One more time 12/8 Quest

[karolm]

:) Azamara Quest 14 days

This was our first cruise with Celebrity. Have cruised 6 times previously

with Holland America, Princess, Carnival X2, NCL, and RCCL. Yes, we are

cruise sluts.

We booked cruise and air thru the Azamara cruise line. I found out by

chance that custom air was complimentary on our cruise. When I called the

custom cruise air department they did not know there was no charge. After

consulting with another dept they told me that I was right. Got non-stop

flights departing Chicago to Miami and Acapulco to Chicago.

Flew out of Chicago at 6am nonstop to Miami. After a short wait a shuttle

bus took us to the dock. Smoothest embarkation we have had. A glass of

champagne in hand we were in our cabin 6090 by 12:30pm. My husband is a

history buff and has wanted to cruise the Panama Canal for years. This was

one of those trips in a lifetime for him. Booked a sunset veranda. DH

wanted that cabin going thru the locks and the view was spectacular. The

balcony was 60 feet, with a large table and a half overhang that was always

in the shade and protected from the rain. Perfect balcony. Bigger than some

balcony cabins and smaller than others we have been in. been The only

disadvantage that I found with aft veranda was the vibration when the ship

was going fast.

Ship

Quite beautiful, smaller than we have been on previously, and easy to get

around. Casino the right size for this ship with great blackjack rules and

$5 minimum tables. We bought the spa pass which we used daily. The spa

area was on 9 forward with saltwater heated sauna and a large seating area.

DH and I don't have a good knee between us and the spa kept us going.

The most people I saw at any one time in the area were six. It cost

$175/couple for the 14 days and was well worth the money for us. Nice quiet

area to relax, nap and read.

Dining

Best food we have ever had on a cruise ship. 2 top choices were New England

Clam Chowder and the short ribs of beef. Ate at the Prime C one time and

found the food to be no better than the main dining room Discoveries.

Service in the dining room was superb. We ate at different times and in

different areas of the dining room. Never had to wait more than 5 minutes

to be seated. The menu had so much to offer we never asked for anything

different or extra. Anyway, that is not our style. Our dining time was

always fine. We did eat at the buffet a few times and it was excellent. We

had room service for breakfast most mornings cause we had the large table on

the balcony. Steak and eggs, excellent smoked salmon with hard boiled eggs,

capers, and onions, and great poached eggs. Everything the proper

temperature consistently.

Ports

Port Antonio, Jamaica

We could not dock at Port Antonio due to weather conditions. That was

disappointing as we had a group tour arranged by Laura from cruise critic

with Marva Shaw. Okay that was an AOG.

Santa Marta, Columbia

We were going to stay on the ship for this port due to all the negative

reviews. We already had been at sea for 3 days so thought we would try a

ship excursion. Because of the inaccurate description at the shore

excursion talk by Luke Bergado, shore excursions manager, we chose Taste of

Tayrona Park. We went down to the desk and I personally asked Luke if this

excursion would be appropriate for my DH and I due to our knee problems. He

told us not in the least strenuous. Well, after getting to the park in a

bus escorted by armed militia we were all told by the guide to follow him.

Up and down hill, passing many groups of armed militia, thru mud, up 132

rock stairs all uneven, but whose counting?) and even one jump about 3 feet

down and we arrived at the beach. One knee was swollen for a week. When

we got back to the ship it took me 4 days to get an appointment with Luke to

talk about the discrepancies. For the first 10 minutes he told me my husband

had talked to him all about the bad experience. NOT. I felt like I was

dealing with a used car salesman. After another 6 days I finally made an

appointment with Heike Cramer the Hotel Director. Finally some satisfaction

with a refund and being told not to tell anyone. Sorry but be very aware

the shore excursion talks are not likely to be very accurate.

Cartagena, Columbia

Went on a city tour with Tesorotours. Arranged privately with cruise critic

and Laura and Marv. Really nice tour and fun group with Nancy and Mike.

