Special Edition: The Most Affordable Luxury Cruise Line?

[@ritzytravelguide]

If you enjoyed the video please give it a thumbs up. Also, please feel free to leave a comment. We love to hear from people!

[@bodyloverz30]

Renaissance, built a nice little line, before they folded.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@bodyloverz30 Absolutely they did!

[@bodyloverz30]

@@ritzytravelguide No travel agent commissions = no sales. This concept worked for airlines, yet failed for this cruise line.

[@bodyloverz30]

@@ritzytravelguide It's amazing, how many lines have the R vessels.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@bodyloverz30 Yes, one of the reasons Renaissance failed over twenty years ago

[@tommccarthy3171]

Azamara is truly the best value cruise. I hope they do not go broke as we love the ship crew and entertainment

[@ritzytravelguide]

Totally agree 🙂

[@andrewrevitt5561]

I’ve done 5 Azamara cruises in the past two years and each has been fantastic. I’ve also sailed with Silversea and Seabourn in the past and while I loved those too Azamara is about 90 percent as good and about 25 percent the price. Fellow passengers are younger and a bit more fun also.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there Andrew, we are very much in agreement!

[@enigmawyoming5201]

THIS is the cruise line for me! Thanks for this video Bill.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@goodbyegut5177]

In just 10 minutes into the video I am thinking this is my FAVORITE Ship of all so far!!! STUNNING🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wait until you get to the end of this video, and then watch Part 2...you'll think that even more!

[@TEWAdventures]

Oooh my!! I need to rethink our cruising plans. This is the kind of cruising I've always wanted. On the large (theme park) lines the only luxury I get and feel is from my balcony. Thanks so much for this insightful video(s).

[@ritzytravelguide]

You're very welcome

[@brendarandall3295]

complimentary room service is awesome- early morning coffee, tea and scones will be a great wake up call !!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Room service was delightful

[@annking8633]

This is my vision of cruising. Love this. So beautiful. You two are a very classy couple. ❤😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

So kind of you. Thank you Ann 😊

[@veronicabuzzanca7036]

I agree! 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

@veronicabuzzanca7036 Awww 😊

[@grahamdouglas1]

Just finished our 5th Azamara cruise and completely agree with your remarks. It is how cruising should be, not a theme park at sea. 👍🏼

[@laughremixsquad]

It's always a pleasure, Bill! We loved the “old” footage from 2005. Your presentation style is always top-notch. Other KZbinrs don't come close. We loved your series on the golden age of cruising. ❤

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very kind 😊

[@k9killer221]

This is the best ship I've seen. Elegant, all inclusive, excellent cabin and food. Not crowded would be my #1 favourite.

[@ritzytravelguide]

We very much enjoyed it

[@GarethStringer]

Hi Bill, only recently discovered your channel, and have only cruised twice, but already can't wait for the next one! The archive footage is fascinating - more or that when you get a chance please! Thanks! Gareth

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Gareth, many thanks for your kind words. Will try to weave in archive footage a bit more!

[@paulasimson4939]

The negatives sound like positives to me! No casino! No frantic, yelling daytime activities! Heaven - sign me up! Great review. We're looking at Azamara for a Norwegian Fjords cruise, because the itinerary looks so good.

[@ritzytravelguide]

If you do try Azamara, let us know afterwards how it went, we always like to hear?

[@nicolecrous3217]

Really enjoyed this video. Very informative. Super video channel to watch.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much Nicole

[@jeffmcallister7040]

I haven't taken a cruise on Azamara yet, but I do know a couple that has, and they enjoyed it thoroughly. The only thing they wished was different was the size of the bathrooms. Beyond that everything else was on par with the other luxury or premium lines. What they really liked was the longer port stays.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, yes the bathrooms are a little small. I should have mentioned it in this video. I have remembered to mention it in the 2nd Video, coming out in 2 days time! That aside, we really enjoyed Azamara, a fabulous experience

[@pw-sz6ds]

Thank you so much! I am adding Azamara to my cruise line list for 2026…knock on wood👍🏼

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hope you find a great itinerary!

[@jenstravelblog]

I love seeing the comparison of what the cruise ships looked like before versus what they look like now.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Jennifer

[@tracimorgan3695]

Thanks for the video well done!! we are going on our first Azamara 12 days Eastern Caribbean, we are excited!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

I'm sure you are excited. Wishing you an amazing time!

