I am loving Quest!

I most certainly did NOT mean that! Thank you, Marinaro44; I am stunned that anybody would read that into what I said. The only thing that I wondered about was how the CD could walk up to me on the *very first day* of the cruise and say "Pam, Denise is looking for you". I am the kind of person who tries my best to fade into the background and not be noticed; in a group picture you will see the top of my head because I found somebody to hide behind. This was my first cruise without my extrovert husband to push me forward into the group, so how could he possibly know who I was? Do they memorize the boarding pictures?

Agree I don't think that's what Pam was saying, you won't find friendlier ships that Azamara, we returned from Journey on Friday and can assure you that the senior officers will talk to and help anyone. Two examples, we were on the pool deck talking to the CD when a lady came over and asked him where the pool towels were, did he just point out where they were? no he went to the towel station collected two towels and brought them to the ladies lounger! Again one evening early in the cruise we were talking to the Captain and someone asked him where the restaurant was, rather than just direct them he escorted them to the restaurant.

We have sampled a number of cruise lines over the years including those who continually tell you that their service is the best but forget to deliver, Azamara deliver!

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Agree I don't think that's what Pam was saying, you won't find friendlier ships that Azamara, we returned from Journey on Friday and can assure you that the senior officers will talk to and help anyone. Two examples, we were on the pool deck talking to the CD when a lady came over and asked him where the pool towels were, did he just point out where they were? no he went to the towel station collected two towels and brought them to the ladies lounger! Again one evening early in the cruise we were talking to the Captain and someone asked him where the restaurant was, rather than just direct them he escorted them to the restaurant.

We have sampled a number of cruise lines over the years including those who continually tell you that their service is the best but forget to deliver, Azamara deliver!

 

 

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Two lovely examples that sum up Azamara to a tee. I think Pam enjoyed similar encounters from what she wrote.

I guess I may need to reconstruct that afternoon.

Our muster drill was at 4:30, I think, with the CC Meet & Mingle following immediately. I went to the M&M, sat down and chatted briefly with the lady next to me; Russ introduced himself and started talking. I listened to him for a little while, but had to leave after about 15 or 20 minutes to go to another get-together. Russ came to that party after I had been there for a while, walked up to me and said "Pam, Denise is looking for you". I was lost, because I didn't at that time know her as Denise, and he said "Something about a tour", and that rang a bell. He gave me her cabin (NOT suite) number. The next day or so, we passed in the hallway and he asked me if I had reached Denise, I said yes, and we chatted for a couple of minutes.

I have, in fact, been staying in a suite on a ship and was almost fawned over. Later we were on the same ship but in a lesser accommodation, and the same people nodded distantly when we saw them. We didn't even notice at the time, that was never something that rocked our boat, but I realized it long after the fact. I didn't see how that could be the case on Quest, and I said so, because Azamara has the reputation of the friendliest cruise line on Earth.

Pam, how has dining been? I've read several people here lately saying that they dined in the specialty restaurants every night, avoiding the MDR. We're not used to that, how has it been for you?

Wendy, I got home last night. I'm not one to ask about food, really, but here goes the little bit of impression that I got.

I had room service Veal Schnitzel one night that was incredible! Another night, the specialty for the night was a roasted loin of beef, sliced; that absolutely melted in my mouth. The always available New York Strip wasn't really great; it was tough the night I had it and the night a friend had it. I honestly don't remember other than those nights; I didn't eat dinner every night, ate at each of the specialties once, and had that fancy dinner for suite guests. I ate at Windows a couple of nights, and that was good the nights I was there. I think I went to the Living Room once and just got tapas and called it dinner.

I'm sorry.

There is one thing that really stood out, to me, although to everybody else it's probably nothing.

I am apparently allergic to wine; red wine gives me a headache, and I have enough of those without any other triggers, so I just avoid it. White wine causes my nose to get really stuffy, so I allow myself small sips but don't really indulge. So, to avoid a lot of carbonated drinks, I ask for iced tea and usually expect something bottled. On Quest, the iced tea was delicious! At the Best of the Best Dinner, I was seated next to Phillip, the Hotel Manager, and I commented on it. He kind of chuckled and said "that's because it comes from the US. Nobody can do iced tea like them". I didn't ask how it came from the US, but it was so completely impressed that Azamara noticed and took action to get the best iced tea for their guests!

I've been looking at both Azamara and Oceania. I don't know if Pam meant this but I was really turned off by her implying she was surprised that someone not in a suite actually could speak to the CD. :eek: How different is that from the first quote, where Host J. mentions the treatment of non suite passengers on Crystal.

