azamara cruises gratuities

Azamara Cruises – What is Included? (Food, Gratuities and More)

If you are taking your first cruise with Azamara you may be wondering what is included in the cruise fare.

I cruised with Azamara for the first time this year, and in this post will be looking at everything that is included, and things that cost extra.

I was pleasantly surprised by all the things that were included in my cruise fare.  Azamara brand themselves as a luxury cruise and the cruise fares are usually far more than on some of the mainstream cruise lines. 

However, I was very lucky to get a good deal on a last-minute cruise and was keen to find out whether it provided good value for money!  

I sailed on the Azamara Onward in November 2022.

What is Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Cruises with Azamara include food, accommodation, entertainment and a basic drinks package.  Daily gratuities are also included in the cruise fare.

There are extra charges to upgrade to a premium drinks package. Shore excursions and spa services also cost extra. 

Is Food Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Food is included on an Azamara cruise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the buffet, and at a minimum breakfast and dinner will be served in the main dining room for no extra charge.  There is also a very good poolside grill.

Everything I ate onboard my Azamara cruise, including menus, can be found here: Everything I Ate on my Azamara Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

It is completely possible to cruise with Azamara and not spend anything extra on dining or drinks! 

The food on the Azamara Onward was some of the best I have ever tasted at sea.  All menus had symbols to show vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free options.  

This ship was the only one I have ever been on that had a completely separate Vegan menu!  You could either just ask for it and order your food on the night, or put in a pre-order the day before to save any unnecessary delays. 

The quality of food on Azamara Onward was so high, I never considered paying extra for speciality options.  However, if you are interested in speciality dining, there are two speciality restaurants – Prime C and Aqualina.  Aqualina is an Italian restaurant, Prime C is a steak restaurant.  At the time of writing, both have a cover charge of $30 per person.

Food in The Main Dining Room is Included

The main dining room is usually open for breakfast and dinner. It may also be open during lunch depending on the itinerary of the cruise.

The main dining room is often open for lunch on sea days but may not be on port days. This does vary by cruise ship.  We had no sea days on our Intensive France cruise.

Do Azamara Have Set Dining Times?

There are no set dining times with Azamara cruises.  The dining time is between 6 pm and 9.30 pm.  Needless to say, I was normally there around six, as I prefer to eat early.  There were never any queues or problems getting a seat. 

The only exception to this is for the Azamara’s “Azamazing” evening.   Dining is split into two separate sittings by decks/cabin numbers, and special local entertainment is arranged to make the evening more special.  Their reasoning is that by allocating set dining times, everyone has the opportunity to see the show.

This didn’t work out well for our family, as my parents were put on a different sitting to us, as their cabin was on the deck above.  We went to the reception desk and asked if we could be in the same sitting.  They were very helpful and assured us it was a casual arrangement, just go to whichever dinner sitting suited us best. 

No one would be checking if we had turned up for the right sitting – it was just a way of making sure everyone didn’t turn up for dinner and the show at the same time!

Eating in the main dining room on a cruise ship works very similarly to a restaurant on land. The difference is that you don’t have to pay at the end!

Food in The Buffet is Included

On all Azamara cruise ships, you’ll find a buffet.

Everything in the buffet is free to eat and you can eat as much as you’d like! 

Although the buffet was fairly small compared to larger cruise ships, the quality of the food was outstanding.

In the buffet you’ll find breakfast, lunch and dinner served and often snacks, such as afternoon tea, in between.

The buffet is open for breakfast in the morning, for lunch, then and closes at night usually around 9.30pm.  If you feel hungry outside of these times, you can always order free room service to your cabin.

There is a lovely deck at the back of the ship just outside the buffet, it was so lovely to have breakfast on a sunny morning, overlooking Monaco!  I certainly couldn’t have afforded to stay in a hotel there, it’s a millionaire’s playground…

In the buffet area, there are plenty of waiters who are happy to bring tea, coffee, and soft or alcoholic drinks to your table.  There is a range of included drinks on Azamara cruises.  There are also “Premium” and “Ultimate” drinks packages available to purchase if you like to have a certain premium/high-end beverage.

The Patio (The Poolside Grill) is Included

There is a wonderful poolside grill on the pool deck. (Deck 9) It is open between twelve noon and 6pm.  The menu is far more extensive than on many mainstream cruise lines. 

