Belfastman

5 hours ago, uktog said:

I can’t understand the position re port. Reads like poor staff training again. My understanding was the Ultimate package covered any drink up to $15 not just named drinks. So the $12 port should have been no issue - maybe a server mistake but don’t cover it up by making out they’re doing you a favour. Seen that too much in the last 18 months- so annoying

There are also two named ports on Azamara website. Sounds like you sadly need to have that website link accessible on Onward when ordering drinks if you’re a package holder. 
Feels very much like deja vu though for us that related to champagne. 
Wonder if the bar manager is new?

Never heard of drinks up to $15 being included in the ultimate package ( this was a Celebrity thing). Cocktails in Atlas Bar are over $17 and are included. I believe it is the listed drinks that are included.

1 hour ago, VandM said:

Does anyone know if Azamara provides recyclable bottles for water, or are they still using plastic?

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Viv

Still using plastic.

38 minutes ago, Traveling Fools said:

Getting ready for Nov AZ cruise.  It will be our first with AZ, so I have a question.  What is the Atlas bar?

 

Atlas bar is a nice cozy bar located where the library is on the other ships but is only found on Onward at the moment. It serves a different range of cocktails (which are included if you have the Ultimate drinks package) and also other upscale drinks. The cocktails served are also available in the Den on the other ships.

I have been notified today of new sailings for Quest to fill the time when she was due to be in dry dock (1st April 2024 - 14th April 2024). I wonder what has happened to the dry dock which is over due and when it might now happen?

44 minutes ago, uktog said:

I found our embarkation photos from Pursuit in November - they told a story of how much work was in progress.  It wasnt only physical issues it was the crew training.

Did you mean Onward?

1 hour ago, holidaylover10 said:

Thank you all for this interesting thread. Even though I would definitely love to book this particular itinerary I have decided to to monitor the price for a while longer to see if the price drops, if it stays high I will look at a different Itinerary, I have seen a couple of others that may interest me . What would you say is a fair price for an inside cabin around the Mediterranean in Sterling please. 

You can get Med cruises on Azamara in an inside cabin for about £120 - £170 pp per night.

43 minutes ago, BuddyR said:

Looks like the Beverage Packages as well as the Experience More Packages have gone up in price.

The Ultimate package is still the same price as it has been for the past three or four years.

49 minutes ago, oddjob16 said:

This review was first posted in FB group «Azamara Live»

Just disembarked the Quest after 11 nights from Istanbul to Athens. The experience was top notch and rest assured that the crew is getting more and more up to excellent standards . The boarding process in Istanbul was seemless and we were on board by 1:15. The itinerary was changed just a few days before to switch date of ports in Santorini and Patmos. As a result we had Santorini with a portload of 4000 instead of 11000. A change was also made for Thessaloniki to leave a few hours early to get a full day in Mykonos.

Azamara are able to do this and goes the extra mile to make it happen. Captain Johannes is always searching for ways to improve the overall experience and this is not the first time he has done this.

The officers team were very visible all through the cruise and in every aspect we felt that we were very valuable customers. We had no issues with restaurants or bars,- TBH we didn't dine in Discoveries this time as we love the Sunset Veranda or Patio when weather is warm, and we had excellent experiences in Aqualina and Prime C.

Included wines were acceptable but halfway we switched to the Ultimate Package to use the OBC. (Both Fever Three and Schweppes were available in all venues) Entertainment was very good in Cabaret and the Living Room. Jose on the piano was a bit loud for our taste this time.

We rate this cruise among our top 5 and are "very happy customers". We don't like the use of phrases like "back to old standards" and such because we know the team on board is always trying to stretch even further and evolve their product.

Some port authorities are always throwing curve balls and the onboard team is working harder than one could imagine to let us customers remain unaware of this. Captain Johannes, HD Ryszcard and CD Amanda is a great team just to mention a few of the officers.

Something "new" is that the crew will eventually rotate more than has been usual. We spoke to a few waiters and room attendants and some said that next contract would probably be on other ships. This might also be the case for the senior officers. We know Amanda will be replaced by Stephen in November and he has been on Journey for a long period.

Already looking forward to the next one.

Yes indeed senior officers will also rotate between ships from next year in particular the Captains.

45 minutes ago, BamaT said:

Thanks for this info but is this the process for all flight departures? When you book the airport transfer on the website, it says that for flights leaving before 11:30 AM, guests will be taken from Fusina directly to the airport. We had to provide a departure time when we requested the transfer, but they gave no guidelines as to how early we should leave the ship before flight departure time. 

