Azamara Quest Review

4.0 / 5.0
723 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Tiana Templeman
Contributor

Azamara Quest will win you over in two ways. The first is the down-to-earth friendliness of its passengers and crew. The second is the ship's -- and the entire cruise line's -- focus on destinations. From longer stays and overnights in ports to unique shore excursions and a lack of sea days, Azamara targets passengers for whom the destination -- not the ship -- is the major focus of their local or overseas holiday.

The compact deck plan makes it easy to get around, and while some aspects of Azamara Quest like the accommodation, are not up to modern standards, the ship transcends its hardware limitations with obliging crew, modern decor and a sociable vibe. Add an impressive choice of drinking and dining options for such a small ship, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included in the fare, and a free evening shoreside event, called an AzAmazing Evening, on nearly every cruise, and there are hits aplenty onboard and onshore.

Azamara Quest Deck Plan is Classy and Compact

One of the most appealing things about Azamara Quest is its size and intimacy. With just over 700 passengers and only 9 decks to navigate, it is compact and stylish.

As you move around Quest, you'll quickly notice how well the ship is laid out and how easy it is to get around. The sun deck and large outdoor lounge area on Deck 11 is the highest point on the ship and has great 180 degree views.

Deck 10 is home to the Living Room with its comfortable lounge and bar area that doubles as a venue for live music and presentations. It's also a great spot to read during the day. There's an adjacent wine-tasting bar offering for-a-fee tasting events with the ships sommeliers. Moving aft on this deck, you'll find the ship's library in the Drawing Room and Prime C and Aqualina, Azamara Quest's two specialty restaurants.

The pool deck, spa area and Windows Cafe are located on Deck 9. For a light bite on a sunny day, The Patio dishes up burgers, kebabs, hot dogs and soft serve yoghurts. The Sunset Bar is located on the aft end of this deck and comes with wraparound ocean views.

Deck 5 houses the bulk of the public areas including the theatre, bars and shops, Mosaic Cafe and the ships main dining room, Discoveries Restaurant. On this deck, you'll also find The Den with comfortable seating and Spirits, the adjoining piano bar with its large lounge area.

Deck 4 houses guest relations, the concierge desk and the medical centre.

Azamara Quest Cabins Are Compact But Stylish

Azamara Quest's cabins are smaller than the industry standard for a luxury ship (especially the bathrooms) but the décor is elegant and appealing, with clean lines and comfortable furniture. There's a wide range of cabins at different price points, ranging from compact insides to large suites. All have a neutral colour palette with shades of cream, grey and beige, and textured wall coverings that make the rooms look light and modern.

Tip: Luxury travellers will want to book a suite to get the space they're used to and a more workable bathroom.

Best Cabins and Deck on Azamara Quest

The best and most sought-after cabins on Azamara Quest are the Club Spa Suites which are new additions to the ship. These are newly built and come with a Roman bath that has lovely ocean views. The cabins' location on Deck 9 is also handy to all of the ship's dining and entertainment options.

If you can't afford to splurge on a Club Spa Suite (or book too late to get one as there are only a couple available), the best cabins overall are found on Deck 7 as there are cabins above and below this deck to insulate you from potentially noisy public areas.

Cabins to Avoid on Azamara Quest

Cabins on Deck 4 aren't convenient for reaching popular areas on the ship like Windows and the Living Room, and can be noisy as they're close to guest relations and the medical centre. Some cabins on Deck 6 have a view that's obstructed by the ship's lifeboats. The cabins on Deck 7 outside the busy guest laundry should also be avoided.

Food on Azamara Quest is a Classy Crowd Pleaser

Food onboard is wonderful, with diverse menus that have an international flair and can accommodate a range of tastes and dietary needs. The Windows Cafe offers simple yet tasty fare, with themed dinners every night, freshly squeezed juice at breakfast, and a changing selection of multiple flavours of gelato for lunch and dinner.

The excellent Chef's Table and Italian restaurant are both worth the extra charge, and The Patio offers a classy take on casual poolside dining. You're not going to find caviar and foie gras on Azamara Quest, but you should feel pleased and sated after meals.

Azamara's COVID Rules

Azamara no longer requires proof of vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the United States or sailings starting and ending in Europe. All other sailings require proof of vaccination and boosters until further notice.

Azamara does not require a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding unless this is required by local country regulations. However, the line highly recommends that guests take a COVID-19 test prior to starting their travels.

For those countries that still require guests to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding, guests should follow the official requirements at each destination on the ship's itinerary. Cruise Critic's guide to COVID testing also provides helpful information.

