On this episode of Luxury Cruising, Dr. Krystal Sodaitis welcomes back cruise creator Bradley to discuss his recent sailing aboard Azamara Quest. From immersive French itineraries and boutique luxury vibes to honest thoughts on pricing, specialty dining, and onboard service, Bradley shares a detailed firsthand look at what makes Azamara different from mainstream and ultra-luxury cruise lines.
What makes Azamara stand out in the crowded luxury cruise market, and is the experience truly worth the price?
In this episode of Luxury Cruising, Dr. Krystal Sodaitis sits down with returning guest Bradley to unpack his latest voyage aboard Azamara Quest. Sailing through France and Spain on a port-intensive itinerary with no sea days, Bradley shares why Azamara’s immersive approach to cruising creates a completely different experience from larger mainstream ships.
The conversation explores Azamara’s boutique atmosphere, elegant classic ship design, immersive regional entertainment, and personalized service that made guests feel instantly at home. Bradley also offers an honest perspective on both the strengths and weaknesses of the experience, including the surprisingly high excursion costs, upsells for premium amenities, and specialty dining that didn’t always feel as exclusive as expected.
Listeners will hear about Azamara’s famous White Night celebration in Marseille, intimate ports inaccessible to larger ships, nostalgic cruising touches, balcony dining, luxury-yet-relaxed ambiance, and why the line has built such a loyal repeat customer base. If you’re curious about immersive small-ship cruising and whether Azamara delivers true boutique luxury, this episode offers a refreshingly candid insider perspective.
Episode Highlights:
About the Guest:
Bradley, is a passionate cruise enthusiast known for sharing honest and detailed cruise reviews across YouTube and social media. From mainstream lines to ultra-luxury voyages, Bradley documents his experiences with a focus on itineraries, onboard experiences, luxury travel, and nostalgic cruising traditions.
YouTube: Explore With Bradley
Instagram: @ExploreWithBradley
TikTok: @ExploreWithBradley
About the Host:
Dr. Krystal Sodaitis is a pediatrician, executive, and life coach for neurodiverse physicians—and the passionate host behind Luxury Cruising. She brings expert insight and honest excitement to every interview, helping curious travelers elevate their adventures at sea.
📍 Website: luxurycruising.net
📧 Email: luxurycruisingpodcast@gmail.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/krystalsodaitis
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👥 Want to be a guest? Fill out this form to connect.
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Speaker: [00:00:00] Welcome back to Luxury Cruising. I'm your host, Crystal Serditis, and I am really excited because this is our first YouTube Live,And if it's live and people are here, welcome.
Please hit that subscribe, not only to me, but to my guest, Explore With Bradley. Um, he is here once again to talk about his most recent cruise on Azamara Quest. Um, super excited, experienced cruiser, but I don't wanna say too much. As always, Bradley, I will take it to you to tell the audience anything you want them to know about you.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. Well, if it isn't obvious by now, my name's Bradley, and simple answer is I am obsessed with anything and everything to do with cruising, whether that's On a two or three-night cruise or a very long cruise, anything to do with cruising is what I love, and that's on and off the ship, and the whole [00:01:00] aspect around it, and how it brings everybody together and creating everlasting memories.
So yeah, something I very much enjoy.
Speaker: Yes, absolutely. So tell us what made you decide to, go on Azamara Quest, this particular ship, this sailing, whichever it is.
Speaker 2: Well, there's quite a few different reasons, to be honest. Number one was a present from me and my sister, um, for my mum and dad. And my dad has different presents, 'cause he doesn't like going on too many holidays.
he likes to jump on the ship in Southampton. He doesn't like to fly that much. So, we do different holidays. But this one was primarily for that reason. However, we love, um, smaller ships. Smaller ships are our thing. it was something that my mum did with my gran many, many years ago.
They went on Azamara for the first time and absolutely loved it. So because my nan's no longer here, it was something I wanted to try and recreate, if that makes sense, which we've done on many cruises before, and I know many people have themselves. [00:02:00] Not that you can recreate the memories, but you can make new ones about memories that you've once had.
So yeah, it was a sentimental reason, but it was also for me as well, because you know what I'm like. I like to try many different lines, and Azamara's certainly in the luxury small cruising category. So, yeah, that was primarily it. However, there was also a fantastic, intensive and immersive, itinerary around France and all the French peninsula down there.
It was just incredible. So yeah, so it wasn't just one, two, three, or four reasons. There was many. Not that I need any many reasons to go on a cruise, but yeah, it was quite a lot for this one.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And that I have noticed, 'cause I've had one other guest on the podcast that did Azamara around Ireland, and it seems like that is a specialty of Azamara, to do some really intensive, port-intensive itineraries that are focused on a particular country or particular region [00:03:00] Do you find that as well?
Speaker 2: Oh, 100%. I didn't realize how much until I got on board. Now, I know people are probably thinking, "Well, you knew the itinerary." Yes, I did, but I didn't know the ins and outs. By that I meant when we docked, for example, we didn't just dock at the cruise port. We were so far into the cities and the ports themselves, even by tender.
What I mean is we went into places that I've never been. There was one called Port Vendres, which I could have said wrong, or Port Vendres, whichever way you wanna say it. Short tender ride, but it was a port that none of these bigger cruise ships can get in. And there are many different ports. And in like Nice, for example, where we had an overnight,
It was, Villafranche or whatever it was, in one of them little ports where you literally step off the ship and you're there. You're in the middle of the town. Now, how many cruises have you been on or, you know, have seen online that people actually, you know, they've gotta take a bus, or they've gotta take a transfer, or they've gotta do this.
