May 26th Journey - Day by Day Report

[SheilaNC]

Just, finally, found an Internet Cafe in Hamilton. So...will do a quick report and fill in the blanks when I get home (I promised a detailed report and will post it as soon as I can).

 

Bottom line is that we're loving the ship and the cruise. We were upgraded to a SkySuite when we boarded so what's not to like :)

 

Our cabin is very comfortable with a tub in the BR and lovely decor in the cabin. For those who have been asking, the mattress is very comfortable and lots of pillows on the bed.

 

Food is excellent. Main dining room has good service, although we do miss getting to know our waiters. Ate in Aqualina last night and the service AND the food were excellent. Dominick, the head honcho, came to our table and remembered me from when I made reservations. Lovely tablewith view of the harbor. Marco, bartender in Looking Glass, makes wonderful Martinis. We find the Martini bar typically crowded with folks waiting to go into the main dining room.

 

Cabaret is fine for nightime shows. No problem with visibility and the evening entertainment has been quite good - no broadway type shows but musicians and singers are very good.

 

Construction seems to be complete. Still some problems with AC and phones and Butler is 'just' a cabin steward. Cabin is very clean with little amenities at night (such as choc covered strawberries). No afternoon canapes which I will ask about today. Cova Cove is lovely - typical 'eats' and wonderful harpist...great pre-dinner and afternoons...

 

Post questions and I'll get to them when we get home...since I hope to be on the beach the next two days (optimist that I am).

 

Bye from Bermuda and Azamara Journey.

[Andy]

Hi Sheila !

 

It is great to hear from you. I was hoping you would get a chance to post while onboard Journey. I am happy to hear that you are having a great time, and that things are rapidly improving. From your report, It sounds like Journey has most of the issues behind them.

 

Dominique is a wonderful person. We had the pleasure of sailing with him on Summit and Century. It was amazing how he remembered me when I saw him on Century last year ! If you see Dominique again, please send my regards. He is one of Celebrity's very best.

 

Have a wonderful time on Journey, and we hope to hear from you soon !

[JkyLovesRuss]

I'm so happy that you guys are enjoying this cruise so far! Thank you for sharing! I can't wait to hear your full review when you return!

 

Happy cruising!

[journeyfan]

What do you mean "still some problems with AC?" What Sky Suite are you in? We are in Sky Suite 8045 on the 7/14 sailing and we'll cancel before we'll get on a ship to hot and humid Bermuda in July with insufficient AC.

[kelmac]

Hi everyone!

 

We are also on the May 26th sailing. Things are wonderful. The food is excellent and ship is complete! Airconditioning is great in our cabin.

Little rain here today in Hamilton, but we are making the best of it.

 

Sheila will do a great job bringing everyone up to speed. We will be on the road until June 11th, so I will only be able to post a few times.

 

I'm more of a Millennium class ship person, but this Azamara Journey is perfect in many ways.

 

I will try and get a review together sometime in June. Enjoy! Kel

[Host Karen]

Thanks for the update! If you see Dominique again, please ask him if he might be moving to Quest in the fall, at least to help get her up and running. We met him on Infinity and found him to be gracious and very professional, and would be very pleased to sail with him on Quest.

[excitedofharpenden]

Sheila (and Kel), glad things are going well and enjoy the rest of your cruise:cool:

 

Phil

[JCDeck]

Just, finally, found an Internet Cafe in Hamilton. So...will do a quick report and fill in the blanks when I get home (I promised a detailed report and will post it as soon as I can).

 

Bottom line is that we're loving the ship and the cruise. We were upgraded to a SkySuite when we boarded so what's not to like :)

 

Our cabin is very comfortable with a tub in the BR and lovely decor in the cabin. For those who have been asking, the mattress is very comfortable and lots of pillows on the bed.

 

Food is excellent. Main dining room has good service, although we do miss getting to know our waiters. Ate in Aqualina last night and the service AND the food were excellent. Dominick, the head honcho, came to our table and remembered me from when I made reservations. Lovely tablewith view of the harbor. Marco, bartender in Looking Glass, makes wonderful Martinis. We find the Martini bar typically crowded with folks waiting to go into the main dining room.

 

Cabaret is fine for nightime shows. No problem with visibility and the evening entertainment has been quite good - no broadway type shows but musicians and singers are very good.

 

Construction seems to be complete. Still some problems with AC and phones and Butler is 'just' a cabin steward. Cabin is very clean with little amenities at night (such as choc covered strawberries). No afternoon canapes which I will ask about today. Cova Cove is lovely - typical 'eats' and wonderful harpist...great pre-dinner and afternoons...

 

Post questions and I'll get to them when we get home...since I hope to be on the beach the next two days (optimist that I am).

 

Bye from Bermuda and Azamara Journey.

 

 

How Nice. All good things come with time.

[spalady]

About the canapes: We were on the 5/19 Journey - we noticed that if we were not in our room (sky suite) between 4:30 and 5 they did not leave the canapes in the room.

Once we were slow answering the door because we were on the deck and the delivery person was several doors away by the time we opened the door.

I think I remember that on the Zenith they would leave the canapes in the room. Seriously, though, they are not that great so you are not missing much. That is the ONLY complaint we had about the food!

 

We agree Dominique is wonderful - he escorted me to and from the ladies room, on his arm, kiss on hand last morning at breakfast - sooooo French.

 

Our butler (8064) was a true butler - he wore his tux all week and could not have been more accommodating to my needs. I recently had back surgery and he went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable.

