Azamara Pursuit Review

What Happened to Azamara?

Review for South America Cruise on Azamara Pursuit
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connellsville
10+ Cruises • Age 2020s

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Sail Date: Mar 2019
Cabin: Club Veranda Stateroom

This was our seventh Azamara cruise. Rio was on our bucket list. We chose this cruise because we liked Azamara and we had never been to Brazil. Our last Azamara cruise was to the Baltic last August on the Journey. The Pursuit does not live up to the Azamara brand. The food was, at best, mediocre. Windows Cafe served mostly highly spiced Asian and Mexican food at lunch and dinner. The breakfasts were the same every day. Often, the pancakes and waffles were stuck to the serving pan, so they were dried out and inedible. Breakfasts in the main restaurant were better, but you had to ask for things like eggs over medium or poached eggs. The breakfast menu contained a lot of Asian and Indian items, along with some French items, not normal breakfast fare. Service in both Windows and the main dining room was great.

On the second day of the cruise, the cruise ship ran out of diet decaffeinated soda. Didn’t matter what brand, they had none. Just Diet Coke. This is supposed to be an upscale cruise line. Almost every day, the vegetables were broccoli and cauliflower. No green beans, no peas, no carrots, just broccoli and cauliflower. Again, this is supposed to be an upscale cruise line.

Except for the four singers and the orchestra, the entertainment was pitiful - a tango show that was more slide show than dancing, a mentalist (two times), and the cruise director and his wife singing old standards off key. The Azamazing evening in Montevideo consisted of a 30 minute bus ride to an old theater, where they handed you a glass of wine as you walked in, then took it away four steps and two minutes later when you entered the theater. Waste of wine, although it wasn’t that good anyway. The show consisted of about 40 performers in very colorful costumes in a Carnival type celebration. There was some singing, but mostly it was very loud drumming. Along with flashing lights. Then back to the ship to wait in line for 20 minutes to reboard. We did get nice Carnival masks as souvenirs. The White Night celebration was held despite a forecast of rain. The food was very good. It started raining about 10 minutes into the show, so everyone left. Some folks went to the bar on Deck 10, many others just left.

Cabin Review

Club Veranda Stateroom

Cabin V2

Cabin was immaculate. Beds were very comfortable. They replaced our shower curtain with a weighted one because it kept blowing into the shower, due to the placement of the fan. Bathrooms are small and not well designed. Cabin stewards were excellent.

Port Reviews

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a lovely city. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and moderately priced, and it’s easy to go everywhere except the airport by Uber.

Punta del Este

Punta Del Este is beautiful. The only downside is the tender ride from the ship to the dock. Very reasonable tours are available from the dock area.

Montevideo

Booked a tour at the cruise dock. Went all over the city for $25.

Santos (Sao Paulo)

Went to coffee museum, rode through city on bus, stopped at beach to see sculpture commemorating Japanese immigrants. Couldn’t hear Guide most of the time. Waste of time and money.

Ilhabela

Very pretty Island. Has waterfalls and beaches. People are friendly.

Rio de Janeiro

Saw several famous buildings, beaches, cathedral, Selaron Steps. Traffic is insane.

Buzios

Beautiful beaches, scenic views.

Rio de Janeiro

Fabulous views of Rio. Cable car ride is a must.

Rio de Janeiro

Drove through national forest to Petropolis, summer home of Brazilian monarchy.

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