Azamara Journey Ship Inspection

We recently had the opportunity to jump on the Azamara Journey for a ship inspection, while it was docked in Adelaide on its recent voyage. Built in early 2000 and refurbished again in 2016, Azamara Journey has a capacity for 694 passengers, plus 390 crew. 

The ship sits in the mid-sized ship category, one that offers an intimate experience but never crowded. This makes it ideal for passengers looking for a nice range of activities and restaurant offerings, without being surrounded by thousands of passengers. 

The overall look of the ship was very classical, featuring a lot of darker woods, patterned carpet and gold trims. This was carried throughout the entire ship, offering an antique feel. It was slightly darker in some areas, but we were told that it was due for a fresh interior in order to create more of a light and bright feel. 

Azamara Journey Ship Layout

We started our ship inspection by getting a tour of the ship layout, facilities and restaurants onboard Azamara Journey. With a total of 11 decks, the first thing we noticed was the rooms were mostly contained to deck 4, 6, 7 and 8, with deck 5, 9, 10 and 11 being mostly restaurants, bars, the spa and sun decks. This allows passengers to rest without too many disruptions from live Cabaret shows. 

Once onboard, we were greeted with an introduction in the main foyer, right beneath the main staircase to the ship. It was explained that Azamara promotes a ‘quiet luxury’ product for its passengers. This means it’s still a luxurious cruise, but there is no need to pack your ball gown for that special dinner. Yes, you can dress up, but it’s not a requirement during the evening.

Azamara Journey Cabin Inspection

We started first by viewing a few of the cabins available onboard. There were a total of four available to view, with all other cabin types being booked out. We started with the most luxurious room, the Owner’s Suite, the highest category suite onboard. 

Club Owner’s Suite

This is the largest suite onboard, one that has been transformed with contemporary design elements in order to make it appear elegant and soft. It offers a spacious living room with a dining table and a lounge area, along with a separate bedroom and a marble master bathroom with a bath and full size shower. 

With a 55” flat-screen TV, dressing room with good closet space and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors out onto a private balcony with chairs and sun lounges, it was very spacious. In terms of additional benefits, those who book the Owner’s Suite receive an extra $300 of onboard credit, 4 hours of complimentary internet per guest, all specialists restaurants included, a choice of a bottle of spirit each day along with many more. 

Club Continent Suite

Next up we viewed the Club Continent Suite which was also located on deck 6. This room offers a sitting area, a large queen bed that can be converted into two singles, along with a modern bathroom with a bathtub or shower. This room also had a verandah with a seating area that offered a good amount of space. 

The Club Continent Suite would be an ideal option for those still looking for a nice amount of space, without splurging on larger suite types. It still has all the add ons such as complimentary internet, a free bag of laundry service and complimentary specialty dining, just at a lower price tag. 

Club Verandah Stateroom

This room is a smaller version of the Club Continent Suite, with a smaller lounge area, less room width and also less inclusions with the room. You will still find your own private balcony as part of this room, along with 24-hour room service. Specialist dining and free laundry is however not included in the room price.

Club Interior Stateroom

This was the final room we viewed, and was located in the middle of the ship. This room was one of the smallest available, with no balcony or windows. Although the room still had a queen size bed, 40” flat-screen TV along with a small desk and lounge, it was rather claustrophobic without any view to the outside world.

If you’re looking to cut down on costs and aren’t too fussed about seeing scenery passing you by, this room could be an option for you, but we wouldn’t recommend it as a first option.

Azamara Journey Dining

There are a number of dining options onboard Azamara Journey, each offering a different experience. Some restaurants are free, with other speciality options to occur a small fee to dine in that area. Depending on your room selection, some speciality options may be included in the overall price. 

Discoveries Restaurant is free dining and a place for breakfast, dinner and some lunches (only available on sea days). It is more of a casual dining space and there is often a short wait for tables. Tables are available in two to eight person set ups, with several share tables available each night to those that are happy to mingle with other guests. 

You’ll also find Discoveries Lounge located outside the restaurant for pre and post dinner drinks. Bar service includes a full selection of fine wines, mixed drinks and premium spirits. 

Windows Cafe located on deck 9 is where you’ll find breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with enough tables that you rarely should have to wait for a spot. This restaurant offers a buffet style dining experience with no booking required. Dinner buffets are usually themed, with menus rotating every 12 days to keep things fresh. 

The Patio on deck 9 is another included restaurant, offering burgers and grilled BBQ style food, along with a make-your-own salad bar. At night, The Patio converts into alfresco dining with tablecloths and table-side service. 

Tapas in The Living Room is located on deck 10 and available from 4:30pm to 8pm daily, offering hot and cold tapas dishes. This is an ideal spot for a pre-dinner snack and drink, with reservations not typically required, but they can be made to ensure a seat.

Mosaic Cafe on deck 5 is one of the most popular spots on the ship. It’s a small, but warm coffee bar with groupings of tables and chairs, and stocked with a variety of specialty coffees, as well as an all-day selection of complimentary finger sandwiches and small pastries. 

Azamara Journey also offers a range of specialist dining options for an extra fee. Aqualina Restaurant on deck 10 serves a delicious, traditional four-course Italian dinner. The dress code is casual with only jeans, shorts and bathing suits being unacceptable. Reservations are recommended here but not required. 

Prime C restaurant is another speciality offering, and is considered a paradise for meat lovers, with everything from lamb and veal, all cooked to specification. Some menu examples include tuna tartare with popcorn shrimp, herb-coated rack of lamb and filet mignon. 

24-hour room service is also available onboard Azamara Journey along with an experience called the ‘Chef’s Table’. This dinner is only offered several times per cruise and requires a booking to attend.

Azamara Journey Features

During our ship inspection we were also shown a range of ship features that Azamara offers to guests on the ship. These ranged from The Sanctum Spa, The Card Room where you can play cards with friends or other travellers. You’ll also find a range of smaller lounges such as The Drawing Room, where you can relax and read a book, or simply pop down for a drink prior to dinner. 

Azamara also offers a large gym space that offers a wide variety of equipment. The fitness centre has a range of treadmills, spin bikes, cross trainers and weights for you to choose from. 

A feature that we loved were the water stations located on each floor. Azamara implemented these in order to cut down on its waste, encouraging travellers to refill their water bottles, rather than reaching for a fresh one. 

Entertainment on board ranges from a show each night in the Cabaret Lounge to a White Night – an alfresco event hosted on the pool deck. We’re told this is something not to miss, with it being one of the most memorable times from the voyage. You’ll also find a wide variety of outdoor areas that include outdoor dining, a pool, spas and also a running track.

Azamara Journey Summary

Our ship inspection onboard Azamara Journey offered an insight into ‘relaxed luxury’. With a good range of rooms available to suit everyone’s budget and space requirements, along with a number of restaurant offerings, it proved to offer an intimate experience for a mid-sized ship. In order to elevate the experience, we would like to see wi-fi included in onboard costs, rather than giving a limited amount of hours, or none at all.

If you’re interested in setting sail on a cruise that is luxurious, but without too much glitz and glam, Azamara Journey is a great option. 

For further information check out our top Azamara deals, or speak to a Tour + Cruise specialist today about which option could be best for you!