Yes, you are there, but you also see as well, don't you, many itineraries that will go, for example, you're docking in, I'll make it up, London, but you're actually [00:04:00] docking in Southampton. there's a bigger sort of aspect to it. But with Azamara, it was so immersive, and the experiences that you get as well, they bring on board.
But not just that port intensive, 'cause this was the first cruise that I've ever been on where I had seven days of ports, no sea days. So that says it all. It was a port-intensive itinerary in which if it was something that you really wanted, as in you wanted to get off all the time, it was exceptional.
But because you were in port as well longer, you didn't have to get off early in the morning. You know, if you were tired from the night before, you could simply take a rest, have a nice leisurely breakfast up on open deck, and then go off and come back off later at night. It was fantastic. Many different aspects to it, but you're right.
They really do intensify the itinerary for that specific region. Ours was Spain and France, primarily France. But yeah, like the British Isles cruises, they do some fantastic ports. It's excellent.
Speaker: Awesome. And so before we get to the ship in general, because you just [00:05:00] mentioned, the immersiveness,
Let's jump to the sort of entertainment and the onboard activities. What did they bring on board that may have contributed to that immersive experience?
Speaker 2: Absolutely. Well, when we were in Marseille, this is the famous White Night. So every cruise has a White Night or a White Night party, whichever way you wanna call it.
Ours was in Marseille, so they were bringing on French artists and French guests. But we had spectacular weather up on deck, so we had lots of French artists for different thing, like burlesque-type dancing, that sort of... Oh, it was superb. They all did their own different acts, individuals groups, out on open deck.
And you know, the White Night was superb, and I thought all that entertainment was excellent, great. But it then continued into the evening, into the acts in the sort of little lounge. So what I mean by that is they brought local acts, but it was like, um, I call it diversity acts, but it's like, you know when you have so many different acts, like one was doing football skills.
It was so random, yet it was like, right, okay. Then there was, like, contemporary [00:06:00] dancing, then there was street dancing, then there was, like, um, I forgot the exact word of it, but the ones that can do all the funny shapes, you know, and then bend their bodies and all that sort of thing.
there were so many. It was like a variety show. That's what I was trying to look for, a variety show of so many different acts. But these were all from that region, from Marseille or in and around. Many people have, have an actual show, you know, like a West End show that they brought on from somewhere.
We had a show with local French artists, burlesque-type dancing, and then in the evening, there was a variety show of all different acts from that region, from skills and sets that we didn't even- things that we'd even see on a cruise ship, let alone on land.
You know when they say it was weird and wonderful? Yeah. It was because you didn't expect any of it, and it was just fun to watch. it's the first time we've come out of shows going, "Well, I didn't expect that." Still enjoyed, but it was strange , but really cool.
Speaker: Yeah.
That is cool. And, like, the football skills, or soccer like we say in the US- it's not something that you would expect, and you're like, "Huh?" [00:07:00] But some of those people are really talented, and it does put- on, like, a fun show. It just reminds me of when we were on Star of the Seas.
During the ice-skating show, they brought on... Well, you know how there are skateboarders that do, like, tricks?
Speaker 2: Tricks, yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. Except instead of skateboarders, they were ice skaters that were, like, on these ramps and doing these flips and all this stuff, and I was like-
Wow Well, I wasn't expecting that, but that was amazing."
Speaker 2: Absolutely. you know, when you are, sort of natured or nurtured into the fact that when you go on a cruise, you know what sort of entertainment to expect. And because I'd heard so much about the entertainment, the immersive entertainment from the ports that you stay in, I knew what I was going to expect, and I knew it was gonna be local, but I had no idea it was something like that.
You know, the one, there was one lady who was doing hula hoop skills. You know, that's something I did as a child, and I never thought I'd be seeing it on a luxury cruise ship with entertainment, but it was fantastic 'cause they were lit up in LED, you know, hula hoops and all this sort of thing. So you could [00:08:00] see everybody was like, "Wow," 'cause we knew a lot of people who had been on the previous longer cruises, who had been in, I'll make it a, Dubrovnik or Croatia, who had, like, you know, very, um, operatic performances or lots of shows.
So a lot of people are listening to here, and they might see it later on, will probably think, "Well, we didn't have that." But that's the best thing about Azamara. It's never the same. It might be similar, but every cruise and every itinerary, they try and get different arts and acts from where they're from, and that's why it's so different, so it's never quite repetitive.
So which is what we like, which is what I like to see.
Speaker: I love that. And we talked before we went live, is that it's a relatively small line. There's only three ships. Um, people may know that at one point, it was owned by Royal Caribbean International, and it was released from them.
So Royal Caribbean used to own four lines, Azamara, Royal, Celebrity, and Silversea. Um, and now they don't totally own Silversea, [00:09:00] but it's sort of like some sort of arrangement, and they almost, like, switched it. It was almost around the same time that they released Azamara and sort of brought partially under the umbrella, of Silversea.
So it's been interesting to watch it sort of develop into, it's really its own brand. And- Yeah ... it's almost as if instead of doing a Royal or Celebrity itinerary but ultra-luxury, it really has carved out its own niche in this way. So it's been just fun to watch- ... from a mega-cruise cruise geek kind of person.
Speaker 2: H- 100%. And what I liked about it was, I was saying to my mum earlier, 'cause we've got our part two of our, um, review coming out. It is in its own niche market because it was very boutique. I call it a boutique line because it was luxury, yet relaxed. It had a lot of, relaxed vibe . There was no formalities, nothing like that.