 

We were invited to the Captains table. Because of a scheduling conflict the dinner was moved from 7:30 to 9:30. We told Justin (the Captains Club rep) we were very sorry but that was much too late for us. The next day the Captain sent a HUGE bouquet of flowers, big box of Cova chocolates and a bottle of Yellowtail wine to our room with a letter of apology. How's that for class?

 

The only reason we will not be sailing on the Journey again soon is: we are not thrilled with the new itineraries. If Journey ever goes back to Bermuda, we will too.

[CrabbyHarper]

Who is the harpist in Cova, and what sort of music does he/she play?

[sailing sal]

Sheila and Kel - thank you so much for taking the time to post. We leave 6/23 and though I kept telling my husband everything would be great on Journey by that time, I was a bit apprehensive! Now I am just too excited to leave! We were up-graded to the penthouse (lucky, right?). I hope you have great weather - relax, eat, and enjoy!:)

[Katie H]

Does anyone have any input on activities staff and activities? We love the trivia and other games on X and hope it will be the same when we sail Journey in October. Are Yolandi and Natalie there? We sailed the final Zenith cruise with them and they were to transfer over. Also, Matt, who we last saw on Summit in March, was to go to Journey after his vacation. Has he arrived?

 

Thanks for your reports. I have been following all the trials and tribulations of this new ship. We are taking my MIL (age 92) in October and hope everything will be perfect for her.

[BrendaJ]

Hi Sheila and Art

 

So glad to hear you guys are enjoying yourselves, although you both are such a lot of fun to be around, I can't imagine you not having fun wherever you are. I bet you're not finding wine deals in Bermuda like you were in Venice, though. :D

 

Enjoy yourselves and thanks for the update. We're going on Quest next February, and I'm sure everything will be fabulous.

 

Brenda (and Dudley)

[ella99]

Who is the harpist in Cova, and what sort of music does he/she play?

 

Her name is Jacqueline Dolan. I can't comment on the sort of music she played we only heard her as we passed through the Cova Cafe.

[CrabbyHarper]

:) Ella - thanks for the harpist's name. She is from Canada - the Lake Louise area. And I'll be listening to her for sure.

[twin123185]

To all those who cancelled their cruises - you are all fools !

For the most part the trip has been great - there are many stupid little things

that are a bit "off" and Azamara lied to my son BIG TIME about a cancelled shore excursion but more on that after the cruise. We are all having a great time - this was the smoothest sail out of the NYC area I have ever experienced in 6 trips !!!

 

Trip has been 100X better than expected.

 

Larry

[fog1]

Her name is Jacqueline Dolan. I can't comment on the sort of music she played we only heard her as we passed through the Cova Cafe.

 

She played quite a variety of music. Listening to rock songs on the harp was very interesting.:)

[harryw]

Rock? Did she play "Stairway to Heaven"?

 

Harry

[BrendaJ]

Rock songs on the harp sounds interesting. But you haven't lived till you've heard AC/DC on the bagpipes - it was unforgettable. :D

[florisdekort]

I am happy to read that everything is now in top shape on Journey and that all 3 members who are on the 5/26 cruise and have posted on this thread are heaving a great cruise. Thank you so much for checking in and enjoy the rest of your vacation!!!

 

Floris

[cruisingdelt]

Now that it appears most of the major bugs have been exumed the next 5 weeks are really going to drag:(

[miamigirl814]

My husband and I are on this sailing also. We posted on Sunday night on the thread... Journey May 26 Live On Board And Review - Coming Soon!

 

I just wanted everyone to see what we wrote on that post. We also gave the Journey a favorable review!!

[nlvc12]

Bottom line is that we're loving the ship and the cruise. We were upgraded to a SkySuite when we boarded so what's not to like :)

 

QUOTE]

 

Just curious - do you know why/how you were upgraded to a Sky Suite? I see some of the suites aren't yet booked for my 10/27/07 Repo cruise on the Journey and wondered if I could get a similar upgrade. Are you an elite Captain Club member or somesuch? did you 'ask' for an upgrade?

 

Thanks. Have enjoyed your feedback thus far.

 

nlvc12

[kelmac]

Hi Everyone!

 

Last two days the weather has been perfect! We are now headed back to Bayonne. The Seas are only a mild 3' -- 5' waves. Food continues to be excellent. Not crazy about the buffet, as it is small, mostly self serve and crowded. Recommend you eat lunch in the main dining room and dinner in the main DR, or Prime C/Aqualina.

 

I'm sure the group will give a complete review on their return; I will add additional info when I return home on the 12th of June.

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[SheilaNC]

HI, All,

Just got back home and have grandson's birthday tomorrow...but I promise a day by day report soon thereafter.

 

A few quick responses to questions - have no idea why or how we were upgraded. But we're so grateful and spoiled - note: Sky Suites on Journey are not the size that they are on larger ships but it was lovely to us and added to our wonderful memories.

 

Harpist was wonderful. She played lots of music - we loved her Irish ballads and jigs and some lovely show music (like Phantom of the Opera). She and a pianist (we liked his piano playing but not always his singing) alternated between Cova Cafe area and Michael's. The Journey Orchestra was wonderful and we enjoyed the entertainment that we experienced. Some nights we crashed before the entertainment :(

 

Dominic is delightful....we spent quite a bit of time talking with him and sent him a personal letter of thanks last night. This AM at breakfast, he hugged me and thanked me and told us that he had posted it on his staff bulletin board so they could share in my thanks...a nice touch. Don't know if he's moving to Quest, but he does get moved around a lot to help with problem areas and start-ups so I wouldn't be surprised.

 

Must unpack and do laundry....will report back very soon.

 

Sheila