My FIRST EVER Cruise!
"Last week, I embarked on a cruise with with my colleague Amy on board Azamara Journey. This has been my first ever cruise and prior to leaving I had quite a few unanswered questions. Mainly would the seas be kind and smooth?! My last experience of being on the water in any kind of vessel was a crossing I made from Menorca to Mallorca. Nothing like the cruise I was going on but the crossing was not great and didn’t leave me wanting to experience anything like that ever again. I also wasn’t sure as a first time cruiser what to pack, would it be formal wear all the time? That was my pre-conceived idea of cruising, tuxedos and ball gowns!
The biggest question I had, however, was whether I would like it. Well, we will come back to that in a short while.
In current times, travelling anywhere can potentially be quite stressful. What with vaccinations, forms, QR codes, and what seems like endless tests. So, it’s extremely important to be prepared and plan ahead which gladly is something I love to do when I travel.
Having looked at the government websites for Portugal & Spain (the 2 countries I would be travelling to) I was able to ascertain what was required and what documentation I needed. I also found out that the locator forms can actually be started and then completed when you are within the time range. I guess the only last-minute spanner in the works came with the recent change of requirements on return to the UK. My previously purchased antigen now needed to be upgraded to a PCR. But again, if you do your research even this wasn’t a stress. So, with all my documents and tests prepared, it was back to the question of what to pack?
The great thing with Azamara is their dress code is ‘resort casual’ and given they have no formal evenings my mind was put at rest. Good job given it was too late to find that perfect ball gown! I opted for some nice tops and blouses accompanied with trousers and even packed dark blue and black jeans which are perfectly acceptable for dinner. Once onboard, others were dressed similarly so I didn’t feel out of place. I am not a ‘formal’ kind of person so if you are similar the ‘resort casual’ dress code will suit you down to the ground.
With my case packed and all my documents and tests taken care of, all that was left was… oh yes, the question of smooth versus rough seas. I even asked the Panache ladies in the office if it would be rough seas! I’m not sure what I was expecting them to tell me, but they did their best to put my mind at (some) ease! I prepared myself for all eventualities and purchased “kwells” travel sickness tablets. On the advice of the pharmacist, these were the best as they were fast acting and I also picked up the acupuncture bands just to be on the safe side.
My flight was out of Manchester to Lisbon and it was an early morning flight. I must admit I was surprised by how busy the airport was, but it was great to see people travelling again. I had already taken an antigen test, 48 hours previously. This was simply due to the fact that I was vaccinated in America and did not have an NHS Covid pass, but again I was all prepared for this so no hassle at the airport.
On arrival into Lisbon it was straight through passport control and funnily enough I wasn’t even asked for my documents, but better to have than not. It was only a 20 minute taxi journey to the new port where Azamara Journey was docked and this only cost 20 euros. Something to bear in mind perhaps when thinking about transfers. Always check to see as it may be cheaper and quicker to go by local taxi. Check in at the ship wasn’t until 2pm but I was able to check my luggage in with the Azamara staff there and then which then allowed me some free time to look around Lisbon.
A short(ish) walk from the new port is the Jeronimos Monastery which is a world heritage monument and Vasco da Gama’s final resting place. Built in 1502 as a symbol of Portugal’s power and wealth, it was where Vasco and his crew spent their last night before leaving for India. Vasco’s tomb is actually inside the monument along with other great figures in Portuguese history. It was worth the walk and truly a magnificent sight to see.
But also a stone’s throw from there is the bakery ‘Pasteis de Belem’ which dates back to 1837 and to this day they still stick to the ancient and secret recipe from the ‘Mosteiro dos Jeronimos’. Easiest way to describe their signature cake, is they are very similar to a custard tart and taste amazing! So, if you have time before your embarkation, I’d certainly recommend a look around the old parts of Lisbon, you can even see the soldiers on duty outside the royal palace.
Once back at the port check-in was relatively smooth albeit with the Covid protocols you are required to undergo an antigen test. The ship have teamed up with Eurofins to do this and it is all complimentary, so too are all the tests on board the ship, just in case the countries you visit require them before you disembark. You must allow time for this as all in it took just over an hour and 15 minutes to go through the whole process to receiving the results. After which you can then make your way through to the actual check-in to the ship and within minutes, we were on board and oh my what a welcome we had. As we walked onto the ship each passenger was welcomed and introduced by name to the waiting crew who all applauded. I cannot get over how happy the team looked to have us on board. I guess with recent restrictions they are just so happy to be back at sea with guests.
We were led to the cabaret lounge and explained that this would be our muster station in an unlikely emergency. We received a safety demonstration accompanied with a nice glass of prosecco and once this was complete, we were shown to our staterooms.
I must admit I had in my mind that these would be on the small side but was very surprised and impressed to find the opposite. I was staying in a Veranda Stateroom and everything from the décor to the facilities felt fresh, light and more importantly with the balcony, more spacious than I had imagined. Having that outside space to be able to enjoy the views especially with this particular itinerary, given how close the ship hugs the coastline, was great and it also afforded a few wonderful sunsets.
A quick unpack and I was off to explore the ship and there is plenty to explore but thankfully I learnt quickly that all the fun (bars/cabaret lounge) was at the front and all the food (restaurants) was at the back. This proved invaluable because every time I came out of the lift or up a flight of stairs, I knew which way I was headed, depending on if I was hungry or thirsty! The good thing about Azamara Journey is the ship isn’t too big that you can’t find your way and there is always someone to kindly point you in the right direction.