Burgers/Chips/tacos/ chicken wings – and a whole range of vegetarian / Vegan options are available.  Not your standard poolside grill by any means!  This food is served to you at your table – rather than queuing up at a counter like on many other cruise lines .

At 6:30 pm, the Pool Grill’s seating area transforms into “The Patio” – an outdoor BBQ restaurant (this is also complimentary). The Patio’s steakhouse-like menu offers barbecued meats, including New York strip loin steaks, pork ribs, lamb tenderloin, chicken kebabs – and of course, vegetarian /Vegan options. 

Unfortunately, I never got time to try this restaurant in the evening.  On the evenings that we considered it, the weather was quite chilly, so we decided to eat inside.

Free Ice Cream is Included!

Right next to the Patio Grill is “Swirl & Top” a self-service station with two ice cream machines and a separate toppings bar. This is all free!

The ice cream was always vanilla or chocolate on our particular cruise.  This is complimentary and you can also help yourself to many toppings, including chocolate chips, sprinkles, nuts, Oreo bits, M&M’s, fruit toppings, and sauces (chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch etc). I am not overly fond of ice cream, but regularly helped myself to a pot of toppings! Yum!

Is Room Service Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Room service on Azamara is free to use 24 hours a day by all guests. There is no charge for the majority of items on the menu and there is no delivery fee. There is a charge for alcoholic drinks/soft drinks/ bottled water etc, but this is clearly marked on the room service menu. (Tea/coffee and fruit juice at breakfast are free)

The majority of cruise lines do charge for room service so to have this included is a great bonus! 

If you have a balcony stateroom the staff will set your table with a white tablecloth so that you can enjoy the views.  I had an inside stateroom, but I still got the white tablecloth – but not the fantastic views!

Room service can be ordered via your stateroom phone, or there is an ordering card to hang on your door if you want to order breakfast for the next morning.

Are Drinks Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Drinks are included on Azamara cruises. You can choose from their extensive beverage lists that include standard spirits, international beers, and a changing selection of two red and two white wines, and one rosé and sparkling wine by the glass each day throughout the voyage.

If you have a particular favourite tipple, you are likely to find it in the Premium Beverage package. Many favourite brands of vodka, whisky, tequila, brandy and other spirits are included. This costs an additional $16.95 per person, per day at the time of writing.

There is also an “Ultimate” beverage package available. This included a wide range of champagnes, wines and spirits not included in any other packages.  This costs an additional $23.95 a day at the time of writing.

Mosaic Café – Many Hot Drinks and Snacks Are Included.

Mosaic Cafe (open between 7 am – 1 am) serves a variety of standard teas/coffees and hot chocolates.

Speciality coffees cost extra, but the light snacks are complimentary – mini-pastries, finger sandwiches, scones, fine chocolates etc.  This café is situated by the main atrium staircase.  It is a lovely place to enjoy a drink and watch the world go by!

Is Entertainment Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Azamara cruises include a variety of entertainment on all cruises.  There is no theatre like on larger ships, but there are theatre productions that take place in the Cabaret Bar and Lounge.  There is also live music, trivia, and gameshows around the various bars on board. 

Azamara also get local acts onboard to perform as part of the “Azamazing” nights. Activities are varied and take place throughout the day. The entertainment will vary by destination and ship.

Azamara Cruises have a relatively relaxed daily schedule, compared to some other cruise lines.

On the daily schedule, you may see things like:

• Trivia (we won the 1980s pop trivia!  Not so good on the weather or Halloween quizzes…)
• Live Music (A range of music from classical to pop and rock)
• Theatre-type shows in the cabaret lounge (Nightly shows, performed twice per night)
• Themed White Night Parties (Either on the top deck or inside, weather dependant!)
• “Azamazing” nights (where local acts are brought onboard to entertain the guests.)

Each night of your cruise a daily schedule will arrive in your cabin. This will give you all the information that you need about the next day’s activities.

I’d recommend taking a photo of the schedule, or taking the paper copy with you so that you can see what is going on when you are out and about. Azamara doesn’t have an App for you to check. 

Are Exercise Classes Included on Azamara Cruises?

Azamara offer a full range of complimentary onboard fitness and nutrition classes – although I never had time to try these out on our “Intensive France” Itinerary!

Accommodation is Included

As on every cruise, your accommodation is included in your cruise fare. There are a variety of cabins available for you to choose from, ranging from inside cabins to multi-room suites.