[@meatpockets]

I love that they convert the pool deck to dining for dinner, how fun!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, they did that for the White Night. Great fun

[@angelasofia7726]

Great review, thank you! Did not know about this ship!

[@ritzytravelguide]

@angelasofia7726 It's a great little ship!

[@yvonnepanks3998]

We love Azamara , we have been on Quest twice and Journey once, the small ships can get so much further , we went all the way into Ho Chi Minh City the sail away down the Saigon river was stunning , yes the showers are tiny and the conditioner is not recommended , but it’s a small gripe. We went in Aqualina twice and Prime C once, I agree main dining room is just as good 👍

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Yvonne, the sailaway down the Saigon River must have been fantastic! What an experience!

[@loumello8813]

I would love to see some footage of your cruise adventures 20 plus years ago, I have been cruising since the early '70s and still love it. These days, I stick to Viking, Oceania and Celebrity, although I have Regent in mind soon. Thanks so much for your very thorough and enjoyable videos.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Lou. That's a very good short list of favourite Cruise lines. Can't disagree with any of those!

[@loumello8813]

@@ritzytravelguide Thanks, Bill.

[@irishinusa1615]

Excellent information We are currently looking at Azamara v Seabourn v Explora. Would love to find a comparison on these 3. Eagerly awaiting you next vlog on Azamara. Keep up the great work BTW...we have sailed Several times on Oceania. No longer the same quality. Thus, why looking at the aforementioned cruiselines

[@ritzytravelguide]

@irishinusa1615 Hi there. Many thanks for your comments. Oceania is very much a direct competitor to Azamara. So interesting to note your thoughts on them

[@marias902]

Interesting cruise line choices. The exact same as ours. We like the larger O ships, the 930 passenger Viking ships, and the Sky Suites on Celebrity. Azamara ships are too small for us, same as Oceania’s smaller four.

[@kimberlygilmore23]

Hi Bill and I love this Video as well as you and your Lovely family. Please show more of your older trips. Sincerely Kimberly Gilmore Rochester NY

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Kimberly. Thanks so much. And yes, I will try to!

[@christiandavis5014]

The ship reminds me of the R-class Oceania Cruise we took in NOV 2023.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, all from the same original stock. The ex Renaissance Ships from 1999 to 2002

[@grahamdouglas1]

@@christiandavis5014 It’s the same ship in a different livery.

[@mariavano9616]

YES more of the past footage!! Wonderful to see the changes and what the industry used to be. After this video, I think I'm going to be doing some research.....I'm sure those prices canNOT be "normal" and I don't know what I'd face as a solo traveler, but it seems to be seriously worth the time to investigate :-) Thank you so much for this amazing view!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there Maria, great to hear from you. Azamara is running a few promotions at the moment. Take a look at their website, and they have a Deals section. And also a section on Solo Travellers

[@jeremy1350]

Hello Bill. I do love your presentations. Seeing archive footage from days gone by are nice, because back then, we did not need Wi-Fi nor internet connections, or have a phone in our hands all day and night, and we weren't preoccupied with how MANY USB charging spots there were in the cabin and WHERE they were located, No ?? Getting rid of that dastardly shower curtain is still a challenge on many ships. I've heard varying opinions about the other Azamara ships over the past year. It seems Pursuit has been maintained very well. One day, you must put together a "Who's Who" in shipping's past. With all the Classic Ships you and your wife have sailed on. That would be very cool indeed. There were many classic ships back in the day, and the varied ports were more a plenty, in relation to the standard "Itinerary" you get on most ships today, unless of course you are on a small boutique ship sailing off the beaten path itineraries. Most ship don't visit many of the ports of yesteryear.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Jeremy, many thanks for your comments. Yes, over the coming months we are aboard quite a few modern ships, and I shall try to sprinkle in some footage from yesteryear too!

[@joanfreestone1707]

Azamara looks like a lovely cruise line to sail with. The prices you pay for fares in England are so much cheaper than what we have to pay in Australia. Hardly any cruise ships call at Fremantle these days, so our cruising is very limited. Thank you for an excellent review. I'm looking forward to the next video.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Joan, perhaps Azamara will buck the trend, and call at Fremantle

[@lesliesnowdon1360]

@@joanfreestone1707 I totally understand. We live in the center of Canada, so the cost of getting to any port is around a 1000.00 per person.

