Cruise Overview
A cruise on Azamara Journey feels a little like coming home, whether you've cruised on the ship before or not (and dozens of repeat cruisers are on nearly every sailing). With fewer than 700 passengers onboard and only five decks with public spaces, it only takes a day or two before the ship feels familiar; you've found your favorite spot to sit in the Living Room, you know where to find free cookies at any time of day and you start recognizing faces (crew and fellow cruisers alike).The ship's size lends itself to an amiable onboard atmosphere as well. The bulk of the tables in both Discoveries Restaurant and the buffet are designed for two people but pushed close enough together that mealtime conversations across tables are a common occurrence. Trivia sessions, which are held three times most days, encourage team building; strangers quickly bond over themes such as nature, the body, sports and music.
Cabin Details
All rooms, regardless of category, come with a 40- to 55-inch flat-screen TV, writing desk, two bedside tables, two European and two North American outlets, minibar with complimentary soda and beer, safe and hairdryer. All cabins have two USB chargers; in all non-suite cabins, they can be found underneath the reading lights on each side of the bed. Most cabins feature two beds that can convert to one queen-size bed, and many also have sofa beds. TVs have some international stations, a movie channel and an interactive menu through which you can learn about shore excursions, view your onboard balance and browse the day's dining room menu.Amenities in all cabins include Egyptian cotton bed linens, terrycloth bathrobes and slippers, welcome fruit basket, free Azamara-branded tote bag and an umbrella and binoculars for use during the sailing.
Dining Details
Discoveries Restaurant (Deck 5, aft): You'll find breakfast, dinner and some lunches (on sea days) served in the ship's casual main dining room. Seating for all meals is open; arrive whenever you like during operating hours. Waiting times for a table are generally short, especially for breakfast and lunch. If you arrive during the 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. dinner rush, you might have to wait up to 10 minutes.Tables come in two- to eight-person setups. If you're seated at a two-top you'll be pretty close to the neighbouring tables, inviting friendly chats with other cruisers about your day. Several sharing tables are also available each night for those who enjoy dining with new people.
Activities Details
The Cabaret Lounge on Deck 5 serves as the ship's main theater and is in use throughout the day and night. It's a small space with a low ceiling -- there's room for just 450 people, but the lounge's neutral color scheme, dominated by light gold brocades, creams walls and ceilings and gray and silver carpeting, saves the space from feeling claustrophobic. A large dance floor also gives the lounge a roomier feel.
Two to four nights per cruise, the main show is a medley of song and dance numbers performed by the onboard ensemble of six singers and dancers, and sometimes joined by the cruise director (depending on which cruise director you have). As with most cruise entertainment, the singers are better at some songs than others, and the dancing leaves a bit to be desired. Side note: Several of the more gregarious singers and dancers pull double duty as the hosts of daytime activities including trivia, origami, Scattergories and dance classes.