Melissaghoti

Maybe the showers are the secret sauce.
I find them adequate and don’t think I’d use more space than that in any case.
 

It seems so counterintuitive to have to scroll up, rather than down when indicating months at the ‘Find s Cruise’ menu. It’s as though the site was created by someone unfamiliar with the internet. I avoid it, thus may miss out on something I might otherwise be interested in buying. I’m so glad I’m booked through 2024 and will book the next onboard.

 Melissa

I’ve been relatively lucky with the website, but this popped up today as I was looking at excursions for an upcoming cruise. …..I sat down immediately. 🤪

8 hours ago, lisiamc said:

Just an FYI, in case this happens to someone else. We had bid for an upgrade on our current cruise. About a week and a half before our cruise began, our credit card that we normally use for cruises had a fraudulent charge, and we had to have it replaced. In the meantime, our bid was accepted, but of course the charge was declined since it was on the old credit card, and they didn’t have the details of the one we are using instead. So no upgrade for us this time! 

That happened to me! I tried to change credit cards onboard, but guest relations couldn’t upgrade me. They did let me try to call Miami, but with the time change, I couldn’t get through, sadly.

I take a picture of ‘The Insider’ schedule to avoid carrying it around all day.

5 minutes ago, lenoirm said:

You should contact , a few days in advance ,the customer desk on the ship to arrange a wheelchair departure.

Contact the port for arrival and departure help.

 

The port is new and underground with no seats or waiting room  (as of July 2022).  
 

 

 

 

 

Galataport is new, very slick, and absolutely huge. It’s quite a hike from the ship to the exit. If a waiting room is added, it could still be a good distance from the ship.
As  lenoirm has said, it is essential that you let Guest Relations know that you’ll need assistance for as long as they can provide it when you disembark (I don’t know how you’d contact the port itself).  If Azamara can’t help with luggage pick-up and getting you into a taxi, there are porters available who can. Taxis and porters seemed plentiful.

Welcome Pickups is good for transportation from Rome to Civitavecchia. I’ve also stayed overnight there; it’s a pleasant, not entirely  tourist focused, town and it was very relaxing to be there, decompressing, 24 hours before the cruise!.

Over ten Azamara cruises, I’ve seen the ‘sick’ bags and ginger out only once. The ‘R’ ships are generally, very stable in most of the seas they encounter.

But, if course,I could have, but preferred to use it to buy some gifts for friends.

As well as in the shops, for excursions, and for specialty restaurants, OBC can be used for beverages that aren’t included, in the Sanctum for services - nails, hair, massage, for Wifi, and for laundry. If it’s refundable, you can donate to the Crew Welfare fund.

I spent a fair amount in both shops on the Onward last fall and the prices I paid for a watch, a couple of Coach bags, Azamara branded men’s and women’s shirts were no more than I’d expect to pay anywhere. The quality was excellent.

If you’re onboard the Onward, don’t miss seeing Ass’t CD (I think that’s his position!) Roy Ryan’s show. He has a wonderful voice and sings all the songs. He’s delightful to chat with too.

I trust the cabin stewards as well, but I’ve, on an occasion or two, misplaced my phone or iPad. I don’t want to do that onboard and even need to consider for a moment that anything else has happened. 

One of the reasons boarding is slow is the group of people, anxious to get their holiday started, who arrive ahead of their assigned boarding time. Azamara and the port schedule personnel according to the scheduled boarding times. If it’s impossible to predict when people will arrive, it’s impossible to board anyone efficiently.

On the Onward in June, Windows breakfast was buffet-style, but dinners were served with a themed ala carte menu all 18 days. It was very nice. I’d be happy if it stayed that way, but I think a very casual buffet is a cruise expectation for many.

Here’s the Onward’s daily paper when we were in Santorini in June. The onboard lecturer was excellent on this cruise. His information about our stops in Croatia and Turkey were very informative. He’s a good presenter who uses lots of slides to support what he’s saying. I’ve seen him on several cruises and always enjoy him.

“So they would give me a free ride from Venice, but can't help me get from the Ravenna train station?”

