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Main dining for all guests is offered in Discoveries. There is no set dining time, so you're free to eat when you feel like it. The menu changes every night, and you'll find a variety of items that feature classic to modern cuisine. The service in Discoveries is exceptional. Although the menu reflects regional dishes from the places that you visit, there's also a wide variety of appetizers, soups and salads, main courses and healthy choices.
For cruise passengers who want to try an alternative restaurant, you'll want to check out the Quest's specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina. There's a small fee to dine in these two speciality restaurants ($25 per person), unless you're staying in a suite (Club World Owner's Suites, Club Ocean Suites and Club Continent Suites), in which case it's complimentary.
This is Azamara's version of a traditional steakhouse. The wood-paneled walls, candlelight and ambience are the perfect backdrop to the main event: wonderful cuisine. Sample starters like vegetable tempura, beef carpaccio, cheese and onion soup or wild mushroom veloute. Entrees include filet mignon, veal tenderloin, whole rack of lamb, game hens or seafood. Sorbet is a great option for dessert, but the warm chocolate lava cake is also delish.
Aqualina features a menu of Italian-Mediterranean-fusion cuisine. Those who like caviar will want to pony-up to sample the caviar menu. Antipasti such as Tuna tartare, lobster ravioli or home-made gnocchetti are exceptional. For a main dish, I enjoyed the veal scaloppini in a creamy mushroom sauce with Gorgonzola. The flourless chocolate torte or the tiramisu is also top notch.
Cruise Director Tony offers a variety of entertainment options for you to enjoy your time on the ship. In the evenings, you'll experience live production shows and musical performances. There's a good mix of live performances, full-stage musical revues, classical soloists, bands and other entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge.
After the show, head to the Looking Glass Lounge where DJ Matt plays enough popular hits to get people on the dance floor. Late-night party-goers should know that Azamara Quest guests usually turn in before midnight or just a little bit after.
While the main event of an Azamara Club Cruises vacation is an enriching cruise experience, make time to relax at the spa. If you stay in a suite, then make sure to take advantage of the complimentary pass to the Thalassotherapy pool (saltwater whirlpool) located in a private hideaway adjacent to the spa. I actually was not staying in a suite, but I chose to purchase a pass to the Thalassotherapy pool. Make sure to inquire at the spa desk if access to this wellness retreat is on your radar because a lot of other passengers either don't know about it or are not interested, which means more comfort and solitude for you.
The gym is also worth a visit because of its ample size, as far as cruise ship gyms go. The equipment is adequate, and there is a fitness trainer available to assist you.
Most cruise ships leave port in the early evening, but not Azamara. One of the best things about sailing on Azamara Club Cruises is that the ships stay in port longer, which allows guests to explore by day and night.
Azamara Club Cruises offers signature events that are perfectly paired to their diverse ports of call. When I was sailing on Quest, I took advantage of a couple offerings that allowed me deeper immersion. In Turkey, I participated in an Insider Access tour while we called on Kusadasi. Our small group went to a local farm where we learned how to cook traditional Turkish fare. In Rhodes, Greece, I went on a special Nights in Cool Places tour, which was a guided walk around the ancient medieval city. Last, while we were in Santorini, I was one of the first people to test out the Cruise Global, Eat Local tour that takes you to a local restaurant.
Because this was my first experience on Azamara, I was not sure what to expect. Unlike so many cruise ships that fall short of what they promise, Azamara Quest works hard to make its voyages entirely satisfying for cruise passengers. The senior officers are visible on the gangway and are always willing to listen to feedback.
I knew to expect a destination-rich travel experience, but what I did not know was that Azamara's outgoing staff and crew would constantly deliver quality, service and friendliness throughout my journey. The ports of call are a reason to book, but the crew is the reason to become a repeat customer.
Carrie Finley-Bajak sailed on Azamara Quest on a press/blogger trip as a guest of Azamara. See Cruiseable's Ethics & Disclosure policy.
Updated from an earlier review.
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