But it's in that category, but it seems to be a category of its own. Under the luxury umbrella, [00:10:00] but it's the small kid on the block, if that makes sense. Yeah. And they're doing their own thing. Yeah. As we said, I can't remember all of them, but it's Quest, Journey, Onward. I think there's one more. It's either three or four.
But remember now, that might be three or four ships, but they're still only, you know, 600, 700 passengers or less. You know, they're very small ships. So if even if you combine the four of them, or however many ships there are, that's still one Royal Caribbean vessel. You know, you could put- Yeah
all them ships into one, so yeah, good for them, I say. You know, that's what I like. I like the little guy.
Speaker: Yeah. So, Absolutely. And in that same, like sort of on that same topic, what I also really that I learned about them is they don't do the back and forth. It's not like seven days Eastern Med, seven days Western Med, seven days Eastern Med.
maybe they don't completely circumnavigate the globe, but their itineraries are always evolving and changing, which means a lot of people stay on board for really extended periods of time. Yes.
Speaker 2: Yes, 100%. And as we touched upon earlier, we were probably the rare or the minority of people that were only [00:11:00] on for a week.
There were people 14, 21, 28, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 nights. You know, and this was genuine. Like you were talking to people and overhearing people, 'cause we like earwigging as if anything, where you listen to, you know. And only about cruises and itineraries and all that sort of thing. And we said-- some people would say, "Oh, we've been on for 32 nights.
We joined in Fort Lauderdale." They did the transatlantic or whatever they joined. And it was like, wow, you know, a lot of Americans and Australians and everybody from North America or they don't wanna come to Europe for a week. And I completely understand it, 'cause it's so far that they will specifically pick Azamara because it is that relaxed feel.
But not just that, it's such immersive itinerary, as we've already touched on, and they don't repeat. They might stay in the same region for X amount of time, but there's so many different ports. Like if you compare the itineraries from a major line, Princess or, uh, MSC or Royal Caribbean, they're too big to get into these ports.
When you compare it you know, on a week's cruise on a large ship, you get three or four ports. Well, look at [00:12:00] me. On a week's cruise, I had seven.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: and that's regular for Azamara. So yeah, you're absolutely right. It was something where each week, should we say, or each day even, is different, and they might do, you know, up once and then come back, but they'll flip it so they'll do, you know, some of the ports the same, but they might get there later, or they might get there earlier, and then they leave late.
So it's all forever changing. You know, it really was a sight to be seen because it's, to hear everybody say the same things, that it was the itineraries that brought them back, and how close they got in. And from a personal point of view, not a lot of people think about this until it happens to you, but that's amazing for people with limited mobility- Mm-hmm
because they can simply get off the ship and onto you know, the port side, and off they go. Of course I'm not saying that for everyone, but in my mind, especially thinking back to with my grandmother and with other people, I thought, "Oh, do you know, this is excellent." Because a lot of people are put off by cruising or getting off a cruise ship because they think, "Oh, I have to get on this bus.
is it adapted for me? Can I get there ?" So I hope people listen [00:13:00] to this and really think, you know, Azamara really do benefit from something like that. It really is amazing.
Speaker: Yeah, That's so good to know. So take us onto the ship. What did you think of the ship, the decor, the room?
Speaker 2: Amazing. as I said, I love smaller ships, and she was an elegant old girl, should we say, who was 25, 30 years old. I don't know the exact age. You know, she was, like, bringing back the old concept of cruising. in our previous podcast, I've told you about the old ships I used to go on, Oriana and Aurora, who are still bigger than this one.
But she had, like, a grand staircase, but it was tiny, but a grand staircase. It had the mahogany, the woods, you know, the luxury carpet, the big armchairs, which I love sitting on, you know, in the Mosaic Cafe by the atrium. Well, I call it an atrium, but by the sort of staircase. Um, loads of different rooms.
What we were really surprised were nooks and crannies, as we call them down here in Wales, right? Nooks and crannies, where so many different little bars and little sitting areas where you could grab a coffee, go past the coffee area, and then sit in a little nook over [00:14:00] there. and some of the bars that you never really see, and you say, "Oh gosh, there's another bar here."
But comfy. No ultra-modern, no hard wooden or metal chairs. I know this sounds silly, but things like the buffet. We've talked about this. When we get into the luxury market, they set the buffet out, so it's got the knives and forks, the place mats, the, you know, the salt and peppers, all, everything there. It was just lovely.
And loads of outdoor area. For such a small ship, there was so much outdoor space. No fighting over sun loungers either, which was excellent to see.
Speaker: Awesome, always.
Speaker 2: And yeah, the decor was just- Old but gold. Does that make sense? Yeah ... And this is the exciting thing, which I didn't realize until we were on board, and I've also spoke to people who I met on Explorer who are going on after this.
But she's having a refit in October because Azamara are refitting their fleet. They're starting with Quest, spending tens upon tens of millions, adding new suite categories, new ships. So not just now ripping out carpets. They're doing the whole ship. Was she a little tired in places? Yeah, if [00:15:00] you really look.
Do I think she needed a refit? No. But they're ripping her out. From what we were told, you know, they really are replacing most of the stuff. Keeping it the same, but updating it. And I was really shocked at that, in a good way, 'cause I was like, wow, they really do wanna keep these ships.
That's what I thought of. Not, oh, are they doing this for a particular reason? No. Obviously they're investing in what they have because they know that they've got the market for it, and people love these older ships. So they're just giving them a little sprinkling of, fairy dust, should we say. So yeah, that was very good to see.
