audobon_tx

42 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

Never had a mini fridge in the desk on Azamara. It’s usually been in a corner cupboard next to the wardrobe.

Pursuit has them in the desk.  Corner cupboard is fine.

Hey folks, I have 300 nights on Azamara.  I am not making any of this up.

3 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

You can't post videos or images with a TA logo, sorry.  As far as your question:  the R ships R what they R.  I don't believe that Azamara – or Oceania – has changed the layout of the cabins on any of their R-ships.

 

Azamara Veranda room layout:

 

Oceania Veranda room layout:

 

Not interested in Oceania.  Onward came from Princess.  And the other ships in the Azamara fleet do not have the mini fridge in the clothes closet.  

Just watched a YouTube video of an Onward V3 room tour.  The ship was a work in progress as it was filmed during and after the maiden voyage. 

The stateroom mini fridge is behind the closet door in the clothes closet sitting on top of the built-in drawers, thus rendering all the short rod hanging storage unusable.  The room desk is tiny, a carryover from Princess I suppose, so the fridge cannot be built in to the desk.  There is thus very little storage in the room.

For anyone who has sailed Onward, is this a temporary situation brought on by the fact that the ship was far from finished or is this just the way it is?

The reduced storage would be a deal killer for us as we always take multiple segment B2B voyages and are booked on the 2024 WC.

Any information would be appreciated.

We almost always sail in a verandah but we are looking at an Onward itinerary that is sold out in cat V and P.  So we are looking at cat 05 on deck 4 but can't seem to find anything re cabin size.  Stuff online says 143 sqft but I think that is the size of the deck 6 obstructed view cabins.  Anyone know the size of a cat 05 on Onward?

19 minutes ago, uktog said:

I agree he was really good

Going to Edge.

6 hours ago, yogagal47 said:

Hey AZAMARA: I for  one am happy to have you join with Viking and drop the testing requirements!!!

+1

I am 6' 2" and just got off another ship where the combo tub/ shower didn't work for me.  I could not stand up in the tub/shower due to low ceiling and tub elevation. 

We are considering Mariner WC guarantee but won't if the combo ceilings are similarly low, the risk being unacceptable.

Do you folks have experience with the combos in Concierge class and below staterooms?

11 minutes ago, Focused1 said:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/10/politics/us-to-end-pre-departure-testing-requirement/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1lGJg5piZ_GeAgYNiD8Oy8dbtp7dYPVbXRmKmckz6fXfcuGECXAflinwg

Common sense, a rare commodity in the USA lately, has finally prevailed.

The USA administration finally comes to their senses.  Who'd a thunk it?

3 hours ago, les37b said:

 

Buffet not self serve, but was pre pandemic. Personally I prefer this. COVID isn't the only thing than can be spread.

Amen.  Common cold, the dreaded NOROVIRUS, et al.

1 hour ago, MouseBerry said:

Looks pretty good 👍 Did you get a permission or was it „let‘s try and see“?

Does this cruise go around Denmark or does the ship sail thru the North/Baltic sea channel (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal)? Must be a nice video if you pass the channel.

Kiel Canal transit is often used, depends on itinerary.

35 minutes ago, Moby Jones said:

Can anyone work out Branson's target demographic? 

I'm sure there are many 'reviewers' and influencers who are swayed by the perks they receive. To be fair to him though I have seen him talk about negative aspects of Virgin Voyages in his videos and he does raise legitimate concerns in the video I linked to. So he does strike me as a man of integrity. 

Maybe going off topic but after watching Bembridge's review of Scarlet Lady, you couldn't pay me to go on that ship.  Calisthenics everywhere, sex therapist "shows", RED EVERYWHERE.  Heaven help us.

29 minutes ago, mdpa said:

I am OK if people don’t like buffets…heck, most of the time I prefer to order exactly what I want.

 

However, some people are acting like buffets were eliminated due to green considerations, or demand, and this post is making the argument they never existed. I’ve eaten buffets on Silverseas and they were fantastic, and as far as I know is considered an upper tier brand.

 

https://www.shermanstravel.com/advice/10-best-cruise-ship-buffets#

 

Maybe this will help jog someone’s memory. I have not seen any scientific evidence that a breakfast or lunch buffet is safer or greener than a dinner buffet.

Didn't say "never existed" but SS, Regent, and Seabourn currently convert their buffet spaces at night.  Italian specialty restaurants on SS and Regent and themed dinners (see Azamara) on Seabourn.  Haven't been on Europa 2 or Scenic so I admit ignorance on that.  I do have 30 Azamara cruises under my belt though and buffets at night were generally lightly attended.  The best things about Windows at night were/are peace and quiet, supper in less than an hour, eating outside when available, and a general relaxed atmosphere vs. Discoveries.

I have never been on a 6 star line that had an evening buffet.  Azamara, admittedly not a 6 star, had one but I would be surprised if it returns except for special situations.  The day to day demand is not there in the evening on Azamara, and it wasn't there pre-pandemic either.  Breakfast and lunch, yes, and they will remain because that's what people prefer.

The 6 stars convert the buffet space to table service specialty restaurants in the evening.

I think Azamara has come up with an attractive evening alternative to Discoveries.

What is the  "maintenance issue"?

13 minutes ago, yogagal47 said:

So no buffet at breakfast either?

Regular buffet at breakfast and lunch.

16 minutes ago, yogagal47 said:

So there is no longer BUFFET dinners with different cuisines on different evenings?  They are using table service instead?

They offer a theme menu (e.g.  Italian, French, Greek, British, Indian, et al) each night served ala' carte.  Usually several starters, a soup course, up to six entrees, and a couple desserts.  They tie the theme to the area where you are at the time (destination immersion) if they can.

The concept reduces food waste and manpower in these trying times.  

Having recently departed Pursuit after 40 nts onboard, my take was "good old Azamara", with better food.

We did an after midnight flight early departure from Pursuit in Lima once.  We worked with the Concierge and she arranged a private transfer (don't get in cabs late at night in South America).  Walked off the ship with luggage to the waiting van.  This was 4 years ago, pre-covid, so things may be different in your case.

2 hours ago, flossie009 said:

.............. but only two grade H suites now available for booking on Mariner, unless things change in the future

 

 

Only need one.  But I can't figure out which two?

Couldn't find on suiteguru.  Any issues with noise from lounge below?

If interested I posted info on Patrick Watts Volunteer Point tour on the Pursuit Roll Call for 7 JAN 23.

1 hour ago, Xcelsior said:

Is the patio open for dinner?

 

In the evening on Pursuit, no.

26 minutes ago, 6travelers said:

Wondering if Windows  now has an evening/dinner buffet.  Enjoy a dinner buffet. Don’t care for dining room.  On our first cruise with Azamara on Quest, last October Windows was a la carte in the evenings.  Understand it was the beginning of Azamara cruising again and there were only 150 passengers so a dinner buffet would be wasteful. BUT hoping with increase in passenger numbers Windows will resume a dinner buffet.  Or maybe they never had one?  (Next cruise on Pursuit in October).   Thank you in advance for your kind help.

Debarked Pursuit last week after 40 nts onboard.  Ala' carte @ Windows in the evening.

12 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

Try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.

Did that first.  I think it is an Android 12 bug.