Azamara in the Antarctic - a live perspective

[giraffeluver]

On 2/18/2024 at 10:04 AM, nordski said:

Thanks for the reminders of the fascinations of  Buenos Aires.

 

Given the recent election and political excitement, were police in evidence in the neighbourhoods you visited?

I stayed in a small hotel in Recoleta the Mio Hotel and you could see the police in attendance near the shopping center next to the Recoleta cemetary and nearby.  I didn't feel threatened or unsafe.  Kept an eye out though.  Judy

[giraffeluver]

On 2/19/2024 at 7:22 AM, ChucktownSteve said:

Do you know if the restaurants included with an Owner's Suite also include the Chef's table?

No, that is extra, I asked.  VIP invitation for March 1 for a special dinner, may be similar to chef's table.

[uktog]

21 minutes ago, giraffeluver said:

No, that is extra, I asked.  VIP invitation for March 1 for a special dinner, may be similar to chef's table.

It’s even more special than the chefs table 

[giraffeluver]

2 hours ago, uktog said:

It’s even more special than the chefs table 

Good to know as this is my first cruise with Azamara.  I was actually surprised that Azamara allowed a 125% single supplement for the Owner's Suite, it was a huge savings even with $1600 in onboard credit which I mostly applied to shore excursions.  I couldn't pass this maybe once in a lifetime cruise.

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, giraffeluver said:

Good to know as this is my first cruise with Azamara.  I was actually surprised that Azamara allowed a 125% single supplement for the Owner's Suite, it was a huge savings even with $1600 in onboard credit which I mostly applied to shore excursions.  I couldn't pass this maybe once in a lifetime cruise.

Wow.  You done good!  

[excitedofharpenden]

8 hours ago, giraffeluver said:

No, that is extra, I asked.  VIP invitation for March 1 for a special dinner, may be similar to chef's table.

That is probably the Best of the Best dinner that they will hold in the Drawing Room on Quest. And it's much better than Chef's Table in my view. 

 

Phil 

[uktog]

As @Mackdogmolly showed so much going on for our first sea day and we were blessed with beautiful weather so it was so many choices inside and outside 

With four enrichment lecturers all focused on features of Antarctica so you can really get immersed in it all. We listened to two, one on seabirds and one on geopolitical situation and will do the other two on tv catch up. All have been very informative to date. 

Dinner in Aqualina was very good. The portion sizes are certainly much smaller- it worked ok for us but we overheard rumblings elsewhere. You can always order a third entree to share. The tables are now very close together but last night we had no one next to us which, given we wanted a dinner just together, was spot on. 

Spotted our first wildlife albeit these pictures are through windows from Deck 10 to grab an opportunity- not my favourite photo spot but nature doesn’t understand to appear when I’m in my preferred spot. 
However did give if you look closely a lovely undersea shot of the pod

 

 

The good news is that Captain is pretty confident that we will make Port Stanley. So far very smooth sailing and the thought is possibly a little rocky after the Falklands but not too bad. 

[uktog]

Another busy day ahead!

 

 

[kool kruiser]

3 hours ago, uktog said:

Another busy day ahead!

 

 

Thanks so much for again taking the time to post. Seems to be excellent programming.

I noticed that the CD is Tanya, who we met on Explora. If you get a chance, please pass on my warmest regards and perhaps tease her that she now has a title in plain cruisespeak😀.

Thanks and have a great cruise

Colin

[uktog]

Unfortunately overnight mosquitoes invaded us. They are spraying everywhere and hope those pesky fliers go as quickly as they came 

[Mackdogmolly]

Guest Relations reported to me that I could get an upgrade on my beverage package from premium to ultimate for the $8 difference, less my 15% Discoverer loyalty discount. When I went to the Spirits bar to make the upgrade, they said they couldn’t apply the discount. When I pushed, he checked with his supervisor, and the discount was applied!

