze and his crew have worked very diligently to improve the service and overall experience. Last night was exceptional. The meal was fantastic and the service extremely professional and attentive. We have gotten to know a few of the servers and they now anticipate our ever need. It makes a difference.

The sommelier also stopped by our table last night to follow up again on our complaints about the quality of wines in the ultimate package. He was kind enough to allow us to try some other selections, some included and some not, that we have not previously considered. They were all very good. Azamara does have better wines. Perhaps if enough passengers raise the issue, Azamara May see fit to improve what is included. They have a long way to go to match Oceania ( and Regent) in terms of quality. We were very grateful for the sommelier’s attention and effort.

We have never felt the need to try the specialty restaurants. Given the price point of this cruise, on principle there should be no additional supplement, except perhaps for a small chef’s table experience. Mass market cruises impose such supplements. Regent, Oceania and Silversea do not, at least not last time we cruised those lines. They may have a limited number of reservations in any specialty restaurant, but passengers re permitted to dine at least once in each of those restaurants. I would suggest that this policy is preferable to a paid supplement. It is also worth noting that we have never had any difficulty in securing additional reservations in specialty restaurants on any cruise line. It helps to be flexible, polite and to dress appropriately. We have never been turned down, even last minute.

We have spent the day in Porto. What a beautiful port! One day is insufficient. There is so much to see! We also arrived on a day when there was a taxi strike-a full protest against Uber. We walked around ourselves, stopping at the major recommended highlights. There is a gondola from just across the bridge in the old town to the waterfront and port houses. The ticket includes a port tasting (one tiny taste per ticket) which was not really worthwhile. The gondola itself saves time and effort in the downhill and uphill walks required.

This port would be difficult for those with mobility issues. There are hills and narrow cobblestone streets everywhere, charming but difficult to navigate in a walker or wheelchair. It is worth noting that the HoHo bus stops immediately outside the port entrance. It is a bit of a hike, but at least it is flat.

This is another issue that should also be addressed by Azamara. My spouse raised it today and I am embarrassed to admit that I did not notice it sooner. If there are buttons to push to open any doors, we have not seen them. I have observed a lovely lady a few cabins away struggle with navigating her wheelchair over the cabin threshold. The ship should be more accessible for all to enjoy. Staff are helpful but there is no substitute for a commitment to accessibility.

On to Lisbon tomorrow.

 

 

We have never felt the need to try the specialty restaurants. Given the price point of this cruise, on principle there should be no additional supplement, except perhaps for a small chef’s table experience. Mass market cruises impose such supplements. Regent, Oceania and Silversea do not, at least not last time we cruised those lines. They may have a limited number of reservations in any specialty restaurant, but passengers re permitted to dine at least once in each of those restaurants. I would suggest that this policy is preferable to a paid supplement. It is also worth noting that we have never had any difficulty in securing additional reservations in specialty restaurants on any cruise line. It helps to be flexible, polite and to dress appropriately. We have never been turned down, even last minute.

 

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Silversea have always made a charge for dining in Le Champagne (now La Dame), and also charge for the Japanese restaurants on the Spirit and the Muse.

Pirouette

We're enjoying your blog. You're obviously delighted that things have improved.

Now we will be Az newbies in 2020. We love good wine. Please help us by listing some of the wines available on the Ultimate Package plus a few of the 'specials' shown to you from the deepest cellars!

Thanks.

Have sailed with Laze several times and have found his attitude and skills beyond reproach. So glad he has helped to make things better for you.

What a wonderful itinerary you have enjoyed - would love to do something similar in 2019.

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Silver Spectre is indeed correct. I had forgotten about Silversea’s much touted La Dame specialty restaurant which also attracts a supplement.

We are on our last day in Lisbon. We have been here before. The city is preparing for a “White Night” so it is a hub of activity. It is wonderful to dock near the centre of the old town. This is a great city for walking (lots of hills) and there is history on every corner. It is a lovely port : we spent some time here a few years ago. We have just walked around and enjoyed the city on our own today.

Another delicious dinner in Discoveries last night. Sheldon keeps surprising us with new options from the wine cellar. Last night there were two Chardonnays from a smaller winery somewhere between Barossa and McLaren in Australia- not overly oaked and very nice. My spouse tried a very nice Shiraz, a change from the usual Pinot Noir. Sheldon also chose some interesting port ( after all, we were in Porto) at the end of the meal. I do not recall what it was.

The difficulty with mobility access was in plain view again today. We watched a gentleman in a wheelchair struggle to open the door to the mens’ room And negotiate the threshold. We helped through the door- there was no automatic door opener and the threshold truly presents a barrier for easy wheelchair access in this area. Given the age and mobility challenges of some of the passengers, this issue needs to be addressed.

I will see what information I can gather about available wines later tonight. We are looking forward to our final dinner and have begun the bittersweet task of packing for the long journey home early tomorrow morning. More later.....

Off the ship and waiting at the airport for the long flights home. Last night’s dinner was a disappointment. It was very salty (duck confit) and not to my taste. My spouse’s meal ( the salmon special) was also quite ordinary and over cooked. The wine service was also off. On the positive side, they held our favourite table and pre-ordered our customary pre-dinner drinks. Much appreciated!

Throughout the cruise we had excellent and attentive service from Laze, Jonadave, Samsi, Savio, Amit and Costin in the Discoveries bar. Leo the DJ also deserves a mention. He does a good job of catering to diverse musical preferences from the different generations present on board. Some of the more senior passengers could have been more respectful of his efforts.

Our cabin stewards were adequate but not extraordinary. The cabin was clean and serviced appropriately. We do not have the room made up until after breakfast and in the evenings we do not dine until around 8:30. There was always the feeling that they were waiting for us to leave.

As to final thoughts, we are pleased to have tried Azamara. Whether we would sail Azamara again would depend on the price and the itinerary. We booked within a month of departure and our TA was able to take advantage of an excellent promotional offer. We liked the itinerary and it worked within our schedules.

We did not find the ship as refined as Oceania Sirena. Perhaps this is not a fair comparison as Sirena had only been introduced three months before were sailed her and she was fresh from a serious refurbishment.

I will reflect more and add to my final thoughts once I reach home.

Our cabin stewards were adequate but not extraordinary. The cabin was clean and serviced appropriately. We do not have the room made up until after breakfast and in the evenings we do not dine until around 8:30. There was always the feeling that they were waiting for us to leave.

I'm not sure I understand your comment. If your cabin was clean and serviced appropriately, what else were you expecting? Did the stewards hover outside your cabin at 8:30pm and bang on a pail to encourage you to leave?

Could you describe what extraordinary would look/feel like?

tgg, I was thinking exactly the same thing. Well put.

Removing used glasses, 3/4 empty water bottles and replacing the vanity kit as required would be a good start.

"On the positive side, they held our favourite table".

I am very disappointed that Azamara should do this.

Pirouette,

Thank you for taking the time and effort to do this blog while you were on the cruise.

While no cruise is perfect, certain cruise lines are held to a higher standard. In my opinion, Azamara is one of them. We all have certain expectations. Cruise Critic is a perfect opportunity to express our concerns, frustrations and of course our happiness. I think you have done a very good job in expressing all of these.

I look forward to you final thoughts.

Mary