uktog

2 hours ago, shipboy said:

Not a problem in Scotland, the midges eat them

Give me a mosquito over a midge any day (and I’m Scottish) 

11 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

The Viking shuttle from Newhaven Harbour (where you tender to) runs to Charlotte Square in the New Town.  "New" is a relative term, it's 200-250 years old!  It takes 15-20 minutes and runs every half hour on the hour and half hour.

And if you want to pay for a transfer at point the Edinburgh teams run from the disembarking at Newhaven to the New Town and further on 

I think the onboard booking benefits should stay in full (discount and OBC) if a cruise is moved by the cruise line. It’s the very least that should be done to aid retention. I also think the guest should get to choose if they want their original other booking perks or the ones attacking to the new booking (but not both!)

We have been given them on both Quest and Journey in the last six weeks -  however we now pack a spare one just in case, it adds virtually no weight and having got caught out on Onward and it was a right pain we learned our lesson

8 minutes ago, fruitmachine said:

The trouble is that they can't guarantee that lots of 'early' diners won't linger for a longer meal.  There's no guarantee that you'll get on an 8.00 booking at 7.15 and folk would start to get angry if their 7.15 table was still occupied at 7.30. 

The alternative is that they keep that table free from opening until 7.15, in effect reducing the total capacity of the restaurant as you'd only get one sitting on it in the whole evening.

 

IMHO the system works well - if there's a table free early you can occupy it early.

 

 

I can see that issue though other cruise lines seem to manage the issue no problem.  I just get frustrated that its obviously possible for them to take 7.30 bookings - I know some regular guests get 7 or 7.30 all the time - but its not made generally available.

14 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I know speciality booking times on Azamara are offered at 6/6:30 and 8/8:30 however we have never had a problem with arriving earlier than our booking time. We like to eat somewhere between 7:15 and 7:45. We book the 8 or 8:30 time, then turn up at about 7:45. We’ve nearly always been seated immediately and no-one has ever told us we are too early!

Indeed that’s why I’d like Azamara to open up the schedule for these time slots officially- it would work for so many guests 

14 minutes ago, Pride In Battle said:

So you are saying you can book one of the specialists restaurants before you travel ? Thanks 

On another line yes not on Azamara 

I’m now sailing on lines that have limited pre booking and on Azamara.  The limited pre booking where the line allows one reservation only works fine as it allows me to be sure I have a reservation for a “special date” if one arises during the cruise.  It’s stressful but manageable so long as you keep a track of cruise -60 days when all bookings open. On balance I like that approach. 

One line varies the number of bookings you can make and when you can access it depending on your room category.  That does give issues and quite a bun fight the day bookings open for standard cabins not least because higher ups may have block booked as Phil describes. I don’t like that approach.  

The Azamara system works up to a point for me.  I’ve never had an issue getting a reservation but I have had to be flexible with dates/times/venues. Given the new tarrif for specialities I think problems will be even less particularly taking account of how good Discoveries has been at least on two ships.  

What I do really think needs changing is the rigidity of the two sitting timings.  I know people have correctly pointed out that they’ve managed to negotiate reservations at 7:15 or 7:30 but staff make it feel like such a big deal to do this.  I think they should be changing to reflect what the other lines and indeed shoreside restaurants do in running a multiple sitting operation with reservations being available every 15 minutes across the opening times.  If small shoreside galleys can do this to Michelin standard so can Azamara. I think the binary option of reservation windows is what adds to the tensions.  
 

And suite guests should be charged the penalty if they don’t cancel at least 24 hours ahead unless for extenuating circumstances.  (A penalty is advertised but the managers are pressured to waive it). Some frequent suite dwellers seem to expect their precise  table to be available every night regardless of whether they come or not.  I know it really frustrates the restaurant managers but they can’t say a thing.  It’s not fair on other guests. 

4 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

A real adventure for you. I'd be doing the same as you and staying on the ship. It will indeed be very different. I'm sure the ship will lay on lots of special activities to keep both you and the crew occupied!
 

Phil 

I wish we’d had the opportunity to buy that adventure- even if I was not allowed off. I see Greg Redfern is back for more star gazing and there are potentially big meteor showers to see next week - how wonderful 

Intercontinental Strings. Just back. Fabulous hotel wonderful views and right by Shinagawa station making getting around so easy including coming in and out to airports. As we’d luggage the hotel arranged us a beautiful car through Royal Limousines for hardly any more cost than an ordinary taxi. 

29 minutes ago, LewiLewi said:

Are you able to ask for a shared table in the specialty restaurants, ie for single passengers who want to join a table of others?

No you need to set up your sharing arrangements before booking eg at the single and solos event 

46 minutes ago, Pride In Battle said:

Hi

Once on board where do you book the speciality restaurants as I've heard they book up quick.

