Azamara Quest has just wrapped her Australia and New Zealand summer season with the boutique ship attracting strong demand for the luxury cruise line’s long-awaited return to the region. So, how much luxe is enough? Karryon jumped aboard to find out.
Azamara’s four-vessel fleet of boutique small ships is ideal for the discerning cruiser who wants amazing itineraries, gourmet dining, pampering amenities and the distinctive service that comes with a high 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio.
Sitting comfortably in the upmarket cruise category, Azamara is distinguished by its Destination Immersion program with itineraries that stay longer in port plus onboard activities and shore excursions that expose cruisers to the lifestyle and culture of your destination.
It’s not a family-friendly cruise – in fact, my daughter was one of only two kids on board – but tweens and teens will still enjoy the luxe life with Azamara without getting bored.
Returning to Australian shores in 2024, here’s the lowdown on life at sea and on shore with Azamara.
Embarkation & boarding
The embarkation process occurs with online check-in up to three days before your cruise via your Azamara account where you can register for your upcoming voyage and check your cruise details and reservations. We chose shore excursions a few weeks before boarding as these activities tend to fill up quickly. Specialty restaurants are also worth booking in advance.
As our travel media group boarded the ship in Wellington – halfway through the cruise – we were processed separately onto the ship with passports checked, photo ID stored and keycards issued while luggage was whisked away to our cabins.
While Azamara cruises are all-inclusive, you’ll be asked to share a credit card for any additional incidentals such as spa treatments, specialty dining, onboard shopping, shore excursions or extra gratuities.
In all, it’s an easy process that will have you on your way to your stateroom in no time.
The cabin
At first glance, our Club Veranda Stateroom is spacious and airy with a compact bathroom that consists of a shower and toilet with some shelving above.
There’s lots of mirrors, adding to the spatial design, and the cabin is furnished with a sitting area that includes a couch with a low coffee table, a desk with a chair, TV mounted across from the bed (loaded with a curated selection of the latest and classic movies), wardrobe with ample storage near the door and a safe and minibar within the cabinets.
The veranda has sliding glass doors and deck furniture so you can enjoy the sea breezes.
I’m cruising with my tween-age daughter, so our queen ensemble is converted to a twin bed. It’s a very comfortable bed so the size is no issue and we slumber well in our plush bedding every night on board.
I was probably halfway through the cruise when I discovered the one USB port under the lamp on each side of the bed, but there’s plenty of power points for adapters anyway. Note: You’ll need a North American or North European adapter. Hairdryers are also provided in every stateroom.
The mini-bar is stocked with your favourite soft drinks – our lovely housekeeper, Gilde, checked my daughter approved of the selection – there’s fluffy robes, nightly sweet treats and welcome bubbles (for me) and choc-dipped strawberries (snaffled by her) as well.
Amenities & features
The 181m-long Azamara Quest is a sleek small ship, so it’s easy to navigate. There’s nine guest decks in total with plenty of public areas and some dedicated to staterooms only.
The ship has nine eateries, cafes and bars, ranging from buffet-style service to fine dining, including two specialty restaurants. Read below for more on the food and beverage experience aboard Azamara.
For active types, there’s the well-appointed fitness centre with gym equipment, cardio machines and plenty of space, which also run regular classes such as stretch, Pilates and spin plus there’s daily sunrise yoga on the sunset deck and a jogging track on Deck 10.
On Deck 9 is where you’ll find the pool and pool bar, plus two heated whirlpools. The Sanctum Spa, salon and fitness centre are located at the front. We enjoyed a mother-daughter mani-pedi sesh with the fab Kharen in the salon, which offers a wide range of beauty, hair and body pampering treatments.
Deck 5 houses The Quest Shop and boutiques for onboard retail therapy, The Den and Cabaret Lounge, which also doubles as the assembly area for shore excursions.
We also discovered many quiet breakout spaces on Deck 10 in public areas such as The Drawing Room library, The Living Room and Card Room where you can indulge in group or solo activities.