Speaker: Yeah, I love it. I love that just for a lot of reasons, that they're not just scrapping the old ships and trying to build something new when many of us, we love the decor and maybe they'll update the decor, but not completely I also love-
those little small, quiet places that you just discover, and you can just sit there and have- you know, a tea or a coffee or maybe even a cocktail, and just enjoy the ship and watch the people. Absolutely. it's just so [00:16:00] nice. So nice.
Speaker 2: It is. Absolutely. And as you said, you used the word discover, and that's what I think resonates with Azamara.
You discover new places, not just off the ship, but also on the ship, too, you know? and that's what I loved about it .
Speaker: Yeah. how did you like your room? I saw your video. I was, actually just came on it today as I was doing my morning scroll, um, your room tour. So how did you like it?
Speaker 2: So I always say to people, and you know what I'm like, I go through every nitty-gritty detail, because people mistake cruising as like all cruises are the same and all ships are the same, which is, unless you've done cruising, you know that you can have a completely different experience on many different lines and many different rooms.
So Azamara, especially Azamara Quest, and that class of ship, which they're all the same class of ship, she is small. So you're not gonna expect the biggest room. We knew this. We did the research. We didn't mind. We knew what we were getting in for. The room was fab. Was it small? yes, of course it was. Was the bathroom small?
[00:17:00] Yes. And even I found the bathroom small, and I found the shower small. And yes, it has a shower curtain, that dreaded shower curtain that everybody talks about. But we found it great, 'cause we weren't in the cabin a lot, and we knew what to expect. There was no hidden surprises. I was surprised that there was USB ports and certain upgrades of the, multimedia system was fantastic.
The, one thing that really did surprise us was the balcony. It was much deeper than we thought. And this is one thing that I will say, and I hope Silversea or Crystal and Explora, well, not so much Explora 'cause they're new, but their furniture on their balcony was excellent. They had padded seats and furniture, which I have seen on many luxury lines now, where they fall flat on the furniture on the balcony.
To some people, that may sound trivial, but to the likes of my mum and me and people that we know who like sitting on our balcony, if you're paying that much money and, you know, you're expecting the finer things, simply having a padded lounger or chair where we sit, we eat on our balcony. We love it, you know?
So it was little things like that. And again, I know some [00:18:00] people have different opinions, which I totally understand. But the room itself, small, yes. Well-appointed, absolutely. Anything more that could've been added? No, probably a bit more space, but because we weren't- Needing it because we weren't in the room all the time.
But did we feel that it was smaller? Yes. But, um, cleanliness fantastic. Yes, dated in places, but they're updating them. They're not gonna rip out the room entirely and put things in. Comfy bed, comfy sofas, nice little mini bar and fridge, water replenished every day. Clean, lovely cabin stew.
What else do you want? Yeah. Fantastic. And that was a standard veranda, by the way. That wasn't, like there's an extended veranda, which is a bigger balcony or a suite, nothing like that. That was just a nice veranda stateroom, which we very much enjoyed
Speaker: Yeah, I agree with you about the balcony furniture.
I mean, it's the small things that-
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker: just sort of take a cruise from nice to great. And- Yes ... it's the really nice padded furniture on the balcony. And then the other thing they [00:19:00] had that I noticed that some cruise lines do and don't, and that is they had the little runner on the bed for your luggage.
And a lot of people may not think that's anything, And look, that is not unique to luxury cruises. Like, disney does that. . Royal does not. I've seen it on Carnival. I've seen it on Disney. I haven't, seen it on, Royal or on Celebrity.
And when I saw it- Wow ... there, I was like, "Yeah that's a nice touch." It's those small things- Yeah ... that I think just up-level your experience a teeny-tiny bit, 'cause yeah, like, I don't want the road dust on my comforter. Sorry, I really don't.
Speaker 2: Yeah. absolutely. 100%. and on that topic, I am a sticker, or I'm a lover from when I was a kid, and we get sent the luggage labels, the actual luggage labels you put on.
Well, when we arrived, they put on our luggage labels for us, but when we left, they gave us fresh, new luggage labels to put on. Some lines now you have to print off, and you have to either get Sellotape or the sticker [00:20:00] or anything you use- Mm-hmm ... and use it. But this was, even though you were leaving, it was still something that added a little extra touch.
'Cause, uh, when we were kids or when we were younger, you would get sent a booklet with your tickets, your luggage labels, everything. You know, and some still do this. You know, Crystal's one of them. but yeah, it was little things like that which I think wouldn't matter to new people to cruising, or not matter at all to some people, but for those who are nostalgic about cruising and have been on cruising for years, they'll understand exactly what we're talking about, the little touches.
Speaker: so let me just clarify. Was it the luggage tags for when you put your luggage out for for disembarkation, or just a replica, like a memento of your embarkation luggage tags?
Speaker 2: What I meant was when you come off on the last night, they print you new tags because you might be in a different port to what you got on. So the ports all different. They cater for that, and it's just a fresh tag, with your number on for example, [00:21:00] should've gone into detail. We had a tour.
Because our flight was late, because we were on a tour with them, they put on specific tags knowing that when the luggage got off the ship, the port handlers knew that we were on a tour So our bags went next to our bus. Yeah. So I found that really good, all the rest, and certain other ones, there was our tour, then there was another tour, but because they had different luggage labels on them, and everybody else then had fresh luggage labels, but they knew it was just for people to pick up their bags.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: So, you know, it was well organized
Speaker: To me, that's a game changer, because the thing I dread the most is the last day, 'cause I've got two kids a husband- Yeah ... who's amazing, who does the packing, but he doesn't write out the luggage label. Yeah. So it's me on, like, eight pieces of luggage, writing, like, our name, our ship day- Yeah
our embarkation day, blah, blah. Yeah. The address, the phone. I'm like, "This is the worst." I just
Speaker 2: want- Yeah. ...
