Dylandude

You can do self disembark at any port. AS long as you can and want to carry off your own luggage.

The last time we were in San Diego (4 years ago)the port authorities did not allow it. My understanding is, it not everywhere that allows it.

How well does Blu cope with Gluten free diet requirements?

I feel for you and your dilemma. The rules for UK vrs USA seem very unfair.

Hopefully Azamara, and maybe Bonnie can come up with some solutions for you.

It's as though you want to cancel, just put the cruise back a year.

Can not view

Opens for me. It's on the Azamara Facebook site

After the shocking news this week concerning the remodelling of LCV I think Procter may well be right and Azamara will disappear in the next 2 - 3 years.

If they are still around they may well be a Charter line only.

I suspect we are seeing the beginning of the end were Azamara are concerned.

What is they say about vermin abandoning a sinking ship?

The pricing has been corrected on those tours. Thank you so much for calling our attention to this error. And thank you for being patient waiting for this correction.

 

Below is the memo I received:

 

Hi Bonnie,

We just confirmed that due to a system error, the pricing the guest was seeing in the UK was indeed incorrect.

The product development team has addressed this and the correct pricing is now showing online and in the downloadable brochures.

 

Below is the correct pricing if you'd like to add it in to your response:

The correct price for RJ42 Best of Rio with Churrascaria Lunch is GBP 109.25 per adult / GBP 76.25 per child.

 

The correct price for RJ71 Best of Rio with Churrascaria Lunch (Ends at the Airport) is GBP 111.50 per adult / GBP 79.75 per child.

Bonnie

Thanks for all your efforts in rectifying this anomaly.

That I cited the US prices for both tours--admittedly for February 2015--in one of my more recent posts above...

 

The dollar differential between the two is $ US 25 with the airport drop-off version actually being the less expensive--despite being 30 minutes longer-- of the two...

 

My guess is that there's an error in play on the UK website...

Xport, I have checked the prices on the US site and they are $149 and $375 respectively. Still an outrageous premium for an airport drop off.

Hi Bonnie

Loved your blog about Rio de Janeiro, and can't wait to be back on board Journey for the TA leaving Malaga at the of November.

I have one question that does frustrate me (and no doubt others) in relation to the cost of two of the shore excursions.

The two shore excursions are RJ42 (Best of Rio with Churrascaria lunch) priced at £88, and RJ71 (Best of Rio with Churrascaria lunch and airport drop) priced at £221

The tour with the airport drop lasts 30 minutes longer which is probably understandable.

My concern I have is the price differential, in Sterling it is £133 or USD at today's rate $227 for the airport drop!

How can this price differential be justified? I can understand extra baggage handling and 30 minutes extra on board a coach, but $227 is 10% of the price of the cruise.

If the price increase was $50 -$75 it is within reason, though I fear someone was heavy handed with their fingers on the calculator.

One of my considerations is to leave the ship very early, taxi to the airport, drop the bags in left luggage and taxi back to the ship for the £88 tour, and taxi back to the airport after the tour concludes.

I am concerned how these two tours are priced so differently.

Bonnie' date=' the robes are fine. I don't understand a desire for small thin cheapo robes. They are meant for post-shower and not for pool side but will serve either way. Your robes are the only ones I have ever used and they are mighty fine. In a five star lux London hotel they would cost 50 pounds minimum to take home. Hello Miami, leave the robes as is. You might offer shorter versions for those who request same from their cabin attendant, but default to status quo.[/quote']

 

Well said

There are actually just 694 guests on board Azamara at maximum occupancy; and I would dare to suggest that the OP deliberately chose to have a 'sense of humour bypass' as he appeared to be determined to find fault in everything.

I wish him well on Cunard or HAL. I know I will enjoy my forthcoming Azamara cruise and will look forward to the midday announcements about sextants or socks....

Well said :)

The more inclusive drinks package does work for me, it may mean some compromises but se la vie.

The one drink I wish Azamara could sort out is the Tonic water they serve. The Royal Club brand they serve is so sub standard it means a G&T is virtually unpalatable.

I conversation last year with Heike Berdos she agreed with my criticisms of Royal Club and stated " a G&T is not a G&T with out Schweppes". Her words not mine.

Let's face facts, the ships are American owned and registered in Bermuda.

Then I realised the Bermudian and American flags are red white and blue as well!

Liverpoollad, you should be on board tonight.

In the the Looking Glass lounge at 8:30pm - Led Zeppelin tribute for 30 mins with DJ Marco!

Have just come home from Quest, and was interested to read your review as we did the same itinerary on Journey in June.

I would agree that the Athens Hilton was good. Our group of 4 had dinner in The Plaka rather than in the hotel, which was good and inexpensive. We did have drinks however on the spectacular balcony bar with views to the Parthenon. There were no lists of names in the foyer on our departure.

 

Food: I would rate the food on Quest slightly better than on Journey. Certainly had no problem with portion size on either ship. At dinner I would generally have 4 courses (but generally wished I had stuck at 2 and then would not have put on so much weight). DH is a steak man and loved the New York Strip or Rib Eye. I thought the menu offered a really good variety of fish and meat. I had French Onion Soup, which was described as that, last week, but at the end of the day it is made from Onion and Cheese.

 

On this last trip we were a 2. I would always prefer to share a table with others as it is so great to talk to people from other parts of the world. I might not choose them all as friends but it does offer an interesting perspective on

the world of cruisers. (which is not the same as the real world).

However a couple of times we were allocated a table for 2 but it is easy to speak to a neighbour. On our Journey cruise we did not have to wait for more than 5 or 10 minutes for a table. On Quest we often had to wait 20 - 30 minutes which meant we missed the beginning of the show.

 

Ports: We also loved the ports on this cruise. Funnily enough I loved Kos. I thought Kos Town was the perfect place to DIY. The Old Fort was interesting with spectacular views - Major benefit - no crowds. The town had some great shopping with none of the pressure to buy found in Turkey. We had wonderful fresh lemonade in the square with Hippocrates Tree. All very laid back.

 

I have never travelled solo so my experience would of course be different.

However I would certainly consider travelling solo on Azamara rather than on the other lines I have cruised on.

 

Your treatment at the end of the cruise was awful and what a sad finish to an enjoyable cruise.

 

Thank you again.

Sorry

Presently on Journey, having been on Quest in June.

Journey's food and service is better. Period.

Bill

Thanks for the very comphrensive update, I'll watch this space with interest

DD

Are the complimentary drinks only available at meals or poolside and at bars as well?

Are the daily wines available at the bars, as against just in the restaurants?

Bill,

 

 

 

- I just can't understand why a cheap domestic beer like Bud and Bud light are included as complimentary but others like Coors Light and Miller Light are not? To me, this just has no logic. And yes, I don't like the Bud products. Can this be reviewed?

 

I would suggest that as the 3 beers being offered are all brewed and supplied by the same company (InBev AB) a deal has been struck on price and reimbursement that minimises the cost to Azamara.

It's possible that deals of this nature are also a factor in the strange choice of drinks available on the package, ie no Port or Sherry, poor quality Scotch, no Irish whiskey, no stouts or ales. Just a thought!