Jarronwood

Thanks so much to all of you who offered help with this. The problem seems to be resolved now......I think. I went back to the website, started over, and sure enough, there was more to it than I had completed the first time. I made it all the way through to the "Purchase Tickets" button but when I clicked on that I got a message saying my purchase could not be completed as they had no credit card information on file. I tried to find a place on the website to enter credit card information without success. I guess that's a project for another day. But when I went back to the Land Discoveries page it is now showing that I purchased 2 tickets. So I think I am OK now on the Azamazing Evenings. Thanks again to all for being so helpful.

I found it on the online check in section in My Azamara.

I noticed that the included wines are no longer listed on the website. I wonder if there's a way to see the list before deciding whether to purchase the wine package?

I read somewhere that they are now sourcing the wines at each port to take on board the regions offerings when they dock. My husband prefers Spanish reds above all others but as we are on an Asia/Indonesia cruise, no chance of that.

We may just have to buy a wine package to keep him happy especially when we dine in the speciality restaurants.

Having said the above, what is the wine like on the Chefs Table? I guess the sommerlier matches the wine to the appropriate meal/course?

Hi

 

I would not over stress - on average I would say it was 4 star not 3 star. We met a lot of first time Azamara cruisers who were very happy with their experience. It all depends on what cruise lines you have experienced before and we did detect in some areas (and not surprisingly) an extra effort being made to convert guests from Celebrity who loved the differences they saw.

 

Given that in the past Azamara has been responsive to feedback, I would not be surprised if some wine list adjustments are not underway

HI UK Tog

We have cruised with RCCL and Celebrity which was a few years ago when they had the formal dining rooms at specified times. No such thing as freestyle dining We liked Celebrity a lot more than RCCL but still felt it was too big for us and then having decided to do a cruise this year for "my big birthday" it was down to the drawing board and eliminating other lines. Azamara ticked every box for us and after reading such good reviews decided to book.

Anyway, I am not going to dwell on the bad reviews, we will make it a cruise to remember. (I was having a really bad day at work yesterday having heard a rumour that I could be out of a job which today is not the case) and so it is business as usual. Onwards and upwards.

Oh yes, they will. And be sure not to miss it. Will this be your first crossing? If so, you could play a role in the festivities.;)

Yes it will be for both of us. Does the Captain dress up as King Neptune and duck your head in a barrel?

I have been trying to work out roughly what time and day we will cross - but I guess it will be posted in the daily bulletin?

On my upcoming cruise in March, I note that there is going to be a total solar eclipse whilst in Manila. It starts at 7.51 am to be precise. Do you think that the ship will have the special solar eclipse glasses? If not, is the ship likely to set something up for viewing?

Second question, on the cruise we cross the equator although I am not sure at what precise time - will the ship do a special ceremony?

Early reservations are 6:00, 6:15, and 6:30.

Thats great perfect for us and hopefully they will be able to accommodate us with the early times as we hope to book the Chefs Table plus 4. Im a bit worried from reading on a recent review that getting booked in these special restaurants was difficult.

We may end up visiting vineyards on our August cruise and will of course wish to sample the wine. To whom do you pay corkage. By this I mean if we eating in the buffet/MDR/ speciality resturant do we hand the bottles to the waiter to open along with our sea pass card and if sharing a table are we allowed to offer the wine around.

It is always nice to know the protacol in advance.

Thank you.

Im glad you brought this up, I was meaning to ask this very question. Also can I ask if you have a white wine/bubbly, can you take it to the bar/restaurant and ask them to put it in the chiller for you later, especially if you are booked in the speciality restaurant.

ALso, sorry one more question and dont mean to high jack the thread, but what time is the first booking in the speciality restaurant? We very much want to eat in the speciality restaurants and plan on booking the chefs table Plus 4 and we do like to eat early. We would like to go to the bar at say 6 ish for a drink and then sit down at 6.30.

Oh dear - we board in just under 6 weeks on Quest and I am now beginning to regret booking with Azamara.

When we first booked, over 18 months ago, all I could find were excellent reviews and probably 1 or 2 bad ones. I have noticed in the last few months this has now turned itself around. I am struggling to find good reviews - all I read now are the bad ones.

Your review was excellent but the gist of it was pretty much a 3* cruise not the 5* you would expect.

I know my husband is going to be sooooooooo disappointed with the daily wine offering. He enjoys a glass or two (maybe three) with his evening meal and part of our budget was not to have to buy wine - at the rate of the reviews on the wines, I feel this is what we are going to have to do!

Too late to cancel now.

Do you think the bartender will be able to make an expresso martini?

Do the bars have a coffee machine? I suppose I could pop over to mosaic and order an expresso and take it to the bar for the bartender to shake it up with a martini?

On my last cruise I started at 'A' and worked my way down the cocktail list!!

Sounds good to me.!

Thank you everyone for your replies. B it is then.

HI everyone,

Its 6 weeks away until we sail and I've completed the check in online process and requested my luggage tags.

Can someone advise which Option I should select as I've printed out the Xpress Pass but need to select option A or B regarding the currency conversion.

Option A - I choose to pay my onboard charges in the currency of my card. I choose to use the Azamara currency conversion program.

