AN UNFORGETTABLE ARABIAN JOURNEY ON BOARD OF AZAMARA QUEST!

By: Christian Stan | 3 February, 2020

Those who come to live the experience of a cruise will hopelessly fall in love with this type of vacation, as it is something spectacular and efficient at the same time. I have been on 14 cruises so far, but the latest one on the Azamara Quest has exceeded all expectations. Here’s why.

The Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are among the most popular cruise liners in the world. They have American management, and this fact is completely reflected in their services and in the perfect coordination during the itinerary. And I say this from my own experience, having the (unpleasant) experience of other high-profile companies, whose services, especially if you are on your first cruise, can leave you with a wrong perception about this kind of holiday.

The Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have been the best experiences of this kind so far. Until I found out what Azamara means. Azamara is the upscale cruise brand of Royal Caribbean.

 

 

I have recently been for the first time on an Azamara cruise, in the Arab countries. Unlike other itineraries, in other parts of the world, this was more affordable (around 2500 euros for a cabin with balcony, 1500 euros for the interior cabin), a perfect opportunity to break the ice and experience the luxury offered by this company. 

I spent 11 nights on the Azamara Quest ship. We left from Dubai and returned to Dubai, stopping along the following destinations:

Fujairah (UAE)

Muscat (Oman)

Manama (Bahrain)

Doha (Qatar)

Sin Bani Yas (Abu Dhabi)

Abu Dhabi

 

Why is it more luxurious, but more expensive?

The Azamara Quest, and all Azamara ships in general, are boutique-style ships, smaller than the commercial ones. If on the Royal Caribbean between 2500 and 6000 tourists embark on each cruise (plus a few thousand employees), Azamara has a maximum of 700 passengers. Their purpose is to offer a genuine exclusive travel experience, flawless services and special attention to details. 

Of course, the Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are also impeccable when it comes to appearance and services, but this time you can feel the comfort of a stay at an exclusive five-star hotel (one more detail: there are no children on the ship, so you can truly enjoy a Zen holiday).   

The cabin is spacious, with special finishes, attention to details – (e.g. fresh flowers in the room daily), free Evian water at any time of the day, wallpaper and parquet in the bathroom. Also Egyptian cotton sheets make the resting time even more comfortable. A personal butler cleans the room twice a day and is always ready to meet any request you may have. 

Secondly, the architecture of the ship is exquisitely chosen, the amazing decoration corners often reminded me of those of hotels that are so dear to me, such as the Oberoi, the Shangri-La or the Ritz Carlton.

The main restaurant, where we had lunch and dinner à la carte, offers an exceptional dining experience. The service is impeccable, and the menu contains sophisticated culinary preparations, perfectly prepared by a highly experienced chef.

It is important to add that on the Azamara, the drinks are included in the package (white wine, red wine, rose wine). On all the other cruises such drinks cost extra. 

The fitness room is vast and perfectly equipped, special wellness classes and seminars, free of charge, many cafes and themed bars, a live concert hall, jewelry, watches, clothes and perfumes stores, art gallery, an absolutely gorgeous library, and many others.

On the last deck there is the pool, the jacuzzi, very comfortable loungers, with high mattress and pillows. What struck me was that the music did NOT rumble through the speakers, as on other cruises. Simply, if you chose to spend the day at the beach, you can enjoy the tranquility, as the sea waves were the only sound you could hear. Because, yes, it’s true, nobody has to listen to a music they don’t like. You always have the option to listen to music on your own headphones. 

There are many details that make the difference. In addition, the itineraries are much more spectacular for the simple reason that, as a smaller ship (181 meters long, compared to 279m -361 m the Royal Caribbean or 317 m the Celebrity), it has access to smaller ports and exclusive destinations. 

So, bottom line, if you are the kind of tourist who has passed the first stage of traveling (the classic one, where you focus on discovering the destination, rather than on the quality of the accommodation), and you wish for more refined holidays, the Azamara can be a very good option.

Where has the Azamara taken us

Our journey started from the port of Dubai. 

Around lunch time we checked-in (it only took 2 minutes) and arrived in the room. We had lunch and in the afternoon, after a presentation of the evacuation rules in case of danger (compulsory for all passengers, regardless of whether you were on a cruise before or not), the ship left the port, leaving behind a magnificent landscape, perfect for photos to post on social media – Dubai at night. 

The next day we woke up in the port near Fujairah, the capital of one of the Arab Emirates, which we visited throughout the day. In each port you have a shuttle bus that takes you to the city center and brings you back to the ship. In Fujairah you can visit the magnificent Shaikh Zayed Mosque, the centuries-old fort, the city museum, or shop in the main mall, where the prices are friendlier than in Dubai.

By 6 pm, the ship left for a new destination, perhaps the most beautiful in the entire itinerary: Muscat, the capital of Oman.   

The third day of the cruise. In the morning we reached the port of Oman, flanked by magnificent rocky mountains, at the base of which lies the old city with white houses.

