My husband and I cruised with Azamara last May, we spent 7 nights on the Azamara Onward. Cruising round-trip Ravenna, Italy, we visited spectacular Croatia & its Islands, including; Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split, and also into Kotor, Montenegro.

Cruising into Kotor was magnificent; a deep canyon surrounded by steep cliffs with mountain peaks beyond. Finally through a narrow gorge into the scenic bay of Kotor. The photos don’t do it enough justice!

Unfortunately, I did not get to explore into Kotor, as within half an hour of leaving the ship, I fell awkwardly down a step and twisted my ankle. I then limped back to the ship, very slowly, and was put in a wheelchair, taken into the ships medical room, and bandaged up. So the rest of my week was pretty much spent up on deck sipping Prosecco (I know…it was a hardship!) while my husband went out exploring, taking photos for me to see.

But…this game me a chance to enjoy the ship, and….

I have to say, Azamara produced some of the best food I have ever eaten!

White Night BBQ; one of their themed evenings, was amazing, with a vast array of different foods on offer. I may, or may not have gone back for seconds….and thirds!

Other themed evenings include cultural events on and off the ship, with dinner provided at both.

The restaurant food was top notch, there was really no need to book into a specialty dining restaurant, but we did, in the Aqualina Italian, and Prime C, and both were sublime.

On Azamara, a good range of select wines, beers, cocktails, and spirits are included in the price. I loved this. sitting at lunch, being offered a nice glass of something cold, without worrying about how much it will add to the tab. Chilling by the pool in the afternoon, the waiters are happy to serve (and I'm happy to accept).

The staterooms are a good size, with very comfortable beds. The only downside on this ship, was the small shower cubicle. But, that was literally the ONLY downside.

Gratuities are also included, which is also a very good thing, and the staff really earn this.

Azamara also offer a free shuttle into towns where required.

Because their ships are small, they can dock in ports that the larger ships can not reach. So while you're walking on and off the ship, others are being brought in by tender. Azamara also offer longer stays in port, arriving earlier, and leaving later or, on most itineraries, even staying overnight in crucial ports. This allows for much exploring of the destination, and getting a taste of the local cultural nightlife.