We are having a fabulous first time experience aboard the Azamara Quest. While we have sailed on two Oceania ships that are the same basic ship as both Azamara and Oceania were all former Renaissance ships, we found several differences that we have enjoyed.

Azamara offers complimentary wine with lunch and dinner as well as gratuities are included. Reminds us of the former Radisson Seven Seas days.

They have a complimentary coffee bar in the main atrium area that is open from 8 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. serving not only coffee, tea, and soft drinks but also sandwiches, desserts, and cookies.

The staff is very friendly, often calling us by name and many of the officers are in the restaurants conversing with guests. The hotel director and employee relations manager stand at the bottom of the gangway each day and wish us a good day, which certainly is a nice touch.

The two specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina have wonderful menus, attentive service, and great views. The Windows Café that is their buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner has the largest selection and variety we have seen on a buffet. At breakfast they have a Belgian waffle/pancake station and each day there is a special egg dish such as an English muffin topped with salmon and a sunny side up egg. At dinner there is made-to- order stir fry and pasta, plus sushi, antipasti, salads, dinner entrees and the most decadent desserts. There is also an ice cream case with 12 flavors and toppings.

The menus for the entire cruise are posted on the interactive tv so you can plan specialty restaurant reservations. They change the lunch hours to accommodate those out on tour with lunch available as late as 3 p.m. so you don’t to resort to room service or pool bar fare.

We have found the overnight stays very interesting. We had one in Istanbul, have one tomorrow night in Odessa and also have one toward the end of the cruise in Kusadasi. It is nice to not always be rushing in and out of a port.