Live from Azura Cruise 12th October - 28th October positioning to Tenerife

[purplesea]

The canolli I've had at home are nothing like those that we have had over here. 

Have you tried any of the street foods?

[carlanthony24]

Just now, purplesea said:

The canolli I've had at home are nothing like those that we have had over here. 

Have you tried any of the street foods?

We did not see any street vendors we just took a walk into the centre. Sister not having a good day with her back.

[purplesea]

There is quite a lot of interesting things to see in Palermo. One day is not enough.

 

[elmsliebev]

On 10/12/2023 at 9:50 PM, carlanthony24 said:

Friday 13th October Horizon. I know people have said they don’t get biscuits anymore but we have biscuits in both cabins unless it’s because we are in a superior Duluxe?

We are getting biscuits replaced each time we eat them and we're in a basic inside! 

[elmsliebev]

On 10/14/2023 at 12:21 PM, carlanthony24 said:

We found doing Catania on our own quite boring so if we come back again we will do an excursion 

We did the Taormina and Mount Etna trip, very good and a decent lunch.

[carlanthony24]

Tomorrow we are in Cagliari port schedule says we are joining AidaCosma who dock at 6am-1600PM we are due to be docking 8am-1800PM we know we have to use the port shuttle bus since it is a working port. Reading AidaCosma can carry 6000+ passengers along with 3000+ of ours I expect it to be quite busy.

Edited October 15, 2023 by carlanthony24

[carlanthony24]

Captain saying we should have slight occasional moderate seas wind up to 30 knots and due to arrive at 9am 

[Eddie99]

Just to say that I am enjoying this thread and cruising along with you

[carlanthony24]

Today we are in Cagliari arrival 9am along with AidaCosma. Free shuttle in place for all guests because it is a working port. 

 

Food last night virtual queueing does not seem to be used this cruise and instead giving out pagers. We went for 19:30 but table was still occupied we were buzzed 30 minutes later. It seems like a lot of guests were going quite late since the England rugby was on and the host did say she still had 57 people with pagers. Some guests were complaining because they expected to get a table straight away.

 

We had fish and chips, lamb(forgot a picture of that meal) and pasta which the sister said it definitely had a bit of spice to it. The waiters asked if we would like extra piece of fish it was good. They also brought out extra hand cut chips by the end of the main meal we had no room left for deserts. Will post pictures later when sister sends them over.

 

Last night family went to see Blame it on the boogie been a while since we last saw it my heart dropped when the girl on the rope dropped to be upside down. 

 

Tonight is a magician who we have not seen before so will be attending the show.

 

Tomorrow is another sea day to Palma De Mallorca this will be another slow speed run of around 8 knots. 

[carlanthony24]

[carlanthony24]

[JeanieC,Aston]

On 10/14/2023 at 9:20 AM, carlanthony24 said:

At 4:45am cabin started to shake has the side thrusters came on for departure. This does not bother us, it’s always nice seeing us arrive and depart. Myself and my sister went out onto the balcony and watched our departure. We were out in open ocean around 5:05am after the ferry had gone past us. 

 

Around midday we tend to go to Java the coffee place onboard. One couple went and sat down and the guy decided to head up to the bar area after only a few minutes and have a go at one of the waiters saying he had been waiting ages. Uncalled for when they work so hard and can only do so much at a time. Couple people moaning at reception both cabin issues but one guy was moaning about no water and his cabin steward had only reported the issue half an hour before. Impatient springs to mind.

 

Midday announcement the sea depth was 2000 metres temperature of 29 degrees. We are due to pick up our pilot up at 7am and docked by 8am with the all onboard time of 16:30PM. Atrium entrainment was bar staff juggling bottles and making drinks for people to judge them on. A lot of people stopped to watch.

 

At an average speed of 8 knots Azura headed east before doing a 180 towards Catania later that evening. A lot of jellyfish were seen throughout the day.

 

Formal night well attended. 

 

Freedom dining we always go for roughly 19:30. Given a pager and we thought we would go and attend the captains speech but within 5 minutes it went off. We prefer to have our own table we have already found waiters we can have a laugh with so have requested the same ones each night.

