cruzluvers

Thanks.

Are there different WIFI packages offered on Odyssey?

We're excited to be there when our three sisters come together.  Should be quite an Azamazing Evening!!

On 10/18/2019 at 4:20 PM, Isklaar said:

 

Yes, deck 5 .

Should you bring your own laundry detergent or do they provide it.  Do you have to use quarters, buy tokens or is it complimentary?

Is there a laundryroom on the Odyssey?

Should you make reservations as soon as you board?  Where do you go to make reservations?  Thanks😀

Should you make reservations as soon as you board?  Where do you go to make reservations?  Thanks😀

On 9/25/2019 at 8:06 PM, BBMacLaird said:

I’m glad it was helpful NeilWM. 

I just returned from the Japan Intensive cruise that ended 9/18. Truly a once in a lifetime trip. I hope you’ll keep the circle Japan cruise for 2021.

Did the same cruise in August; it was really impressive.  We just love these intensive cruises!

Originally booked  this 2020 cruise while on Azamara then found out that the same cruise in 2021 is much cheaper.  We are now booked in 2021😉

On 8/29/2019 at 7:01 AM, DavidTheWonderer said:

Not that I am criticizing, but personally I don't care if the ship's officers are around and about or not.  However, for those for whom it is important, perhaps you could consider Azamara.  Not a "luxury" cruise line but the officers are highly visible all the time.

Totally agree.  We have never cruised with a line where all the officers are seen all over the ship as they are on all the Azamara ships.  There is a real camaraderie between the passengers and officers.  Also, we have not seen such genuine  happiness among the crew, most of whom have been with Azamara for many years.  The secret is Azamara treats them very well.  Can you tell it is our favorite line?

Phil,  We're doing a B2B on June 10 and certainly hope the gym is in better shape then.  One of these days, we'll cruise together again.  Rhona & John

On 5/9/2019 at 6:44 PM, markham said:

For me, Seabourn has got it right, and it’s just as rols describes. We are on Sojourn now and I have found little second hand smoke and I can easily avoid it when I do find it: outside Seabourn Square, rear, starboard side and starboard side near the Sky Bar.

 

If you are interested in a more “open” smoking policy look at Silversea. They seem to want to hold onto their old ie traditional market of smokers. How else do you explain cigar smoking being allowed poolside at their only outdoor bar and restaurant seating area on the Whisper? On a recent post on the board a presumably devoted passenger informed that that’s the way it is and they - the passengers - like it that way. Imagine that in 2019, but then I guess it works for them...

 

Happy and healthy sailing! 

Definitely not interested in a more "open" smoking policy.

Is cigarette smoking on verandas and in some of the lounges (bars) still allowed?

On 3/12/2019 at 6:24 PM, excitedofharpenden said:

Bonnie, I guess my question on this loyalty benefit is this.  Guest A who has cruised on Azamara twice bids $500 for an upgrade from a balcony to a suite. Guest B who has cruised 15 times bids $450 for that same upgrade.  Who trumps who?

 

Phil

Unfortunately Phil, the higher bid will probably get it.  So much for "loyalty"!

On 3/23/2019 at 9:28 AM, Host Grandma Cruising said:

If you’re concerned about others using information about your bid to ‘out bid’ you, then it would be better to do as uktog says and not post information about your bid until you know the outcome. 

 

I guess eventually we will see if/how useful this information is, but it will take a while until we can see the outcomes from bids made. 

Do  you think there still will be an "upgrade fairy".  I really doubt it:)

Nice dining area but a wasted area when dining finishes.

 

I suspect they don`t want to encourage people sitting around having a drink only in that area, wishing to use the area as overflow from the inside dining areas.

 

There really isn`t an area onboard Pursuit where you can sit and have a drink whilst gazing out to the ocean.

It`s nice to sit at a bar chatting to fellow travellers....

What about the Living Room? That was our favorite place to have a drink (and nibbles), listen to music and gaze outside.

Fair enough!!! Sorry I seemed a little brusk but on our last cruise we had a dinner companion who steered the conversation consistently in a highly uncomfortable political direction. Everyone at the large table kept trying to redirect. Unfortunately I was seated next to her and when my husband and I tried to excuse ourselves she actually grabbed my arm and said she wasn't done! The extrication is now a funny story but was a little uncomfortable at the time. I wad worried for a minute there that dinner seating was going to become an issue on Azamara! We typically look forward to meeting new people at dinner. Cheers!

We always make it a point in the very beginning at a large table to say "no politics or religion" should be discussed. It has always seems to work!!

:D

At that price they might struggle! I do wonder how the fare algorithms work sometimes. I’d be waiting and seeing on that one.

 

Phil

Will let you know Phil. We booked it as the first of a B2B2B ....

That is what we did, Phil, and never had much of a problem. Once in awhile, with the server trying to pour regular water but we usually caught it in time.All the sommeliers we had on our B2B2B were great.

I recently experienced Azamara’s new revamped entertainmenton the Feb 20 Quest voyage. I do appreciate that this is a work in progress, and I commend Azamara for trying to change things up for those of us who have seen “Voices” 10 times, but I hope they will take concerns seriously. I also see this as probably a bottom-line equation, in that it is seen as a cost saver to contract out the entertainment. That said here goes.

