I have always been partial to small ship cruising, as the ships are small enough to sail right into the heart of the world’s remote ports, yet large enough to deliver unforgettable experiences.

We embarked at the port of Civitavecchia on the Azamara Quest for 14 glorious days of cruising the Mediterranean. We had been to many of the ports , but there’s always excitement in visiting them again and participating in different shore excursions than we had encountered in the past. I can’t say I have a favorite port, but I have always loved Barcelona and will go back again and again.

For this trip, we decided to visit the Cinque Terra while in port near Florence (Livorno). The ship stayed in port 2 nights, which gave us the opportunity to travel to the Leaning Tower of Pisa the second day. Again having extra time in ports is an added feature of small ship cruising.

The Azamara Quest is exquisitely appointed with large cabins and more than adequate closet space for 2 weeks. Your butler delivers morning coffee. The towels are extra thick, and you’ll find fresh flowers in your cabin daily.

The dress code on Azamara Cruises is “Country Club Casual”, which we all enjoyed while spending our evenings in the casual elegance of a boutique hotel. The environment sets the mood as intimately inviting, warm and friendly. The ship’s staff called us by name, which is quite an undertaking with seven hundred passengers.

Over and over again, I have had the question asked about entertainment on the small ships and things to do. We never lacked for something to do. This ship has a wonderful Fitness Center with state-of-the-art equipment. Classes in aerobics, cycling and yoga are offered complimentary. The Astral Spa offers countless body treatments and acupuncture. The ship is equipped with WI-FI and offers e-connections for the passengers that must stay connected.

Days at sea gave us the opportunity to attend seminars and lectures on the ports we were going to visit and the things we might see, as well as a range of interesting topics offered by onboard experts. The local entertainment is enlightening compared to the mega ships with the tired comedian, magician and Las Vegas Revue they always manage to play up into something better than it really is. Dancing under the stars or listening to live jazz played poolside is a relaxing way to enjoy your evening.

Each meal is a masterpiece with innovative menus from the culinary team. We had many theme dinners, as we visited ports in Italy, Spain, Tunisia , Malta and France. There is open seating throughout to give you the opportunity to share your dining experience with other guests or just enjoy a table for two. Dinners are served from 6 -9 pm, so once again, the choice is yours. The Quest also offers 2 specialty restaurants, the Aqualina, primarily seafood and Prime C for the beef lovers, each serving distinctive cuisine against the backdrop of intimate ambience. Guests receive two confirmed complimentary nights in either specialty restaurant. If you care to indulge during other nights of your cruise, dining is complimentary with seating based on availability.

Each Azamara cruise itinerary allows the experience of what the world has to offer. If I have the opportunity to sail on the Quest or her sister ship, the Journey, I will definitely be ready to do it again.

Now is a great time to book your Azamara cruise with many sailings offering ship board credits and pre-paid gratuities.

Contributed by: Cheryl Kennedy
                                       kennedy@atlastravelweb.com