Gardendog

I believe that is correct.

I never even got the survey. My DH did and forwarded to me. I have received them in the past.

Cabin number: 9000, Spa suite Ship: Pursuit Month/Year sailed: February 2024 Would you choose this cabin again: Yes because we love the location, the size of the cabin but/and realize it’s very noisy Is noise and issue: yes, both in the evening and in the morning. We solved it by using earplugs and a sound machine (app on iPhone) Balcony size: for one of the big suites, not particularly big, probably the same size as CC suite Any other comments: nice big room with a fantastic bathroom and shower. Love the closeness to the living room and the spa/running track. Lots of noise as stated before, from doors banging and furniture being moved on top.

When we came to the Barcelona port in November we had to show a “boarding pass”. I showed them my invoice/receipt from the email. A passport was not enough for us. Very adamantly asking for a “boarding pass”.

Suite guests must make reservations for the specialty dining like any other guests. The one benefit with being a suite guest is that you usually board the ship first and can make the reservations for the specialties before others. There is no additional charge for the specialty restaurants for suite guests as it’s included in the cruise price. We were on the Onward in February and used the spa deck, free of charge, we were in a CC suite. We were under the impression that we would have to pay for it, but the spa personnel said it was included with our CC suite. We had the ultimate beverage package and the butler asked what we wanted to drink. He stocked our fridge with several of the Perrier bottles (that are included in the Ultimate package.) I asked the butler to bring me an americano coffee every morning from the Mosaic coffee bar. It arrived promptly every morning at 7. Great butlers on the Azamara ships.

I have sailed Oceania twice, both times on the Marina. Last Oceania cruise was just before the world as we know it stopped in March of 2020, disembarking in Buenos Aíres. We had a great time as we traveled with friends we had made on a prior river cruise. When the cruises started up again, we have sailed only on Azamara, 4 times, all in all 7 cruises with Azamara. 1. Specialty dining is not included in the fare unless you are in a suite. If you travel as you said, in a veranda or outside, the specialty dining would be extra. The difference is also that with O you can book it in advance and indicate if you want to eat by yourself or at a shared table. Azamara does not do that. You book the table for your stateroom. If you want to share a table, you’d have to arrange that with fellow travelers that you meet. Also you reserve the time and dates when you board. Same for all. Uktog indicated the cost. 2. Specialty coffees are available in the Mosaic cafe and also in the dining venues. Like on O, there is no additional cost. Other beverages included are soft drinks, non branded sparkling water, house wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages. If you prefer more “top shelf” alcohol and sparkling water, you would have to pay for it or buy a drink package. The Az drink package is much less costly than the O drink package. 3. Yes, as uktog said 4. No free shore excursion in any port (my experience with O was that they did not have that either). Prices are about the same as on O. 5. On O I ate in the Terrace several nights and had their grilled lobster. On Az I have never eaten in Windows or the patio at night, but as far as I know, lobster was not on the menu every night. Az has a special feel to it; White night, Azamazing event, extremely friendly fellow travelers and approachable officers. Very friendly vibe. Crew goes above and beyond. People gather in the bars and venues way more than my experience with O, probably due to drinks being included. It is not a party cruise at all, as you know. I certainly would not want to go on a cruise and have short times in port, Az stays very long for the most part. I think you would do just fine coming over.

I was in the spa and DH was in the Living Room. He overheard a group gathering for a bridge tour and asked if he could join and they said yes. I don’t think we are VIPs . . .he just happened to be there and got to go. He thought it was very interesting. He witnessed Captain Carl signing all those crossing the Equator certificates. It was fine with me to miss it . . .

On our last onward cruise, Lima to Miami, DH went in one when I was in the spa.

It was a group of us waiting to go on the “non existent shuttle”. Captain came out and sorted it for us. We were on different independent tours.

We were on the same Onward cruise as mercruiser, and we were able to use a shuttle to go to the outside of the port area. We did not go to the market in Miraflores, just to the entrance of the port area where our independent guide and driver picked us up. It was a bit of a hassle and the captain had to interfere and get us a shuttle, but it did work out in the end. on the way back, the driver dropped us off at the entrance of the port area and a shuttle took us back to the ship.