 

There are two independent contractors providing the new entertainment. The first is “54 Below at Sea” a new company that manages the onboard talent. This consisted of one or two Cabaret shows of singers, a pianist, a violinist, and a magician. These were the typical talents that often occur on ships and were excellent. Part of “54 below“ is also the longer-term contractors that remain for a few months including the 5-piece band led by Sasha that provides back up for the guest singers (and CD and ACD), and did several well received Cabaret Theater/ and Living Room solo performances, as well as music for Jazz brunch. Other longer term “54Below” performers included “The sparkling duo/trio” consisting of female Latin singer Julia with keyboard and guitar, George the piano player, and Alex on guitar play at the regular venues, Spirits, Living Room and Poolside for VERYshort sessions. There is more time without music than with. The Trio was pleasant enough in the LR. However George was not very charismatic and most nights people were more interested in the TV than his Piano bar playing in Spirits.

The second group of contracted entertainment is the Miami-based “Shorts at Sea” a group of 5 “actors” that are on two- three month contract. The actors were supposed to provide 10 short plays (1 first night, described above) and three nights of 3 shorts in the Cabaret Theater. Interestingly only two nights ever happened. I did see the first night of three shorts, I found two shorts mildly funny, and the third embarrassing! I truly have seen better grade school performances. The “actors”also act as entertainment staff managing games like Scattagories, and general knowledge, music and visual trivia. As this was only their 2nd cruise, they worked in pairs for a while, and then advanced to solo. Most of the actors were very pleasant and fun, but one was quite rude refusing to go back to repeat a song or a visual slide. I know the activities are not everyone’s idea of fun, but it was part of the job they signed up for. Considering on a 15 night cruise they each worked activities 3 days and presented a total of ~2 hours of entertainment, I think they should have ungrudgingly repeated slides and songs.

The new entertainment format includes Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director (replacing the activities manager position) and they each performed shows in the Cabaret Theater one night to add to the entertainment schedule. Leo the DJ still worked each night in the LR.

White Night is always a party and the new entertainment package affected this somewhat. Russ and Ernest led the evening along with the Sparkling trio, and the actors took to the dance floor. Overall the evening was fun, but Julia’s voice was not White Night friendly, and her song repertoire is different, not as over the top flamboyant as previous White Nights. With only three singers at White night (one very weak) instead of the usual five, I missed some of the great vocal renditions of the past.

Othercomments: LCV party had Sasha and the boys as entertainment, but the dancers performance, and usually a song or two as entertainment were sorely missed. Discover’s Party had NO entertainment, and was quite perfunctory. No elite breakfast on a 15 night cruise.

We were also on the Quest cruise which introduced all the new entertainment. Leo summed it up very well describing the new performers. Some were excellent (The Sparkling Trio/Duo) and some not so, especially Shorts at Sea. It was embarrassing to see many people in the audience walk out early in the performance. We stayed for all three the first night and wished we had joined them.

We did enjoy each of the 54 Below at Sea performances with some top notch entertainers. We still miss the wonderful pianists of the past (Ed, Max and Simon) who brought us so much enjoyment. We wish instead of replacing that terrific group of young Quest dancers, they had provided them with new material to replace the aged shows which seemed to be around forever. But change happens and we will hope that it will eventually be better:)

We were on the first Quest cruise with the new entertainment. Some was very good and some not. The Sparkling Trio/ Duo from the Ukraine (female vocalist, her husband the guitarist and the piano player were excellent, especially when they performed together. As for the short plays, they really need work. It was embarrassing to see so many people walk out after the first one (and that was the best of the three). We are hoping that by the time we are back on the Quest, the entertainment will be a lot better. We really miss the pianists (Ed, Max and Simon) and the great Quest Dancers (though many of the shows were getting old - ie. Voices); it was a shame they just didn't provide them with new material instead of replacing them. We will be back on the Quest in a few weeks; hopefully they will have ironed out some of the kinks:):):):)

Is anyone else going on the May 11, 2018 sailing Switzerland & The Heart of the Rhine & Moselle? Hope to be able to chat with you soon. Our last Vantage river boat trip was from Bonn to Bucherest and we loved it.

Rhona & John

I wouldn't necessarily take sources from the ship as reliable, whoever they are. Rumours get there too. At the end of the day it's Miami who make the decisions and we will have to wait and see. However I know they read this board and I'll endorse what others have said. Live music from pianists like Max and Ed and guitarist Simon would be very much missed by many. They form part of the onboard atmosphere at all times of the day.

 

Phil

You are certainly right about how our wonderful live music entertainers Max, Ed & Simon would be missed if this "rumor" is true. We love the ambience live music provides and currently hope to hear it on our next four cruises early next year. If Azamara decides to eliminate this (substituting canned music?) we may start looking elsewhere because this type of entertainment is what drew us to Azamara in the first place. In the past, Azamara has listened and rethought what they had planned to do when loyal Azamara cruisers spoke up. I hope Bonnie will let them know that a majority of us are not and will not be happy if the live music goes.

I think you need to interview other TA's and find one who does a lot of business with Azamara.

 

Look for TA's that book on cruise lines like Oceania, Azamara, Viking Cruiselines. Something beyond the usual entry cruiselines.

 

CruiseCritic has suggestions....click on their advertisements for cruises and sign up to get e mails from various large online agencies. Also, you can readily ask other passengers you meet on the ships for recommendations.

You can also book through Azamara (especially when they are running specials) directly then you are permitted by Azamara to transfer your booking to a TA who might give you some additional benefits. We've done this several times and have been happy with the results.

Thanks. I just applied them to a Miami to Cuba cruise in March.:)