Bloodaxe

Hello Nordski,

 

Yes the two sisters will be together in Barcelona on Wednesday and lots of celebrations are planned. Really looking forward to it.

Hello Hazel,

The ships were together for 2 days in May 2014 for the Monaco Grand prix. We were on Journey and Quest was anchored nearby.

I don't remember any special events just lots of tendering back and forth by the crew.

Interesting to hear what happens this time.

Enjoy Barcelona has I know you always do.

Eric

This will be our 1st cruise with Amazara Journey Does anyone know if you have putting competitions on board. We have had great fun on Silverseas Princess and PO.

They have had them on transatlantic crossings with plenty of sea days.

Not sure about shorter cruises

I like the small ships too. The Pacific Princess is still sailing with Princess and they have done, or are about to do, a renovation. They plan to keep her for at least 7 more years from what I've heard.

Thanks that is good to know, I thought that ship had also left the line. I will look out for its cruises.

Bloodaxe,

I would certainly sail Azamara again if only I could find a good deal. We had such an excellent deal for the TA last year ( balcony cabin for £100 p.p.p.n) and that was all in except for excursions. Free drinks ( not Premium) Free gratuities count for a lot as does the Free shuttle service. Azamara excursions are VERY expensive though.

 

Celebrity have made changes since we sailed, no longer Formal Nights, but Evening Chic which we have not done. Drinks prices are very similar to Princess, BUT we were not constantly harassed to buy Speciality Dining on Princess as we have been on Celebrity. In fact we used to pass the Crown Grill and see no one dining! Maybe it's the Americans who go for the Speciality Restaurants ? Obviously on our cruise, most Brits were unwilling to pay extra (Princess price was $29, Celebrity double that)

HOWEVER, Princess's web site is far superior to Celebrity's which is really their downfall. We were also warned by Princess that there are only American sockets on board, no European ( apparently there is one behind the bed, but if that is used, then you cannot use the lamp and you have to pull the bed out. However, the voltage of the American sockets is only 110 v. I had a 5 USB adapter, which meant we could charge iPads and phones overnight. My husband had real problems with his Samsung J5 phone, he was getting a blank screen in the morning. Someone told him to turn it off overnight, but this didn't always work. I had no problem with my iPhone 5s.

 

 

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Thank you for the reply and your review.

Our problem is we love the smaller ships like the R ships that Azamara sail.

I believe that Princess no longer have any.

We have considered P and O Adonia which is a sister ship, also Oceana who have the others.

We were lucky to find Azamara years ago when prices were reasonable but sadly that is not the case anymore, so we are looking elsewhere.

Congrats to Huddersfield on promotion .

Eric

How does Princess compare overall to Celebrity and Azamara.

I know that you have mainly cruised Celebrity and recently Azamara

We have done the same and for several years just Azamara. Now looking around at other lines. Would be interested in your opinion.

I've just checked the 2019 Panama Canal cruise and compared the pricing to the one we took this year. The current price is double the price we paid and even with "buy one get one half off" it would (obviously) still be 50% more expensive.

I am so pleased that we have 9 years and 19 cruises of incredibly happy memories of Azamara. At these prices we will have very few (if any) to look forward to...

I am in the same boat, after 12 cruises spread over 9 years we are starting to look elsewhere for the future.

Hi,

I'd be interested in knowing who you choose to sail with, if not Celebrity, just out of curiosity. I had looked about for this year, but then decided, better with the devil I know..

thanks

We cruised with Celebrity for several years then tried Azamara which much preferred even though it was more expensive.

We had been thinking of trying Celebrity again and almost booked this Presidents cruise to Iceland.

After reading this I am pleased that we didn't.

I know that this is a cruise forum but in my opinion the only way to do justice to New Zealand and Australia is extensive land tours

On a cruise you will only ever get a taste and will be left wanting more.

So pleased we have a Host from UK ( Yorkshire too!!)

Congratulations

I agree, what we need now is to persuade Azamara to call at HULL our local port.

I am sure our overseas friends would love to visit to visit York and Yorkshire.

I stand corrected but I believe Azamara are going to struggle without New builds

Also plenty more New competition on the way.

Virgin springs to mind for one.

Does Azamara provide shuttles from pier to St Marks square[/quote

 

No, it is either a walk or water taxi.

If you aren't happy about it then feed it back to both Miami and the ship. Remember the art auctions?

