My first trip with Azamara began on the 4th of August. We boarded Azamara Quest in Venice and spent a week sailing through Croatia and the Greek islands before ending the voyage in Istanbul. I was so excited to see what Azamara had to offer as they are a very popular cruise line loved by many of our customers.

There were so many different dining options on board to choose from including the main dining room ‘Discoveries’ which had a different breakfast and dinner menu daily, including specials that were destination inspired.

The Windows café, which is a buffet-style dining area, always had multiple dishes to choose from and I never found the food ran out or that you were stuck for choice on what you wanted to eat. This dining area was open for three meals a day. The menus also changed daily with different themes each evening. My favourite night was definitely the Indian night. The food was always piping hot and full of flavours. The Windows café had a beautiful outside area which was a personal favourite place to dine while watching the sunset in the warm air.

The Patio was a great place for lunch which was located on the pool deck. This area served burgers, nachos, fries, chicken strips, a salad station and much more. Here you can also find a frozen yoghurt station with lots of different topping options to customise your perfect sweet treat. This was a staple after a day sunbathing or out exploring!

There are two specialty dining options onboard, Aqualina and Prime C. These both come at an extra charge of $35 per person. I made my reservation on board and found no trouble getting the dates and times I preferred. Each dining venue includes a 4-course menu with multiple options to choose from. Aqualina is an Italian restaurant and Prime C is a steakhouse and both are open only for dinner. I would highly recommend both restaurants, for the quality and amount of food you get it is well worth the extra supplement, especially for a special occasion you may be celebrating on board. Another thing to note about the specialty restaurants is that you can have a dish from Prime C when dining in Aqualina if there is a starter or main you prefer and the other way around, which is a really nice touch!

In-suite dining is also complimentary for all guests. Whether this be breakfast served to your room for a relaxed morning, or a late-night pizza. The butler will come and set your table up for you whilst you sit back and enjoy in your robe. The perfect way to start your day or end an evening of partying. The Azamara brunch which was hosted in the main dining area is also something not to miss, from fresh seafood to pancakes, waffles, pastries, fresh fruit, hot breakfast dishes, mimosas, toasties... there was everything and more!

One thing Azamara is famous for is their AzAmazing evenings, and what an evening to remember! Our evening was in Dubrovnik on an exclusive rooftop terrace. We were greeted by local performers dressed up in traditional clothing and had welcome drinks before heading up to the terrace, led by someone playing the drums. The performance gave us a real insight into the culture and traditions of the destination and, with the sun setting behind us, this truly was AzAmazing!

The white night was one of my favourite evenings on board. It was so lovely to see that everyone had made the effort to dress in white and what better place to have our white night than in Santorini! There was live music, dancing, a delicious BBQ and all the staff came out with different flags from the countries where they are from. It was just incredible to see how many nationalities there were on board and give our appreciation for everything they do to make our time with them so special and memorable.

Something I was surprised about on board was how much there was going on. During the day there were daily activities such as early morning Pilates, trivia, mini golf, bingo, matinee shows, group meet-ups and so much more. In the evenings there would be a show in the cabaret lounge which would consist of a singing performance from the cruise director or a show from the entertainment team which was fabulous. Local performers would also be brought on board, so each evening was never the same. 

If this isn’t for you there was a pianist in The Den, where you could enjoy some low-key entertainment with a few cocktails. Once the show had finished you could then head up to the living room where you were greeted by the resident band ‘Music 4 Soul’. The band would also take any requests and if they didn’t know the song, by the next evening you could expect to hear this included in their performance, which added such a personal touch. After the band finished, the entertainment surely did not, as DJ Connor would be sure to get everyone on the dancefloor partying all night long.

The service on board I could not fault. The staff were welcoming from the moment we stepped on board. Nothing was too much trouble. The bar staff got to know your drink preferences. The waiters would come and introduce themselves and let you know where they are from and offer suggestions and the perfect pairings of wines. Embarking and disembarking you would always be greeted by your name and ‘welcomed home’ on your return which I thought was very sweet. Everyone on board is so happy and will do anything to make sure your time is as special as possible.

My personal highlights from my trip away with Azamara would have to be each day there was a pre-recorded daily show hosted by the cruise director and the assistant cruise director. They would provide you with information on each destination, tips on what or what not to do, the activities going on in the day and evening and what you could expect to find in the buffet area that evening. 

I think Azamara is an incredible cruise line and offers great value for money. I think the cruise line has a little bit more going on than a lot of the other luxury cruise lines, so this is perfect if this is what you prefer. The service is second to none, the excursions are well and truly thought out, the food is also incredible, and I could find no fault with my time on board.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my time on board Azamara Quest and if there are any questions you would like to ask, please do give me a call on 0161 250 6732, I would love to tell you more!