I was very comfortable in the Inside Azamara cruise cabin I had.  However, it has to be said that the bathroom was easily the smallest I have ever had on a cruise ship!

Check out my video below to see what I mean:

If you are interested in learning how I secure the cheapest cabins, I teach a course focused on cruising cheaply which you can find here:  How to Cruise For Less.

Daily Gratuities are Included in Cruises with Azamara . 

Azamara doesn’t charge an additional daily service charge.  If you wish to reward a particular crew member with a tip, you may – but it is not expected or encouraged.

Recently many cruise lines have been moving towards a more inclusive pricing structure and including gratuities in the cruise fare, however, adding an additional daily charge on American cruise lines seems to be the norm. 

Service charges are added to additional cost items, like spa treatments, at a rate of 18%.

To learn more about gratuities on mainstream cruise lines, including how they also affect drinks and spa treatments, check out this post so that you don’t have any nasty surprises on your cruise: Cruise Gratuities: A Simple Step by Step Guide For First Time Cruisers

A lot of cruise lines are moving towards a more inclusive structure. To learn more about cruise lines that include gratuities are standard check out this post:  Which Cruise Lines Include Gratuities? (Cruise Line Guide).

Soft Drinks in the Mini Bar

A range of soft drinks can be found in the mini bar in your cabin, and these soft drinks are complimentary.  If you drink a particular type of soft drink, speak to your cabin steward. 

We had full-sugar Coke in our cabin, but this was soon swapped for Coke Light! Unfortunately, they didn’t have Pepsi Max…

Bottled Water When Disembarking at a Port

Many mainstream cruise lines have a refrigerator full of bottled water strategically placed where you disembark the ship in port.   If you pick one up, it will be charged to your onboard account. 

On Azamara the water is free, so take one for your journey.  I preferred to put one of the free drinks from the mini bar in my bag for when I was out exploring a port!

What is Not Included on an Azamara Cruise?

Spa treatments and shore excursions are not included in an Azamara cruise. Premium Drinks cost extra if you wish to have premium champagne, wine and spirits. 

Drinks in the Atlas Bar Aren’t Included

This is an exclusive venue found only aboard Azamara Onward. Azamara say that the Atlas Bar has

“A unique concept offering artisanal cocktails created using the latest one-of-a-kind techniques. These crafted beverages are as delightful to drink as they are to watch being made! In addition, an exotic menu of small plates, both hot and cold, will be offered.” – Azamara

They do not serve ANY drinks from the included menu.  If you choose to drink in this bar, additional charges will be added to your onboard account.

Azamara Cruises Don’t Include Shore Excursions

Some luxury cruise lines do include excursions, but generally speaking, most cruise lines don’t.  

When you get to port there are a couple of options available to you.

It is always possible to book excursions independently of the cruise line or to not take any excursions at all.  I’m a big fan of doing my own thing when in port. It saves a LOT of money.

Cruise line excursions are the easiest but usually are the most expensive!

It is worth noting that if you need a shuttle bus to the town this will be included when you sail with Azamara. 

When we arrived in Genoa we were surprised to see a shuttle bus service laid on to the town centre.  We have been to Genoa many times before, and had always walked the twenty minutes or so to the centre square to avoid paying for the cruise line shuttle!  

Was Our Cruise Good Value For Money?

For the price I paid, this cruise certainly provided good value for money! 

The only money I actually spent on board was on a few gifts in the gift shop.  We all had a wonderful time and would love to sail on Azamara again .

To learn more about my cruise, check out this video:

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Thoughts on Tipping

By bedenbl , January 15, 2022 in Azamara

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I know Azamara advertises gratuities included, but wonder what additional tipping folks provide? Thinking of butlers, speciality restaurants, room service, above & beyond service, etc. Thanks.

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An emotive subject!

Heres our take 

1. Azamara crew don’t react to tips. You get great care and little special attention whether you tip or not so if you think you need to tip to get special treatment forget that. 

2.  We have tipped but only for above and beyond. If a butler does their job eg brings breakfast and other items and we only ask in a normal pattern eg afternoon tea when it’s being served we do not tip extra. We are so low maintenance we rarely even ask the butler to fulfil their job description! 

3.  The big HOWEVER- we always make a donation to the crew welfare fund via guest relations. That’s our extra tip at least  equivalent sum to what we’d distribute among a few individuals and is then to the benefit of everyone seen and unseen and funds parties, crew excursions and activities.   