The art auctions will have been discontinued for lack of interest.

The same should happen with these tours.

I M O they are not worth paying for but OK IF FREE on sea days

Interesting that this has already been done on Celebrity. I wonder if they will still offer the smaller one section tours free. On Azamara I think the invites to the free tours were to those designated as VIPs, usually those in the top suites.

 

 

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Not so, we have been on all the tours over the last 10 years and never been in anything other than a balcony.

It looks like another drop in value from Azamara, revenue chasing.

I'd never read anything by Bill Bryson but I just picked up a used copy of "The Road to Little Dribbling; Adventures of an American in Britain." I too find myself laughing out loud!

You should read. Notes from a small island. which is the forerunner and is even better

On arrival at Sydney a few years ago we found several people in the arrival area asking if we needed transfers.

Mini buses were doing the rounds of all the popular hotels at a very reasonable price

Better rate on Azamara, 5 points for a V2 balcony, whereas Celebrity only award 3 points for 1A.

 

 

 

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If you compare how much it costs to earn a point you would probably find not much difference between them

Currently tracking position showing Journey just north of Brisbane off the Sunshine Coast.

They look to be well to the south of the main storm track

Hope that their itinerary is not disrupted to much, has others have said we love Queensland.

It looks as if they are testing the water especially with 2019 prices .

If they are not careful they may find that they have the water to themselves.

6056 on Journey is a standard balcony cabin.

We stayed in it on a transatlantic cruise and it was fine.

It's at the top of the staircase just up from mosaics cafe .

We found it a good location with easy access to the restaurants.

You will sometimes have people standing outside the lift but it did not bother us.

Would certainly book it again.

After 12 cruises spread over 10 years at these prices I am sorry to say it is Sayonara Azamara for us

Have a lovely time Tim

We spent our fortieth and forty fifth anniversaries on board Journey.

Hope to do the same for our next big one in a couple of years.

We did the Lucca with wine tasting tour a couple of years ago and enjoyed it.

The time in Lucca was a little short by gave a nice overview.

The vineyard was in a lovely setting if a little modern.

Wines and bites also very nice and plentiful.

A very good trip overall

Sorry I didn't make myself clear. I wasn't suggesting all of those things. Just offering options.

Either of the Castles plus a look around their towns would take 1/2 a day as would Bodnant gardens.

The Menai Bridge is easily fitted in as you have to get off the island as is Llanfair PG.

Snowdonia National park could take a whole day but oh it's worth it.

 

Saying that after the castles we tend to take our guests to the slate mines at Blaenau as for some reason they always want to go down the mines.

 

And then there's Portmeirion, the 60's cult TV series The Prisoner was filmed here. This is about 1hour from Anglesey. Again this is on a lot of our visitors lists these days.

Everything you suggest is well worth a visit.

A one day tour can only ever scratch the surface of such a beautiful area.

It has taken us many years returning for holidays since we moved away and we still find new things to do.

Sorry to take so long to reply however Bloodaxe is right. Anglesey is very rural, farms, little villages etc. You would need transport. There isn't a lot in Holyhead.

There are beautiful beaches on the island in an untouched wild way, beloved to our family as we took the children regularly to fly kites, play cricket and picnic. However depending on where you live beaches may not be your thing.

 

The village with the longest name in the world is on Anglesey

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch ( we call it Llanfair PG )

the train station with its name plate is a favourite photo opportunity.

 

Driving off Anglesey over the Menai straits with its suspension bridge is very scenic.

The suspension bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1826 and is famous, at least here in the U.K.

 

With a car North Wales is an wonderful place, with some well preserved castles the best being ;

Conwy(lovely town quaint high street beautiful waterfront )or closer to Angelsy Caernarfon Castle, a world heritage site...13 th century well preserved castle absolutely stunning setting dominating the town and its waterfront.

 

There is a beautiful garden called Bodnant gardens very popular with all ages.

 

Or Snowdonia National park.

I could recommend all the above wholeheartedly.

 

If none of these appeal let me know your interests and I will think again.

It would also help if I knew how long you were in port for and how far you would be willing to drive as all the above are under an hours traveling time.

 

Hope this helps[/quote

 

I agree with all of the above but you will be very short of time.

I would suggest a tour of Snowdonia with a visit to Caernarfon.

Most organized tours will call at Llanfair PG to visit the shopping outlets.

 

You will have a lovely time wherever you go if the weather is kind.