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good but?
 
Reviewed By: Radgley, Ipswich on 22nd Jan 2010
Cruise Line: Azamara Club Cruises Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Azamara Quest Sailed: December, 2009
Destination: Far East Age: 56-65
Cabin: Balcony Occasion: Birthday
Singapore to Hong Kong, 21st dec - 10th Jan 2010 Azamara Quest

Overall it was a good cruise, with high standards throughout the ship. There were severe organisational problems arising from our passports being retained by the ship, this caused money changing problems in both Vietnam and China and transport problems in Hong Kong on a day trip to Macau.

The food was very good and service in all the restaurants was quite good; It would have been excellent for service except for a few churlish Eastern European waiters who seemed to resent the presence of diners, particularly at breakfast in the main restaurant. The specialist seafood restaurant "Aqualina" was very very good and worth the surcharge. But the overall standard of food was excellent so there was no real need to use the speciality restaurants. The self service restaurant was also very good, probably the best self service restaurant I have experienced.

The drinks were expensive, as is the norm but the compulsory 18% on drinks on the already $25 a day compulsory tips was a bit much, bar waiting staff would sometimes ask for a cash tip on top of all this.

Our cabin was a good size and very clean. The Butler for every cabin was a bit of a gimmick as it is really no more than a glorified cabin steward, but he would book the speciality restaurants for you and clean your shoes if you left them out. If you were an untidy slob or incapable you might get better use out of the so called butler.

The entertainment was poor, even for a small ship, but the relaxed atmosphere and well natured staff more than made up for the lack of decent entertainment. It was a great pleasure not to have to drag the penguin suite halfway around the world in order to make oneself hot and uncomfortable for the occasional dinner. Despite what I celebrate as a lack of formal evenings there was a charming sophistication about ship and its passengers, with a high standard of dress for dinner. The ships decor and ambience plus the courtesy of the staff all contributed to make this an enjoyable cruise.

The overnight stays in Singapore, Bankok, Saigon, Da Nang, and Halong Bay were an excellent idea. It was a great shame that the ship birthed miles outside of Da Nang and even further away from Hanoi in Halong Bay. The usual annoyance about Taxi fares from within the port arose yet again as in some cases taxis with the Azamara Quest sticker charged 10 times more than the usual metered taxis outside of the port.

I did enjoy the cruise but the petty penny pinching and close attention to sucking the last dollar out of your pocket made me feel like some sort of cash cow that was there to be milked. Perhaps I have the wrong idea but when you pay high end prices for what is advertised as a high end cruise you cant help feeling that all the silly little extra charges and cheap birthing locations were a bit incongruous.

The compulsory pre-paid tipping is of course outrageous. Being British, I tip when I receive service above and beyond what is normally expected and I tip at the point the service is delivered, in this way service actually improves (even with that element of miserable Eastern European waiters). Being British means that offering money before the service is delivered is called bribery, maybe this is acceptable to some Americans but against every instinct that is British. Compulsory, pre-paid tips should be an opt-in arrangement and if Azamara wish to increase the proportion of British guests then I would strongly recommend that they allow the Brits to tip in the manner that they are accustomed.

The no-smoking policy was excellent and was properly enforced. There were just two areas on board the ship where smoking was allowed and these areas had been selected to cause minimum interference with the non-smoking guests. Perhaps Fred Olsen Cruises might take a look at Azamara to see how it should work.

One issue that does need sorting out is the presence of children on board a ship with little or no facilities for them. The result was that they got on the nerves of many guests with their energy and loud antics. Whoever had the idea of putting the childrens games console in the library should have been made to walk the plank!!! That at least would have improved the entertainment.

This was our first cruise over the Christmas period. Although Christmas was very underplayed on board ship it was still an experience that I am likely to repeat and probably with Azamara cruises. As a first cruise with Azamara I think they have a little way to go to catch up with Ociania Cruises but are well away from the Seaborn mark. The talk of Azamara expanding into the top end "all inclusive" niche is a bit premature.
Quality of Food4
Entertainment1
Shore Excursionsn/a
Staff3
Children's Facilities1
Onboard Activities4
Cabins4
Overall Rating3
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Guy, Enfield (20 Nov 10 18:28) about this REVIEW
WE asked for repayment We were dumped in Hongkong and are still waiting for compensation as plane could collect which is down to Azamara The entertainment was the worse only one night was quite good when the cruise director took the microphone and sung her heart out. The smell on the ship was outrageous Sewage one time and diesel fumes when refuling I was sick If I had complained anymore I may have been quaenteened The complaints system does not respond not 5 star more like 3 star
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Guy, Enfield (20 Nov 10 18:28) about this REVIEW
WE asked for repayment We were dumped in Hongkong and are still waiting for compensation as plane could collect which is down to Azamara The entertainment was the worse only one night was quite good when the cruise director took the microphone and sung her heart out. The smell on the ship was outrageous Sewage one time and diesel fumes when refuling I was sick If I had complained anymore I may have been quaenteened The complaints system does not respond not 5 star more like 3 star
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Comment by w, poole (17 Feb 10 16:19) about this REVIEW
We have just returned from Asia with Quest, we thought it was crowded the food was average to non-exsistent for vegatetarians, the entertainment average to awful, one night virtually everyone walked out!! The boat docked in awful places miles from peir or easy get off points. The crew were OK but we were not greeted by name or given the fantastic farewell everyone talks off. Not worth the premuim I would go with Cunard or Celebrity.
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Comment by Bosscat, Argolida, Greece (23 Jan 10 08:09) about this REVIEW
Interesting comments, especially in view of Azamara's recent decision to make gratuities part of the overall cruise cost. I was alarmed to hear that some bar staff were touting for additional tips - I'd have reported them to the hotel director for this as I believe it's a disciplinary offence for them to do so.
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Comment by julie scarf, PRESTON (23 Jan 10 00:53) about this REVIEW
get a life,dear
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Question by Radgley, Ipswich (24 Jan 10 11:44) about a COMMENT by julie scarf (23 Jan 10 00:53)
Are you able to express yourself in words of more than one syllable. I suspect that you are one of those sour individuals that does not have the ability to formulate an opinion other than sarcasstic put downs. I also suspect that you are one of those sad cowardly individuals that hide behind the anominity offered by this type of forum? Have you ever achieved anything with your life? Do you have a partner? I bet you don't have children? Will you send me your proper Email addres as I feel I can help you. If you were on this cruise I would be interested to know your what cabin number was? At the risk of sounding repetative it would seem that it is you that needs to find a purpose in life. Are you on the Princess cruise starting March 2nd 2010 at Santiago? if so perhaps we should meet so I could help you express yourself more substantially. Best wishes from Geof
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Comment by Charlotte Rochester, Chatham (23 Jan 10 02:22) about a COMMENT by julie scarf (23 Jan 10 00:53)
My goodness - you and your alter-ego Diane Johnstone are the biggest moaners on this site. You have only ever posted derogatory childish comments. You say 'get a life' - I think you need to listen to your own advice. The number of times that you say 'I was also on this cruise and it was marvellous' means that sometimes you've been on two cruises at the same time. Of course - it may that "Julie" was on one and "Diane" was on the other!!!!!
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Comment by Wilba, N (23 Jan 10 15:33) about a COMMENT by Charlotte Rochester (23 Jan 10 02:22)
I too have picked up on this bogus pair and I'm also suspicious of another called Sue, but I'll remain cautious with her for the time being............Wilba
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