Speaker: someone to do that for me.
Speaker 2: Yeah,
Speaker: It would be,
Speaker 2: Many people are like that. Yeah. I have my mum to do our labels. Fantastic. But [00:22:00] yeah, certain things, and even if you needed new ones, they were always there.
or you simply ask, you know? It was a polite reminder, but in a nice way, and it was not, "Oh, God, I didn't print these off when I was home," you know, or, "God, I- it's ripped off the case there to keep that one on." No, it was none of that. It was just, yeah, making the little things, even though it was sad leaving, just making it that bit easier.
Speaker: Oh, I love that. Um, so tell us about the food. How did you like the food?
Speaker 2: Really good. So we went on here, 'cause we've been lucky now going on Explorer, Crystal, you know, all that sort of thing. I said to my mum, and she was under the same impression, we're not gonna go on here comparing to that, because Crystal is ultra-luxury.
Azamara is fitting the luxury category to a point. I'm not gonna say she's ultra-luxury, for different little reasons. However, she is also ultra-luxury in other reasons. I know it sounds quite hypocritical, but I'll explain. For example, the ex- buffet on Explorer, I've told everybody this many times.
You can't compare any other buffet on any line [00:23:00] to Explorer. Simple. Azamara, she catered for what she had. The few hundred passengers at the back of the ship, a little buffet that walked directly out onto the back of the, after the ship was there. Was there lots of food? Yes. Was it a nice choice? Yes. Was there a vast choice?
No. There wasn't a massive choice. But there was different things every evening, you know? There was the same sort of salads and sides and all that sort of thing. There was a lovely one I really did like, was a nice sandwich-making station. They had a sandwich of the day, but if you wanted a particular sandwich, they'd make it.
They'd have daily or nightly specials. There was one that they had was a seafood evening, and oh, we've recently got into sushi, thanks to Explorer, and certain other thing. Oh, fantastic. But much smaller scale, you know? It wasn't the best buffet I've ever seen, but it wasn't the worst by any means, and it was much quieter, very clean.
There was a gelato section. So what I was trying to say is- on other lines where you get the buffet and then you get different sections for, like, ice cream [00:24:00] or starters or mains and desserts. This was all at one, but done nicely. Does that make sense? You could get round it within a minute, but they also had in the morning, like, a waffle station and stuff like that, which was lovely to see.
but yeah, very nice. Suited us down to the ground. Because of the port-intensive itinerary, that's all we wanted to do some nights was just to grab, you know, a buffet and sit out in the back. The, speciality dining, we had Chef's Table, which was really good. We had Prime C, and we had Aqualina. My favorite was Aqualina, which was stunning.
It's like an Italian with loads of different foods. Prime C, like they're saying, it's prime beef, you know, steaks, that sort of thing. Really good. The Chef's Table, again, really good. However, Chef's Table, I don't know if you've ever done one, or to those that are listening, should be very exclusive. You know, you're in a room.
You're there normally sharing with others because that's what it is. It's a chef's table, and the chef comes out and explains things all nice and well. You know, the food is exquisite, [00:25:00] which it was. It was lovely. However, I noted this, and not knowing what they're doing in the refit, but I think it's been brought up to their attention many times.
The Chef's Table for Prime C and, um, Aqualina, so there's two, so they have a French, Italian, something else is in the Chef's Table. They're in the restaurants. So the Aqualina and Prime C, they're in them, but in a section at the end. Not cut off, but you can still hear everyone behind you.
You know, people are walking past. Not that it was a big thing, but it lost that little sparkle. Mm-hmm. Does that make sense? that- Yeah ... little edge where, for example, um, Anthology on Explorer, Umi Uma on Crystal. You know, it was like, wow. It was a specified restaurant. Did the chef come out? Yes.
Did the waiters come out? Yeah, and they were great. However, the waiters were also serving people behind us and on different tables. Oh. If you're paying that sort of money, and again, people might have different experiences to me, but this was a full cruise, and it was a full Chef's Table, and it was a full [00:26:00] restaurant.
You know, that's one of the things about Azamara I will say. Speciality dining isn't included unless you're in an owner's suite or whatever suite it is and above. So if you're a suite level or above, it comes included. Now, they're very small restaurants, so not a lot of people get their preferred times, and it's quite a battle sometimes to get a time unless you don't book prior.
We had the three, so I pre-purchased for my mom and me speciality restaurants, so we had Chef's Table, as I said, Aqualina, and Prime C. Were they nice and were they speciality? Yes, they were. Was I blown away by Prime C? Not really. Was I really happy with Aqualina? Yes, and some fantastic dishes. Was the Chef's Table good and worth the money?
I'm gonna say I'm glad I did it because we met some fantastic people-
and some lovely food, but I wouldn't go back to the Chef's Table But in the refit, they are now reconfiguring and having a separate room for the chef's table. Now, that would make the utmost difference. [00:27:00] And once, if we do go back on Azamara, would I do it again then?
Absolutely. Yeah. So yeah- Yeah ... little things. Oh, I forgot to say one last thing. Main dining room, excellent room service. for breakfast, we didn't go for the evening meals 'cause we loved the buffet and the specialty. Room service Exquisite. What a fantastic menu. Brilliant menu. And you might have seen some of my TikToks and everything that we're having on the balcony.
