Mrs Skip

2 hours ago, Riocca said:

Yes at Discoverer Plus we paid $6.40 per day.

 

Plenty of Whispering Angel onboard Quest and there’s a new Scottish Gin on the Ultimate Package called Botanist.

 

Strange thing is the flyers on Quest shows a picture of the Atlas Bar and specifically mentions it in the text.

Excellent news for this particular Ileach who will be boarding in just over 2 weeks time ! 

2 hours ago, AJCM said:

I checked with Guest Relations this morning; in the vain hope that the USD39.95 was an error. Nope. The price has changed. You’ll all be just as disappointed as we were.

Thanks for double checking Tony,  enjoy the rest of your cruise. 

26 minutes ago, Werangels said:

Did you use your OBC to purchase the package?  We found a package the best value for South Africa but had to wait until we were onboard to purchase the package using our OBC.  I have put the enjoyments package into my basket for a future cruise along with excursions and if we could sort this now, that would be great.

 

Incidentally, on our last cruise, they had included the $250 spa credit towards our excursions which was very useful. 

We had $600 OBC. I phoned up, the $600 OBC was applied and I paid the rest by credit card.  Within a few minutes the Experience More - Short Voyage was showing up on the voyage planner detailing what was included.  Not yet seen or tried to use the individual OBC (for Shore Excursion & Spa), happy to do that on board.

For me the differential from the 'old' days is the package can be purchased in advance using OBC.  And based on previous experience, will be waiting until on board to schedule the Chefs Table

On the basis of this knowledge, we decided to buy the Experience More - Short Voyage which is for voyages of 7 days or less.  With Ultimate Drinks at $39.95, even with 20% discount, that would be just short of $450 (US), add on the 2 lots of Onboard credit that come with the package ($300) , and 1 extra lot of laundry, and it just about pays for the $799 (US) cost gives us a 'free' Chefs Table.  The wifi part of the package is pointless for us, we have that anyway,

We had been on the 'cusp' of not buying the 7 days package, i suspect others may be inclined to purchase in advance now.

Let's See !

PS - I phoned up on Saturday afternoon to use our $600 OBC and the call was dealt with quickly & professionally.

7 hours ago, Roel94 said:

Johanness just flew to Viet Nam to join Quest..due to time change guessing he already there.

He is

Currently on board Quest. We had paid for a number of excursions using OBC (well before the data migration). Whilst OBC assigned in dollars, excursions charged in UK Pounds. The exchange rate used for the 1st purchase is then assigned for all other OBC purchases. Post migration the amounts charged (in dollars) for the excursions were a bit ‘wonky’ which lead to a suggestion that we had an outstanding balance . Onboard the completely CORRECT balance was sitting in our OBC Account. I got so hung up on the individual excursion amounts it took a couple of visits to get me to that understanding.

Cruise is great, and to those sailing shortly, my advice is bring paperwork, but based on our experience, accounts will be in order overall.

I know I should know this !  Is it possible to register for Meet & Mingles either via Azamara site or through Cruise Critic.  If so would be really grateful if someone could post a link please.  

I appreciate that the days of invitations and formal hosting seem to be a thing of the past.

Thanks

Jane

11 hours ago, aussie travel bird said:

vYou've been very luckly Jane, though ours is hopelessly wrong as well. Future bookings, incoices balances, obc, loyalty points are all incorrect. I submitted my 'query form' about 4 days ago but nothing has been updated yet.  I'm not concern as I will address at the right time onboard in the next week or so.  I'm a 'records manager' so I am going armed with a whole host of information in paper form to substainate.  I do feel for those working onboard as I fear they will be the brunt of the complaints from the guests.  We know they're not to blame.  Hope you're well. Jenny and Neil

In another Azamara website update, our loyalty points are now showing correctly 🙂

Excursions are as expected in terms of number (including a cancellation made on 15 March) but associated costs are incorrect, which I am sure can be sorted quite quickly on board.   I suspect OBC will be the last section of the data to be soerted, but positive movement over the last 2 days.

