Jancruz

Just returned from a 15 night cruise aboard the Marina. Yes, Lobster tails in the Terrace Cafe and surf and turf sandwich (hamburger topped with a peice of grilled lobster) in Waves. You can request lobster on a bun without the burger. But, don't forget the whole Maine lobster in the Polo Grille and if you like, they will remove the shell for you. Best lobster I ever had. Also, in Polo, you can get surf and turf (Filet Mignon and a lobster tail). Lobster is available in all of the specialty restaurants. However, don't pass up the opportunity to have rack of lamb or the fantasatic veal chop in Toscana. And, don't miss having a steak or prime rib in the Polo Grille. It's all a "prime" grade beef. Luckily, I gained only 6 and 1/2 pounds.

Are you sure it was hamburger??

Jancruz1

But if you eat the lobster tail in the terrace every night you will miss the wonderful whole lobster they serve in Polo (where I try to eat every night) LOL

Jancruz1

Love the homemade ice cream for desert and for dinner a salad and grilled lobster tail is great..I love the hand carved turkey when they have it and the roast beef (also hand carved) truth is you cant go wrong with anything they serve.

For breakfast every other day they make sticky buns and those are my absolute favorite..dont forget to look for them!!..

Jancruz1

I dress quicker than I thought! :eek:

LOL!!!

Jancruz1

Hi Jeff..what a wonderful experience, I cant tell you how jealous I am of your being on the ship so long..our long cruises are over since we got our dog..but they were some of the happiest days of our lives!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Jancruz1

And I have to remember that in preparation for my Riviera Crossing next year I have to lose that weight that I gained on my last cruise!

 

Carpaccio. If it's good in Red Ginger maybe I'll try it. I will certainly try that risotto, it sounds great.

Wendy, when you go to Red Ginger try to go with six or eight people and ask the waiter/waitress to serve family style..I have found thats the best way to get a taste of everything and believe me everything is out of this world!!

Jancruz1

We've sailed O 2X & just returned from AZ Journey Rouen to Amsterdam, & I felt that AZ has clear advantages.

 

One of them was the Captain, whose announcements were simple, interesting & technical enough to get you thinking about the art of sailing a large ship. He was visible everyday & made an effort to chat casually with passengers. We liked that very much.

alue for money, wonderful shore excursions at extremely re

Despite the fact that O & AZ both use R ships, we felt that AZ offers better vasonable prices (esp given the 50% discount you get for booking before boarding - the value floored us esp after the very high prices we experienced last summer in Alaska on O), has nicer decor, & the entertainment is top notch & goes on for hours. While you'll never see a full length Broadway show on either O or AZ, AZ seems to do a great job of keeping you entertained over a period of several evening hours.

 

AND I liked it very very VERY much that the comedian got everybody laughing without offending anyone. A rare experience, esp on O.

 

We'll be back on AZ before too long, I hope!

I dont agree with a lot that has been said about the comparison..but I will say if the Captain you are talking about is Captain Smith..he is the best Captain I have sailed with in 60 cruises and I have been with him 3 times..

Jancruz1

No they do not..but it sounds great!

Jancruz1

Hi Cwuer !

 

. I believe you are asking if you book an Inside GTY, what the odds are, that you will do better. I'd say there is always a chance, but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Even if all of the insides are currently sold out, Azamara might choose to wait it out until final payment or beyond, to see if there are any cancellations.

 

Hey Andy, thanks for your reply. Actually I am not really hoping for any upgrade. I am almost afraid of it LOL. I am fine to keep an inside guarantee. What I don't really want is to be "upgraded" to one of the lowest cat. outside cabins with the obstructed view, because they are SMALLER than the inside cabins and the other outside cabins. I don't know how Azamara considers them a higher cat. since they are fully obstructed and smaller (145 sq. feet instead of 158.) But maybe I would never notice them being smaller. Of course if they upgraded above that level to an unobstructed oceanview that would be awesome. But I don't really think that would happen. I was just wondering if they typically left assigned rooms alone, or if they have a history of upgrading assigned rooms to better rooms. The outside cabins have been sold out for a good while as there are so few on the ship, so they gotta put the guarantees somewhere:rolleyes:

 

Remember you can always turn down "an upgrade" you dont want!!

Jancruz1

We are doing the exact trip as the OP..I have a hotel in Jerusalem and am wondering if how much a taxi from Asdod and return to Haifa would be..we are perfectly capable of sightseeing on our own with the list I have from another board..or does someone have a very inexpensive guide for the 2 days..

Thanks,

Jancruz1

Princess has some very interesting Alaska itineraries on the Tahitian Princess, to be renamed the Ocean Princess next year and yes, their pricing is better. However, as you have stated, "their abject refusal to institute the same non smoking policy and offer anytime dining in the restaurant" prohibits us from trying out ANY Princess ship, despite the fact that we have Platinum status on the line.

 

I do not understand why Princess allows smoking throughout most of their ships, even though the vast majority of their clients do not smoke and object to the smokiness of their ships.

Im with you..I love Azamara for their smoking (non) policy..it makes the trip so much better not to have to worry about smelling smoke on the balcony while you are out there having a glass of wine or eating..and the non formal policy is the best..being from California..we do not dress here at all any more so wouldnt even have formal wear (that fits me) to take on a formal cruise!!

Jancruz1

The