A more refined way to cruise?

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A more refined way to cruise?
Reviewed By: Fletcher, London on 18th Apr 2009
Cruise Line: Azamara Club Cruises	Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Azamara Journey	Sailed: April, 2009
Destination: Mediterranean	Age: 46-55

The main dining with open seating was great, first night was a little frantic but people soon started to get into the swing of things and we didn't need to wait for long. The food was top class but was let down by rather amature service, once the initial introductions were made 'hi I'm X from X' bread was often forgotten or chefs recommendations weren't given, if quizzed over items on the menu there was little knowledge but a great willingness to find out. The main dining was far better than the 'speciality restaurants' although these were also a very high standard we felt gave very little difference or quality. Tables were less than half filled which was disappointing when it was hard to get a reservation. The entertainment was extremly poor, the pianist and harpist were good but the other staff were incredibly "cheesy" with a bored look and an air of self importance that delivered very substandard, uninteresting and very short shows. Be prepared to sit in bars with unused dance floors and pianos that are only played for 1 hour probably when dining. Staterooms were very good, although if you are of larger proportions be prepared for the smallest of bathrooms with a body clinging shower curtain. The stateroom butler is lovely but slightly pointless as they perform less tasks than most stateroom attendants. Rooms lovely and clean with dressing gowns - shame that there is still no tea making facilities. Overall the ship was extremely clean with a feel of a high-end gentlemans club, only having 700 guests on the ship meant that you were made to feel very special and didn't have to wait for tenders or queue for the omlette station. I felt very relaxed after the cruise and not hassled in anyway - although the wallet did take a huge hit on prices. If you have booked this cruise you will get a really great relaxing holiday but if you are used to high end entertainment be prepared for a rude awakening. My main annoyance with the cruise was lack of dancing and being charged "gratitudes" at every corner. Overall a good cruise experience but will probably be looking to go on the parent company "Celebrity" next time!!
Quality of Food
Main restaurant very good - speciality restaurants much the same.
Entertainment
Poor entertainment - they tried hard but it all became a little bit amateur!
Shore Excursions
Very expensive - the exchange rate hurts!! Independent Rome the only one we did and that was excellent but at £61 each rather pricey!!
Staff
Philip, the Hotel manager, couldn't have tried harder. Many of the entertainment staff finished their contract at the end of this cruise (they were all at the airport with us) and perhaps this showed in the shows.
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Quite poor - on the overnighter in Venice it was like the cruise had finished a day early!!!
Cabins
Nice views from the balcony - we saw some wonderful sights. BUT that bathroom is the smallest we have come across. The Butler is only a stateroom attendant!
Overall Rating

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Comment by Love, Colchester (29 Apr 09 20:35) about this REVIEW

We can't agree about the speciality restaurants - we dined twice in Aqualina and twice in Prime C and we thought they were excellent and definitely better than Discoveries. Maybe you were unlucky. Agree about the excursions - way too expensive - but we are British too so it is probably worse for us. One was so dreadful to Florence we complained, and got some money back. (with a little help from the lovely Phillip) Entertainment - bit disappointing. I think because most of the guests were 'more mature', they went to bed early. On several occasions we were two of the very few in the Looking Glass at 11.00 pm. The cabaret with the West End musical singer, and the magician, (I was his assistant!) we thought we good, but the rest was a bit disappointing. This was our first cruise so nothing to compare it with, but despite the above, we thoroughly enjoyed it - in particular the itinerary and we found the staff nothing less than attentive.

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Comment by Fletcher, London (30 Apr 09 07:56) about a COMMENT by Love (29 Apr 09 20:35)

It's a shame we didn't get together on the cruise!!! Often we were in the looking glass with no one around too!! We went on celebrity last Summer and their speciality estaurant was amazing so perhaps that cluded our view of prime C and aqualina!! Thanks for the commenst though!

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