Others views may differ. 

excitedofharpenden

My take is very much like uktog.  First of all there is no requirement to tip extra unless you want to and it's not expected by the crew.  Having said that I'm always blown away by the service and now, instead of tipping individually I too donate to the staff welfare fund.  You can arrange this through Guest Relations and will be much appreciated. 

The other thing I do if I've been on the ship a while, say b2b and have received great service from the bar staff is seek out the Bar Manager and give him some cash to arrange a social for the team.  Drinks, nibbles, a bingo prize for the evening.  I know that is hugely appreciated too and a nice way to recognise the whole team do a great job.  

GlobalMethod

This is always a provocative topic. It is often dictated by culture and habit.

We always tip our key people at the end of an Azamara cruise. It is just the way we've done it for years. As American's now living in Greece tipping is just part of our DNA.

We realize that tipping is not a custom for others in different parts of the world. For instance, in many EU countries, a tip is built into the price of a food and beverage item.

Since we go back to Azamara frequently we do feel 'appreciated', even on the 1st day of our cruises. Our our recent b2b cruise we found ourselves on the 1st day with a group of crew members surrounding us 'welcoming us back' as we sipped wine aft at the Sunset Bar. 

Is our overall service experience improved by this tipping gesture? We think it is but we are not doing it for that reason ... culturally, we think it is the right thing to do.

6 hours ago, GlobalMethod said: This is always a provocative topic. It is often dictated by culture and habit.   We always tip our key people at the end of an Azamara cruise. It is just the way we've done it for years. As American's now living in Greece tipping is just part of our DNA.   We realize that tipping is not a custom for others in different parts of the world. For instance, in many EU countries, a tip is built into the price of a food and beverage item.   Since we go back to Azamara frequently we do feel 'appreciated', even on the 1st day of our cruises. Our our recent b2b cruise we found ourselves on the 1st day with a group of crew members surrounding us 'welcoming us back' as we sipped wine aft at the Sunset Bar.    Is our overall service experience improved by this tipping gesture? We think it is but we are not doing it for that reason ... culturally, we think it is the right thing to do.

I honestly don't think it's a provactive subject, certainly not on Azamara and thankfully tipping threads don't go that way on this board. Bottom line is tips are included in the fare and crew don't expect to get extra, but will be very grateful if you do. Much more appreciated are positive comments from guests. Singling crew members out on the attention to detail cards during the cruise and/or recognising them on the post cruise questionnaire can be much more valuable to them. 

9 hours ago, uktog said: An emotive subject!   Heres our take  1. Azamara crew don’t react to tips. You get great care and little special attention whether you tip or not so if you think you need to tip to get special treatment forget that.  2.  We have tipped but only for above and beyond. If a butler does their job eg brings breakfast and other items and we only ask in a normal pattern eg afternoon tea when it’s being served we do not tip extra. We are so low maintenance we rarely even ask the butler to fulfil their job description!  3.  The big HOWEVER- we always make a donation to the crew welfare fund via guest relations. That’s our extra tip at least  equivalent sum to what we’d distribute among a few individuals and is then to the benefit of everyone seen and unseen and funds parties, crew excursions and activities.    Others views may differ. 

Agree.  Really no need to tip individuals unless you've had some issue that required some kind of special effort.  The crew is terrific.  Reward them all with a generous gift to the Crew Welfare Fund.

American here, and I truly resent having to tip people for doing the job they chose to do. I never got tips as a physician, and would be aghast if someone offered one! That said, I was not aware of the Azamara Crew Welfare Fund. I would have no problem contributing to that in a heartbeat. Transatlantic in mid March. (MAYBE...)

I tip extra..have for years. Now with covid and knowing what  they are going thru to keep a home I tip.  But I get to pick the amount.  hate going to the spa and being told what to give..included in the price  if service, to me that is wrong! 

Peter Lanky

I really don't understand this 'need' for passengers to tip anyone, especially on a non tipping cruise. I have yet to partake of my first cruise due to recent cancellations, but I am booked on an Azamara cruise in March.

I specifically choose Azamara because it is advertised as a non tipping cruise line, as I disagree on principle with the very concept of tipping. Whatever anyone says, it very much is a divisive subject, yet is one that could be completely solved by making all cruising non tipping. Then there would be no arguments, no people feeling that they have to tip because people are 'staring daggers' at them or having to sit with people who want to be the centre of attention by waving their money about.

