Azamarajunkie

That was August 2016 if we remember correctly, and another excellent Azamara cruise.

Have looked at the pricing we booked the 2 day package so Qualifying and Race day, when we booked the Azamara price was £1150pp although this went up to nearer £1400pp after Brexit. Our travel agent charged £715 for High T, face value of the tickets were €210 for Saturday and €550 for Sunday so it would pay to buy direct. As has been said back rows in High T are not only covered but have a cooling breeze, we were under cover so it was fine when it rained on Sunday but Saturday afternoon it got extremely hot in the full sun. Tribune K has no shelter at all so we were very happy with our travel agents recommendation.

Understand the hesitation doing it on your own but it really was very easy the Tribunes are well signed and basically you just need to follow the crowds.

This was our view:

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Riocca is right, I went to the Historic GP this year for a change and went in Stand V which is opposite the pit entrance and the beginning of the main straight. Whilst the view is good, seeing the cars as they pass by and roar up the main straight, there is no shade at all, Stand T is much better and as he says, getting a seat high up is essential. I bought my tickets direct from the Automobile Club of Monaco, and on this occasion, the Quest tendered into Fontville which was an easy walk to the circuit.

Not sure what it would be like being bussed in from Villefranche, probably very busy, especially on Race day.

I’m wondering about the status currently. I just read a post from someone on the Quest reporting that an “american” couple gave their sea pass cards for a drink order apparently unaware of “inclusions” and, according to the poster, were loud in their complaint as to price.

So where did you see this post?

Apologies, found the post under the Silversea purchase post. I’m surprised that it happened on Quest, it was certainly not our recent experience on the Historic Monaco Cruise.

One of them is Lucy Huxley, editor of Travel Weekly, don’t know if they have named the other one yet

The Travel Weekly article names the second godmother as Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio, AFAR executive vice president and chief revenue officer.

I wonder if they’re replacing the Thalassotherapy pool with a new one.

No Captain Magnus has moved to Quest, Captain Carl is in command of Pursuit so he will be the alternative captain of Journey. There will be another “new” Captain for Pursuit.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Before someone asks the question, the ‘other’ new captain is Captain Antonio Toledo, who has been mentioned before on these boards, and will be on Pursuit with Carl.......of course it could change:D

One day the Senior Officer schedule may be correct!

We had a private 6 hour tour taking in The Vatican, Colliseum, etc with lunch through Rome-Airport.net. They collected us from the ship and delivered us to the airport in plenty of time for our flight. The driver/Guide was very good and drove us to some lovely views of the city as well. Once we had arranged the tour, we booked our own tickets for the Vatican in advance which helped beat the queues.

Same here. Survey stopped after laundry question.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ditto, and then I was invited to join Survey Monkey

Just completed the survey, have to admit there were a lot of ‘No’ and ‘not interested’ responses by the time I’d finished it:eek:

I can understand the desire for Market Research, but the content of this one defies belief, it’s a ‘more inclusive’ line for heavens sake and expensive enough these days. Clearly the bean counters are out for more. Well I’ve got a few tins in the cupboard they can have:D

The use of the outdoor movie screen is at the discretion of our Cruise Directors, according to what they’ve scheduled; typically used at night, and of course dependent on the weather, cruising conditions, etc. They are not permanent and really used rather seldom.

Thank you Bonnie for the confirmation of Oddjobs and Phils responses to my original post. Your considered responses are always greatly appreciated.

Steve

You shared information as you knew it, the full situation was shaped by the knowledge of others as should be the case. Some folks reacted some over reacted - that’s inevitable. For many reasons there is some mistrust about the direction Azamara is traveling in some very valid some very much less so. Some do not read everything before reacting - that is something hopefully people can think about.

I think interpreting what I think is Phil’s point which is well made is there has been a trend in some quarters to resort to some nasty responses even personal attacks on recent Azamara threads. Fortunately the moderators are alert and the most vicious attacks have been removed.

I think if we get scared off from posting and saying how we see changes because of the actions of a few these boards will be poorer for it.

So to paraphrase a song Keep on posting....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks Ann:D

I did ask the Question of Jose on FB whether it was permanent but haven’t yet had a response, however the responses on this thread have clearly reassured me otherwise. Don’t worry, I’ll ‘keep on posting’:D

I’m beginning to regret starting this thread, it was a little tongue in cheek at first:eek:

Having seen it before I am not worried about it now. More of a worry is if I can get an included Long Island Iced Tea. Lol

 

Phil

Thanks Phil for your reassurance, I too was worried that AZ had put it up permanently, look forward to your report.

Out of interest I got the ingredients of a Long Island Iced Tea out of our drinks cupboard at home and was amazed at the number of bottles! I was equally amazed that we had them all at home. Now definitely need to try one;p;p

I have to say I like the sound of a frozen Spicy Mango Margarita and Frozen Sangria and I won't mind paying for them at all.

 

I'm not a fan of the sweet cocktails and these sound very different.

