On the Azamara Journey I met an American man on his fourth back-to-
back cruise. He had originally booked for a week but kept
extending to the next sailing as he simply could not miss the
upcoming ports of call.
When it comes to dream itineraries in Europe, Azamara Club Cruises
is hard to beat.
My Adriatic Coast voyage covered Sorrento, Italy (where I hopped
on a ferry to Capri); Dubrovnik, Croatia; the Greek island of Corfu;
Taormina, Sicily; and an overnight stay in Venice. No dud days!
The following cruise’s destinations were just as idyllic: Split,
Montenegro, Crete, Santorini and Athens.
The week after that, I took in Turkey, Mykonos, Rhodes, Jerusalem
and Haifa; then Spain, Monte Carlo and the south of France.
I understood why this man, freshly retired, had trouble getting off.
Neither could I fault the onboard features, facilities or crew.
The 32,000-tonne Journey, like its sister Azamara Quest, carries less
than 700 passengers: enough to mingle with, but not too many to feel
lost in the crowd. Travelling solo, I met people as easily as I would on
a much smaller ship. Perhaps it was the Mediterranean climate or the
great days out on shore, but everyone was in an exceedingly good
mood (strangely not always the case on holidays).
Suite Surprise
I was lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite, for the first time, and
can highly recommend this option for anyone who can afford it.
Special mention to Sooria, my butler, who offered the best service I
have ever had on a cruise (or anywhere on land, for that matter). He
deserves a medal for his efforts, all delivered with genuine friendliness.
Dining in my room, with each course served individually, my wine
poured and topped up, and the added touch of candles and music to
enhance the ambience – it was an absolute treat that I indulged in twice.
The Prime C steakhouse and Aqualina seafood restaurant were both
well worth the $25
surcharge (free for
suite guests) and
definitely in my top five
meals at sea.
Even in the buffet,
the waiters
remembered passengers’ names and fussed over them. This does not
happen on every cruise line.
The excellent service extended all the way to the gym where the
instructor, from New Zealand, added a cycling class to suit four
Australian passengers who said they preferred mornings to afternoons.
Younger Passengers
The ship’s other noticeable distinction was the average age onboard
– I’ve never seen so many couples, solo women and groups of friends
in their 20s, 30s and early 40s. To be honest, I’d rank Azamara
Journey remarkably close to its rival, Seabourn. It’s much more casual
and mainstream, with a different class of clientele, but boosted by
two exceptional restaurants and a stellar crew.
Cost and inclusions
Azamara Journey operates seven-night Med cruises, from August to
November 2012. Fares start at $2,995 per person twin-share
including wine at lunch and dinner, bottled water, soft drinks, tea,
coffee and port shuttles. See www.azamaraclubcruises.com.