Thanks 

Deck 9 Windows Cafe Port side or on embarkation day there may also be a second booking station on the Pool Deck as well

52 minutes ago, Pride In Battle said:

Where do you book it, is it the guest relations desk ?

No there is a desk on the port side of Windows Cafe deck 9 which is staffed 10-1600 each day.  In addition on embarkation day they are there from 12 and often also have a second booking station set up on the Pool Deck.  You are far more likely to be successful with reservations if you visit yourself.  On embarkation day you may not see your butler until late afternoon and a lot of guests will already have made direct bookings.  Its an Urban myth that butlers have access to more slots than the reservation desks

1 hour ago, Mailman055 said:

130 db? That is the equivalent of a NASCAR race. That seems awfully load. How was that measured?

On an app on my watch 

I think the onboard bidding was a temporary work around to continue to generate revenue on excess capacity whilst the pre boarding process was in abeyance due to the IT meltdown. It was a lot of work for guest relations during their busy early days of the cruise and didn’t give any recognition for loyalty which was always a stated focus of the upgrade process. It was much more a first come first served action once the ship was sure of its inventory (a slight (!) issue during the IT meltdown). 

Looks like they’ve now reverted to a version previously used with the significant added benefit of the guest having the final say on accepting the upgrade or not. 

Exactly my thoughts or alternatively canned marketing never mind the detail!

Fantastic review - it was so hard to decide which excursions to do and I spent many hours agonising over it.  I think your post demonstrates that whatever you do you are going to see things that are so different and which amaze and fascinate you.

How I miss the orderliness of Japan now I am home - why dont people walk on one side of the pavement/sidewalk only - it makes so much sense and leads to so much less hassle!!!

As the ship was almost full no upgrades were accepted (though offers were sought) on the 3/4 cruise. Wisely they kept back what wasn’t sold as “contingency” I suspect these days letters to bid are automatically issued - it gives Azamara useful data if nothing else. 

The other person who can help is the Cruise Director as its an "entertainment" issue

41 minutes ago, PirateWife said:

What I don't enjoy is loud canned music for breakfast. On our last cruise on Journey, it was blasting out on the Sunset bar area and there was no way for the staff to turn it down. 

They can easily turn it down/off if they want to. 

8 minutes ago, blag said:

I am extremely sensitive to noise. And, of course, the evaluation of acceptability of noise is subjective.

I suspect given the flexibility built into ships structures to withstand vibration caused by more unpredictable wind and wave patterns unusual noise is something that’s potentially going to haunt you on ships regardless of their age 

And things can change overnight.  Recently on a cruise that had previously experienced quite rough seas the captain highlighted that he had sounds that appeared  through the night in his quarters which he had never heard in all the years he had slept there. 

Journey has recently had a few beatings at sea so I hope you’ve packed your earplugs - that’s what we do. 

8060 is one of my favourite suites. We were 17 days next door to it recently and never had any noise issues. Maybe it’s down to individual hearing and the frequencies that each person is affected by 

2 hours ago, Werangels said:

I have really enjoyed reading this.  Thank you.  
 

Was there as much cherry blossom as you expected or more/less?

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. I’m kind of glad the reason ran late so that our peak viewing was in quieter places and not in the Sakura frenzy of Tokyo 

26 minutes ago, Grandma Gilly said:

I think you must be on a different ship to me. I am on Quest now and notice considerable cutbacks. Food is OK but the choices in Compass Rose are limited. I am not a fussy eater but I think the daily choice is poor.  It takes ages for the food at Windows lunchtime buffet to be replenished. The CR ‘every day’ menu is a lot smaller than last time I cruised with Azamara. Again, the included drinks list is very reduced. I remember when the cocktail list covered 2 pages. It is down to virtually half a page. We used to love the Azamazing evenings but we too had the Flamenco show last night. However the crew are fabulous. 

Funny we had that replenishment issue in Windows in February on Quest and didn’t enjoy our lunchtime experiences however just off Journey where we never encountered any issues and enjoyed a lovely varied range of offerings. It’s down to the Executive Chef and FB manager. If they’re not supervising it goes pear shaped. We never saw them checking around on Quest but did on Journey and the difference was significant. Journey also had a very proactive Hotel Director who was also checking- the inconsistencies are down to the management 

49 minutes ago, marinaro44 said:

If you are referring to me with that last statement, I will tell you that my wife and I have always been treated personally and warmly on our 48 Azamara cruises and 10 Windstar cruises, by stateroom stewards up to captains.  We treat them all as friends, and want to be treated the same by them.

 

My favorite example of a stuffy, smug Regent passenger was the response he gave when I asked why he cruises on Regent:  "I can afford Regent.  Why would I cruise with anyone else?"  That said, I'm pleased that you found Regent to your liking.

To which the correct answer is yes indeed I can afford a private yacht but there are other experiences I prefer better 😃