[@seannielsen6587]

Bill I must say I have been very much enjoying your channel. We will be sailing on Celebrity next month. Thank you for sharing all of your cruise videos with all of us. Now you have us thinking about an Azamara cruise. You remind me a little bit of Jim Zimm. Wishing you and your wife many happy cruises in your future.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks for your kind words. Azamara is definitely worth considering, we really enjoyed our time aboard. Have a great cruise with Celebrity next month.

[@marcwood5895]

Brilliant video Ritzy Bill. Would love to see your historic cruise videos. Please do upload them.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Marc!

[@thomashoermann]

You pretty much much nailed it. We were on the Pursuit a few years ago. Food and service were great. What you didn't mention is we found the evening entertainment was a bit wanting. The onboard cast was only fair (and small) and there was only one other band on the ship. So every night it was them or the piano bar. They and the pianist were very good,but the sets were pretty much the same every night, so on a long trip, there's nothing to do by the end. You've just seen it all.

[@catherinesusannacavallo3522]

Excellent video. We enjoyed watching the old videos, too

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you very much 😊

[@ForeverFound-if8rb]

Love love love the same screen footage of the ship/ Ritzy Travel guide today and back then! Very unique, very niche. I’m not a big fan of the full videos of vintage cruising as I’m more interested in your specific journey and commentary. However, sprinkling of historic videos is AMAZING! Keep up the channel, we love it!

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's very kind of you to say, thank you so much!

[@norberteng9496]

Thanks Bill, after watching this inspiring video , my wife wants to really look into the Azamara cruises. And my wallet thanks you. 😂 Please show some of the videos from your old cruises. We really enjoy your channel. Keep them coming.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much Norbert! I hope you and your wife enjoy Azamara too.

[@lincolnroad3]

Love the archive footage. Wow 👏👏

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks!

[@ronaldboonstra4834]

Love the flashback! Another fine posting here. And no day time activities? Yes!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Ronald!

[@DavidHMTStewart]

I loved the comparisons of the ship between 2005 and 2024. More of that, please-if you’re repeating ships.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks David, will do!

[@lflo8087]

Came back from Greece on the Journey and rebooked the next day!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Sounds like you must have had a fantastic time!

[@MB-uy5kh]

We did a Mediterranean / Greek Island cruise on Azamara Journey in 2010 for our 25th Anniversary. Azamara was my husband’s favorite. My favorite is Regent.

[@bz8047]

What makes you prefer Regent?

[@MB-uy5kh]

@@bz8047 In my opinion, Regent is one step higher than Azamara, and I consider Regent to be “luxury”. The food, service, staff, overall offerings on Regent were better than Azamara. I rate Azamara as “near luxury”. Of course we sailed on both before the pandemic and have not sailed on either after, so don’t know if they have been downgraded, as seems to be the case with all the lines.

[@jillfallon8497]

Loved this video. These ships were the original Renaissance branded ships. They called them R1, R2 etc. They went bankrupt and the ships were sold off. Princess bought one and called her the Pacific Princess. We cruised on her a few times and loved the design and layout. It looked very much like the footage you showed from your 2005 on Hellenic cruise. Like you, we enjoyed the 700 only guests, which gave the ship a lovely feel. Having not cruised on Azamara, you've sold it to us now, so we will see what's available in our part of the world in the southern hemisphere. Azamara does visit here in our Summer enroute to Asia. We would love to see some footage from your previous cruising days. We all like to see how cruising used to be as well as what it's like now. Thank you for your great vlogs and virtual cruises you take us on. Happy cruising. 💃🕺

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Jill. Many thanks for your comments. Both myself and my wife thoroughly enjoyed this Cruise with Asmara. Yes, I see that Azamara frequently spend part of the year in Australia. Sometimes with intrepid crossings across from Asia and Singapore!

[@karstenklein1607]

Completely agree - love Azamara!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

One of our absolute favourites!

[@a_glacier_bear]

Great video! Love the old versus new with the footage of then and now of your cruises. Thanks for all your videos and recommendations 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much, great to have you watching along with us!

[@MrBuster10001]

We love Azamara, so much better than a RC cattle call. we have been on 6 and have 3 more booked!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Absolute Azamara pros!

[@meeshwv898]

I enjoyed reminiscing about our recent cruise on the Pursuit. Our taste and yours match. Your video is well done. I would add that if one can swing the cost of the club continent suite, it’s worth it. The bathroom is much, much nicer. You can go to the speciality restaurants for no add’l charge and, yes, they are excellent. You get a personal butler who just does some extra things to make you feel even more pampered. Can’t wait until January when we board again. Maybe see you there?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, many thanks for your comments. Which exciting itinerary do you have booked for January?