You know, superb, really good. Good quality, piping hot, arrived within 10, 15 minutes each time. And the variety of stuff that was on that room service menu, excellent. So that's a big up for Azamara. And they did cookies and milk in the night. Get in. So yeah- That's awesome ... that's what I love.
Speaker: Yes. Yeah, that's awesome.
That's awesome. I agree with you, like the Chef's Table, there are some times when, like on Royal it'll be just a table sort of elevated in the main dining room. And- Yeah ... that just doesn't... Other times, it's like in a separate area of a space- [00:28:00] Area ... of a specialty restaurant.
So once you get- So it feels
Speaker 2: exclusive,
Speaker: Yes. Once you get into the luxury, ultra-luxury, you do feel like it should be almost like a wine cellar experience, right? Like if you've ever- 100% ... gone at a restaurant where they have, like a wine cellar experience where- Yeah ... you go and it's your own private room, and you really don't know that rest of the ship-
exists- Yes ... otherwise. So I agree. Spot on. And yeah, like having the waitstaff also waiting on other tables is not-
Speaker 2: Yeah. It was, um, you know, whether that was just our cruise, but of course from what I've now heard from other people and from what they're doing, the refit, to reconfigure something, it must have meant that they've had some feedback, you know- Yeah
in regards to it. So I'm glad it's not just me. I'll say it if it's just me anyway. I say it as I find. Everybody knows that now, you know. But, um, yeah, when you're paying for something, especially when on a luxury, ultra-luxury line, like I don't believe in going on ultra-luxury lines and having to pay extra for things.
That's just me. I come from a little area in Wales where we have no ultra-luxury restaurants or Michelin [00:29:00] star restaurants, anything like that. So I'm not used to it anyway. I know a lot of friends from Britain, especially London, a lot of American friends, Canadian friends, Australian friends, who have no issue whatsoever in paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars for this.
And good for them. You know, if you think it's worth it- Yep ... absolutely, go for it. But if you're gonna pay for it, then you should have that exclusive, elevated ambiance, service and, you know, decor and that little area of yours. Again, just me, but I think a lot of people have said the same.
Speaker: Yeah.
Totally agree. 'cause this was on the podcast last week, is until we get to, Four Seasons, which I guess is in- ... a class by itself because ... other than breakfast, food is not included
Speaker 2: I obviously saw yours, and I was totally shocked. But you know what it's like then with the algorithm and everything.
You watch one, then something else pops up, and then somebody who's actually been there, 'cause I think it's Captain Kate. Is it Kate who's- Yes, Captain Kate- Yeah, yeah ... is the captain,
Speaker: yes.
Speaker 2: That's it, and, um, I followed her for ages, and she's [00:30:00] fantastic. But then when I realized how much... 'Cause I'm never going to be able to afford to go on Four Seasons, so that's it.
But out of the principle of it, now knowing that nearly everything is extra, it doesn't matter if I was a billionaire, I would not do it out of principle. That's just who I am. You know- Yeah ... I'm not paying tens upon tens of thousands of dollars, pounds, euros, and then, let's be honest, spending thousands if not tens of thousands once you're on board But perhaps it's not aimed this, at this sort of clientele, if that makes sense.
Perhaps it's aimed at
Speaker: the people- Yeah ... who don't
Speaker 2: have a price tag.
Speaker: Right. And to be fair, the person said, you know, she probably spent, like 3 to $500 for a nine-day cruise on the food. and breakfast was included, and there was all other things. But yeah, I mean, I think it is for people who, at that point, don't care.
I just paid $300,000- Yeah, exactly ... for this room, and if I have to pay- Yeah ... another $1,000 a day for food, like, it's fine.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, completely agree. But still, I'm gonna watch every review and vlog, and everybody that's listening, if you are [00:31:00] going on there, please share it with us, 'cause I wanna know what it's like, 'cause I won't be going on it.
Speaker: Yes. And if you are listening and you're on it, I'd love to have you on the podcast. Yeah. As many people on Four Seasons. Yes. Let's talk about how you feel about it. Without a doubt. Right? And what your experience- was, so amazing.
Anything else about Azamara that, you wanted to cover?
Speaker 2: Yes. Um, the crew. Staff, crew, you know, everybody calls them different things. Friends, family. Now, I've learned recently, doing what we're doing and the way that my channel has picked up certain people, a lot of the crew now are on social media and love watching things like this and the videos, 'cause they show them to their family, 'cause their family don't get to see them.
So they see them on here, and you give them shout-outs. What I will say, they were very relaxed, they were very professional, yet had that fun and cheeky side to them, which we love. ... You know, if we could say to them, "Sit down and have a drink with us," we would. All right? However, they knew you by name within a couple of days.
They knew what drink you liked, even if you didn't want a [00:32:00] drink, you know. very nice. Really liked them, and that goes for everyone. You know, waitering staff, food staff, beverage, housekeeping, reception, management, everything. The captain, I'm gutted to say I've forgotten his name, but wow, the most funniest, most immersive captain where he was walking around the ship.
He was on the port side. He was greeting people. He was telling them facts and figures about, um, the ports we were going to. He was telling us how we get in and out. We couldn't stop in Cannes, so we were doing Nice and Cannes on the same day. my mum already knew that we could get off in Nice, we could get an Uber to Monte Carlo in Monaco, and then we could just get on a train to Cannes all within half hour, which we did.
