If you have read my last blog you will now that my journey began in Nice before

embarking on the lovely Azamara Quest. It was a brilliant start to my trip with probably the easiest check-in, with a glass of prosecco in hand, I`ve ever experienced. After this, it’s definitely small ship cruising for me!

So what is she like? I had a conversation with one of my clients last week about Azamara and he said he thought the ships would be too formal and “ posh “ for him. How wrong could he be?

The ships are small, Quest carries around 700 passengers, and have a very English Country House feel to them. Formality? Definitely not, it is so relaxed and friendly on board, reminds me very much of an upmarket Fred Olsen with lots of differences.

All the ingredients for a wonderful cruise are there, lots to do onboard and very different itineraries which is the beauty of a small ship. Small ship equals small and unusual ports of call.

However, it was the atmosphere on board that I really loved. The staff are friendly and willing to do everything to make sure their guests have a good time. The cruise is All Inclusive and includes gratuities as well. The basic drinks package is very good giving a choice of wines, spirits beers & cocktails but you can upgrade if you want to. The next level up is around $ 15 per person per day and gives a wider choice. The top level is the same again and for that, you get more or less everything.

As an example I love a gin & tonic, the basic package includes Gordon`s and Beefeater, in very generous measures I have to say! The next tier up also includes Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire. Also if there is a drink you fancy that is not in your package you can simply pay for that particular one. Prosecco is free flowing and the wines served by the glass at lunch and dinner are excellent. Usually, 3 or 4 to choose from local to the area you are sailing in.

The food on board is fab, to put it mildly, but it is the little special touches that make this so different from being on a huge ship. The second day on board the officers cooked a Barbecue on deck at lunchtime. I didn`t actually see the Captain cooking but I`m sure he had a hand in it somewhere. The food was delicious and there was no way of not eating as the smell was to die for!

Another different feature is the pre-dinner Wine & Tapas in the Living Room on deck 10. This happens every evening between 5 and 7. You can enjoy the stunning views as you sail along, a glass of wine in hand, listening to the gentle live music in the Living Room. If you fancy Champagne and Caviar you can have that too but it is an extra charge.

The main dining room, Discoveries, is lovely and has a bar area where you can meet friends for a pre-dinner drink whilst waiting for your table to be ready. Open dining is the name of the game on board, with no fixed seating at all. The buffet is open in the evening too or you can choose to have waiter service outdoors on the Patio or on the Sunset Terrace at the back of the ship, again stunning views.

Quest also has 2 speciality restaurants, Prime C, the steak restaurant, or Aqualina serving Italian Cuisine. The cover charge is $ 30 per head and well worth it. We chose to eat in Prime C and had a really excellent meal, although I chose the speciality of the day – Lobster Thermidor – hardly steak I know!

This is just a part of what makes this ship such a wonderful choice, especially if you fancy small ship cruising.