No Brandy in Basic Package

On the Quest now, a lot of people are asking why they don't have Brandy in this package!

A lot of people like to have a Brandy after Dinner, the GUEST AND CREW feel we should have is, WHAT DO YOU SAY!!!

Is port wine included?

Here's the list from Azamara's web site . . .

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/int/booked-guests/onboard-packages/complimentary-beverages

Needs a brandy, a sparkler, a better Scotch, and more varied beers.

Brandy and sparkler can be spanish for my tastes and low cost, loads of blended scotch, ie grouse, bells, teachers etc. again low cost, and a few more european beers with some taste and oomphh!! not bubbles.

Not hard, and not expensive.

J.R.

It would be nice to have some decent craft beers available, well any beer with a real flavour compared to what's available. :(

Never mind , just have to drink more wine and expand our cocktail repertoire!

For me, and I've said it lots of times....the only thing that really annoys me about Azamara is that there are no sparkling wines like Cava or Prosecco available.

Why on earth not?

NO sparkling wines? I wonder why not.

About a year ago Azamara said they were going to review the free drinks offerings (six months or so after the free drinks were introduced.)

As far as I know the list has remained exactly the same so I wonder if the review was conducted.

Perhaps Bonnie could clarify?

We were on the Quest for the first, included drinks cruise. They seemed to take an age to decide what drinks were included and when they did, they came up with the current set up.

We were very disappointed with what was on offer and could not really understand their logic. The wines are perfectly acceptable with the exception of the lack of something with sparkles but the rest of the package is about as basic as they could make it.

Presumably their strategy is that passengers will opt for the various packages on offer or to purchase them on a one off basis.

I am not privy as to what extra income is raised by this means but I am sure this is outweighed by the potential damage this apparent penny pinching has done to AZ.

The extra cost to upgrade this package out of the 'well drinks' range would be very little and would certainly enhance their reputation.

I find it hard to understand why they bothered going down the 'more inclusive' route and feel that they have missed the opportunity to enhance their product with an ill thought out compromise.

I certainly found on my last Quest cruise there was significant pressure to buy a drinks package and a reluctance to mix cocktails with included drinks - Cosmos being the main problem. The previous month on Journey it had not been an issue.

Whilst a review might well be nice, it might be a case of be careful what you wish for - that well known share caveat, the value can go up as well as down. I am not saying that you would get less options after a review, but it is something to keep in mind.

My next cruises are over Christmas and New Year. My current analysis is I will not upgrade to a package but will pay as you go for any little extras I treat myself to - I do not have the capacity to drink the value of the daily additional charge, I am a lightweight in that area!!!!

I certainly found on my last Quest cruise there was significant pressure to buy a drinks package and a reluctance to mix cocktails with included drinks - Cosmos being the main problem. The previous month on Journey it had not been an issue.

 

Whilst a review might well be nice, it might be a case of be careful what you wish for - that well known share caveat, the value can go up as well as down. I am not saying that you would get less options after a review, but it is something to keep in mind.

 

My next cruises are over Christmas and New Year. My current analysis is I will not upgrade to a package but will pay as you go for any little extras I treat myself to - I do not have the capacity to drink the value of the daily additional charge, I am a lightweight in that area!!!!

I am of the same opinion, we usually just pay for the odd glass of champagne or a special bottle of wine if the fancy takes us.

I certainly found on my last Quest cruise there was significant pressure to buy a drinks package and a reluctance to mix cocktails with included drinks - Cosmos being the main problem. The previous month on Journey it had not been an issue.

 

Whilst a review might well be nice, it might be a case of be careful what you wish for - that well known share caveat, the value can go up as well as down. I am not saying that you would get less options after a review, but it is something to keep in mind.

 

My next cruises are over Christmas and New Year. My current analysis is I will not upgrade to a package but will pay as you go for any little extras I treat myself to - I do not have the capacity to drink the value of the daily additional charge, I am a lightweight in that area!!!!

I take your point completely Ann but if they were to offer less options it would devalue the More Inclusive to a point where it is ridiculous.

We will be on Journey in three weeks time and I am reassured that you found no problems in ordering cocktails using included drinks. I plan to do the same as you - pay for the odd Bellini if I feel like it and not upgrade to a drinks package.

Lottie A and I also plan to introduce Azamara to a delicious cocktail we enjoyed on our HAL summer cruise. We will need to pay for it but hey, we will be on holiday

I take your point completely Ann but if they were to offer less options it would devalue the More Inclusive to a point where it is ridiculous.

 

We will be on Journey in three weeks time and I am reassured that you found no problems in ordering cocktails using included drinks. I plan to do the same as you - pay for the odd Bellini if I feel like it and not upgrade to a drinks package.

 

Lottie A and I also plan to introduce Azamara to a delicious cocktail we enjoyed on our HAL summer cruise. We will need to pay for it but hey, we will be on holiday

Have a great time on Journey - if Dale is in the Casino Bar you will have no problems and he will also love trying to create new cocktails

My vote also is to have a Brandy included, I did mention this to Phillip whilst on board and he said that they were looking into it.

Lets hope they do include a Brandy, he said that all passengers who like Brandy should put a comment on the e comment card at the end of the cruise.