The Azamara Quest

We checked out of the Metropolitan and made our way to the Azamara Quest, our cruise ship home for the next seven days. It is an older ship, smaller and very elegant, with all the luxury you’d expect on a cruise. We were greeted with Champagne, and directed to a lovely buffet lunch where we could relax until our staterooms were ready. The lunch buffet was sumptuous; everything from sushi and salads to a steamship round roast being carved to order with all the trimmings. Even low-fat cherry brandy gelato, which was extremely enjoyable. The benefit of an Azamara cruise is that there is no sticker shock at the end of the week when the bar bill comes. Adult beverages are part of the package. Certainly you can pay for an upgrade from the call brands, but with decent wines everyday and mixed drinks suitable for any mood I knew I’d be fine with Jim Beam and Finlandia Vodka. Jeanne asked me if I wanted to see the brands available to which I replied, “Are you kidding? I’ve studied it for weeks.” I’m a professional. Don’t try this at home.

We settled into our stateroom and toured the ship, getting the lay of the land and photographing the various facilities before they were overrun with guests. It is all just lovely.

We met up with the group in the Cabaret, a lounge on the top forward deck, which gave us views of the islands once the ship was underway. Aside from the two small screaming kids being watched by their sister we had a nice pre dinner cocktail and proceeded to the Windows Café (where we’d had lunch) based on the Captain’s recommendation, as it was seafood buffet night. It did not disappoint. Seafood soup with mussels, clams, and shrimp, a bit of Thai hot sauce and a sprinkle of scallions.  Salmon in puff pastry with a beurre blanc. Calamari. Pineapple rice, a curried rice that was spicy and buttery and amazing. Stir-fried just about anything you wanted. Pasta. Desserts that included a honey macadamia nut tart and a berry cobbler, but easily there were 25 choices.

We’d pulled several tables together to accommodate the large group, and unintentionally created the perfect open corner from which guests could photograph the gorgeous sunset. It was a lovely dinner.

We were all drifting toward our rooms when my husband invited me for an after dinner drink and we drifted into the Cabaret again. There was a live musician, a guitarist attempting to cover Elvis and Willie Nelson, but unfortunately his accent made him sound more like Claus Von Bulow. An older couple (who are sitting next to me just now at the pool) enthusiastically began slow dancing. Steve was getting ready to yell, “Get a room!” I couldn’t look. It was like watching a train wreck. I though he was going to hurt himself. Or her. We chuckled all the way to our room. If they only knew what I was writing just now…