Grandma Cruising

I know speciality booking times on Azamara are offered at 6/6:30 and 8/8:30 however we have never had a problem with arriving earlier than our booking time. We like to eat somewhere between 7:15 and 7:45. We book the 8 or 8:30 time, then turn up at about 7:45. We’ve nearly always been seated immediately and no-one has ever told us we are too early!

1 hour ago, LewiLewi said:

I am staying in a suite, so this is problematical for me, as I prefer dining with others.

You don’t have to dine in the speciality restaurant, you can choose to use Discoveries MDR initially so you can share a table or two and maybe meet people who would join you in a speciality restaurant later in the cruise.

That looks great

I’m sure you’re right - seems as if you’d either love it or hate it. Looks fascinating to me, looking at real life not the manicured tourist slice of life that you see in many ports

3 hours ago, scotsahoy said:

We booked a veranda cabin on Onward last August for Italy cruise; there was note when arrived in cabin saying could upgrade to a C C Suite - note gave an amount for minimum bid; we bid more than minimum and were successful and were allowed to pick a cabin from choice of 4/5. ( there are more CC Suites on Onward). 

Appreciate this will not always happen.

Oh wow, that’s new. Not heard of it before. Thanks for posting.

7 hours ago, Xcelsior said:

But these were bids you made onboard the ship at guest relations, yes?

There is no such thing as bidding on board. The upgrade bidding system happens beforehand, you are invited to bid a number of weeks before the cruise. Once onboard you can enquire if there are any vacancies in the type of cabin you’d like to be in and find out how much it would cost you to upgrade.

48 minutes ago, Toronto Guy said:

Does anyone know if they are still allowing you to put in bids for upgrades on board?

Yes they are, look at the pinned topic Upgrade Bid Experiences.

37 minutes ago, PirateWife said:

What I don't enjoy is loud canned music for breakfast. On our last cruise on Journey, it was blasting out on the Sunset bar area and there was no way for the staff to turn it down. 

Did you complain to Guest Relations?

Wow!

3 hours ago, Grandma Gilly said:

I think you must be on a different ship to me. I am on Quest now and notice considerable cutbacks. Food is OK but the choices in Compass Rose are limited. I am not a fussy eater but I think the daily choice is poor.  It takes ages for the food at Windows lunchtime buffet to be replenished. The CR ‘every day’ menu is a lot smaller than last time I cruised with Azamara. Again, the included drinks list is very reduced. I remember when the cocktail list covered 2 pages. It is down to virtually half a page. We used to love the Azamazing evenings but we too had the Flamenco show last night. However the crew are fabulous. 

You can ask for any cocktail you like so long as it can be made with the included spirits, and the included spirits have not changed for the last 10 years (apart from a different brand of scotch)

Thanks Popeye4u2, info added to the spreadsheet. Good luck!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pEoojQ5-EPmD4cI3gw1dVcYfYTXfZePdDXxU09l0H3M/edit

Thank you for your great posts.

1 hour ago, Kailyn said:

Does anyone happen to know - when buying a package, can the upgraded drinks package be moved to someone in a different cabin?

It's a strange question I know - but on our upcoming cruise, my husband and I are in separate cabins. He'd like to do a package, but our minor child is in the cabin with him and obviously won't be drinking. I'm hoping they would let the 2nd drinks package go to me in the other cabin?

An interesting question - I don’t know the answer. I think you’ll need to ring Azamara to check.

9 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

It no longer does….unless, you have cruised once before with Azamara.

That’s once before it was sold to Sycamore - can’t remember the exact date.

34 minutes ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

I am confused. It says they are wireless, which implies they produce sound. How do they cancel noise?

Here’s a quote from Sony. “Noise-cancelling audio devices use a built-in microphone to analyse the ambient sound waves around you and generate the opposite sound waves to reduce surrounding sound. Noise-cancelling devices have a built-in microphone which produces the opposite reversed sound waves to neutralise surrounding noise.”

Wireless headsets have rechargeable batteries.

1 hour ago, uktog said:

Lunchtime pool deck music used to be pleasant eg piano player from the Den or a guitarist. The use of the band from the living room only works if they play at half the volume they assaulted our ears with. Yesterday it averaged 130 db of music that wasn’t the more relaxing popular stuff for over an hour. 
Today there is no music, it’s a beautiful day and everyone is relaxing. I don’t hear anyone saying this needs music 🎶 

And you always have the option of using headphones & playing music on your phone.

I’ve never seen Deck 11 empty except when it’s very windy and then it’s usually roped off. On sea days we’ve usually found it to be pretty full.

10 hours ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

On the Onward, the smoking section use to be a place were I could get shade on the Pacific Princess. Is there shade on the sun deck?

There is shade in the smoking section which is on the Pool Deck, Deck 9. There is shade down both sides of the Pool Deck.

29 minutes ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

We go to eat when the music starts by the pool.

Do you mean you go to the Patio to eat to hear the music or go into Windows so you don’t hear the music?😉

Looking at the photo, it looks impossible to get into the bathroom unless the shower doors are closed. In fact it looks difficult to get into the shower at all!

We absolutely loved our aft balcony, the balcony is much larger & we never noticed any vibration

7 hours ago, jcruizer said:

I thought it said that they would not recommend this cabin. Something about a vent that made the balcony unusable..

Best I look again...:)

You’re right, I didn’t scroll right far enough. Difficult to know whether that would apply on the other ships!

Our Halifax card was fine on Pursuit in Feb/March this year. We always have our Chase debit cards with us too as they charge no commission or exchange fees too.

12 hours ago, Toronto Guy said:

I don't necessarily disagree, but the ships are what they are.  What I take more issue with is the obvious cheap-outs they did on the renovation of the Onward both in the standard cabins and in some public areas.  The spa locker rooms weren't even touched, broken fixtures and missing tiles etc., and the banged up cabinets and mismatched furniture and finishings in the staterooms stand out.  If only they had refurbed the cabins like Oceania's R-class ships, they did a gorgeous job.  Even got rid of the shower curtains. But then again, prices are well below Oceania (at least in my market).  I think Azamara did a much better job on the main public rooms with the decor however.

Can’t imagine using that size shower with a door on it, I’d just keep bumping my elbows and my DH would probably not be able to get in.

We love the sun deck exactly as it is. It’s a great place to sit in the sun with more space around you, with a breeze, especially on sea days. We love the peace and quiet and most definitely don’t want music!