[@SamuelDarcyPalmer]

Great review thank you. I especially enjoyed the archival footage!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you Samuel!

[@CapriciousCapricrn]

Watching this put me in a good mood and made me very hungry. Everyone looks like they're having a great time. Seems like these smaller, even older, ships have a lot going for them. I hate the fact that some prime areas are closed off to only suite occupants on some newer ships; I'd protest this trend by not booking them. Thanks for sharing the joy!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the Azamara Ships have a lot going for them!

[@Ljberkow]

Five years ago, we had a great cruise on the Azamara Quest. We upgraded to a suite. If we hadn’t, some tough points. Bathrooms in cabins are very small. The buffet was hit or miss for us and we couldn’t find seating on the wihite night event. It was overcrowded. The pricing was great. We had a great time and would go on Azamara again, but trying the Oceania Vista next. In the end, maybe we are paying a 10 to 15% premium for the Vista over Azamara, so expecting more.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. Many thanks for your comments. Interesting to hear your thoughts. Sycamore took over Azamara in 2021, so I'm thinking your experience was under the previous management, albeit it the same ship. And yes, the bathrooms in particular are small!

[@sgillespie2004]

Great summary and looks a well run ship and itinerary. Definitely going to consider after your overview. Keep up good work. Thanks.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, yes the ship is well run, and great fun

[@kathymccall218]

Big fan of your videos and definitely would enjoy seeing your older footage! I loved becoming acquainted with the Azamara Pursuit and have put it on my cruise bucket list. I am a small ship enthusiast and especially appreciate that this ship is a one class only option. Thank you for the great coverage and the chuckles thrown in for free! ❤

[@ritzytravelguide]

You're very welcome Kathy. Yes, Azamara sounds like it might be well suited to you. It's a great Small Ship line

[@theapprentice2298]

Wonderful fact filled presentation. you really do this very well . Sailing on the Journey around the greek islands three weeks tomorrow , so excitment is really building :)

[@ritzytravelguide]

I can well imagine! Have a fantastic Greek Cruise!

[@theapprentice2298]

@@ritzytravelguide Cheers Bill.

[@user-of1mw4xe1t]

Love your videos would love to see more!

[@ritzytravelguide]

So kind of you, thank you

[@stevelaw6243]

Really liked the small ship luxury feel of Azamara Onward. Unfortunately everyone we met seemed to be a top trump cruiser who's only topic of conversation was about themselves and how much money they had or how many Azamara sea days. Really spoiled the experience. Will try again.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, that's a shame. We didn't get that on our cruise, it was a really lovely, down to earth bunch. Perhaps you got unlucky

[@ScottStein1]

Hey! Thanks for the visual shout out! That's our thumbnail for the Celebrity Ascent! My late wife, Laura, would have been so proud to see that you used her thumbnail.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Scott, did you have a similar thumbnail, to this?

[@ScottStein1]

@@ritzytravelguide not similar. It's the one you used. In the bottom, left corner of the thumbnail you chose for the Celebrity Ascent, you'll see Extraordinary Adventures written. That's us. Well, that was us. Now it's just me. 😞 😢

[@ScottStein1]

@@ritzytravelguide these are our Azamara tours... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWTbXqePo52ajtEsi=NPIYMAMn4ghQ5FlD kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57Vmoiveripic0si=oEvWGA-ndjG59jYK

[@ritzytravelguide]

@ScottStein1 Hi Scott, sorry I'm a bit confused. The thumbnail here is for Azamara Pursuit. Are you referring to a thumbnail for the Celebrity Ascent? So sorry to hear about your wife.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you for sharing those. You have a great selection of videos on your channel

[@tomattime]

First time viewing you channel, and a delightful episode as an introductio. .

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hello, you are very welcome!

[@margueritepeel]

We did 25th anniversary cruise on Azamara Journey. It was absolutely the best... Only A deck chair collapsed when I was sun tanning. I was hit in the mouth. A few teeth were chipped. It was an unfortunate accident but reimbursement for chipped teeth was slow coming.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wow, poor you, that must have hurt

[@caroldehaney8845]

Luv luv your videos and would love to see your older videos of past cruises.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much for your kind comments!

