Melissaghoti

Galataport is new, very slick, and absolutely huge. It’s quite a hike from the ship to the exit. If a waiting room is added, it could still be a good distance from the ship. As lenoirm has said, it is essential that you let Guest Relations know that you’ll need assistance for as long as they can provide it when you disembark (I don’t know how you’d contact the port itself). If Azamara can’t help with luggage pick-up and getting you into a taxi, there are porters available who can. Taxis and porters seemed plentiful.

Welcome Pickups is good for transportation from Rome to Civitavecchia. I’ve also stayed overnight there; it’s a pleasant, not entirely tourist focused, town and it was very relaxing to be there, decompressing, 24 hours before the cruise!.

Over ten Azamara cruises, I’ve seen the ‘sick’ bags and ginger out only once. The ‘R’ ships are generally, very stable in most of the seas they encounter.

But, if course,I could have, but preferred to use it to buy some gifts for friends.

As well as in the shops, for excursions, and for specialty restaurants, OBC can be used for beverages that aren’t included, in the Sanctum for services - nails, hair, massage, for Wifi, and for laundry. If it’s refundable, you can donate to the Crew Welfare fund. I spent a fair amount in both shops on the Onward last fall and the prices I paid for a watch, a couple of Coach bags, Azamara branded men’s and women’s shirts were no more than I’d expect to pay anywhere. The quality was excellent.

If you’re onboard the Onward, don’t miss seeing Ass’t CD (I think that’s his position!) Roy Ryan’s show. He has a wonderful voice and sings all the songs. He’s delightful to chat with too.

I trust the cabin stewards as well, but I’ve, on an occasion or two, misplaced my phone or iPad. I don’t want to do that onboard and even need to consider for a moment that anything else has happened.

One of the reasons boarding is slow is the group of people, anxious to get their holiday started, who arrive ahead of their assigned boarding time. Azamara and the port schedule personnel according to the scheduled boarding times. If it’s impossible to predict when people will arrive, it’s impossible to board anyone efficiently.

On the Onward in June, Windows breakfast was buffet-style, but dinners were served with a themed ala carte menu all 18 days. It was very nice. I’d be happy if it stayed that way, but I think a very casual buffet is a cruise expectation for many.

Here’s the Onward’s daily paper when we were in Santorini in June. The onboard lecturer was excellent on this cruise. His information about our stops in Croatia and Turkey were very informative. He’s a good presenter who uses lots of slides to support what he’s saying. I’ve seen him on several cruises and always enjoy him.

“So they would give me a free ride from Venice, but can't help me get from the Ravenna train station?” I agree that the train from Venice to Ravenna would be nice, but as there are 20+ per day, it could become a logistical nightmare for Azamara with, potentially, arrivals every half hour. Melissa

This is not typical of Azamara, (though the bedside tables are intentional unmatched). I hope you’ve spoken to Hotel Director Elisabeth Vogel. Azamara works hard to make things right, so please give them the opportunity. Melissa

I agree that the library/drawing room was a lovely space.The ceilings were fabulous. On my last 5 Azamara cruises, I went there to pick up a sudoku sheet a couple of times, meet prior to a special dinner a couple of times and, once, to look for a book. I saw a family playing a board game one time, and saw a book hunter another time. That’s it. If I were in business, in very tough times, I’d look for under-utilized areas and try to revamp them into something that might help the bottom line. Holding onto something so rarely used for nostalgia’s sake wouldn’t be negotiable. Time will tell if it’s successful. I think that will determine what happens with the other ships. I remember a similar, sometimes heated discussion about the casinos. The Den, in my opinion, is a much better use of that area. Change is inevitable and somethings go away entirely. Im missing a local coffee shop that didn’t make it through the pandemic. I’m pleased that Azamara, despite growing pains, seems to be surviving Covid-19 and new ownership. My late fall cruise on the Journey was delightful in all of the usual ways and, in less than a month, I’ll have an informed opinion about the Atlas bar. I imagine there’s a cruise line that suits everyones’ preferences. No single one will be all things to all people, but Azamara seems to suit many, even with the new, green bar! Melissa