Familiar comforts on Azamara Journey sailing

The sale of the small line to a private equity firm has raised questions about its future. It occurred to me that the things I loved most about Azamara might change as a result. Thankfully, a recent cruise aboard the Azamara Journey on a Canary Islands itinerary put those worries to rest.

The brand will not be changed by the new owners. They want to expand the fleet and bring more people and places to the area.

I remember from my last trip with the line that the ship that I was on, the Azamara Pursuit in South America, had undergone a refurbishment similar to the one I was on on the Journey. There was a bar with live music, a library of travel books, and a lounge where the casino used to be.

While my cabin was not one of the newly transformed accommodations, the work is ongoing aboard the Azamara Journey and the new Azamara Onward to create more Ocean View staterooms. I would like to see the change to bring a brighter and more open look to the staterooms. I used my balcony to take in the views of the volcanic islands.

There is a balcony in a club veranda. The photo is courtesy of Azamara.

The Save the Waves sign and ecofriendly toiletries were in the bathroom from my last sailing.

One of the most enjoyable experiences I had at the Azamara was changed because of Covid. AzAmazing Evenings are a complimentary and impressive experience at a notable destination landmark on one night of its sailings. These are coming back, but for now they have been altered to an onboard event with local entertainers.

The quality and quantity of the onboard entertainment, which included evening entertainers as well as shows from the onboard cast, was unaffected. I liked the variety of music. The decadent buffet at the White Night Party was as impressive as before, and entertainers made regular appearances at the pool.

The lounge has live music that serenades guests enjoying pre-dinner cocktails, and I really liked the selection of tapas. The library lounge overlooks the pool and is a quiet place to work or read. The daily crossword puzzles are still there.

The Discoveries Bar is on deck 5. The photo is courtesy of Azamara.

I am a huge fan of the all-inclusive approach of Azamara, with bottled water in the cabin. I chose some of the more active offshore activities so I didn't have to worry about water as I disembark.

The included gratuities and self-service laundry remain in place, as do the complimentary house wines and beer.

New elements are added to the offering. The British Isles, India, Italy and Mexico are some of the countries that have food on the evening menu at some restaurants.

The Indian night is one of the most popular, and it was easy to see why, given how delicious the food was. Guests should arrive early to get a seat near a window. I am a big fan of Indian food, and so I was happy to learn that there is always an Indian vegetarian curry on the buffet menu.

The staff remembers guest names and preferences over time, which is a hallmark of a smaller ship. Retail shops onboard will see more destination-focused items as part of a new partnership with Starboard Cruise Services. I did not notice much local influence in the shops on my sailing.

The living room is on deck 10. The photo is courtesy of Azamara.

Travel advisors may be happy to know that Azamara has introduced an early-booking bonus. The company said it was often requested from travel partners and passengers to give more value to those who reserve a cruise early. There are no changes planned to the competitive commission.

Members of the loyalty program can still keep their points and enjoy the benefits of the other programs. Passengers can earn points cumulatively in both programs, but this will eventually change.

Fans of the brand will find a lot to celebrate under the new ownership, as the brand has proven that bigger is not always better. Carol Cabezas sums it up best when she says that the team behind Azamara is not changing and that the guest experience will look the same.

On my sailing, I discovered that Azamara has not lost its charm. It is about to pick up steam.