DH and I scheduled private tours with Haku tours in Lima. Embarkation day we were picked up from the hotel and taken to the central part, historic district for a walking tour. We were dropped off by the tour company at the port. We boarded a bus marked with Azamara and it took us to the ship. The following day we had another tour with the same company Haku and guide, Leonardo. This time we drove all around Lima, going to a market that the locals frequent (food etc) drove to some other areas. Highly recommend. it was a bit of an issue to be able to leave the ship area, but the captain (Carl) stepped in and a bus was provided for us to take us outside the port area where the tour guide and driver waited for us. Coming back we had agin to wait for transport into the port area.

We stayed in one once and did not notice any smoke in the suite. It was not a full ship, perhaps with more smokers one would notice.

Thank you. Still have never tried Celebrity, but it would be nice if the loyalty status with Azamara carried over.

In my experience, they use the shore excursions OBC first.

Yes, as the others have said, you may bring spirits on board. Azamara includes spirits in the cruise fare, and also wine, so if you are not particular in the brand you prefer, they will have whiskey for you, included in the fare, at every bar.

Yes, Diet Coke would be available all day, as are all the included beverages.

Great review, meals and all! Great meeting you ad DW on this cruise.thanks for posting.

We are discoverer level on Azamara and have never traveled on Celebrity. Thinking of going on a Celebrity cruise to lock in the level before the big break up February 1. What level would we be on Celebrity? And how does one go about “claiming” it.

We have been on six Azamara cruises and for the most part have danced every single night. If you want ball room dance music, ask for the piece by name, and the band or DJ will happily oblige. We danced during cocktail hour and again later in the evening. People who say there is no dancing, might not have been looking for it. We did both ballroom and Latin. We could have been more forward and asked for more pieces by name. Long time ago, they had dance classes, not post pandemic. On Azamara, we have danced waltz, foxtrot, swing, rhumba, cha cha, mambo and line dancing. We never did to get to tango, but then we never asked for it. We have found, again, that asking for a “swing” might not work but ask them to play “rock around the clock tonight” and they will do it if they know it. The band aims to please. Of course the DJ does the same.

ChucktownSteve wrote: “. . ..JW red to be of the caliber they should give the occupants, when you can go to any bar and get Grey Goose or JW Black with theliquor package included with the higher price AZ veranda or suite. I even had the same situation with the plus veranda V1: cheapliquor in the cabin but better at the bar. That's not logical” I did not think the upper level drink package was included. It does not say so on their website. Might have been in the past. yes, Jazzbeau, I understand that you were discussing the liquor in the cabin. DH also switched his out, both in an “upper level cabin” and in a CC. He got something he actually drinks.

Is that a fact, do the upper level suites on Azamara include the ultimate beverage package in the fare?

San Pellegrino is not included in the basic package . It is included in the Ultimate package. Sometimes they have Perrier instead. There is a sparkling water that is included, but it’s not those two label.

We also dance and have been on 3 Azamara cruises post pandemic. We danced every night of every cruise! The house band plays in the living room most nights starting at 6 and we always found songs where we could dance. They often play again later, after the show. l’ve learned that it’s very helpful to suggest a song (in the dance style you want to dance) instead of saying “play a waltz”. They were very willing to accommodate, especially during cocktail hour as it is not very busy. We danced foxtrot, waltz, swing, rhumba, cha cha, mambo, bachata, and some line dances. Some of these are of course considered Latin dances, but just to give you an example of the music that was played. We never asked for a tango by name, and didn’t hear anything that we could tango to. There is no “line of dance” (unless you are the only ones out there) of course and the floor is small, but for people who like to dance, there are plenty of opportunities. There are no dance hosts, and no dance teachers on the cruise as we have had in the past, so probably not as formal as it might have been on old Crystal (we never went on Crystal), but still enjoyable.

Just read this blog post after meeting you on the Azamara Journey. Very interesting. You two are great walkers! Loved reading the review. Thanks for posting.

Thank you Jazzbeau for organizing it. It was so nice meeting you and Jazzbelle. Enjoyed the French Chef’s dinner together as well. The cruise critic meet and greet was posted in the daily program “The Insider”, that’s how we found it.