takemewithyou

@Mackdogmolly what was the Azamazing evening in Alaska?

In my experience having sailed on Viking once, there is just no comparison! They are nothing alike. Viking has Scandinavian decor that looks sleek but is not comfortable. I will take the more classic decor on Azamara any day because the furniture is comfortable. The Viking ships are glitzy. My favorite space was the lounge in the bow….I think it is called the Explorers lounge. I also love the Living Room in the bow of Azamara….very comfortable and relaxing. The crew on Azamara is incredible! They have a warmth and an ability to connect with passengers and remember your likes and dislikes. It is like coming home! I found Viking staff to be more impersonal. I find the food to be better on Azamara and the service on Azamara is much, much better. I would say the specialty restaurants on Azamara are better than Viking’s. The mattress on Viking is hard and firm. The mattress on Azamara is much more comfortable. The heated floor in BR on Viking is nice. I would recommend a Club Continent suite on Azamara to find something comparable to a Vking cabin. I would recommend trying Azamara and coming with an open mind. If you want it to be like Viking, you may be disappointed. I think you will find the food and service better! Certainly the crew will amaze you. I find the ships to be the most comfortable than all the others, with the exception of Oceania. Oceania is very comfortable, also. Another thought…..Azamara is truly destination oriented. They try not to miss ports. If a Captain has to miss a port, they try very hard to find a replacement. The White Night and Azamazing Evening are quite unique to Azamara. Edited to add: @uktog and I were posting at the same time!

I am just grateful that Azamara are bringing their ships over to N America and we are getting itineraries in Canada / NE and Alaska and not just all Europe for all 4 ships. I feel like we have been heard! Now we have more choices! Thank you, Azamara!

It looks like it is happening. I can see itineraries up from one travel provider in UK, specifically. No pricing yet. From June to August 2026 and then back to Japan. The embarkation port is Vancouver. When I check the Azamara web site and search for Destinations, Alaska is there but the link is not active or live yet.

Itineraries are not out but the rumor is that Pursuit is going to Alaska in 2026. When I do a search on Mr Google, I see itineraries posted on UK TA web sites. Anyone have a heads up on this from the UK?

No, not a TransAtlantic. It was from Vancouver to LA. No refunds for lost ports, either, as some cruises do.

Did you miss any ports on Viking? We lost 2 of our four port stops! So 50% of our port stops were cancelled.

I am sorry we won’t be connecting at Christmas, either. You will be on before us. I hope the food in the specialties shows improvements.

Thanks for your detailed response and review. We tried Viking, too. Not for us. Don’t like the decor as you described. Didn’t enjoy the food much either. Ours was an ocean cruise and we didn’t like the included excursions. The best one we did was the one we paid extra for. Azamara hits the sweet spot for us.

Yesterday the weather was good in Icy Point Strait….sunny in the afternoon. Really pleasant! Today we made it into Skagway at 7 am. Really big winds! Two ships couldn’t make it in and cancelled port stops. It was really wild walking around and down at our dock, it felt like hurricane winds trying to go up and down the docks!

Yes, I had planned to bring some CBD cream with me….my shoulder is missing it .

CBD cream, as well, it seems?

We watched you sail out as we had just arrived at Pan Pacific hotel! We were sailing out the next day on Solstice.

We are onboard Celebrity Solstice right now in Luminae and the difference between food , even in MDR in Oceania, is night and day! The service is excellent…the food ….disappointing! Markedly so. Way below quality of Azamara, as well.

I took the 10% offer back a few mos ago. When I log into my Azamara account, go to upcoming cruises, it shows my booking and it shows the correct amount of OBC I am receiving, The Onboard Credit is noted right underneath our names. I don’t even have to go to the Manage My Reservation section to see it. I would ask your TA about this again. It seems wrong to me that it shows $0 for OBC. Hope this helps. The Azamara website is still a work in progress, unfortunately!

How are you finding it? I hope you do a comparison.

How about Milos? I think he is on Solstice…..

So all these gatherings are in close proximity to each other, such that a guest could visit both venues if they wished.

Where is that held?

I don’t think I have ever had a bad server in MDR or frankly, anywhere else on Azamara! Their staff is their biggest strength and the main reason why so many people return to sail with Azamara again and again. You won’t have to search to find a great server who makes your cruise special….unlike some other lines!

Come on! You are sounding like an old Curmudgeon! 😂

Dinner is always on the ship earlier. The proceedings for the evening usually start about 7 pm or so. Announcements are made and people start going off ship according to decks. There will be lights snacks like rum cake, etc and there will be some sort of themed drinks offered like rum punches with the Caribbean evening. There is a big stage and chairs all set up. The front rows are reserved for suite guests, who usually come off the ship first. There will be steel drums, singers and elaborately costumed dancers, stilt dancers, maybe a marching band, etc. we have been there twice and it was fun both times. Following the end of the evening, there is a special buffet served in Windows cafe.

Alas, we are on the Journey Christmas and New Year’s cruise and I think you are on another ship!

Just a suggestion…..since you say you have had an account with Azamara in the past…..so you must have sailed with Azamara before? If so, do you have any records in your possession of past bookings that would have your Azamara number on it?

I don’t think so, either! 😀 I would love to experience it……DH will not cooperate! Perhaps @ChucktownSteve will invite us over when we ever sail with him again!!