Like you Jenny, I do hope that those we interact with face to face do not have to bear the brunt of justifiable annoyance.   Hope you're both well and that you enjoy your cruising time also.

We also now have our 1 upcoming cruise showing, definitely correct room details, and looks like correct set of booked excursions 🙂

We have an (incorrect) outstanding balance showing, and (incorrectly) no loyalty points.  I suspect that the (incorrect) outstanding balance is due to a lack of recognition of the OBC we have. 😞

However, it is so good to see progress.

For info.. the above info became available 24 hrs after I had submitted a 'query form' which stated that both upcoming cruises and loyalty details were incorrect.  I received a courtesy email to say that some updates had been made.

Overall this progress has really cheered us up..

3 hours ago, john1970 said:

It's strange. I used to get all the emails. Once I set up my new password and made sure I had the settings to accept emails I have had nothing at all. That's why I am guessing they are using FB as their email database is knackered.

Same for me. No emails now though fortunately for us, there’s still a Comms line with my husband

I’ve now completed the on line form, but managed to get the year entered very quickly @ChucktownSteve so might be worth trying again. No information on either our cruises or loyalty levels and we sail on 18 April. This is our 10th cruiser with Azamara and certainly a very different run up to our travels. It’s difficult not to get upset by this but putting in perspective and remembering that this is NOT the responsibility of the crew on board may help. 

We’re due to sail 18th April, still not showing up ☹️

23 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

We cruised on Quest from 6 to 19 February, Sydney to Perth.

Starlink was expected to be installed during the following cruise, Perth to Hong Kong.

6 hours ago, Drebay said:

Posting from the Quest Japan Intensive. Starlink shows as the provider in my Speedtest. Just shy of 2mbps on Speedtest. Doesn’t seem like a lot when testing but pretty great to use. Clear;y not land based but so much better than any previous cruise. Just FaceTimed with home and it worked just fine!

Great news, thanks for the update

23 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

We cruised on Quest from 6 to 19 February, Sydney to Perth.

Starlink was expected to be installed during the following cruise, Perth to Hong Kong.

Thanks for the update

We too are really keen to hear how this goes, mainly because our once in a lifetime trip to Japan will be a reality in less than 4 weeks (all going well, tendency to assume travel is a dead cert is less than it used to be). As at today, all will need a negative covid test to board Quest though not to get into Japan. I understand this is a port rule, cruise line agnostic. Happy sailing to those who are probably just about to leave Tokyo ! 

Apologies if I’ve missed this, does anyone know if Starlink is on Quest yet. I recall it may have been last in the queue, have vested interest as we board on 18 April from Tokyo. Thanks

1 hour ago, Roel94 said:

You want the whole list like grandma cruising did?

on Quest now and think names stay same. 
Captain Jonas

CD Amanda 

ACD Justin

DJ Reece

staff Captain..forgot name

doctor Victor 

 

other names can not spell 

new list tomorrow with spellings 

 

That’s great, thanks so much  for this and any future info you can provide. I think there is a fairly standard ‘list’ which UKTog had shared. 

On 3/8/2023 at 9:24 AM, uktog said:

Im getting confused (easy I know!)

Could someone on Quest populate this for us - it should all be in the Welcome booklet

 

Captain 

Staff Captain 

Hotel Director 

Cruise Director 

Assistant CD 

Guest Relations Manager 

F & B Manager 

Executive Chef 

Could anyone leaving or joining Quest tomorrow provide an update to UKTogs request please?  Thanks

It's possible to have Prime C or Aquilina menus served in the 'big suites' on a course by course basis.  Butlers are scheduled to be of duty by 21:00 so timings should be worked round that. 

I think the option to have drinks served in suites is for those who are the Ultimate Drinks Package regardless of Suite Category.   That's based on pre-covid and Dec 2021 and April 2022 cruises.

