Grandma Cruising

I believe that they are not sending out confirmations when you fill in the form online

But if you send an emails to Le Club Ambassador she will confirm if they received the form duly filled in. This is what happend to us.

I filled the form in and submitted it online for our two booked cruises this and next year and got an email acknowledging receipt of them the following day.

I thought the standard list of drinks was complimentary through out the ship, including wine and beer......am I wrong, is wine or beer only available at lunch and dinner unless you buy a drink package? There definitely has been some confusing information regarding this.

Included drinks are available free throughout the ship and all day and evening. Not all brands are free, but ther is a free offer of most types of spirit and several beers. Wine is the wine of the day, however if you don't like that day's white or red ask for another one - they can usually find one you will like that may be due to be the wine of the day on another day.

We have a cup of tea and a fruit juice delivered very morning when on Azamara and have never tipped the member of the buffet staff who delivers it. (Would prefer to have a kettle and make my own, but Azamra don't make that available).

I think this is a cultural thing. As a 'Brit' I have not tipped on Azamara on either of the cruises I have done with them, and I certainly agree that staff do not expect it. I know that in America tips are expected as a matter of course, not so in the UK. The price for Azamara is a lot more than for many cruise lines that charge a daily rate for tips - they pay their staff less I think. Certainly all the staff on Azamara seem very happy, and talking to officers we found out that there is a very low rate of staff turnover. We were told that people only leave because are retiring, or expecting a baby!

We stayed in Bangkok a few years ago and booed a day tour to Kanchaniburi. This included a trip by train across the bridge to see where one of the camps was. We also looked around the museum there about the camps and spent some time in the graveyard there, which was very moving, especially as there was a British Legion tour group there at the time.

I'm sure you could book such a tour online before you go.

I'm amazed that you found the food so disappointing. I can't comment on the Chef's table as we haven't tried it. We've done 2 Azamara cruises - on one the journey in Autumn 2013 and one on the Quest in 2014. On the first one we ate once in each of the two speciality restaurants and enjoyed the meals and the service. This cruise we just ate in the MDR. I can only remember 1 meal that was disappointing - and that was probably my fault for not reading the menu properly and choosing something that didn't suit me.

Maybe you eat out a lot in high end restaurants. We don't and find Azamara food a real treat!

Yes I would like to know where this is on your booking. Does it show the OBC, because my booking does not show anything even though we have some OBC

If your booking doesn't show your OBC you need to contact Azamara to get a new confirmation that shows it, so you have some proof of it. On our last cruise it didn't show on our confirmation, so I rang up and they emailed me a new confirmation that showed the OBC.

We were very lucky on our last cruise in October last year. We booked on the 'free cabin upgrade or $1000 OBC' offer and chose the $1000 OBC and booked an OV cabin. 2 weeks before the cruise we got an email informing us of a change of cabin and it was a Veranda cabin! We were delighted!

That's very helpful, Bowie, and confirms my thinking on this.

I think it depends and changes from time to time. On my first Azamara cruise I booked through a tour operator (Planet Cruise) because their price for the cruise, 1 night's hotel, all transfers and flights was much lower than booking everything myself. This time I booked the cruise with Azamara and my flights directly with the Airlines myself. I got a good price from Azamara and used Airmiles to buy and upgrade one of my flights. BeforeI booked I researched prices through operators and independently. There was very little difference in price and being able to get upgrades really made the difference to us. We were able to get business class flights home for the price of economy!

yes thought that was the case. anyone have any experience of using either method?

 

we tend to get credit card purchases/charges billed in the country currency, if in Europe in euros if Switzerland in swiss francs etc. if on a ship billed in the currency of the ship.

 

can see no benefit with the ship wanting to determine 1 way or the other? but maybe missing something?

All the info says get billed in the currency of the provider (in this case USD) then let your card convert it, unless your card charges an arm and a leg for conversion. Alternatively, get a card that doesn't charge for currency conversion. We have an Aqua card which we only use for foreign currency purchases which has no conversion charge and always gives great rates.

Also interested in the way we can order drinks in our stateroom. We love happy hour on our veranda. Is it possible?

You can't order included drinks on your room and only the soft drinks in the mini- bar are included. However you can take drinks from a bar back to your cabin, and the Mosaic cafe has some beautiful appetisers early in the evening, which you can also take back to you cabin.

If you look on the web-site you can see exactly what is included - click on "Our ships", then "Onboard Packages", then "Complimentary Beverages".