[@reintvandijk5068]

Great Video! Azamara is our choice of cruise line . Since summer 22 , 3 x Pursuit, 1 x Quest and next September on the Onward. If you book your next cruise onboard you can book at your preferred TA rates with additional discounts and OBC. Last cruise we had an Oceanview cabin which was also surprisingly nice. The ships dock in the better dock facilities, for example in Malaga we docked right into town, and we sailed up the river to the centre of Sevilla. If not most shuttle busses are included in the fare. Just be aware the shore excursions are not the best, very expensive and low quality. We heard a lot of complaints about that. (The only ones)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. Many thanks for your insights. It's smaller size let's it dock much nearer the action in many ports! I do agree with you about their pricing for excursions. We too noted their high prices, and didn't take an excursion with them for this reason.

[@GeoffWilliams1]

Thank you Bill; we’ll get investigating Azamara cruises with a view to booking something in 2025. This year we selected SAGA Spirit of Adventure for a Norwegian Fjord cruise. It’s a similar size ship and very upmarket with everything included. Thanks again for your video.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Geoff, your Saga Norwegian Fjord cruise sounds interesting. Do please let us know how it went. When you have a moment

[@brendarandall3295]

i loved this information of this Azamara Cruise !i would love to find out more about this and their cruises that Americans can be accommodated with an airline package !

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, Azamara can be booked direct through their website, or a number of Travel Agents offer flight and cruise packages

[@jjsilver23]

Absolutely love Azamara for the value. It is relaxed and laid back. Amazing service. My only complaint is the internet is almost unusable and very expensive. They claim it is starlink but it is not even close to modern cruise internet speeds or usability.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, great to hear from you. Yes, totally agree with you on all your points. The internet and wifi onboard is poor. We raised this issue with them whilst aboard. I think it is a widely known weak spot for them

[@ashes_no]

I also use the escargot as my measurement of a good cruise ship main dining room.

[@ritzytravelguide]

They were nicely garlicky, and herby!

[@notme222]

Azamara, possibly more than most, really discounts their repositioning cruises. I see balconies available this November for under $100 / night. (Lisbon -> Miami, ppdo.) Obviously it's mostly sea days, that's out of peak, and you have to book flights. But that's an incredible price for a luxury trip under any circumstances.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Your absolutely right, I noticed that too. Almost tempted...

[@broadsword6650]

Very intriguing and very tempting. Some of those food offerings look jaw-droppingly good! As for pricing, I'm wary of all-inclusive in some ways become what it means is that you are paying for everything, even if you don't or can't use it. Not a drinker? You are paying for drink whether you like it or not. And the cost of flights to and from the ship are not included and can easily add another thousand quid for a couple. Factor that in and the quoted $180 pppn is unlikely to be attainable. But, if you get what you pay for I would be happy. My definition of luxury is "lack of hassle". Azamara is now on my radar. Thanks!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very good points. My Wife isn't a drinker either, but loved the ready access to soft drinks, speciality coffee, up market tapas and kight bites around the clock, afternoon tea, and the special Gala events that are sprinkled throughout the week.

[@irishinusa1615]

We were sold until THE DREADED SHOWER curtain. Almost got us😮😢 Excellent vlog, though . Thank you ❤️

[@ritzytravelguide]

Ha ha. Yes the shower curtain!

[@cruiseforever1281]

As always, you created an excellent and informative video. With their pricing this is a wonderful choice for luxury small ship cruising. Hopefully, they can maintain their level of quality and service with these lower prices. 🙏

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks indeed. Yes, I hope they can hold on to these great prices

[@Reesyscraps247]

Really enjoyed your content!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much!

[@markt9805]

Great video, I go on cruises on a regular basis usually on Princess or Holland America this video has convinced me to book a cruise on Azamara. I am a widower so I sail as a solo cruiser, I would be curious to know if Azamara is a solo cruiser friendly cruise line. Both of you have great voices and the addition of music made this video fun and relaxing to watch!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Matk, great to hear from you. Thank you for your kind comments. We saw several solo Cruisers aboard, and they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

[@GeorgeNeeds2Travel]

Nicely done Bill as is all of your work. Informative and very entertaining. Love the vintage footage. Keep em coming. Not sure if I missed it, but I didn’t hear about a spa/thermal suite. That’s usually a priority for my wife. Do they have one? Thanks, Jorge

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Jorge. Yes, Azamara does have a Spa Suite, with treatment rooms, a saltwater bath/pool, and separate deck. We didn't try it on this occasion, as we had nothing but port days!

