Small Ship Ocean Cruising

With a fleet of three ships and the latest, Onward, due to join service in 2022, Azamara will firmly establish themselves at the heart of the ‘mid/small ship’ category. Recently bought by a private equity firm from Royal Caribbean – things are certainly moving forwards for this exciting cruise brand.

It was my first experience of Azamara and arriving into the new Lisbon cruise terminal to see ‘Journey’ moored up close to the heart of the city was fantastic! Her sleek outline standing out against the blue Iberian sky gave me a huge buzz. Being able to travel at the moment is a huge privilege and to be stepping aboard the ship is such an historical port town (think Vasco de Gama and all the voyagers of the 1400’s!), was awesome!

Founded in 2007, Azamara provides a superb onboard experience for the ‘mid/small’ category cruise lover. With capacity on each vessel, of up to just 690 guests, means space is never compromised and the staff to guest ratio of 2:1 provides a level of service that is more akin to a boutique hotel. Guest numbers onboard the sailings at the current time are also capped – so there is so much more space to enjoy onboard.

Each of the 5 dining venues onboard (including the Specialty venues, Aqualina and Prime C), provide a wide choice of dining styles and food options – including plant based/vegan and again, at this time there is never a wait time for a table to be available. Staff are first class, knowledgeable and are more than willing to recommend menu specialties and personal favourites!

But what of the benefits of being on a smaller ship? Of course, at this time, the fewer number of guests onboard, the more exclusive the ship feels, and to some degree ‘safer’ (all guests are PCR tested at the port prior to embarkation and again temperature checked each morning) but more than that, it is the opportunity to get into smaller ports, moor up and simply step off the ship to explore the destination.

And what of being ‘in the destination’, rather than at a mega cruise terminal? Well, quite simply it means there is less faff getting on and off the ship..you can explore independently or choose to take an Azamara excursion (excursions are not included in the price of an Azamara trip – so the choice is yours to explore!). Azamara has worked very hard on their itineraries to ensure their strapline of ‘Destination Immersion’ is met at every opportunity.

Check out my time-lapse of leaving Portimao, en route to Seville...

Sailing from Lisbon to The Algarve and into the small town of Portimao, I awoke to sandy beaches on one side of the ship. Deciding to watch the sunrise from the promenade deck…(I was the only guest on the deck)…it felt like the sun rose just for me! Classic terracotta tiled roofs adorned white washed cottages along the promenade and fishing boats went about their daily activities…not much has changed over the years. Had I been on a bigger ship – then I’d not have been able to experience that moment!

At 30,000 Gross Tonnes, Azamara’s vessels are considered ‘small’…and with just 3 decks for accommodation (Decks 6, 7,8), The ‘Pool Deck’ (9), Guest Services, the Gym and Spa all on Decks 4 and 5 and ‘dining venues’ located in the aft and ‘entertainment and bars’ at the forward part of the vessel – it is easy to find your way quickly around.

But what of ‘Destination Immersion’ itself? Azamara have coined the phrase to differentiate themselves to guests so they have longer time in port which offers a greater chance to explore. On a smaller ship, this is always a huge bonus, as there is little time wasted disembarking before you are straight into the port you are visiting. A typical day will usually involve a pre breakfast arrival into port, then either an overnight in port, or an early evening departure. Of course, COVID restrictions are adhered to in every port, but in Lisbon, Portimao and Seville we were free to get off and independently explore.

Another benefit of being on a smaller ship is the opportunity for local experiences – and the signature Azamara ‘AZAMazing Evening’..(currently taking a slightly different format because of COVD, now called ‘Destination Celebration’) takes onboard instead of a shore based experience. We were in Spain, so were privileged to watch a Flamenco show.

But probably one of the biggest plus factors of a smaller ship is there are like-minded people onboard. If you are interested in local cultures, visiting places and meeting other folk that are also interested in these things, then the smaller the ship, the better! Convivial chatter in the bars and over dinner, soon turn to personal recommendations and shared experiences that bond people together.

Looking forwards..

Azamara’s itineraries for 2022 and beyond include ‘Country Intensive’ voyages: Greece, France, Italy, The Black Sea - and each one will give a new perspective on each country.

As connoisseurs of immersive exploration, I highly recommend Azamara to get you closer to the destinations that you will visit. Perhaps their 2024 ‘World Voyage’ aboard Azamara Onward might be the perfect way to tick off 155 destinations in one go..? From the Great Wall of China to Machu Picchu; the Taj Mahal to Petra…this epic voyage on this small ship is the most comprehensive way to experience all 7 Wonders of the World…

Find out more about Azamara

Thanks to Amy Sharpe for providing this article.

Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200 and they'd be happy to help!