Here the boat stays overnight, so you have two days to enjoy the picturesque charm of the place. You can go to the souk to buy jewelry, textiles, clothes, perfumes, spices, you can stroll on the streets to discover the lifestyle of the locals, you can go to the beach, you can visit the sultan’s palace, Al Alam Palace, Al Jalali Fort, you can take the taxi to the new area of the city, behind the mountains, which is surprisingly developed, and visit the great Sultan Qaboos mosque and the Royal Opera House.

In the evening, after dinner, you can return to the port for a relaxing walk on the ledge (you leave the port on foot, you do not need transfer, as it is exactly near the promenade). 

The next day, we left Muscat at sunset, a moment that couldn’t be more splendid, considering that the sun set slowly behind the rocky mountain chain. 

We spent the whole next day at sea, because of the great distance to the next stop, which was Manama, Bahrain; our ship crossed the Persian Gulf. It was the perfect opportunity to discover everything the ship has to offer

In the fifth morning of the cruise we reached the beautiful capital of the state of Bahrain, Manama. A spectacular interweaving of the picturesque with the daring architecture of the future. A quiet, airy city with a very wonderful vibe. You can take the taxi to visit the great Al Fateh Mosque (it has a sensational guide), then you can return to the central area to visit the Bahrain National Museum, shop at their new mall, The Avenues, which is impressive, and then in their old shouk. 

On the sixth day we arrived in Doha, Qatar. The Islamic Art Museum, the Qatar National Museum (with stunning architecture in the shape of a desert rose), the Waqif Souk, the stroll on the ledge, the Al Zubarah Fort are just a few of the main attractions you can check out during the day spent in the capital of Qatar. You also have the option to book in advance a desert safari experience. 

After Qatar, we headed south to the island of Sir Bani Yas, which belongs to Abu Dhabi. It is an island with an impressive natural reservation, with thousands of wild animals (oryx, Somali ostriches, gazelles, deer, giraffes, turtles).

You can go on safari to admire this reservation, but you also have the option of kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, snorkeling or simply enjoying the sun on the fine sandy beach where hundreds of sun beds with umbrellas are available for free. 

After that, we spent two days in Abu Dhabi, just enough to visit the most important tourist attractions: the Great Mosque, the Louvre Museum (which is absolutely splendid!), Ferrari World or the new Qasr Al Watan Palace Presidential Palace, which is open to the public for some time (a palace of a dazzling opulence).

In the evening, as the ship remains overnight in the port, you can go out in the city to enjoy a super cocktail at Hakkasan. There are many options for spending these two days in Abu Dhabi .

Whether you’ve been here before, there are always new attractions and new ways to spend the time. There is always the option of booking trips to more remote places, which are not so easily reachable by taxi. 

After Abu Dhabi, we returned to Dubai where the ship stayed overnight, the perfect opportunity to spend at least one full day in this city, without having to pay for hotel accommodation. The check-out is done on the last morning, so you can arrive at the airport in time, depending on the time of your flight home. Of course, you can choose to remain in Dubai for a few more days, if you book in advance a stay at your favorite hotel.

A cruise is the best option to visit this region, as well any other region in the world, in one single vacation, without paying for plane tickets between cities or hotel accommodation and without the discomfort of traveling, with luggage, from one place to another.

What you can do in one day on the Azamara cruise ship

In the 12 days, only one was spent entirely at sea. The rest of the time, the ship docked every morning in a port and left in the evening to another destination, or stayed overnight (as in Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Dubai).

Whether you chose to spend your entire day aboard the ship, or you leave in the morning and come back in the evening, on the Azamara Quest you have the following options:

• Morning workout in the fitness room (yoga classes, posture improvement seminars, etc.)
• Jogging on the treadmill on the last floor, while enjoying the sea breeze and the splendid landscape around you.
• A la carte breakfast (I recommend starting the day with an Energizer – a shot with ginger and fresh oranges, a personalized omelette with all kinds of spices, organic yogurt and a super cappuccino)
• The beach on the last deck of the ship, on a comfortable lounge chair, with mattress and soft pillows (I was pleasantly surprised that there was no loud music rumbling from the speakers. It was all silent and the only sound you would hear were the waves).
• A la carte lunch in specific restaurants (grill, Mediterranean, seafood, etc.)
• Shopping in the jewelry, perfumes or clothes shops aboard the ship.
• Visit the art gallery aboard the ship.
• Art auction
• Spa
• Coffee and high tea
• A la carte dinner (a sensational menu, different from one day to the next, prepared by a super chef)

The Azamara Quest is a perfect option for couples and for those who want an exclusive, relaxing holiday, for those who want to feel truly spoiled.

For families with children, there is the option of larger cruise ships from the Royal Caribbean, that offer plenty of entertainment options (amusement parks, slides, climbs, ice rinks, bumping cars, discos, etc.). 

From Romania, you can book your cruise through www.rccl.ro , the official representatives of the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara. You can contact them at office@rccl.ro or you can call +40 31 403 5061/62/63/64/65/66 to ask for offers and help in choosing the right holiday. They are extremely friendly and professional, so it is worth contacting them.

Bon voyage!

P.S.: You can check-out more photos and videos on my Instagram page @christianstan, in the Azamara album from Instastories Highlights.