 

Starters included gravel axe salmon and tomato soup. Mains include grilled Chicken Breast, Lamp and Beef Wellington.

 

Today we are in Catania arrival 8am all onboard is 16:30 no shuttle bus is needed and is around a 15 minute walk into the centre. 

 

Azura is currently taking on fuel and we will be docking in Palermo tomorrow.

 

We are eating at the beach house today table booked for 19:30PM. 
 

We have also seen the cruise we would like to do in 2025 which will bring us back onboard Azura for the repositioning to Tenerife the first week sailing around Rome and France before heading to Spain, Tangier. Holding off booking and will wait for a good deal. 

Green beans r us…..🤣

[Sonyar]

We're on this cruise. Really disappointed that there's no virtual queue as we liked to join it and wait on our balcony.

Preferred to book the theatre online too.

[carlanthony24]

Captain has just announced further to the west we will see a change of weather. 15-30 knot winds with cloudy skies but slight to moderate seas and chance of showers tomorrow. Weather for Palma on Wednesday expected to be 27 degrees and sunny.

 

 

[Britboys]

On 10/14/2023 at 10:40 PM, carlanthony24 said:

Sailing close to land so still have signal. The Era Boys were fantastic in the Playhouse Theatre they are back on Tuesday for another show. People did say the first show was full and when we went for the 2nd show it was full around 15 minutes before start time. 
 

The sign saying we are sailing full is still showing outside reception. This cruise does seem to have more people compared to March
 

Tomorrows menu 

What a dreadfully uninspiring set of main courses...

[Britboys]

On 10/15/2023 at 10:08 AM, carlanthony24 said:

Wonder what they are loading.

More green beans...

[Britboys]

On 10/15/2023 at 11:33 AM, carlanthony24 said:

Cannoli

I had a really fabulous cannolo in Taormina last year... 😋

[carlanthony24]

Tuesday 17th October Horizon

[mklions]

2 hours ago, carlanthony24 said:

Captain has just announced further to the west we will see a change of weather. 15-30 knot winds with cloudy skies but slight to moderate seas and chance of showers tomorrow. Weather for Palma on Wednesday expected to be 27 degrees and sunny.

 

 

Lucky you with the weather tomorrow, its very cold here in Buckinghamshire and could be a frost in the. countryside tonight.

Not so sure on the sailing though 15-30 knot winds, maybe a tad choppy tonight, let us know how it goes!

Thanks for posting a great thread!

[carlanthony24]

1 hour ago, mklions said:

Lucky you with the weather tomorrow, its very cold here in Buckinghamshire and could be a frost in the. countryside tonight.

Not so sure on the sailing though 15-30 knot winds, maybe a tad choppy tonight, let us know how it goes!

Thanks for posting a great thread!

At our slow speed of 7 knots it’s so calm not feeling any movement. 

[carlanthony24]

For dinner we had tomato soup and mains beef sirloin and pork loin. Dad and sister bought new watches in the sale, under £50 and 20% off depending on what you chose.

 

The magician was very good he asked for some of the audience to help him out including my sister some of the participants were taking a while to just say something he had asked them to say.

 

Winds and seas are calm still hot at night but it has started to rain on and off and still picking up 3G from the island.

Edited October 16, 2023 by carlanthony24

[zap99]

6 hours ago, Britboys said:

What a dreadfully uninspiring set of main courses...

I would eat any of those and I like green beans.

[pete14]

9 hours ago, zap99 said:

I would eat any of those and I like green beans.

I agree but think I would have gone for the Steak and Kidney pie with suet pastry, with or without green beans. 

[zap99]

29 minutes ago, pete14 said:

I agree but think I would have gone for the Steak and Kidney pie with suet pastry, with or without green beans. 

Beef Wellington for me, but the pie runs it a close second.  Green beans , or Chinese Brockory to go with it.

[FatBoy20]

11 hours ago, zap99 said:

I would eat any of those and I like green beans.

The presentation needs improving. Sometimes it looks like it's thrown on the plate!.