Puerto Limon

I had arranged a private tour with Oscar Brown and had a group of 7. We did

a combination tour of the aerial tram at Forest Atlantic Park and the

Tortuguero Canal tour. The Oscar Brown tour we did was a combination tour of

Aerial Tram and

Tortuguero Canal. It took maybe an hour and a half to get to the Aerial

Tram.

The canal trip was supposed to be for one hour. For the sake of time we

cut it back to 45min.

Here's what we saw: Birds, Iguanas and Sloths. The return traffic was really

really bad so we just made it back in time to walk up the gangway at 3:44pm.

(We were supposed to be on board at 3:45pm.) Too stressful. Oscar should

have known that we should only do one tour as the aerial tram was too far.

Cannot recommend him as a tour guide.

Panama Canal

We stayed on our balcony most of the day going thru the locks. It rained a

bit, was quite warm so we had our bathing suits on and sat in the rain.

Great experience. It would have been nice if there had been something on TV

with a naturalist talking about the canal. When we were in Alaska they had

all the naturalists broadcasting about the glaciers on tv besides being on

the upper deck.

Puerto Caldera

Took the ships excursion to the Macaw Sanctuary which was quite enjoyable.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Private tour of Granada and Isletas with cruise critic group. Very nice

tour and enjoyable day.

Huatulco, Mexico

Took cab at dock for city tour and shopping. Nice city and day.

Entertainment

In the evening the shows were usually acceptable, some not, some

exceptional. There usually was really nothing after the regular shows. I

expected the lack of entertainment on the smaller ship. The big problem I

thought was the TV. Lack of movies, menus, it was just basic

CNN and TCM. or pay per view movies for $10-$12. ???

We disembarked in Acapulco and took the ship excursion city tour. Saw the

cliff divers and great shopping. Finished my Christmas shopping and a few

birthdays also. Dropped of at the airport about 1pm for our 4pm flight. No

line, suitcases were thoroughly searched. No charge at AA for our

overweight luggage only tags placed saying heavy. On our last Pursuits (the

daily program) we were informed there would be a

$25 departure tax/person at the airport. We were not charged. Home by 9pm.

Tired but happy.

We had a great cruise. Service was exceptional. So were all the friends we

met.. and will keep. Hi Marv, Laura, Nancy, Mike and many more.

[Andy]

Hi Karolm !

 

Thank you for the excellent review, and welcome home. I am glad you had a great cruise on Quest !

[Napi's Mom]

Carol

Much better review than mine, more to the point, but as you know from our time together I digress from the point at the least little nudge. Mike says he can never follow my mind (might not be worth trying). We really enjoyed our time with you guys...something about the midwestern mentality???

But Laura (oh yes a displaced midwesterner) and Marv were also a lot of fun. (I remember those poor English ladies, whom we really found delightful, being at a loss on the Grenada tour, when we kind of went off the deep end after so much time on that awful road and we just started laughing over nothing ) Ah yes Vacation

[LMKohler]

Carol,

 

Thank you so much from your informative review:) . Actually, thank ALL of you from the December 8th cruise.

 

An interesting point -- it seems you were informed about the departure tax/fee by Azamara before departing (regardless of whether you were actually charged or not) the ship. Therefore, we should be prepared to bring $50 cash in case we are charged that fee:eek: .

 

Also, I have heard about two differnet terminals. I believe Quest was supposed to leave from Terminal J, but sometimes that is changed. Does anyone tell you this in advance?

 

Thank you.

Lucy

[karolm]

"Also, I have heard about two differnet terminals. I believe Quest was supposed to leave from Terminal J, but sometimes that is changed. Does anyone tell you this in advance?"

 

I looked thru the booklet (the cruise ticket contract) they sent and there was no mention of which terminal it departs from. We had the cruise

shuttle from the airport to the terminal. I was oblivious to everything except getting on that ship. I do remember the building was very small.

 

Maybe someone else knows?

 

Carol M

[susiesan]

Carol,

 

 

Also, I have heard about two differnet terminals. I believe Quest was supposed to leave from Terminal J, but sometimes that is changed. Does anyone tell you this in advance?

