Azamara Pursuit: A Ship Inspection

There are two types of people. Those who love to cruise and those who, despite never having been on an ocean cruise say that “cruising isn’t my thing.” I confess. I was one of them although a couple of years ago now, I thoroughly enjoyed a river cruise in Cambodia.

I’m not sure cruising is for me

The thought of being on board a large floating hotel with hundreds, if not thousands of people, makes me shudder. Not long ago, I joined a ship inspection of a large cruise ship (3000 passengers, 1000 crew). My curiosity was piqued, but I still wasn’t 100% sure that cruising was for me.

So, in order to research cruising further, I’ve accepted an invitation to inspect the Azamara Pursuit while it’s in port at Sydney’s Circular Quay. I set off for Sydney knowing nothing about the company or the ship.

Where is that ship?

As I walk down Sydney’s George Street towards the Overseas Passenger Terminal, I expect to see a huge ocean-going liner poking out above the room of the MCA. It’s not. I dig into my bag for my phone and anxiously check my emails to make sure I have the right day. I do. Perhaps the ship is docked at White Bay? It’s not. I round the corner and there she is. Smaller than expected, her dark blue hull and white decks gleaming in the bright sunlight.  

There’s a ship for everyone

As we board the ship, I tell Matt, a fellow guest, that ocean cruising isn’t really my thing. His reply: “There’s a ship for everyone.” He explains that he prefers expedition cruising to boarding a large ship carrying thousands of guests.

Perhaps an expedition cruise with one to two hundred paying passengers would also be more my cup of tea. But, as Matt is quick to point out, those cruises are costly.

A friendly atmosphere

Today is embarkation day for the Azamara Pursuit, a ship with the capacity for 700 guests. Most guests have disembarked with “lots of hugs,” says Grace, the ship’s Hotel Manager. Others, those doing back-to-back cruises, have left the ship dressed in shorts, T-shirts and sunhats. They’ll return later this afternoon after a busy day exploring the harbour city.

As I line up to pass through security, I observe casually dressed crew members returning after a few hours on shore. They laugh and chat as they queue to sign in. I get the feeling that they have worked together for a long time and are happy in their work. 

Guests too feel comfortable and welcome onboard. Many come back again and again. I see a group of new guests embarking. There’s laughter and calls of “good to see you again” and “welcome home.” I’m told that “people come for the itineraries and return for the crew.”

It’s about the destination with Azamara

The itinerary is built around the destination. There are few sea days, regular overnight stays and long days – into the night – in port. As someone who likes to explore a destination this is certainly a plus for me.

As the ship is relatively small, the captain has the discretion to change the itinerary slightly if he sees fit. This happened once in Santorini when larger ships crowded the port . The ship docked at a port further along and returned the next day to a less crowded Santorini.  

Exploring the ship

Choosing the stairs instead of the lift (it’s quicker to walk), my host, Tracey, says “Lots of people think that ships are passive … even on a small ship you can get your steps up.” We walk down a long passage, lined with cabin doors. The large cabin numbers adjacent to the doors are repeated in braille. Good to see.

Before guests arrive to claim their cabins, our host shows us a selection of cabins. A bucket of Moët rests in an ice bucket in one of the suites, larger than a one bedroomed apartment in Sydney. It’s unlikely that I’d ever lay my head on a pillow here. A balcony cabin would be my preference, but one with an ocean view would be fine too. After all, I’d probably only sleep there.  

You can find a quiet spot

But if I wanted to keep to myself, the cabins, especially those with verandahs, are perfectly comfortable. And then there are plenty of secluded areas to sit and relax with a book. My preference after my evening meal would be to sit back in one of the bars with live music for entertainment. I doubt that I will feel crowded on this ship.

The overall feeling on board is one of comfort and warmth. It’s not pretentious. A more accurate description would be one of relaxed luxury.

There’s a ship for everyone

I agree with what Matt said earlier, “there’s a ship for everyone.” My assumptions about cruising have been dashed and when I disembark, I know I have found my ship.