Pros

Destination-focused itineraries; friendly and fun onboard vibe

Cons

Standard cabins are small with tiny bathrooms, despite a high price tag

Bottom Line

Destination-immersive, upscale cruising, with not a lot of nickel and diming

About

Passengers: 702
Crew: 408
Passenger to Crew: 1.72:1
Launched: 2007
Shore Excursions: 960

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • Costs Included on Azamara Quest

  • Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)

  • Gratuities

  • Select standard spirits, international beers and wines

  • Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas

  • Self-service laundry

  • Shuttle service to and from port communities, where available

  • Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • * Internet

  • Specialty Dining

  • Excursions

  • Laundry Service

  • Spa services and 18% gratuity

  • Some mini bar items (alcohol, premier water)

  • Use of The Sanctum Terrace spa area

Fellow Passengers

Who is onboard Azamara Quest?

Passengers onboard are an international mix. The majority of travellers are retirees, aged in their 60s to 80s with a smattering of younger cruisers. We saw several families with children on our summer cruise who were making the best of what was on offer. However, overall, Azamara Quest isn't well suited to those travelling with kids.

Passengers are well off, well-travelled and interested in exploring the ports (whether that be touring, shopping, hitting the beach or eating). We also found the ship to be extremely friendly, with passengers striking up conversations everywhere. It makes for a convivial atmosphere onboard. Unhosted LGBTQ+ gatherings are available daily. Accessible cabins are available, but these have limited functionality compared to similar cabins on newer ships.

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More about Azamara Quest

Where does Azamara Quest sail from?

Azamara Quest departs from Reykjavik, Southampton, Southampton, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Venice, Rome, Civitavecchia, Edinburgh, Oslo, Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Portsmouth, Piraeus, Piraeus, Laviron, Montreal, and Manhattan

Where does Azamara Quest sail to?

Azamara Quest cruises to Reykjavik, Isafjord, Akureyri, Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Southampton, Berlin, Bordeaux, Bilbao, La Coruna, Porto (Leixoes), Lisbon, Seville, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena (Spain), Valencia, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Liverpool, Madeira (Funchal), Agadir, Casablanca, Dublin, Geiranger, Tromso, Alta, Trondheim, Olden, Stavanger, Oslo, Venice, Koper, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Argostoli (Kefalonia), Malta (Valletta), Catania, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Sibenik, Pula, Katakolon (Olympia), Athens (Piraeus), Port Vendres (Carcassonne), Sete, Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Corsica (Ajaccio), Villefranche, Ferrol, Portofino, Florence (Livorno), Elba, Sorrento, Monaco (Monte Carlo), Invergordon (Inverness), Kirkwall, Greenock (Glasgow), Stockholm, Cannes, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Palamos, Cherbourg, Rouen, Honfleur, Paros, Skagen, Copenhagen, Trapani, Tunis (La Goulette), Sardinia, Palma de Mallorca (Majorca), Cobh (Cork), Waterford, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Portsmouth (England), Kusadasi, Santorini, Crete (Heraklion), Taormina (Messina), Alicante, Hvar, Montreal, Quebec City, Gaspe, Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Sydney (Australia), New York (Manhattan), Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John (New Brunswick), Halifax, Norfolk, Charleston, Miami, St. John's (Newfoundland), Baie-Comeau, Lunenburg, Portland (Maine), Martha's Vineyard (Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven), Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Durban, La Rochelle-La Pallice, Nantes, St. Peter Port (Guernsey), and Brugge (Bruges)

How much does it cost to go on Azamara Quest?

Cruises on Azamara Quest start from $945 per person.

Is Azamara Quest a good ship to cruise on?

Azamara Quest won 49 awards over the years.
Azamara Quest Cruiser Reviews

Best crsuise we have taken

We cruised on the Azamara Quest sailing out of Istanbul down the west coast of Turkey and through the Greek Islands.Read More
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few6-10 Cruises

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Better than expected

The Quest was the only cruise ship that docked in Rio for two nights of Carnaval, which is why we selected this ship.Read More
DCSpring

couple2-5 Cruises

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Food quality

As the Executive chef was working the Quest kitchen I hoped for superior results. Sadly it was worse.Read More
Fandango1

many10+ Cruises

Age 83s

Back to one of our first loves - 8 night Croatian Intensive

18 months since we have been on board Azamara and two years since we have been on board the Quest, but within minutes of embarking the Quest for an 8 night Croatia intensive cruise, we were greeted byRead More
russell jack

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Azamara Fleet
Azamara Quest
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