uktog

It was not part of the package and was a lower price when we last did it $35 a head when specialities were $30 but times may have changed

Oh yes not a meal you leave wanting to eat again soon 😂

As a counter experience although pardon any ignorance I have on the real deal The Rijstaffel was the high spot of our speciality dining on two cruises . If you are on a ship where Iwan is F and B manager he’s your expert and ensures a great experience

That’s my fear. There is also a minimum upload speed needed for many people to clear corporate authentication systems to log in. My concern as my experience on Azamara including in its Starlink era is it’s insufficient so people may book cruises and then have unthinkable issues once onboard

School, college or proper Uni? The word graduate is used much lower down the chain in some places. (cracked up at a US obituary shared here yesterday where a former local was written up as graduating from a 1960s secondary modern and from a local plumber presumably an apprenticeship)

As is the environment, unless its being used as a plan on vessels other than Onward to "repurpose" part of the library for revenue. Where exactly is all this kit going to go? And where exactly are people going to work beyond where they currently happily "perch" with their laptops or tablets. The problem for many is the general lack of daylight on these ships - natural daylight is a must when working for a period. I really have now noticed how much more natural daylight other lines have on their ships

My reading is it’s included as a benefit for anyone who books under the work and wander package but is an add on cost for anyone else. And as for “networking with others” - really….. I go on holiday for a rest and yes regular check in to home systems to keep things ticking over. Schmoozing is the last thing I want to do. Good luck Azamara maybe you’ve a new target market

I think I posted before I had a survey sometime ago, asking about the concept that Azamara might introduce of packaging together cruises aimed at people who still wanted to work while on the cruise. This morning I have had an email outlining the concept in more detail and offering bookings on some Cruises under the tag work and wonder. To be honest at the time of the survey I was very dismissive of the idea and I continue to be so although I do work whilst on a cruise. I’m not sure that paying extra to have a cruise with supposedly high bandwidth and the opportunity to network with others is what I want. It will be interesting to see if this concept is popular or whether it quietly disappears in due course.

No it’s no longer needed

Because their IT can’t cope and it was previously run through Royal’s system. I

The bidding programme is currently not operational

DH will take a jacket and he will travel in a blazer - thats just his preference partly because he feels the cool from air-conditioning and partly because the early stages and later stages of the return journey in particular need something and it saves dragging a fleece for its holiday. I will have smarter evening clothes - after all these days I get less and less opportunities to wear them and I love changing early evening and heading for a drink before dinner.. I am relaxed what others wear, I cannot understand why people say their dining experience was spoilt because someone else was not dressed smartly enough. However, I do struggle to understand those who argue they just wear the same thing day or evening regardless of venue. Wherever I am I want to wear a change of clothes at dinner time

I think if you buy onboard that makes a difference but if you just start the process with a TA you are less likely to see paperwork. From what you describe you’re not buying pre bundled packages though albeit you do by adding a hotel via the agent create a packaged holiday under the UK rules. @Host Jazzbeau it’s probably much simpler in the US though you have much more franchise owners rather than what we would call travel agents

It seems different TAs work different ways probably due to the “legal” relationship they have with Azamara and even within the TAs different members of staff work different ways. I have booked with the agency I believe Grandma Cruising uses and I did not get the Azamara paperwork. When we do get the paperwork it is not addressed to us but to the agency I think one difference might be if you buy a cruise only through a TA you are more likely to get the Azamara paperwork if you buy a bundled package put together by the agency not the cruise line (flights some hotels cruise etc) you will never see the costs split out so no Azamara invoice. These bundled packages are very commonly advertised online in the UK and many we meet onboard use them but I’ve not seen them in the US.

I do not get one if we book through an agent, I get the agents confirmation which transfers over info in their words eg the amount of on board credit and other benefits, the cabin no, itinerary etc I do not have an Azamara confirmation as my financial relationship is with the agency

Captain Johannes returns to Quest tomorrow until early December

On Viking everyone has unlimited dining in the two restaurants but its on a space by space basis so to that extent its like everyone is in a suite. The suite perk is they get more pre boarding bookings but everyone gets at least one in each restaurant. Explora do not differentiate on your room type - all can prebook one in each venue. So it could well work within the Azamara existing model.

Not quite, both Explora and Viking do your restaurant reservations ahead of boarding if you wish. Limited obviously and you will then add more if you want when onboard Certainly makes for a much more relaxed embarkation on Viking and I understand it will be the same on Explora

Bear in mind Miamis focus is not serial cruisers, nor should it be. Their focus is on new cruisers or one/maybe two cruises a year guests. They are selling out their current versions and have waiting lists most cruises without changing the menus Yes new menus might be lovely but the development costs are not insignificant so I would expect that to be a low priority on their current agenda. Working on updates to speciality and evening pool grill menus will be higher up the lists.

As Mrs Miggins says, trainers are now very much part of fashion trends- thank goodness for those of us who still like to wear dresses but need a lot of support in the footwear department. My physio is absolutely delighted at this development. Of course, I do have a pair of smarter indoor trainers for that occasion. Viking have no issue if you wear trainers in the evening wherever you eat onboard- we actually specifically checked up onboard on that. However unless it’s a result of a late running trip ashore, I see no reason to wear day excursion gear in the evening on an ocean cruise

Thanks @florisdekort You’ve confirmed my fears about Emporium at night. When I queried the experience elsewhere I was firmly put in my place - as you say some will love it but not eating “together” is an absolute no no. Certainly not for us either! We’re past the time of standing around waiting for dinner. But absolutely no problem plenty other options each night. Hopefully the pizza menu is dealt with soon

Mine is also resolved but no 100 euros. Happy though it’s sorted! I will be delighted to be onboard with 500…. Or however many it is. The thing is I will be onboard 😂😂

The Azamara showers are so much smaller than Viking

500 for us then by the sounds of things

One thing that does not appear to have changed, Guest Support are only doing one reservation for you in each restaurant even though your reservation is a back to back. I accept we can sort it out onboard but its a pain when you want two special dates one on each cruise. I also know that for now the ship is below capacity I think the problem is the software in that the two cruises are combined into one reservation number and so everything that drives off it beyond that point is taken as it being one cruise