Comparison: Azamara to HAL

[TonyC1952]

Hi there 

We are long time HAL cruisers, and are considering an Azamara cruise. Can anybody that has sailed both lines give us a short comparison? Thanks!

[StartrainDD]

GO!  We ended up doing a B2B on Azamara last Nov-Dec and absolutely LOVED it.  If you've sailed Prinsendam and enjoyed her, you will LOVE Azamara.  Ships just a little smaller than our beloved Prinsendam.  We found outstanding public spaces and a crew every bit as engaging as HAL.  Officers were always out and about interacting with guests.  The 'all-inclusiveness' was much appreciated, and what was shocking to us was how good the entertainment was.

Azamara is normally a bit above our budget.  Love HAL, and will be on Rotterdam in April.  That said, I will be watching Azamara offerings as we'd love to return for the right itinerary and price.  Hope this helps!

[cruisemom42]

I can try...

 

I was on Azamara Journey on a cruise to Cuba about 18 months ago. I love smaller ships, and for me, the R-class ships hit a good "sweet spot" for size. But smaller size can mean differences, depending on what size HAL ships you like. Some pluses/minuses:

 

• Biggest difference is the small cabin size for similar category. Azamara cabins are pretty small. We were in an OV, so I have no idea about higher categories, but the room was smaller than HAL OV, inside, or veranda rooms I've had.  Bathroom is also small. For a shorter cruise, no problem for us.  For a longer cruise, I'd be fine as a solo but others might think it small.
• Buffet:  We thought it was wonderful; mainly ate there for breakfasts.  There was a short menu of items that were made to order; very easily managed. You walked up to the station, placed order, they give you a number for your table and in a few minutes your hot and fresh food appears. The buffet area was really lovely, we thought. Lots of windows to view outside; lots of light, didn't ever seem crowded despite a full ship.  A couple of lunches showed a wide variety of items and everything we tried was good. A plus for my son, the "spicy food" fiend -- he asked for some hot sauce and was offered sambal, which was greatly appreciated.
• Entertainment:  Different from HAL but good. There was often a band playing in the pool area, and they were good, we thought. What I most liked in the entertainment area was that they brought on a special entertainer, a Cuban singer who had studied at the arts college in Havana but now lives in the US.  She not only was a fabulous singer/entertainer with a wide range of styles, she also told great stories about her childhood in Cuba. It was a nice match for this cruise, given our destination and I assume it was done purposefully -- she performed twice.  There were a couple of lectures on sea life in the Caribbean as well.  Other than that I don't really recall what else was offered. We overnighted in Havana, so one night we went to the Tropicana instead of staying on the ship.
• Casino -- very small, and now I am given to understand (from reading another board here) that Azamara has removed altogether.
• MDR:  The room itself was lovely, and I appreciated that tables were spaced properly, not on top of one another. Service was also good. The food was a bit too ambitious maybe -- some of the things I ordered sounded wonderful on the menu but what ultimately materialized was somewhat less inspired. That said, the food was good, especially after we learned to ask questions before ordering.
• Azamara usually offers an outdoor buffet and deck party. Because our cruise was over Thanksgiving, they combined it with a sort of Thanksgiving feast/buffet. It was fun and different, a bit crowded but enjoyable. My son enjoyed it more than I did.
• Certain drinks are included in the cruise fare. My adult son isn't much of an imbiber but enjoyed being free to order sodas whenever he wanted one. I found the selection of drinks and wines by the glass to be fine, if not outstanding. 
• Service was very friendly and personable; similar to what I have experienced on HAL.
• No lines on or off ship ever; embarkation and disembarkation were easy as pie.
• We did not try the specialty dining options.

I liked the cruise very much and would be happy to cruise on Azamara again, especially given their focus on destinations, overnights in port, and at least a certain amount of enrichment aboard. For a solo they are a bit pricey, with few offers of less than 100% solo supplement, which is the main reason I have not yet returned to them. But I will....