[travelberlin]

8 hours ago, uktog said:

As @Mackdogmolly showed so much going on for our first sea day and we were blessed with beautiful weather so it was so many choices inside and outside 

With four enrichment lecturers all focused on features of Antarctica so you can really get immersed in it all. We listened to two, one on seabirds and one on geopolitical situation and will do the other two on tv catch up. All have been very informative to date. 

Dinner in Aqualina was very good. The portion sizes are certainly much smaller- it worked ok for us but we overheard rumblings elsewhere. You can always order a third entree to share. The tables are now very close together but last night we had no one next to us which, given we wanted a dinner just together, was spot on. 

Spotted our first wildlife albeit these pictures are through windows from Deck 10 to grab an opportunity- not my favourite photo spot but nature doesn’t understand to appear when I’m in my preferred spot. 
However did give if you look closely a lovely undersea shot of the pod

 

 

The good news is that Captain is pretty confident that we will make Port Stanley. So far very smooth sailing and the thought is possibly a little rocky after the Falklands but not too bad. 

In Port Stanley it is better to take a ship excursion to see the penguins. Not much to do if you are on your own. Be aware of independent people offering to see penguins. I was approached by Zimbabweans who offer those tours. It turned out to be that the beach they wanted to take us, was one previously mined. Zimbabweans were hired to take away the mines. The beach was not still open for the tourists. I declined to take that excursion.

[uktog]

24 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

In Port Stanley it is better to take a ship excursion to see the penguins. Not much to do if you are on your own. Be aware of independent people offering to see penguins. I was approached by Zimbabweans who offer those tours. It turned out to be that the beach they wanted to take us, was one previously mined. Zimbabweans were hired to take away the mines. The beach was not still open for the tourists. I declined to take that excursion.

A lot of people are going independently with the reputable local providers. As far as I know the island was declared mine free in 2020.  We are going independent but will be careful- the ships tours are very expensive compared to what the two main independent providers are offering 

[Mackdogmolly]

27 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

In Port Stanley it is better to take a ship excursion to see the penguins. Not much to do if you are on your own. Be aware of independent people offering to see penguins. I was approached by Zimbabweans who offer those tours. It turned out to be that the beach they wanted to take us, was one previously mined. Zimbabweans were hired to take away the mines. The beach was not still open for the tourists. I declined to take that excursion.

I have a private excursion booked with Falkland Outdoors, which seems like a reputable company. I will report back!

[travelberlin]

3 minutes ago, uktog said:

A lot of people are going independently with the reputable local providers. As far as I know the island was declared mine free in 2020.  We are going independent but will be careful- the ships tours are very expensive compared to what the two main independent providers are offering 

Ok maybe they are more tour providers now. I remember last year there was a reputable one but was fully booked. 
I went ashore trying to find something on my own after some unlucky try to do it via shore excursions team (not very knowledgeable lady and not really interested in clarifying details of the shore excursion). So I found the Zimbabweans tour providers 😊

[uktog]

We continue to enjoy the cruise despite suffering a bit from the reactions to bites yesterday. The enrichment speakers continue to be very good - each different but knowledgeable especially Caroline the naturalist. An alternative focus for one speaker Les Evans is really welcome otherwise we might get “over natured”. He is talking about his experiences as a fighter jet and Concorde pilot. 
 

Entertainment continues to be good but the pianist in the Den and band upstairs are far too loud. My watch is constantly setting off high decibel warnings and whilst there are lots of lovely guests I’d like to have a conversation with we can’t as we can’t hear them. I’m going to feedback on this though I doubt it will make any difference 

[tmacktravels]

14 minutes ago, uktog said:

We continue to enjoy the cruise despite suffering a bit from the reactions to bites yesterday. The enrichment speakers continue to be very good - each different but knowledgeable especially Caroline the naturalist. An alternative focus for one speaker Les Evans is really welcome otherwise we might get “over natured”. He is talking about his experiences as a fighter jet and Concorde pilot. 
 