OR

Option B - I choose to have my credit card issuer convert my onboard charges to the currency of my card in lieu of participating in the Azamara currency programme.

What is the general consensus on the options?:confused:

I was not used to drink cocktails but when Azamara started to offer them, I've taken the list and checked all recipes to see which one I would prefer. It was easy for my husband, he adopted Whiskey Sour but for myself, I like Planter's Punch. It's very easy to find all recipes on the web, I've made an excel sheet that I carry in my purse so it's easy to try something new without being disappointed. Cheers!

Would it be really cheeky if I asked you to post the cocktail sheet here? I too like a cocktail and it would be nice to know what they are all composed of.

should've gone to specsavers

 

phil

lol!

8027 is definitely not a connecting cabin. Sure you weren't looking at deck six by mistake?

 

Phil

OMG What an idiot I am. Phil, you are soooooooooooo right, I was looking at deck 6 - I guess in a moment of panic I rushed to the computer AND it just goes to show that my husband doesn't listen to me ...............

That reminds me, I must get my eyes tested.!:confused::)

Hi everyone

I know its too late to change now but I was looking through the 2016 brochure for the 2016 sailings and was showing my husband where our stateroom was (no. 8027). He leaves everything to me, he likes a surprise he says and besides he doesn't like using the computer.

Anyway, a very strange thing - I always looked at the available rooms on the Azamara web site to pinpoint available staterooms and make a choice when booking our cruise for this March 1 (before the re-fit). BUT when I showed my husband the room from the brochure it seems ours is a connecting one (which is not what I wanted as I wanted a room with a sofa in). As I said its too late now to change as the ship is pretty full but can anyone advise which is correct? The deck plans in the brochure do not match up with the web site. Perhaps this is a mis-print?

I thought at first I may have a later reprint to take into account of the re-fit but I don't as the brochure still has the 2 April cancelled Singapore Singapore cruise.

If anyone can advise which site has the correct layout for Quest I would be very grateful. As I said I purposely chose the stateroom with a sofa and would definitely have not chosen one without nor an interconnecting door.

So glad they are ok, I too was wondering what had happened but as you say the wifi was a nightmare. I wonder whether they actually were able to write and save their blog each day.

Great reading and great pictures. Thank you Bonnie. I cant wait until our cruise on 1 March 2016 on board Quest. We chose this when Azamara cancelled our April 2016 Singapore Singapore cruise and I am now counting down the days.

I think on our sailing, we too have Captain Jose (same name as me (Josie) but I dont drop the J) and I hope that I will get the chance to meet him. He seems like a really lovely guy.

It will be a late stay port and looking at your itinerary I would hazard a guess it will be the first evening when you overnight in Manila. Bit chilly maybe to wait until Osaka and late in the cruise too.

 

Phil

Thanks Phil but that evening is the Azamazing Evening at Fort Santiago.

Its just that me being so "controlling" want to be able to book the chefs table PLUS 4 on the nights when we do not have to get up for an excursion in the morning or at least have a late morning and if I knew the White Night night I could have the 5 evenings ready to book when we board. No worries though I have my spreadsheet showing those evenings when we want to book the Chefs Table plus 4 (dont mind which night) but I guess the other cruisers on our cruise may have the same idea! We tend to like to eat early and from what I have read in the forum that usually should not be a problem. Its the 7.30 - 8 pm we find too late. Turning up at 6.30 for an apertif whilst we look at the menu is ideal for us.

Nothing worse than a great big hangover whilst staring at a komodo dragon! Or an orang utan! (lol)

Hi everyone

Does anyone know how I can find out when it is intended to have the White Night Party on my cruise. Its just under 7 weeks away and we are boarding the Quest on 1 March for the Bali to Japan cruise.

Any advice or maybe Bonnie can find out would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

Tom I agree about the coffee. I am also a lover of herbal tea without the milk and like the mint tea they have and also the Twinings lemon and ginger. I'm glad I've got into those because even taking my own teabags (PG Tips) I can never make my cuppa taste the same as it does at home.

 

Phil

We too cannot function until we have had at least one cup of tea in the morning but as said previously, we will be bringing our own tea bags.

Thank you for all your helpful responses. We both tend to be rather grumpy in the morning until we have had a decent coffee, but it sounds like we will manage just fine.

OMG we have better watch out then Dave and Margaret - dont want you upsetting the komodo dragons!

Captain Jose is the captain on our March 1st cruise, so looking forward to meeting him and all the wonderful crew members I have been reading about .

Here in the UK we buy Cravendale semi skimmed milk which has been filtered and so long as it's in the fridge does last up to two weeks when opened. Bit like long life but it's much purer. I don't mind the long life milk with coffee but not with tea and if they do not have "proper" semi skimmed, then we may have to search the local supermarket. Would be interesting to know what milk they stock on board, surely they take on a load and then stock up as they stop at each port? Don't they need fresh milk for preparing custards etc.

Hi Dave, I could always bring my tassimo machine???? But I know what you mean. I much prefer an Americano/expresso with cold semi skimmed milk not long life. Maybe we will have to buy a pint of milk each time we board? The thing is both Mike and I have to have a cup or two of good strong English tea first thing in the morning and wherever we go, we always pack a box of PG strong bags. But if they only provide long life I guess a visit to the local supermarket is on the cards at each port?