Mmmm, often have a standard frozen margarita (included spirit), May have to have added jalapeño in it:D

I only have the experience of one cruise on Quest almost two years ago. But my butler, who was supposedly one of the top butlers onboard, told me that the afternoon tea in your suite had basically been discontinued because of all the little self-serve spots. Then the second afternoon, he "killed me with kindness" by bringing me a tea setup that would have fed six people. Considering the wasted food, I never asked for tea again, which was obviously his intention. He also told me that I could get meals from specialty restaurants served in my suite "only if the restaurant wasn't too busy", so I never asked for that either. And I was in one of the Club World suites.

Very surprising experience Pam, we were in an Ocean suite recently on Journey, regularly had breakfast served by our butler, afternoon tea and coffee was provided with scones on request and we had a lovely dinner on our balcony with friends. We had starter and main courses from the MDR and desserts from Aqualina. There was no quibbling on menus, other than giving the butler a days notice in advance of our requirements. This was not our first experience of using the butler in this way, consequently as I said earlier, I am surprised at your experience, if that had been true in our case I would have discussed the issue with the hotel director.

That’s good news - my other half was just bemoaning the fact that we are onboard Quest for the last 10 days of the World Cup (presuming they are putting screens on the Quest as well).

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

See my original post which refers to the Quest, Jose, captain of the Quest posted the picture on FB.

On the one hand, that is good news as far as the Spirits bar is concerned, on the other hand you are right, opinions are bound to be divided as to the big screen on the pool deck.

Must admit I thought the big screen was going to be in Spirits which was why the fireplace was removed.

Just noticed on Facebook that Captain Jose has posted a picture of a big MUTS screen on deck 9 above the pool bar. That’s new!

Wonder where the water slides will go!

I’m friends with some guys who performed on Azamara prior to the entertainment changes and they are also a very regular act on Seabourn. They keep trying to persuade me onto Seabourn. They say it’s very nice, a step up in all ways from Azamara, more formal and with a different type of guest onboard. I’m just not ready for that, but can’t knock it really until I try. One day perhaps, but for the moment Azamara's inclusives are fine for me. I don’t need champagne and caviar. I don’t really like either.

 

Phil

I like the champagne, not keen on the caviar though, we are going with them for the itinerary which is a nice Greek intensive one, which Azamara didn’t have on offer for this year. They do for next year and we are now considering that as well, but have yet to finalise our 2019 plans, despite booking a 2020 AZ Cruise!

Our travel agent has recently posted a promotional video of Seaborne, it two minutes it totally convinced me that I wouldn’t like Seaborne.

Probably in reality it’s nothing like the video but it really looked pretentious!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You’ll be pleased to know from our experience, Seabourn are not pretentious, some of the guests may be, but most are just like AZ. We join the Odyssey in 4 weeks time for our second cruise with the line, however to date, Azamara remains our favourite.

My understanding from what Richard Twynham confirmed to Phil in person yesterday the position yesterday was YES

 

The other arguments are ones you could have had about the old lists, lets just leave it now

I agree, perhaps when Bonnie resurfaces after the weekend she ought to now close this thread which has surely run its course now that everything has been clarified. If anyone is unsure of what’s included, Guest Relations has the list!

Admittedly, it would be nice to know the ingredients of the cocktails, I am still unsure of the content of a Kamikaze, all I know is that I find it very agreeable.

the app drove me mad - worse than an azamara voyager planner .... But in common with the planner i eventually cracked it!!!

Oh no, Mandy lost out on the public vote, she came 3rd.

Never really watch BGT, but read about Mandy on here and watched to see what she was like! Loved her, a real sassy lady and very funny. Hope she goes through.

+1, got the app ready to vote, so pleased all 4 judges liked her act tonight

Thanks, actually as a black coffee drinker I hate coffee from jugs as it does “taste”. So do urns (it just my sensitive taste buds). Did you ask for machine made coffee each day or was that automatic?

At present, we bring “to go” coffee up from Mosaic each morning but maybe we don’t need to.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I usually collect one from the new machine on the way into Windows then ask the waiter for the refill to come from the machine. Talking to Tomez on the Quest, the new machines are a recent change as the old ones were costing too much in maintenance. They are much quicker than the ones that were on the Journey on our March cruise.

With luck by the time you join the Journey at Greenwich, they will have changed theirs.

Steve

I can't believe what I'm reading. No refills from carafes??? Tiny tables, pushed close together in specialty dining??? We are ardent well-traveled Oceania fans and are about to embark on our first Azamara cruise. Thought we would "try" it and the ability to make a trip to Normandy beaches was the other draw. First frustration was the terrible website and inability to easily navigate shore excursions, etc. Then came the extremely limited excursion offerings and inability to use the "shore excursion credit" without booking and having to ask for refunds and rebooking when we board (perhaps at higher price?). I'm still trying to approach this with a good outlook. Is the food in the specialty restaurants really worth it if the ambiance is slipping?

I can’t see what the problem is with the lack of carafes of coffee in Windows, we were recently off Quest where in Windows the staff were very attentive and regularly asking us if we wanted more coffee which was quickly delivered. We prefer the coffee from the new machines which now produce a coffee equal in quality to Mosaic rather than the ready brewed stuff from the urns. However, just like food, I recognise that coffee is a subjective subject! Incidentally, Aqualina and Prime C can also provide more specialist coffee than the ready brewed type.