[@spacedriver24]

Thanks Bill , very interesting....as usual.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Welcome, Alan

[@johnmarlon6916]

I appreciate the detail of the desserts. I am concerned about musty or mold smell on carpets or cabin, as my travel partner has a very sensitive olfactory system and have had to leave many hotels (some of which were five star).

[@ritzytravelguide]

For us the cabins were great. Very clean and fresh

[@hankspangle3867]

Just leaving the house now to fly to Rome and Join the Azamara Pursuit. Love Azamara.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great cruise!

[@atomicrancher3745]

Very nice video and commentary. Thank you. The single supplement is rather high on Azamara, but for those who don’t care, this looks like a lovely cruise experience. Solo inside or Oceanview cabins price out at US$575-$700 per night. I wonder if they ever offer reduced single supplements like Regent with their 25% supplement on some cruises?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, keep an eye out for special deals, as Azamara does run them. We managed to get a great price, by keeping a close watch!

[@madameyong2765]

I prefer mid sized ships with ZERO KIDS!! I go for the glorious food 🍱 Being a Solo traveller aged over 60, it will be great if all cruise lines offer Solo Cabins and not need me to haemorrhage lots more money 💰

[@michelechrisgander1436]

Enjoyed your video and would definitely look at this cruise line!

[@ritzytravelguide]

It's getting a lot of things right!

[@BD-fo7ps]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦Toronto - Wow !! ❤ your video Makes me want to book now!! Way better than Virgin cruise Reviews 🧐😳🧐

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very different to Virgin!

[@gerardacronin334]

I did an Iceland cruise on Azamara Journey in 2003 and I agree with just about everything you said in this video. The Journey is pretty much identical to the Pursuit and the overall ambience is refined and elegant. I loved the ship and the cruise and would really like to sail on Azamara again, preferably in a warm weather area. My package included laundry (wonderful) and one specialty dining meal (which I would not pay extra for as the food in general was wonderful). What stood out for me was the service. I had breakfast in my cabin every morning, and I even had it on the balcony in Reykjavík, which was wonderful. As a non drinker, it was great to have a bartender who came up with interesting and delicious nonalcoholic creations just for me. In contrast to your experience, on my cruise we had daily enrichment presentations by an academic and we learnt a lot about the places we were visiting. I chose not to participate in the White Night (indoors) as we were in rough waters in the Arctic and I was feeling a little queasy. The ginger candies provided were very helpful. It was wonderful to dock right in town in places like Isafjordur and walk on and off the ship at your leisure without having to be herded in large groups. One issue in 2023 (which thankfully did not affect my booking) was that Azamara was implementing a new computer system in 2023 and it did not go well. Many guests complained that their bookings, excursions, etc, were mishandled. I think their customer reputation took a hit as a result, which may explain why they are currently offering discounts. Assuming the computer issue has been rectified I would not hesitate to recommend Azamara for a relatively affordable luxury cruise.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Gerard, thanks so much for your comprehensive thoughts and comments. Breakfast on the balcony in Iceland would have been visually stunning! Agreed, the service aboard is excellent and friendly. It makes such a difference to the ambiance of a cruise. I think you are right, their episode with talk of lost bookings possiblly might have given them a PR hit.

[@gerardacronin334]

@@ritzytravelguide Thank you, my name is Gerarda. I am female.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@gerardacronin334 Apologies, thanks Gerarda.

[@karenwarner1517]

Thank you!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very welcome!

[@cynamontwist1851]

Great video Thank You! And Thank you for NO Fish-eye video.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Left the fish eye out just for you! Can't guarantee that for the next one though!

[@b22554047]

Are there going to be more videos of celebrity infinity cruise in Greece? Seems like it stops at KUSADASI & EPHESUS this video🥲🥲🥲

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, many thanks for making contact. You know what, I think about this every week. I do hope to continue that Greek Series of videos from March 2024, but I am scratching my head a little, as to how to best do it. (As I still have many hours of unaired footage from that cruise.) For some reason the Celebrity Infinity ship, and the Greek Ports didn't get the public imagination going! The viewing figures were far less than most other videos I have put out, and I don't know why. I will have to go back to the drawing board, and think how to present the balance of the footage that I have of the Celebrity Infinity, and the Greek Cities. Then come back with a format that captures peoples imagination!

[@CnHPureCaneSugar1]

Definitely bust out the old videos. And I know this video was long already, but food is one of the most important things to me, so I would have liked to have seen more detail on the buffet breakfast & lunch and MDR breakfast & lunch.