With regards to the dining – I will let the photos do most of the talking but my expectations of the dining options on board, the food quality, and the sheer choice of being able to pretty much eat somewhere at some point at all hours of the day, were blown away, certainly up there with many of the 5-star all-inclusive hotels I have stayed at in the Caribbean. We were treated one night to a mix of the speciality restaurants where they combined both Prime C Steakhouse with Aqualina’s Italian cuisine. These are Azamara’s two speciality restaurants and all I can say is wow! Even if we hadn’t been treated to these meals, the $30 cover charge that applies to all non-suite guests is a steal. It seriously was one of the best meals I have had in quite some time. Every meal I had on board from breakfast through to dinner and all the snacks in between have been some of the best food I have had in a long while. Truly nothing is too much for the crew and their service has been second to none.
The entertainment on board is great too and it was also fabulous to see different crew members during the day in one role and then at night going to town with the singing and dancing. There are some very talented people in the on board team. If cabaret shows are maybe not your thing, don’t worry as there are plenty of places to go in the evening where you can chill out to the sounds of a pianist, or should you wish to simply sit back and read or talk or even take part in a game of cards, there are plenty of different options with the Den, the card room and the Drawing Room. A firm favourite of mine was the Living Room where you could listen to the sounds of the onboard tribute band East Pearl and later in the evening you could dance it out to 80’s tunes with DJ Connor as it became the disco venue.
You simply couldn’t have wanted or needed for anything on board, so from a first time cruiser point of view it truly has exceeded all expectations. Taken away are all of those preconceived ideas of cruising being stuffy and formal. Prior to my time on board Azamara Journey, I also had the feeling that being on a cruise might feel similar to feeling ‘trapped’ with thousands of other people. The beauty of a boutique hotel-like ship, that the Azamara Journey is, puts paid to that. Normally carrying 700 passengers, her small size is a big step away from the mainstream cruising where you actually are amongst thousands. It makes it feel even more luxurious as there is so much space, so much choice, and variation for everyone. The crew to guest ratio means they are so attentive and almost falling over each other to offer first class guest service.
On our particular sailing we were extremely lucky to be only a total of 162 passengers, which obviously is not the norm. I do believe however, that even if we had been at maximum numbers, the space that the ship affords with the expansive public lounges, varying bars and areas to sit, drink and eat, it would still not have been an issue. All in all, my experience on this first cruise has left me in no doubt that this won’t be my last cruise.
So that was on board, but the beauty of Azamara is their focus on ‘destination immersion’. The sailings have been done overnight; we have stayed longer in port and, fun fact, Azamara makes a point of staying longer in port than any other cruise line so that we as guests can fully experience the culture of the places we visit. Take for example the itinerary I was on; we were extremely lucky to spend two full days and nights in Seville, which given how much there is to experience in the city, is such a bonus. Again, I will let the photos do the talking, but during dinner en route to Seville it was recommended by another passenger to book on to one of the free walking tours of the city and I am so glad I did. Miguel the local guide certainly knew his stuff and really brought the city to life, which for a first time visitor to the city, was invaluable. I boasted so much about the tour that night at dinner, that everyone wanted to book on for the second day.
The other bonus with the size of ships in Azamara’s fleet means they can you take you to the heart of the destinations they visit. We literally sailed up the Guadalquivir River to dock right in the middle of Seville, it was literally a 10 minute walk along the Paseo to reach the city centre. Being that close is also great as it opens up even more options should you wish to dine off the ship (not sure why you would want to with the options on board!) but it truly allows you to make the most of your time in port when you are right in the heart of the destination! Besides all that, the trip on the river was unbelievable, to navigate even a smaller sized ship as Journey is, in such a narrow waterway, was truly something else!
Azamara has had to temporarily change it’s ‘Azamazing Evenings’ due to Covid protocols. So, for those that may have previously sailed with them you will know that these events normally involve taking all passengers to a special event off ship, so whilst we weren’t able to experience that, they more than made up for it with what they are now calling ‘Destination Celebration’. On our last night in Seville, we were treated to an incredible flamenco show from a local group of extremely talented dancers who hail from Seville, and this took place in the cabaret lounge. Needless to say, it was a full house to witness it. They may no longer call them ‘Azamazing Evenings’, but for me this truly was an amazing evening!
So, back to those two unanswered questions. Firstly, did I need my seasickness tablets? The answer is both a yes and no. It has been an extremely smooth sailing, but yes, I did wear the bands and I did take a tablet prior to leaving ports. If nothing more than because I believe that prevention is better than the cure. But it really has been very calm and I have had zero issues with seasickness. For those of you like me, extremely new to cruising, I hope this helps as this was one of my biggest concerns prior to my cruise. There is a slight movement but nothing like I had envisaged; it was more so the night we sailed up the river and that was really down to the tight bends that the ship had to navigate.
Secondly did I like it? Well, what do you think? All in all, the itinerary of this particular sailing has worked out perfectly for me. It has given me the perfect taste of cruising without being too overwhelming. The duration, the overnight sails, the longer stays in port have all been great in giving me a good enough feel for what cruising is able to offer guests. The luxury you feel on board from how well you are looked after and taken care of, to the places themselves you are able to experience. It really has been a fantastic trip. I have travelled extensively on land and stayed in many 5-star hotels, yet this is up there if not surpassed most of my experiences and I will admit for the most part I think that is because of my ‘wrongly’ preconceived ideas of what I thought cruising was about, so it was a wonderful surprise. As they say, never judge a book!"
Many thanks to Lindsay Lyle for contributing this article to the Panache Cruises blog.
Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200 and they'd be happy to help!