The story certainly has a point! I am going on AZ for the first time in Feb. on an itinerary that is just awesome -- very exciting and unique (at least for me) I have been on R ships on 2 other lines. This is my most expensive and longest cruise though I have come close a few times -- I am really looking forward to the experience.

 

I must say that the last few months have "tarnished" my anticipation just a bit. I am like the 2nd diner -- just coming on the scene and I bet that I will be well impressed -- at least I hope so. But all this hulabaloo and discussion is making me feel negative about the cruise when I doubt I would have ordinarily if the timing a bit different. I was expecting less internet and laundry benefits (have the level to get something on several major lines but not line loyal enough to have full recognition of my 300 + day cruising history) but willing to try new line knowing that soon might have status. Now this status thing is not at all possible. Won't happen. Is it a deal breaker? -- probably not but it will be a

factor and IS a factor even for this upcoming cruise. Negative vibes swelling loud and long -- does not set up even new or satisfied customers to have a positive experience. AZ has hurt themselves.

Only they know why and how far they had to go (and even if consequences are horrible) for the reasons they took this action. If the reason was not good enough or proves fatal then loyal fans/investors will have bigger problems than just a bag of dirty laundry or internet minutes and their loyalty points will be worth zilch!

You will have a wonderful time. We are doing our second Az cruise in 7 weeks and can't wait. I'm sure the loyalty changes won't affect your experience. We think Az is like no other company - just a wonderful experience!

Got the link to work now - I agree with every word!

Can't get the link to work, Bonnie, but I love the Mosaic cafe. We have a coffee from ther every morning on sea days, and pop in in the afternoon to sample the cakes and early evening for the hors d'oevres. Lovely!

Been reading all the comments about the changes with interest. Lots of people say they're going back to Celebrity, but when I looked at the Captain's club on Celebrity their benefits seemed to line up with the new Azamara benefits - for example a reduction in internet costs, with the percentage reduction depending on which level you are, rather than any free minutes. It seems to me Azamara is just lining itself with the current Celebrity Captains club benefits.

As someone who is about to sail on Azamara (and on Quest) for the first time in a couple of months, I would just like to say thank you for such a well-written and informative review. There was so much information in there which will help us get our bearings.

 

I was a little disappointed to read about the same set up for tables for 2 as they have on the Celebrity S class ships - i.e. squashed up with so little room between so that it feels as if you're on a table for 6 or 8. But it seems that the buffet is so good - and particularly with the option to eat outdoors - that we may be eating there quite a lot.

 

Hope you have a wonderful trip on Journey and say hi to the lovely Mr Adamson.

Why not do what we did on our first cruise on the Azamara. Previously when on our own on a cruise we've always had a table for two, but then we have always been booked into timed dining. If we'd shared it would have been with the same people every night, so if we didn't get on with them we were stuck with them. Azamara is any-time dining, so we thought we'd try asking to go on a 6 or 8 table on the first night. We had such a good time that we did it every night and met so many lovely people. It meant that the next day we often saw people we'd had dinner with and would stop and have a chat with them. It made for a very sociable holiday!

If you look on the web-site and go to the cruise you want to book, there's a window menu that includes Azamazing Evening that describes it. Not sure how far ahead that is on there.

We did the Athens to Dubai re-positioning cruise last November as our first Azamara cruise. I guess it depends what you like doing, but we loved it. I would say that we also love lazy beach holidays, so we spent most of our sea days on sun beds on the top deck reading, watching the Suez Canal go by and just generally lazing around. It was glorious weather every day, and we were also lucky enough to see a partial eclipse of the sun one day.

We just love Azamara - the food is wonderful, the buffet area is way better than any other ship we've been on (no fighting for seats or being pushed in the ribs by people trying to get at the food) and the meals in the main dining room are terrific. What really makes it tho' is the service and the friendliness of everyone - never seen a Captain wonder about the ship having a word with everyone before! We are converts!

We too were on this cruise and agree with all you have said. It is our third cruise with Azamara so we are already converts. Keep an eye open for offers as we are back on board Quest next month in an ocean view at less than £80 per night, cruise only, but the offers on that one have now gone! Can I ask where you sign up for the galley, engine room and bridge tours as I missed those but hope to catch them next time.