The who idea of the premium and luxury lines being non tipping was to achieve this harmony, with staff being paid the correct salary for the job and passengers paying the correct fare. If people start to tip on non tipping cruises, then like it or not, it will eventually become an expectation and eventually compulsory, and the whole process will go back to how it was.

Feel free to donate to a benevolent fund or other charity, but for people to directly tip on a non tipping cruise is disrespectful to those who have chosen a specific cruise line especially because it has this policy.

2 hours ago, Peter Lanky said: I really don't understand this 'need' for passengers to tip anyone, especially on a non tipping cruise. I have yet to partake of my first cruise due to recent cancellations, but I am booked on an Azamara cruise in March. I specifically choose Azamara because it is advertised as a non tipping cruise line, as I disagree on principle with the very concept of tipping. Whatever anyone says, it very much is a divisive subject, yet is one that could be completely solved by making all cruising non tipping. Then there would be no arguments, no people feeling that they have to tip because people are 'staring daggers' at them or having to sit with people who want to be the centre of attention by waving their money about. The who idea of the premium and luxury lines being non tipping was to achieve this harmony, with staff being paid the correct salary for the job and passengers paying the correct fare. If people start to tip on non tipping cruises, then like it or not, it will eventually become an expectation and eventually compulsory, and the whole process will go back to how it was. Feel free to donate to a benevolent fund or other charity, but for people to directly tip on a non tipping cruise is disrespectful to those who have chosen a specific cruise line especially because it has this policy.

Could not have said it better.

For me, its all about fairness.  Whilst I can see the "policy argument"  its a bit convoluted and I cannot buy the "life is hard so tip them" debate, unless you individually tip every crew member.  Therefore a donation that is distributed evenly to all crew or a specific group is the fairest way.  

Some staff can be "ostentatious" in their behaviour and may encourage people to tip them extra whereas there is someone who just quietly works really hard and is equally deserving.  Can you really be sure someone did that "extra thing" or did he/she just get someone else to do it but dressed it up as they had done it - I have certainly seen examples on Azamara of some making out they did things you realise they did not.

However, maybe some guests are higher maintenance and giving extra is appropriate as crew are having to do much more to meet their special requests.

But bottom line, when I am giving extra, I want to do it fairly and not just to one or two people.

We frequently cruise with a group of 8 to 10 people (a couple with some physical or dietary issues) so we sometimes need some extra attention when making reservations or just everyday issues.   If someone assists us above and beyond, we will often pool some cash and hand out tips to people who have assisted in making our trip easier or ore enjoyable.  On our last Azamara cruise (Cuba, before it was closed to Americans) we handed out quite a few tips.  The Journey's crew was amazing on that trip!

52 minutes ago, uktog said: For me, its all about fairness.  Whilst I can see the "policy argument"  its a bit convoluted and I cannot buy the "life is hard so tip them" debate, unless you individually tip every crew member.  Therefore a donation that is distributed evenly to all crew or a specific group is the fairest way.   Some staff can be "ostentatious" in their behaviour and may encourage people to tip them extra whereas there is someone who just quietly works really hard and is equally deserving.  Can you really be sure someone did that "extra thing" or did he/she just get someone else to do it but dressed it up as they had done it - I have certainly seen examples on Azamara of some making out they did things you realise they did not.   However, maybe some guests are higher maintenance and giving extra is appropriate as crew are having to do much more to meet their special requests.   But bottom line, when I am giving extra, I want to do it fairly and not just to one or two people.

Some years ago there were concerns about cruisers who had dietary issues receiving extra attention and, since one of us falls into that category, we felt it appropriate to reward staff in Discoveries who looked after said concerns for most of the cruise.

Further reflection, and guidance on this forum, led us to uktog's position that we were ignoring those who were helping behind the scenes. For some time we have donated to the Welfare Fund and receive a nice thank-you letter in exchange.

In fact, if they haven't already done so, I hope they will remove the tipping component from the specialty restaurants as, occasionally, it does lead to some rather "ostentatious" and distracting service.

I also must say that on Azamara if tipping occurs it is discrete. I can't remember ever noticing it.

I think the biggest reason I'm married to Azamara IS the no tipping policy! Service is beyond excellent. When you are zoning out in the Living Room minding your own business and a member of the wait staff comes over asking if you want a drink, you know the service is genuine, and he doesn't have his hand in your pocket. It makes a huge difference, wherever you go on board, knowing these people are well taken care of by Azamara, and their hospitality is genuine. And if I can throw $50 into fund for the entire crew to keep the them just a bit happier with their jobs, I have no problem with that. But that is my choice! 