I agree that the train from Venice to Ravenna would be nice, but as there are 20+ per day, it could become a logistical nightmare for Azamara with, potentially, arrivals every half hour.

Melissa

This is not typical of Azamara, (though the bedside tables are intentional unmatched).  I hope you’ve spoken to Hotel Director Elisabeth Vogel. Azamara works hard to make things right, so please give them the opportunity.

   Melissa

I agree that the library/drawing room was a lovely space.The ceilings were fabulous. 

On my last 5 Azamara cruises, I went there to pick up a sudoku sheet a couple of times, meet prior to a special dinner a couple of times and, once, to look for a book. I saw a family playing a board game one time, and saw a book hunter another time. That’s it. If I were in business, in very tough times, I’d look for under-utilized areas and try to revamp them into something that might help the bottom line. Holding onto something so rarely used for nostalgia’s sake wouldn’t be negotiable. Time will tell if it’s successful. I think that will determine what happens with the other ships. I remember a similar, sometimes heated discussion about the casinos. The Den, in my opinion, is a much better use of that area. Change is inevitable  and somethings go away entirely. Im missing a local coffee shop that didn’t make it through the pandemic. I’m pleased that Azamara, despite growing pains, seems to be surviving Covid-19 and new ownership. My late fall cruise on the Journey was delightful in all of the usual ways and, in less than a month, I’ll have an informed opinion about the Atlas bar.

I imagine there’s a cruise line that suits everyones’ preferences. No single one will be all things to all people, but Azamara seems to suit many, even with the new, green bar!

Melissa

Could it be that because a TA doesn’t visit many ports where guests might be exposed and later infected influences the difference in protocols?

Melissa

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

 

I still travel alone, but have met so many others on Azamara that I never cruise alone!

 

Phil 

Phil, Thanks for your ongoing encouragement and support of solo cruisers. You’re, in great part, the catalyst for my decision to take my first solo cruise and I’ve never looked back! 
Melissa

ILgirl,

Check out the more recent post called Solos, Solo Activities for more.

I’ve done 5 Azamara cruises solo and have never felt lonely.  There’s always a singles/solos meet-up and there’s been a hosted solos dinner on some cruises. There was no shared or solos table on my Dec. ‘21 cruise due to Covid protocols, but tables in Discoveries dining room and Windows buffet are close enough to chat with people nearby.  After meeting people on excursions, we planned for that at meals and even shared a table at breakfast in Windows (don’t tell!). 
You will also want to sign up for the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet and the roll call for your cruise,  so that there will be familiar names even before you board.
I have 5 more cruises booked, which is a pretty good testament to how solos are treated by Azamara!

You’ll love it!

    Melissa

Seems like merging the two was a good move, but if there is a way to change the heading it might be helpful. It’s easy to miss the small print on the forum announcing the merger and those from the U.S. may not realize that ‘EU Residents Cruising in Europe’ addresses the Italy issue we’re all concerned about.

 On my November, Journey cruise, there’s only one Italy port -Livorno- after embarking in Rome. Considering the new restrictions, there aren’t a lot of excursion options. I’m wondering if that will change and about restrictions in Spain now.

Oh, well. It may all be different by the time I cruise and I won’t complain about an extra day in the Journey’s new Den with a good book and social distanced new friends, if it doesn’t and I don’t find an appealing excursion.

Melissa

“Curious. What would she "win" by being the top cruiser?  Is it a prize or ego?”

Yes.

Some one, some the other, actually.
I’ve seen some Azamara themed leather goods I believe came in a Tiffany blue bag and, of course, the bubbly. When I’ve attended, the top cruisers have generally seemed rather embarrassed and gracious about all the hoopla. 
     Melissa

There was a Haris Cotton presentation listed in one of the Insiders Huntingdon has shown. That seems new. It’s a Greek brand of clothing, so it is local, but certainly neither ‘curated’ or ‘bespoke’. I’ve purchased plenty in Athens and the islands, so it’s also not something that’s difficult to find. I guess it’s convenient to have on board if it gets warmer than you anticipated when you packed.

   Melissa