Entertainment continues to be good but the pianist in the Den and band upstairs are far too loud. My watch is constantly setting off high decibel warnings and whilst there are lots of lovely guests I’d like to have a conversation with we can’t as we can’t hear them. I’m going to feedback on this though I doubt it will make any difference 

I have just found your blog this morning so will follow with interest. Great reading so far. Nightmare with the mosquitos, hope they disappear as you head further south. I certainly didn’t experience any in December. Agree re Caroline, very knowledgeable and engaging. Say hi to her from me as she was also on in December and she will likely remember me as Tracey with the baby tarantula 😂. Enjoy the rest of your cruise. The pianist in the Den was great but agree it was sometimes too loud to have any kind of conversation. X

Cheers Tracey. 

[oddjob16]

43 minutes ago, uktog said:

We continue to enjoy the cruise despite suffering a bit from the reactions to bites yesterday. The enrichment speakers continue to be very good - each different but knowledgeable especially Caroline the naturalist. An alternative focus for one speaker Les Evans is really welcome otherwise we might get “over natured”. He is talking about his experiences as a fighter jet and Concorde pilot. 
 

Entertainment continues to be good but the pianist in the Den and band upstairs are far too loud. My watch is constantly setting off high decibel warnings and whilst there are lots of lovely guests I’d like to have a conversation with we can’t as we can’t hear them. I’m going to feedback on this though I doubt it will make any difference 

Jose in the Den was playing much too loud last time we sailed. We ended up avoiding that venue when he played, which is quite sad. We gave feedback, but he doesn’t seem to be corrected. What a waste…

[uktog]

Our options for today

 

 

 

 

 

Should I suggest I run a proof reading class?  We’ve also been invited to an event today to celebrate our being on a Chilean Fjords cruise 😂😂😂. Silly mistakes 

 

However I do like the new hairdryers no stupid buttons now! 
 

[Mackdogmolly]

8 minutes ago, uktog said:

Our options for today

 

 

 

 

 

Should I suggest I run a proof reading class?  We’ve also been invited to an event today to celebrate our being on a Chilean Fjords cruise 😂😂😂. Silly mistakes 

 

However I do like the new hairdryers no stupid buttons now! 
 

I have the old one 🙁

[Mackdogmolly]

Room service breakfast today and happy to report to those to whom it matters, that they are adding a lot more plant based options. I had checked off the plant based sausage, however, and they substituted the plant based bacon, which was pretty bad! At least they are trying!

Edited February 22 by Mackdogmolly

[Mackdogmolly]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

Entertainment continues to be good but the pianist in the Den and band upstairs are far too loud

Quite agree about the pianist in the Den. It is especially driving my DH nuts, who has a low tolerance for these things.

[uktog]

3 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Quite agree about the pianist in the Den. It is especially driving my DH nuts, who has a low tolerance for these things.

Hopefully we get a mid cruise form to use to highlight this. It’s driving us away 

[excitedofharpenden]

7 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Quite agree about the pianist in the Den. It is especially driving my DH nuts, who has a low tolerance for these things.

This just seems to be an ongoing issue and it never gets sorted.  Trouble is, if you complain (either on the ship or here) you are viewed by some as a miserable and boring old fart who just likes to moan  I'm very far from this in real life, but I (and many others it would seem) feel the volume is too loud. It has driven me away from performances.  Which isn't right.  We should all be able to go to them.  We have paid to see the entertainment like everyone else.  

 

Phil

[uktog]

1 minute ago, excitedofharpenden said:

This just seems to be an ongoing issue and it never gets sorted.  Trouble is, if you complain (either on the ship or here) you are viewed by some as a miserable and boring old fart who just likes to moan  I'm very far from this in real life, but I (and many others it would seem) feel the volume is too loud. It has driven me away from performances.  Which isn't right.  We should all be able to go to them.  We have paid to see the entertainment like everyone else.  

 

Phil

I think the current cruise director wants high volume high excitement- it’s certainly her style. It doesn’t work for us. Funny the shows volume have been ok it’s just the Den and Living Room that are the issue. We met friends for pre dinner drinks and had to move to the back of the room but even then as there was a get together at the large table which were (understandably) shouting over the music to socialise it was not a great experience