What are port education programs like?

[markincanada]

We are considering a 16 day cruise in Norway next summer.  Onboard programs about the country, culture and ports are very important to us.  How are they on Aramark.  Thanks

[markincanada]

Doesn’t it drive you crazy when your ipad overrides your spelling.  I meant Azamara. 

[uktog]

Unfortunately they are not Azamaras strong suite. Norway this year was particularly poor - older gentleman who was not up to speed with the ports on itinerary- he even told guests about the features of Skarra Brad Orkney when we weren’t stopping but were going to the Shetlands

[Nippy Sweetie]

Recently we enjoyed all 3 port talks in 11 days on Intensive Italy cruise. The lecturer was a very nice older man. His talks were interesting but not particularly useful from a practical point of view re the various places we were going to. As previously stated this isn't an Azamara strong point.

Even the maps and literature about each port were of poor quality. Info even stated that it may not be entirely accurate as it had just been downloaded from the internet. 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Nippy Sweetie

[uktog]

4 minutes ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

Recently we enjoyed all 3 port talks in 11 days on Intensive Italy cruise. The lecturer was a very nice older man. His talks were interesting but not particularly useful from a practical point of view re the various places we were going to. As previously stated this isn't an Azamara strong point.

Even the maps and literature about each port were of poor quality. Info even stated that it may not be entirely accurate as it had just been downloaded from the internet. 

Such a shame only 3 talks, there is so much that could be covered relating to Italy - it really should be one per port and should cover history as well as key suggestions for that port.  You may appreciate why I find the content of these talks by non experts so painful when I tell you I watched on TV a port lecturer (again an older man) advise guests to start at Holyrood House and work their way down the Royal Mile.  His one hour talk covered more about buying jumpers and pictures of shop windows than valuable practical information like there are more coffee shops in one part than another etc.

 

I agree the maps are poor and on our Greece intensive were only suitable for folks with the 20:20 vision of a 20 year old.  And for some ports, the street names were only in Greek lettering even though when you actually got to the port, they were also available in abc format.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 10/27/2022 at 11:46 AM, uktog said:

Such a shame only 3 talks, there is so much that could be covered relating to Italy - it really should be one per port and should cover history as well as key suggestions for that port.  You may appreciate why I find the content of these talks by non experts so painful when I tell you I watched on TV a port lecturer (again an older man) advise guests to start at Holyrood House and work their way down the Royal Mile.  His one hour talk covered more about buying jumpers and pictures of shop windows than valuable practical information like there are more coffee shops in one part than another etc.

 

I agree the maps are poor and on our Greece intensive were only suitable for folks with the 20:20 vision of a 20 year old.  And for some ports, the street names were only in Greek lettering even though when you actually got to the port, they were also available in abc format.

I remember when the lectures weren’t separated and the lecturer had been to most of the ports. Shore also gave lectures about more specifics of some ports.  Both used personal photographs that showed things like what the steps described as sand actually looked like.  (They had timber at the rise and were deep enough to take at least 2 steps, or enough space that a wheelchair would fit! They also weren’t soft sand.)  

 

 

[Harrietq]

I concur this is not an Azamara strong point, and I find it odd given their “immersion-“ based itineraries. Even Viking provides a brief history, overview and practical (money, language, public transport, etc.) tips at each new port.

 

I bring along a trusted guide book so I can give a port talk to the undivided attention of my DH. 😄 I usually take short notes on my phone if I want more detail after tours and the book(s) help with that. 

 

We had a Covid delay in Barcelona and the guide book I brought was invaluable as we spent 11 days we didn’t know we wanted in Barca. (No restrictions or isolation requirements 🤷🏻‍♀️ in Spain this past April.)

 

Short story long, bring along or download your own research. You may or may not need it, but I’ve never regretted having it.

[manc]

We have been on 15 + Azamara cruises. Some of the lecturers have been great and others have left a bad impression. In the Far East we had fantastic people but sailing through the Kiel canal was awful. Unpredictable! 

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 hours ago, Harrietq said:

Short story long, bring along or download your own research. You may or may not need it, but I’ve never regretted having it.

As General Eisenhower famously said, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”  Even when I am taking ship's excursions, I always do my advance planning so I will know how to roll with changes (and utilize the 'free time' that is usually promised, and sometimes actually offered, on excursions...)