25 minutes ago, maave said:

How many owners suites are on each boat? Thanks

6, 2 each on Deck 6,7 & 8

On 4/19/2022 at 12:09 PM, uktog said:

As an aside/update

 

When we were on Quest last week, we generally kept our masks on and used FFP2 masks on buses and on the flights.  We did note some coughing onboard towards the end of the cruise but previously had decided to ease off mask wearing a little until the point the Captain said we had a case onboard.  (we think it may actually have been cases given what an employee let slip).  At that stage we tried to be more careful with our mask wearing, but you have to have it off to eat and drink!

Anyway on the final morning I started to feel a bit off on the way to the airport.  Over the next 2 days I developed the worst cold and cough I have had for years.  (Until the cough came I thought it was early hay fever) I got myself tested both on Sunday and yesterday because I was convinced I had copped Covid.  All tests are back negative which really surprised us.  The tester said it may actually be the kind of cold/cough you get if you have been exposed to Covid but are fully vaccinated - being symptomatic but not showing traces of covid.  Boy do I feel rough but relieved it is not what I thought (and three years ago I would have said dratted ship/aircraft I have got that usual cold/cough)

We had a very similar experience leaving Quest on 05 April. On arrival home, my husband was full of a cold and cough, but consistently tested negative for Covid.  Lots of grass cutting also lead to some conjecture on hayfever. He was kind enough to share his illness with me, and I also consistently tested negative for Covid (based on self administered LFTs).  The good news is after a week or so, we are both recovered so i do hope that the same timeframes apply to you UKTog.  

We were on Quest last week Lisbon to Lisbon, and (other than the weather over which Azamara have no control) we enjoyed our 9th Azamara cruise as much as ever !

The pre-Covid Azamazing Evening and White Night have been 'tweaked' because of Covid, rather than any decision of Azamara.  It's clear that a lot of effort has gone into making them as enjoyable and as special as ever... and that effort has paid of.

Food, service, drink (we have always gone for the Ultimate Drinks Package) and entertainment were as good as ever, I think the food has actually improved.  On our cruise Aqualina and Prime C were both open which was an added boost.

I think what we all need to remember that as guests get back to 'normal' the crew are also adjusting back. The main impact of covid seems to be an even greater desire that all guests to have a great cruise. Based on the fact that covid has been so much harder for many of the crew,  I for one came away counting blessings.

I think you will have a great cruise... I'm seeing the power of social media growing more, especially on newer forums so i think we all need to read commentary with a 'pinch of salt'. Enjoy 🙂

We’re due to leave Lisbon on Tuesday 29 March and haven’t had any email re COVID screening as yet.  On our roll call I was told emails were only sent out 4 days beforehand for January cruises but still waiting ☹️.

I also understand that it is possible to get through the covid screening without preregistration, now looking like we could be testing that theory.

2 hours ago, EdinburghTim said:

The Scottish App is OK Mrs Skip. The App generates a new QR code every time you open or refresh the App. The QR code is valid for 3 days - so today (26th March) it is valid until 29th March.

 

According to the App, this 3 day validity of the QR code is for 'security reasons'. It also advises that you check your QR codes are up to date before you travel. 

 

If you click on the information symbol next to the validity date, there is an explanation to this effect.

 

Hope this helps!

Thanks EdinburghTim,  when we refreshed yesterday, the date remained the same, but of course it would…. As it was 25 March all day !

Now that we have refreshed again today, expiry date has moved on by 1 more day..

So app has expiry date of 3 days max, but pdf of 3 months max…

 
thanks for your insight.

Will update on our experience on boarding at Lisbon this coming Tuesday - we will have 3 different permutations of vaccines & boosters in our party of 4.

There is another minor 'glitch' for anyone else using the Scottish Covid Passport to be aware of - expiry dates for each vaccination/booster on the app seems to be 'frozen' at 28 March 2022.  We were told yesterday that there have been a few issues with this.  The advice is to either:

- delete and reload the app - which did not result in any change for us

- log in and download a PDF of vaccination records - and use that - fingers crossed that will be suitable for all agencies.  Expiry dates on the PDFs are 3 months from the current date.

Anyone else with vaccinations from Scotland may may want to check this out to - @uktog