[@ritzytravelguide]

More food coming up in Part 2!

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I had heard some questionable things about Azamara. But I'll take an auld jazz club or piano bar any day. I can sing with Vera Lynn, swing with Benny Goodman, and sink into Coltrane like no one I know. I'm 6'2" and solid. I can deal with a small stateroom if I must, but a cramped WC is a problem. Still very interested. Very, very.

[@ritzytravelguide]

We certainly enjoyed it. My Wife is pressing me to book again, at the end of the year!

[@bobcochran2890]

Just had dinner with a couple and discussed cruise lines. We both have been on Viking, and they have done Azmara. They said they like Azmara, but Viking food and service was better.

[@chak06880]

Bill - please more vintage video. Good for perspective. Our first cruise was in 1993 and there are KZbin vids of that ship. That ship was state of the art back then, it’s in the scrap heap now. BYW, Is your wife of Thai background? (If I can be so nosey…)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. Thanks for your suggestion of more vintage video. I shall sprinkle some more in over coming videos! Yes, most ships from the 1990s are decommissioned. A lot of them in Alang, India. I'm putting a video together, for release later in the year, ''Where Ships Go To Die.'

[@chak06880]

@@ritzytravelguide Norwegian Seaward was the ship. I believe scrapped near Turkey.

[@user-jc1ik5xp8l]

My family booked me, 77 year old Army veteran, into the Marriott Merlin Beach Resort with only an address written on a piece of paper and 16 hour flight ahead in my hand. Nothing more. I wanted to go to Italy. I knew nothing about Phuket, yet I quickly fell in love. Enjoy the happiness there.🦋

[@Steven-er2bt]

Thanks for the video. We ejnoyed it. We love Celebrity's Aquaclass and specialty restaurants. Are you able to provide a subjective comparison of Azamara to Celebrity for food and wine?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Steven. We have been on 2 Celebrity Cruises this year, though not the Aqua Class or Blu Restaurant, so not able to give that direct comparison. In general though I would say the cuisine aboard Azamara is Good to Very Good. Well prepared with reasonable variety. The Specialty Restaurants are very competitively priced by today's standards. The included standard alcoholic drinks are on par with entry level drinks packages on other lines. The included wines are of the 'Table Wine' variety! Ok, would cover it as a comment. You may wish to upgrade to a higher, payable tier, for a more premium selection of wines, spirits and cocktails.

[@johnsinclair2231]

Great video one question. My wife uses a mobile scooter and onboarding it was a ramped stairway. Does it have accessible balcony’s. Thank you looking forward to next video

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there John, glad you enjoyed the video. Concerning accessible balconies: I believe so. Here is their official information : www.azamara.com/our-ships/accessible-cruising/accessible-staterooms#:~:text=Adjustable%20height%20commode%20chairs%20(upon,Accessible%20balconies%20(selected%20staterooms)

[@johnsinclair2231]

@@ritzytravelguide that was fast much appreciated lots of info. Will start doin my homework 📚👍👍❤️

[@johnstringer2566]

We love your videos..especially the food reviews. But could you give more information on gluten free options as this is a deciding factor for us. Looking forward to the next episode. John and Gill.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi John & Gill, I'll scan my footage to see if I managed to catch the gluten free options. If I did, I'll gladly add it to the 2nd video. As an aside , we noted there were quite a few GF options available

[@johnstringer2566]

That's great. Very much appreciated . Thanks. John and Gill.

[@jetdriver]

Another wonderful review and I can’t wait for part 2. The biggest downside to your channel is the speed with which content comes out. I get it your real people with real lives not full time content creators. But I do love your style and very much enjoy your reviews. I’m curious how you found the quality of the wine and included drinks onboard. I couldn’t help but notice that the upgraded drinks option you showed included Johnny Walker Red Label which is a very cheap bottom tier scotch. It instantly made me wonder just how cheap the included offerings are especially the wine. At $26ish per day for the upgraded drinks package you’d have to drink over a bottle a day of that red label to come out ahead which is ludicrous.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, thanks for your kind words. Yes, there is sometimes a bit of a gap between our content. It takes quite a long time to produce each episode. We are embarking on a few cruises over coming weeks. So there will be quite a lot of content coming to the channel over the balance of this year. Concerning the drinks package, there are a few tiers available with Azamara. On the video I showed one, as a sample, but there are others, which they post on their website. My wife is not a big drinker, so for us the included selection worked fine. At a rough count it looked like about half the passengers were on the 'free' included drinks and half paid up for one of the premium tiers. I found that some of the included wines were a bit rough, and kept to either the rosé or sparkling.