 

Thank you.

Lucy

 

Lucy:

Just have your cab driver look for the little ship sandwiched in between the behemoths.!

 

Susie : )

[newly retired]

Hi Karolm

Great to hear you had a wonderful trip. We are going through the canal on the Feb 2nd cruise and will be in the same cabin as you, my cousin and her husband are in the next sv cabin 6093. Hope you can answer a question for me, I have heard that some of the balcony rooms have doors leading to the next balcony and was wondering if #6090 and #6093 were like this. We are hoping they are so we can share one big area. Thanks again for the great review. Gail, Thorold, Ontario

[karolm]

I don't remember any door and I don't think the partition opens. With all the wonderful hours we spent on the balcony I cannot tell you for sure.

 

As I had said there is a vibration in 6090 when the ship is going faster. Bring duct tape as the safe rattles. The first night 2 people worked on it for over an hour. Finally it didn't make any noise and when they were half-way down the hall it started up again. Thank goodness I had tape with me and had to retape it every day.

 

A few years ago when I joined this forum there had been a list of survivor items to bring on a cruise. I keep mine all in one bag ready to go. Multiplug extension cord, duct tape, notepad, bungee cords, and spray wrinkle release.

 

The hair dryer in the desk if great. I'm really fussy about that. The elemis toiletries were great and didn't even use by own shampoo.

 

Have a wonderful cruise,

 

Carol M

[Andy]

Hi Karolm

Great to hear you had a wonderful trip. We are going through the canal on the Feb 2nd cruise and will be in the same cabin as you, my cousin and her husband are in the next sv cabin 6093. Hope you can answer a question for me, I have heard that some of the balcony rooms have doors leading to the next balcony and was wondering if #6090 and #6093 were like this. We are hoping they are so we can share one big area. Thanks again for the great review. Gail, Thorold, Ontario

 

Hi Gail !

 

I answered part of this question, in the new thread you started. Please check there.

[RMLLEL]

Thanks so much for the review. I was wondering if anyone got any shots for typhoid or hepatitis (or anything else) before they took the Panama cruise? Are any vaccinations required?

RMLLEL

[Napi's Mom]

Thanks so much for the review. I was wondering if anyone got any shots for typhoid or hepatitis (or anything else) before they took the Panama cruise? Are any vaccinations required?

RMLLEL

Our clinic has a travel Dr & Nurse to advise about shots etc. We were advised to have both those last year for Turkey and Egypt, so they were up to date. They advised also Yellow fever...If entering Colombia (Brazil requires them for all entering the country) Perhaps we're over cautious, but we did get them. Many didn't. We didn't get sick from the shots at all. The other advice was a very good, high in Deet insect repellant.Malaria mosquitos in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Canal Zone. No protection against malaria but to keep the bugs away from you. We saw few mosquitos however. Many on Cruise did not have the Yellow fever shot:) Nothing protects from the dread Noro either:eek:

[RMLLEL]

Thanks. I think I'll ask my doctor what she thinks. I would feel safer getting the shots. I always bring cipro when we travel now in case we get the noro.

RMLLEL

[Napi's Mom]

Thanks. I think I'll ask my doctor what she thinks. I would feel safer getting the shots. I always bring cipro when we travel now in case we get the noro.

RMLLEL

Same Dr advised us to take this new anti Biotic that ONLY works in the Gastro tract and has none of the side effects that Cipro does, you know the lowering of effectiveness from repeated use etc. It's aimed right at those nasty Noro viruses. Name is XIFAXAN. Check into it with your DR if interested.:)

[NotChoppedLiver]

"Also, I have heard about two differnet terminals. I believe Quest was supposed to leave from Terminal J, but sometimes that is changed. Does anyone tell you this in advance?"

 

Hi Lucy,

 

Here's how we found the ship:

After visiting the Azamara website so many times, when

we got to the terminal I recognized the Azamara logo

on the stack.

When you see a ship that is much smaller than the

others look up at the logo, it's probably Quest.

 

Laura