We did Monaco, Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes all within the same day. Fantastic. But yeah, really friendly and down to earth. No formalities, It's nice to be go on and like Mr. Jones, you know? That's lovely, and it elevates. I'm very much a first name person once they get to know you. I understand they've got a script they have to follow, but it very much was, you know, We always laugh this and I always tell you, because my mum looks very [00:33:00] young and I must obviously look old, they always think because we're the same names as Mr.
and Mrs. Diamond Jones, you know. When we got on Azamara, they put the beds together. Always used to it, you know? So we said to our room steward and he laughed, and we were like, "No, no. That's my mum. It's a present from mum." And he went, and instantly the face dropped, you know. And it was, "Oh my..." And I was like, "No, no, no.
You're not to know." You know, it says here Mr. and Mrs. Diamond Jones celebrating a birthday and a retirement. You put the two together, you're not gonna think a 30-year-old. And you know, my mum, as you know, looks very young and she's very bubbly.
Speaker: Beautiful,
Speaker 2: yeah. And I'm used to it, you know. And s-so I'm used to it and we had a laugh.
But then once they knew then, right, I'm Brad or Bradley. They still called you Mr. Jones, but it was Mr. Bradley then. So it just made you laugh, you know. They wanted to call you by your first name, but they didn't, so they just added the Mr. and I loved it. And you could have a laugh with them, and you could ask them questions because
We like to know a lot. I like to know how the crew are treated. I like to know how they liked it, you know, the company they work for. And a lot of them say how much they love Azamara, and they love the smaller ships, and they love the guests that come on board because [00:34:00] it's a much more relaxed feel.
And the clientele that come back and the returning passengers to Azamara is one of the best I've seen. That was meant to be flying through the roof, but yeah. it's really good. So that's one thing I will say. And the ships, the itineraries, just everything about it. The only thing I didn't like to a point was there was quite a lot of upsell So as soon as you got on board, an all-inclusive cruise.
You have just the bare minimum of alcohol and spirits that are included, and soft drinks and tea and coffee, which is great. Then there was a premium, then an ultimate. I upgraded to the ultimate 'cause my mum likes champagne, even though she can only have a few glasses before she falls asleep. However, that wasn't on the premium, so it was only something like $8 a day per person.
So for me, who's already spent a couple of thousand, it wasn't a lot. You know, when you... It, it was something like 100 and something dollars or whatever it was for the two of us. Yeah. So I didn't mind that because I started drinking it then, because back home, having a glass of champagne is 15, 20 pound, you know?
So, which is 25, $30, you know? It's just a lot of money. that's the one thing [00:35:00] that I will say, not just about that, the tours. Oh, astronomical pricing.
Speaker: Mm. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Astronomical. Now, that's not just Azamara. We know from all the cruises we've done, all the people we speak to, everybody now, unless they're included, like certain Silversea and Regent cruises, the price of tours for any cruise are inexpensive.
But I will say wholeheartedly, and I refer this back to Azamara, 'cause I know that a lot of people do it, 'cause not all the tours are full, they were drastically expensive. We did one to a region called Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is a wine region in France, and it cost me nearly 500 pound for that tour, which, you know, was a lot of money.
I we wanted to do it 'cause we weren't gonna do it again, and we really like wine. I'm not a connoisseur by any means. It was good But it wasn't 500 pounds worth good, you know? Yeah. And a lot of the tours, for example, our tour at the end of the cruise was a tour and a transfer to Nice Airport. So we thought, great, waste some time.
We had $300 that we had to use [00:36:00] specifically for the tours. The tour was $380, and it was taking us from Nice into the town center, a walking tour with some food, which was lovely, wasn't the best. But then the bus then from there, half hour to the airport, $380. So I had to pay another- That's not worth it
Speaker: $80 myself. Yeah.
Speaker 2: It's a lot of money, isn't it? You know, and it wasn't just us that was saying it. Again, other people may not think, and there's different packages you can have, see, 'cause there's different ones where you have shore excursion credit included, which is good for some people, and it covers the tours they wanna do, but I just wanna point that out to people.
For us, and again, people come from different backgrounds and different places, and there's all difference in, you know, the prices that people can afford. It was very expensive, and I won't be the only one saying that, that's for sure.
Speaker: And it sounds like the value may not have been there for those. That it didn't seem- Mm
super elevated because it was Azamara or a luxury cruise.
Speaker 2: I didn't come off saying, "Oh my God, that was the best 500 pounds so $600 I've ever [00:37:00] spent," because it was good, but it wasn't like, wow. You know, I was expecting to come away with souvenirs and like, you know, learnt absolutely everything about wine.
the tour itself was good. As in the people that we met and were doing the tour, and the food in the, winery that we went to and the tour itself was fantastic. But when you add everything up, it was like, really? that's a lot of money. But we paid it, and we enjoyed, and it's all about what you believe is value for money.
For me, it's not, and do I believe, unless it was a tour that was like, you can only do on the ship, you know, when you're on a bucket list, then do it. But one thing I will say to people, there is a lot of upsell. Internet, for example. One last thing, sorry, this really annoys me, and you know how much I hate the fact of how expensive Wi-Fi is and that it should be included in cruises.
The package I had, I forgot what the name of it was, but it was like a package for the drinks and Wi-Fi. It only included one Wi-Fi device. Come on.
Speaker: No, come on. Come- I mean ...
Speaker 2: come on. Unless you're a solo passenger. For me and my mom now, who both work [00:38:00] and both have businesses and, my mom has a granddaughter now, and my dad was obviously home, so she needs constant, I don't mean every five minutes, but stuff has to be done.
People live. I work on ships, as in, you know, I come to work remotely. Yeah. But it's sold as, yeah, Wi-Fi included. it was only one device. Of course, there's packages above, but I made a big note to that, and it wasn't a complaint, but it was like, right, there's penny pinching, and then- Mm-hmm ... there's that. I expect that on Carnival or something like that, you know, Margaritaville or whatever the lower line cruises are, but that really annoyed me.