[@madameyong2765]

It will be great to see the difference from 2005 to 2025👍🏻☺️

[@joannad9142]

This is a fabulous video thank you. Does the ship have lifts as I have MND and can no longer manage stairs.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. Yes, absolutely it does have lifts! The size of the ship might be absolutely perfect for you

[@joannad9142]

@@ritzytravelguide thank you it all looks gorgeous 😀

[@ritzytravelguide]

It was lovely!

[@EgilWar]

Looks like my type of trip.

[@ritzytravelguide]

It's a lot of fun

[@malcommckinley8112]

Bill, Would you consider sailing a Silversea and doing a value comparison?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, indeed I would. We last sailed on Silversea a few years ago, so the comparison would be out of date. We are thinking of doing Silversea and Regent in 2025 to be able to accurately do the comparisons.

[@Moroccanroller1]

The Thalassotherapy area in front of the salon, locker room and gym is not free to everyone even for Club Veranda accommodations. There's a daily fee (roughly $25/day or a weekly fee for access) unlike getting access to that area for free on Oceania when booking a Concierge Level stateroom.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for clarifying that

[@Moroccanroller1]

@@ritzytravelguide and by the way, I’m happy to have discovered your channel. You do a very nice job thank you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks, kind of you to say!

[@LTWTL841]

Azamara is our favourite 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

It's a wonderful experience

[@rossclover1023]

Hanging out for video 2.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Coming in 3 days!

[@rosebruce]

I love your videos

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much Rose

[@billangell3387]

How did you know what the various items were on the Buffet? I didn't notice any signs and I'm certainly no food expert. I just subscribed and I trust that your reviews won't be all about the food. I also appreciate knowing what is included and what is extra. Bill

[@ritzytravelguide]

The food labels were on the counter above, just out of frame. I include a small section on food because that's one of the most frequently requested items from viewers

[@ToddRileyRealEstate]

I knew you would love Azamara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Ha ha, we did! And in video 2 you'll see just how much! My wife really gets into the swing of things!

[@ToddRileyRealEstate]

@@ritzytravelguide We have been on 5 or 6 times and Azamara is one of our favorite cruise lines. Another new one we did this past April/May was Atlas Ocean Voyages - we booked them again for this coming October. Really small ships at 196 passengers and ships are 2020+ builds. Swanky.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I have been eyeing up Atlas Ocean. They certainly do look swanky!

[@Tee55118]

CCL didn't. Why did CCL sell out?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, it was sold in 2021 to Sycamore for $200m. The rational given at the time was that RCCL wanted to focus on Silversea as its luxury brand

[@BradWillis]

Good job on the video. I'd be interested to watch you do a comparison of this Azamara experience to the experience on another R-Class ship, such as Oceania Sirena.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Brad, I was thinking of doing exactly that, whilst I put together this video. But we haven't been on Oceania for a while. If we do, I'll put one out!

[@BradWillis]

@@ritzytravelguide I'm taking my GF on Oceania Sirena in Dec. She'll be turning 60, plus she's put up with me for 10 years now, so I figure that deserves rewarding. It's also relatively well-priced, which is one reason I booked. A date to at least consider, although it might be impractical for you, as you're in the UK, I believe.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@BradWillis Have a great time on Sirena in December. We will be cruising around Asia at that time, but will be thinking of you on the other side of the world!

[@BradWillis]

@@ritzytravelguide You as well. We did RCL from Shanghai to Japan and had a great time. Enjoy!

[@ritzytravelguide]

@BradWillis Thank you!

[@annking8633]

Premiers here in Denver in 5 minutes! ❤🎉😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hello Denver!

[@rebeccajohnson1571]

Would love to see you do an Oceania Ship....Marina or Vista:)

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Rebecca. We are potentially putting it on the list, for end of this year, or the beginning of next. Just trying to see whether there is a particular itinerary that takes our fancy!

[@rebeccajohnson1571]

@@ritzytravelguide Sounds good! We are doing Portugal, Morocco and Spain this November:)

[@ritzytravelguide]

@rebeccajohnson1571 What a fabulous itinerary. Wishing you an amazing time!

[@barryfrank2041]

Can you tell me more about the vegetarian cuisine on Azamara? Thanks

[@ritzytravelguide]

They were pretty good on their vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. And obliging to help those with specific dietary requirements