For flights before 11.30am there is a direct transfer from Fusina to the airport. The transfer leaves the ship at 6.45am. Your flight details will be checked by Italian customs before you are allowed on the transfer. Apparently some guests on our cruise who had flights slightly later than 11.30am tried to get the early transfer but were prevented.

3 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

Surprised you found English bacon on Azamara!

There was English bacon every morning on Onward for our last three cruises.

On Onward two weeks ago the muster drill was delivered to small group of about eight people shortly after boarding, although we were given the choice of attending anytime before 5.00pm on embarkation day.

We disembarked in Fusina a few days ago and had booked an Azamara transfer to Venice airport. I'll describe how this works. After leaving the ship guests are directed to coaches by Azamara staff depending on their flight times (your luggage has already gone ahead to Maritima). The coach then takes you to Maritima where you leave the coach and enter a warehouse type building to reclaim your luggage. You then exit the building to board a different coach for your journey to the airport - there are no passport or any other checks at Fusina or Maritima. The coach journey to the airport takes about 20 minutes and you leave the coach with your luggage in a car park about 15 minute walk from the terminal. We had to stand in the car park in 35 C bright sunshine for several minutes while everyone got their luggage and then were guided to the terminal.

I'm not sure why you cannot be taken directly from Fusina to the airport as there were no checks of any kind at Maritima.

Captain is Carl Smith, cruise director is Martin Lawson and hotel director is Elizabeth Vogel. However I understand that all of these will have left the ship before you board. Roy Ryan is assistant cruise director ( not sure when he leaves ).

Newly promoted Staff Captain just joined Onward yesterday - James Brennan.

11 minutes ago, jazzmanfive said:

Hi

Does anyone know if all in the cabin have to upgrade if only one wants the upgraded drinks package?.Wife is tea/coffeetotal.

Thanks in advance.

Jazz

No one person can upgrade and at any time throughout the voyage.

30 minutes ago, marinaro44 said:

As I wrote:  Ask where the reservations desk is.  Don't play hide and seek.

When boarding Onward they tell you where the reservation desk is - no need for hide and seek!!

On the current Onward voyage the desk was in Aqualina only.

18 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

It's really bad and extremely embarrassing for the Loyalty Managers on the ship who whilst knowing what level individual cruisers are, have no idea how many days they've accrued. This is how they assess the top cruiser who is asked to attend the PR event for Azamara Circle toward the end of the cruise. The Loyalty Managers should be getting involved in helping people with their "free" days on the ship and booking cruises for them in this regard, but can't.

 

I was prepared to cut Azamara some slack in sorting the IT issues out, but increasingly feel the delays are unacceptable and getting to be beyond a joke. 

 

Phil 

Currently on Onward Loyalty hostess has access to everyone's Loyalty status including how many nights have been sailed. She has printed mine and it is correct.

On 8/8/2023 at 2:21 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

Are you asking me or OP?  I have sailed on Quest (twice, pre-Covid) and Journey (last October).  Thankfully none of the Onward itineraries have appealed, so I haven't had to decide whether to avoid that ship [I think I would, based on what I read here]

No reason to avoid Onward. Having sailed twice on Onward and on Pursuit since Covid there is no difference and if anything I prefer Onward both for the staff and facilities.

Piper Heidiesck is the ultimate package champagne on Onward now. They have Whispering Angel and Mondavi Pinot Noir also.

9 minutes ago, pickypicky said:

Are reservations required for Suite guests to breakfast in Aqualina? And is it crowded?

No reservations required and it does not get crowded.

2 hours ago, Billy Butlin said:

If my maths is right .......

 

According to CruisePlum the current price of a balcony on the Onward cruise of 22/12/23 is circa $8800, assuming they are giving you 3 free nights, so you are paying for 11 not 14, that's roughly $800 a night

 

According to CruisePlum the price of a balcony on this cruise was circa $1120 from January through to May, which based on 14 nights works out at roughly $800 a night

 

Is this where the 3 free nights are derived ????

 

 

Your maths are not correct. 14 nights at $1120 is $80 per night!!

The Den is another place where the noise level from the pianist is very loud. We had great difficulty ordering a drink at the bar or talking to the person next to you on a recent cruise.

1 hour ago, ECCruise said:

That latest email sure makes it sound like Quest was in Monaco for the Grand Prix last week. 

 

In fact, Quest was nowhere near Monaco last week. 

 

Maybe the way it was written, meaning questionable grammar. Or really bad information. 

Pursuit and Journey were in Monaco for the Grand Prix.

The other difference is that on Onward there are more suites. As suites get complimentary access to Prime C and Aqualina it can be harder to get reservations for the time you want if you are not in a suite.