If you’re on board for the full 17-day itinerary, you’ll be keen to know there is a self-service laundry room on Deck 7 if you need to refresh your wardrobe.
The fun stuff
Aimed at the retired professional – a more discerning cruiser – Azamara is dedicated to onboard cultural enrichment and local onshore excursions as diversions.
With an itinerary that had to adapt to New Zealand regulations while underway, the onshore excursions covered a variety of topics from history to sightseeing, culture to nature, and active to gentle. We went on a full-day excursion to Abel Tasman National Park, cruising around islands, visiting beaches, hiking trails and spying marine creatures.
On another day, we joined a half-day coach tour to Hobbiton and used the regular transfers into town to check out some of the small ports on our cruise.
Azamara uses local tour providers and operators for shore excursions and transportation and it was clear that Kiwis are thrilled to welcome back cruisers in these ports.
The local drivers were keen to share their insights about their towns and areas, pointing out attractions and places of interest and chatting with passengers.
On board, Azamara Quest had enrichment lectures, crafting, cocktail-making workshops and cultural performances by local Maori groups alongside traditional cruise entertainment such as comedians, cabaret, live music and everyone’s fave, trivia.
There’s also the popular White Night Party and at least one AzAmazing Evening in port to enjoy. On our cruise, we were entertained by the Pacifika tunes of the Signature Choir accompanied by Orchestra Wellington, which also showcased popular classical pieces.
While there are no waterslides or Broadway-style musical shows on these small ships, Azamara hit the (high water) mark with its target audience but also kept younger cruisers entertained and busy, thanks mostly to the pool.
Note: The Wi-Fi, while a little slow and sketchy at sea, also allows only one cabin user to log on at a time. It’s alternatively a great opportunity to unplug or at least allow everyone to stay tethered to the outside world and social media occasionally.
Onboard dining
As mentioned, there are lots of food and beverage options available on board Azamara Quest, including in-room dining.
On our shore excursion days, we made the most of room service by ordering breakfast the night before. It’s served at your designated time complete with a white tablecloth. We also taste-tested the buffet-style breakfast at the Windows Café on Deck 9.
Cruisers will find a massive brekky choice from Asian and Scandi styles, classic continental and the always popular omelette station. Azamara also has a smoothie station as well as one dishing up waffles and pancakes.
With a sizeable amount of plant-based options as well, there’s really something for everyone in the buffet. At dinner, there’s often a different themed cuisine night such as Indian, Spanish or Japanese.
There’s also the Mosaic Café on Deck 5, which serves barista-made coffee and sweet and savoury snacks all day if you’re peckish or want a caffeine fix.
For a la carte dining, Azamara Quest guests can choose to eat at the Discoveries restaurant on Deck 5, which offers open seating, or book into the specialty fine dining restaurants Aqualina (Italian cuisine) and Prime C (steak and seafood) on Deck 10.
Each of these restaurants offers a separate vegan/vegetarian menu with plant-based versions of the main menu, so vegans or veg-curious diners can eat the same three-course meals as their dining partners.
Our hands-down go-to spot for lunch and the café we returned to the most during the cruise was The Patio, which serves burgers, hot chips and casual bites by day near the pool on Deck 9. It also has a self-serve frozen yoghurt station – Swirl & Top – with different flavours and toppings, which absolutely added to its appeal for the tween.
Overall, the food was amazing, not only in the specialty restaurants where the elevated dining, service and cuisines are superb but across all venues and options.
The details
- Ship: Azamara Quest
- Launch date: 2007; refurbed 2019
- Cabin: Club Veranda Stateroom
- Total staterooms: 352
- Itinerary: 8-night Wellington to Auckland (part of 17-night Melbourne to Auckland itinerary)
- Passengers: 540 (total ship capacity is 702)
- Crew: 400
- Cost: From AUD$8,208pp (for a 17-night itinerary)
Cassie was hosted by Azamara on the Australia & New Zealand Intensive Voyage.