 

Rob

We only found out about these on our last but one day on our first Az cruise last year. We were told you put your name down at the Guest Relations desk. We tried, but were too late by then.

i am not going to disagree what is in Pursuits. but the harpist was fired in 2013 .so no music in the Discoveries bar ever. i have heard the on the Journey the piano arrived there and was moved.

 

On Quest the piano has been in club Luxe all of 2013. Max never ever plays doing a show. no the Jazz band also palys here and i do not recall them during a show.

 

yes, to music in looking Glas the question is when? i miss the guiter palying in Winodws outside. music. sunset etc. .nice touch.

Yes, there is music in the Discoveries bar. Last November it was a very good Spanish guitarist/ singer.

Yes! We cruise both Azamara and HAL (and Celebrity).

 

I am in a minority that thinks Azamara is more similar to HAL than to Celebrity. I haven't been on a HAL ship in a number of years, but we prefer Azamara when we have the choice. They only have two ships so the onboard customer service is great. HAL has more ships to fill so the service will vary.

 

Try Azamara! You should be very pleased.

Until last year we had only cruised with HAL, starting with an Alaskan cruise and our last cruise with them was around South America from Santiago to Rio three years ago. Initially we loved HAL, but we did feel that standards had dropped over the years, especially in the dining room. We had our first cruise with Azamara last year and loved it. The service was way above that offered on HAL. We loved the fact that you see the officers around the ship and make themselves known to you. The captain was brilliant and his morning. Road casts, alongside the Cruise Director were hilarious. The food was fabulous. The buffet was not the bun fight that we have found on HAL - so no competition in our eyes!

We didn't get a welcome gift after our first cruise. I emailed club Voyage and they did send us two metal drinks holders.

The all inclusive liquor package is the reason I can't sail Azamara. I refuse to pay for something I can't use that cost $50 - $75 per day according to what other cruise lines charge. Alcohol is not something everyone can enjoy like transportation into town or an Azamara evening. It encourages over consumption. I liked the Azamara cruise we took before they implemented this all inclusive but we haven't been back.

Firstly on our first Azamara cruise last year, we didn't see anyone who was 'the worse for wear' despite the included drinks. Secondly the additional costs of Azamara do not just cover drinks. They include all sodas, speciality coffees, ice-creams (often charged for on other lines), the free Azamazing evening and all tips. Thirdly, I've never come across such friendly and first class service. Fourthly the food in the MDR is superb - we've mainly cruised with HAL in the past and you simply can't compare the two. Azamara is way better.

Hi - looking for some advice- I've never booked a 'guarantee' cabin before - looking at maybe doing a guarantee ocean view on journey - anyone any experience to share?

Thanks!

 

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We had a guaranteed ocean view last year and were allocated 4050, a category 5 cabin (there are only about 4 category 4 ocean view cabins). It was very quiet but was in a great location just near guest relations and the stairs up to the mosaic cafe and main dining room. Worked out well for us.

After a lifetime of resistance, I have decided to give cruising a try, the main reason being that it seems to offer the most pleasant and efficient way to see a part of the world I'm interested in visiting, Turkey and the Greek Isles. Extensive reading of reviews and forums has led me to Azamara as my first choice.

 

Now I have a few questions which are probably incredibly naïve, so I beg your indulgence. First, the posted itinerary for the cruise I'm interested in is seven nights with nearly all departures at 10 pm. Since meals on the ship seem to be a major draw, do guests generally come back for dinner or do they stay ashore to try local cuisine?

 

Second, given that the cruise is relatively short and there are no days at sea, how important is it to upgrade to a stateroom with

 

Finally (for now at least), one of the reasons I'm drawn to Azamara is its relatively small size. In fact, is the size of the ship a significant factor?

I ask because Celebrity offers a similar itinerary, but longer, for about the same money but with upgraded stateroom and amenities.

 

Thank you for any insights you can offer.

For us the size of the 2 Azamara ships is a real plus point. Previously we had been on ships carrying about 1200 and much prefer these smaller ships.

We always come back for our evening meal. We usually eat at about 8:00pm. Firstly you've paid for the food, so why pay again if you eat ashore, secondly the food in the main dining room is terrific and that in the two speciality restaurants (supplement of $25) is outstanding.

We haven't had a balcony cabin, but would not like an inside cabin either.

The other good thing about Azamara is the included drinks - some really nice wines and plenty of spirits to choose from. Also there is no/very little hassling to sell you anything on Azamara, unlike other cruise ships we've been on.