 

I have been reading the boards the last few months for both Azamara and Oceania, and this exchange strikes me as very snobby. I don't think I would be comfortable on AZ if I were not in a suite. (I'd have to remember not to speak to the CD). I don't get that vibe at all on O.:cool:

I think you completely mis-read Pam's statement. You only quoted part of her paragraph. The entire statement was:

I love it. As much as Mark and I loved Regent Navigator, I'd put Quest up against it any day. The friendliness and availability of the staff far surpasses any ship I have sailed on Regent; they are apparently aware that I am alone, and are always approaching me to make sure my cruise is going well. That may be because I am in a suite, but I don't think so: CD Russ brought me a verbal message on the first day that Denise was looking for me, concerning our private tour to Berlin. I know that Denise isn't in a suite, but she felt comfortable in walking up to Russ and asking if he had "seen Pam".

So she says, first, that she doesn't think being in a suite is the explanation for her good treatment, and, second -- to prove it -- that sometime else who was not in a suite got the same good treatment. I read it initially, and think so even more reading it over, that she is giving Azamara the same high praise for service that I did.

I guess I did mis-read it. :o

I'm happy to hear that I could expect the same service on Azamara whether in a suite or not.

:)

I am sorry I didn't word it better. I was just amazed at how quickly he learned who everybody was.

I am sorry I didn't word it better. I was just amazed at how quickly he learned who everybody was.

And Pam, I'm pleased to say you WILL be remembered when you return. The advantages of a small ship and incredible staff and crew who love their jobs. I'm biased but the food we had last cruise was outstanding in all venues, we couldn't have been happier.

On a different note I asked Captain Jose at the Captain's table one night when we were his guests how was the selection of guests made. His response was, we try to invite a returning Azamara couple, two couples new to Azamara, a single female and a single male. So yes there is no 'suite' class system with this process but rather the bringing together of different demographics.

Thanks for sharing

After sailing Silversea and then Azamara I thought that Azamara was Celebrity's answer to Silversea.

Does anyone think that Azamara could be a Celebrity answer to

Oceania,

Seabourn,

Radisson,

Regent

Dr.Joe

Azamara probably couldn't be put up against the larger ships of those lines (Radisson sold to Regent several years ago, so there aren't Radisson ships anymore) but I would put it up against Regent Navigator. I haven't sailed Oceania or Seabourn, so I can't speak to that, but the smaller Oceania ships are sisters to the Azamara ships.

Regent would probably have an edge because all brands of liquor and most wines are included; Azamara has different levels of packages. But Azamara has a huge edge with pricing and staff availability, so it's just what part of the cruise is important to the individual.

Mark and I loved Regent! But back when we were sailing, the pricing was always "buy one, get one free", so basically half of what the brochure said. I haven't looked at their pricing lately, but they don't seem to stand by that half price, for solo travelers. And since I am an introvert, I think I would get lost on one of the larger ships anyway.

Azamara probably couldn't be put up against the larger ships of those lines (Radisson sold to Regent several years ago, so there aren't Radisson ships anymore) but I would put it up against Regent Navigator. I haven't sailed Oceania or Seabourn, so I can't speak to that, but the smaller Oceania ships are sisters to the Azamara ships.

 

Regent would probably have an edge because all brands of liquor and most wines are included; Azamara has different levels of packages. But Azamara has a huge edge with pricing and staff availability, so it's just what part of the cruise is important to the individual.

 

Mark and I loved Regent! But back when we were sailing, the pricing was always "buy one, get one free", so basically half of what the brochure said. I haven't looked at their pricing lately, but they don't seem to stand by that half price, for solo travelers. And since I am an introvert, I think I would get lost on one of the larger ships anyway.

Pam, Thanks for that information.--These cruise lines sure do move around:

After being rumored for weeks, the deal to acquire Prestige Holdings, the owners of both Oceania and Regent Seven Seas cruises lines, has been formally announced by Norwegian Cruise line's CEO Kevin Sheehan, The deal cost NCL $3.03 billion and Norwegian will soon be issuing 20 million shares to help them finance the ...Sep 2, 2014

One cannot go anywhere and talk about Cruise Ships and not come back connected to Carnival;;" Norwegian Caribbean Line founded in 1966 by Knut Kloster and Ted Arison, (Carnival Cruise Lines) with just one 8,666-ton ship.

Pam, our friends Garry & Bob were on the sailing with you.

Did you happen to meet them?

They stayed on for the current sailing and are now on their way back to Montreal.

Seems they're having rocky seas.

No, I never saw them that I knew of. We had a fairly active roll call but then I only met one person from it that I am aware. Sorry about the rocky seas! The internet was so slow that I couldn't do any kind of blog, and I guess nobody else could either. But my Deck 6 aft suite was very stable, I'd try for that deck again.