That really did.
Speaker: Yeah.
Yeah. And I'm surprised It wasn't at a better price because if you're that close to land most of the time, like if you're docked- Exactly ... you can almost just go off your cell signal. Exactly,
Speaker 2:
Speaker: So they should sort of discount it because to entice people to buy it.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. And the thing that really annoyed me was because it is a luxury brand or luxury, whichever way you wanna look at it, that should be included. Explorer, Crystal- Yeah ... [00:39:00] Regent- Yeah ... Silversea, that's all included. and remember now, if you didn't have the package I had and you just went in the bare minimum, your Wi-Fi wasn't included. You have to buy it back .
Speaker: And the truth of the matter is that if you roll it into the price of the cruise, no one's gonna blink If you added $25 per night to the cruise- and said, "Oh, and Wi-Fi is included," no one blinks.
Speaker 2: Yeah. But there's things like that where I believe they're penny pinching and adding costs and then upselling stuff, you know. It's like, right, come on. You know what it's like sometimes you go on a cruise ship and there's sections of, right, there's the premium spirits, there's the specialty,
It was very much like that. It wasn't in your face all the time, but it was subtle enough for me to know, and I'm going, I've just come off Explorer and Crystal and of course there was some- Mm-hmm ... but there was nothing to this degree. and I don't know if I've been spoiled, 'cause before it wouldn't have bothered me, but now I'm like, I just paid 5,000 pounds, which is six and a half, $7,000, you know, for a week's cruise.
Without the extras, without the flights, nothing like [00:40:00] that, that's a hell of a lot of money, and one device and then upselling. Yeah. Again, just me. Might not have happened for anybody else, but I always say it as I find, so yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. But these are things people need to know, and I appreciate you-
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker: Absolutely ... coming on and telling us about it. Awesome.
Speaker 2: Always.
Speaker: So what's next? Where are you heading next?
Speaker 2: Ooh, I don't know if I can cope, but it's Silversea next. That's in August. That's a big one for us, 'cause it's the first time. Plus, sounds a little stupid, but as a kid, Silversea was like,
You know, when we were on the big ships it was like-
Speaker: Yeah ...
Speaker 2: posh. Just can't afford them. But now we've, gone on these bigger well, these better sort of lines. We've now gone into caviar and certain things like that. Now Silversea are renowned for having caviar, unlimited, whatever you want all the trip.
24/7. Absolutely. Yep. So me and mum. have decided that we're gonna have it in every single lounge room thing, and we're gonna take a photo in every one just to say that we've done it.
So that's a big thing that we're doing, but it's the itinerary.
Portofino and all around the Italian sort of Riviera. Oh, so can't wait for that. But we're on [00:41:00] one of the smaller ships, not the new one, Whisper, because we wanted it, number one, it was the price point, 'cause I find Silversea expensive. However, recently a lot of their voyages and a lot of their sailings, they've really reduced, which is why I can get on it.
Mm-hmm. Um, so as well then, going into the Crystal and the Explorer, we're in that ultra-luxury bracket now, and I wanna tick it off the list, 'cause as I keep telling you, I still can't afford to get on Regent yet, and I will. But if I tick Silversea off, that means I've just got one more to appoint, as in the big ones, is Regent.
But yeah, very much looking forward to Silversea, so that's the next one in August. Then we've got a couple of ones in September. We've got Queen Mary 2- In October in the grills, which we've already talked about, but I haven't done the grills on Queen Mary yet, so I'm ticking this off the list. I've done them in every other Queen, Victoria, Elizabeth, Anne.
Haven't done them in Queen Mary. And then back on Queen Anne for a present for my mum again, 'cause we always go away before Christmas 'cause my nan and her used to go away. Again, in the grills. And I have got something to tell you, I don't think I [00:42:00] messaged you. Q and A are doing the Four Queens celebration.
I managed to get on it for May 2028. But I will tell you- Wow ... I'm, because I say how much I spend on cruises and how much I don't believe that certain things are worth, I could have gone on a two-week ultra-luxury cruise for what I've paid for this six nights on Queen Elizabeth. It's disgusting, but-
Speaker: It's
Speaker 2: worth it
I wanted to do it, and it's worth it because it's a memory for us. It's sentimental 'cause we used to do it with my nan with the P&O celebrations and back home. So yeah, I had to, as we say in... I bit the bullet and, ... I've done it, so yeah, a lot to look forward to, but two and a half months now of nothing.
So if anything changes, I'll let you know.
Speaker: Bradley, when I reached out to you about this, you were like, "I'm always excited to try my crazy idea."
Speaker 2: Absolutely. Got it. Yeah, without a doubt. Excited for your crazy idea. And I'll keep doing it, and we get to talk cruising, so it doesn't matter. So fun. Absolutely. So
Speaker: fun. Yes. and one day we're gonna cruise together. Absolutely.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. 100%.
Speaker: You and mom.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yes. And we can do a live then from the ship.
Speaker: Absolutely. by the way, for anybody [00:43:00] listening who wants to scroll back, that white dress on white night, Stunning. She's fabulous, Let her know if you're listening. Yes. Mom Jones- ... stunning. Beautiful white dress. Fantastic. Thank you very much. And you look great too, by the way.
Speaker 2: Well, thank you. and for anybody who wants to follow this and drop this into their podcast feed, be on the lookout. This will probably be dropping on Sunday, that's May 31st. and until next time, I wish you all safe and luxurious cruising.