OK, I get it - you are coming from the no tipping culture and it’s your personal choice.

For me the tipping on the ship is different from let’s say the restaurant where you see the waiter for the first time and probably won’t see him ever again. On the ship we interact with the crew members on the daily basis and get to know them. They work hard away from their families that they need to support. We’re enjoying our vacation. It’s not just about tipping for what they are doing for us, we give them some extra money to brighten their day and make them little happier too.

Mackdogmolly

On 1/17/2022 at 8:24 AM, nordski said:   Some years ago there were concerns about cruisers who had dietary issues receiving extra attention and, since one of us falls into that category, we felt it appropriate to reward staff in Discoveries who looked after said concerns for most of the cruise.   Further reflection, and guidance on this forum, led us to uktog's position that we were ignoring those who were helping behind the scenes. For some time we have donated to the Welfare Fund and receive a nice thank-you letter in exchange.   In fact, if they haven't already done so, I hope they will remove the tipping component from the specialty restaurants as, occasionally, it does lead to some rather "ostentatious" and distracting service.   I also must say that on Azamara if tipping occurs it is discrete. I can't remember ever noticing it.    

I agree that it would be great to remove the tip line in the specialty restaurants (and the spa). It feels uncomfortable not leaving a tip (and in the case of the spa, an EXTRA tip) when that’s put in front of you.

1 hour ago, Mackdogmolly said: I agree that it would be great to remove the tip line in the specialty restaurants (and the spa). It feels uncomfortable not leaving a tip (and in the case of the spa, an EXTRA tip) when that’s put in front of you.

I can sort of understand tipping in the specialties, as they might want to further distinguish those facilities from the other dining areas. But I hope they rethink that policy  

as, in our opinion, the “distinction” isn’t always a positive one.

What is the rationale for the spa? Is it because there is a tradition, at least in North America, of  tipping for those services? Are the spas run through a contractual relationship with a provider?

The spas are definitely run through a contractual relationship! In fact, officially, the whole thalasso deck is off limits to passengers unless you are Suite level or have made separate arrangements with the spa in advance to use it. 

DW spoke with her therapist when we were last on Quest (seems like decades ago!), who told her the ONLY money the masseuse gets is the tips.

1 hour ago, NC&KY said: DW spoke with her therapist when we were last on Quest (seems like decades ago!), who told her the ONLY money the masseuse gets is the tips.

But the spa adds on an 18% gratuity. Don’t they get that?

20 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said: But the spa adds on an 18% gratuity. Don’t they get that?

yes, of course. But if the client overrides the tip (which is an option), she gets nothing.

Travels with Lisa

17 hours ago, NC&KY said: DW spoke with her therapist when we were last on Quest (seems like decades ago!), who told her the ONLY money the masseuse gets is the tips.

That can't be!  They don't get paid a salary for all the time they are there?

17 hours ago, NC&KY said: DW spoke with her therapist when we were last on Quest (seems like decades ago!), who told her the ONLY money the masseuse gets is the tips.

To some degree I am not surprised.  For years, cruise lines with established gratuity programs (think most mainstream lines) paid those in the gratuity pool (waiters, room attendants, bar servers and the like) $50 per month give or take (plus room and board, of course).  When anyone stiffed them by removing gratuities, it dealt a real and significant blow. 

17 minutes ago, Travels with Lisa said: That can't be!  They don't get paid a salary for all the time they are there?

I believe they are paid a salary, not a huge one, but some unscrupulous ones spin the “your tips are all I get” tale to guilt trip guests to giving more 

16 hours ago, NC&KY said: yes, of course. But if the client overrides the tip (which is an option), she gets nothing.

I don’t think I saw that option. Only the option to add to it

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Azamara Cruises

At a glance

With just four small ships, each holding fewer than 700 passengers, Azamara is one of the smallest players in the cruise business. But it has a loyal following of travelers who appreciate the upscale ambiance of its vessels, the inclusive amenities it offers (think gratuities and alcohol) and

its destination focus. The line prides itself on offering longer stays in port, including multi-day visits. Its ships have an intimate boutique-hotel feel, and pricing is higher than what’s offered by the big, mass-market lines but not quite as high as you’ll find with luxury lines.

Read more about Azamara Cruises

Advertiser Disclosure

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.