[FlyerTalker]

On 10/27/2022 at 8:46 AM, uktog said:

I agree the maps are poor and on our Greece intensive were only suitable for folks with the 20:20 vision of a 20 year old.  And for some ports, the street names were only in Greek lettering even though when you actually got to the port, they were also available in abc format.

 

Pro tip:  Even if you do not have a data plan for your phone while ashore, you can download maps to Google Maps on your phone in advance of your port stop.  Those maps are still usable, even without a data connection.  Now, you won't have lookup capabilities, but at least you will have a usable map AND your GPS location on that map.

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, frankgallager said:

Where else to get such a guide, I did not take and strongly regretted it.

Actually that IS an Azamara strong point:  there are low bookcases right near the Shore Excursions desk* with every guidebook I am aware of – all the series, all the countries of the world.  Maybe not as convenient for some as having a lecturer or a sheet delivered to your cabin – but hey, I'm a retired librarian so seeing that beautiful travel library set my heart aflutter!  And frankly, I would rather consult Rick Steves than the cruise line materials anyway.  😉

 

*in – wait for it – the former Casino space!

[uktog]

I would not go as far as to say strong but I would say these materials are useful.  However, on our recent Caribbean cruise, there were no materials available (maybe someone had borrowed them) and whilst accepting it was a substitute port, it would have been helpful if someone had known a little but more about RoadTown BVI.  Ships do call there so it is not an unknown, but the information available was woefully lacking.  I think though my bigger beef, and I would have to question even why they have destination speakers on board, was the talks could not be scheduled for two of the ports until AFTER we called there.  There were other talks on that were not time critical so why were two destination talks put on for the first two sea days and all the islands covered in them?

[peajay]

Recently returned from the Pursuit transatlantic repositioning cruise from Lisbon to Rio. I was disappointed in the destination sea days daily talks. The elderly presenter has been employed by Azamara for years as he often confirmed. His speeches rambled and went into deep details about bananas one day. Sadly I think Azamara are out of date and not paying enough attention to what should be a key feature of their cruising ethos. I have experienced much more interesting talks on P&O cruises.

[uktog]

Exactly my experience and thoughts though I’ve no experience of P and O I did find talks in a different league on Viking. It was a rambling experience again on Onward after a painfully inaccurate experience on Quest in the summer. I wonder how Azamara review the feedback given that many have given up and don’t attend. 

Edited December 28, 2022 by uktog

[D. B.]

On 10/11/2022 at 1:29 PM, markincanada said:

Doesn’t it drive you crazy when your ipad overrides your spelling.  I meant Azamara. 

The person who Invented Autocorrect should Burn in Hello

[Bpos]

On a Quest cruise through Asia in 2011 our presenter (Michael from California) filled the theatre whenever he made a presentation, he was excellent and a total professional.    One good thing he did was spend a few minutes on each port discussing the use of taxis, things to avoid in order to make sure you were safe and forwarned to enhance you day in port.  

[uktog]

5 hours ago, Bpos said:

On a Quest cruise through Asia in 2011 our presenter (Michael from California) filled the theatre whenever he made a presentation, he was excellent and a total professional.    One good thing he did was spend a few minutes on each port discussing the use of taxis, things to avoid in order to make sure you were safe and forwarned to enhance you day in port.  

I think back in the early days Azamaras presenters both on country information and other topics were much higher standard than now. I am not sure if it was a conscious policy decision or if they’ve taken the eye of that ball in that area. 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 1/14/2023 at 2:29 AM, uktog said:

I think back in the early days Azamaras presenters both on country information and other topics were much higher standard than now. I am not sure if it was a conscious policy decision or if they’ve taken the eye of that ball in that area. 

I remember shore doing a presentation about the ports that included multiple pictures they had taken of the various sites.  The lecturer then talked about the history or other aspects of each destination, or perhaps the politics that caused Somalia.  They too had personal photos of the country.  On multiple sea days we had lectures on what was happening in the seas under us.

 

After the lecturers were split we had a lecture about Monet’s inspiration as we were about to visit that port.  
 

My feeling is that the expertise for just destination and history is limited and expanding at least transatlantic to include forensic type DNA lectures filled the cabaret!   Recently, on a less port intensive cruise we had a professor of music present lectures about the songwriters that shaped or reflected the events of the times.  While it wasn’t an event that packed the house it was hard not to be pulled into the lecture as he presented his commentary and examples accompanied by his piano and voice.