mare s.

We are doing the Alaska to Japan itinerary in August (wrong time of the year for Japan, but we'll manage!)  What enticed us were the two ports in Alaska (Kodiak and Dutch Harbor.)   We did an exclusively Alaska cruise (on Holland America) 15 years ago but the two Azamara ports are new to us.   Alaska has certainly become a focal point for many cruise lines but I think they all have a way to catch up to Princess and Holland (who were, I believe, the first to make the area a tourist haven.)   We had, as I remember, a marvelous time with Holland and did a land tour with them pre-cruise.   I think Azamara could make Alaska special if they offered the usual late nights or overnights and did some real destination immersion, but just going to the same old same old ports would not make Azamara stand out in the very saturated Alaska cruise market.

Oh yum!   Azamara chefs are terrific, especially when they are sourcing local food (and seafood.)

whoops, you are all correct....I thought I could pre-book but apparently it's still the way it was....booking once on board.  I recall that a couple of cruises ago, there was a table in the terminal but last time it was done on board (and it was somewhat of a pain as we had to stand in line for a while.)   

I just wish I knew in advance what night the White Night is going to be....apparently somebody had it show up on their Voyage Planner, but nothing shows on our cruise.  

mare

Quick question...what is the current, on board price for the Chef's Table?   I'm thinking of  pre-purchasing one of the dining packages which includes the Table.  Does pre purchasing give you any advantage in terms of choice of Table or choice of night?

Last time we purchased a Table (but can't remember the price) when we embarked and had no difficulty choosing a night, but we got on board pretty early.  This time we will be getting on board a bit later.  

thanks,

Mare

White Night is one of my favorite activities!   Love the energy and the music and the Crepes Suzette (especially when Philip is in charge.)  Once in a while, we've skipped the buffet dinner and have dined early in one of the specialty restaurants and then gone outside for dessert and music.  That works for us too!   We're on the same repositioning cruise as OP, and also were wondering when the party would be since we're not late in any port and weather may be 'iffy' early on.  

mare

In the past, we've been able to check the Azamara website and find out information on guest lecturers.   The current website has zero information (doesn't even mention lectures.)  Is there any way to find out if there is a lecturer and, if so, who it is?   We've got a lot of sea days on our cruise and a lot of time to fill (especially since the casino will be removed.  It was always good to pass an hour or two there.)  

mare

We were on Captain Jose's first cruise on Quest and I am very sorry we won't be with him this summer.  He was (and is) very special and Azamara won't be quite the same without him.   But looking forward to meeting Captain Pelle.

On ‎1‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 7:24 AM, Orlando Vic said:

I can comment on Petropavlovsk as we were there in May of 2018. If you take a local (not ship's) shore excursion, you can get by with only your credit card (for lunch). If, however, you go to the market, then you would probably need cash.

 

Take a look at our tour review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298492-d8858927-r487781631-Kamchatintour_Travel_Company-Petropavlovsk_Kamchatsky_Kamchatka_Krai_Far_Eastern.html

Hi Orlando Vic.  We have been in touch with this tour company for the snow dog excursion in Petropavlovsk.  One of the members of our roll call asked if the company provides a visa or whether we have to obtain one ourselves.  What was your experience?   (I've heard a visa isn't required but someone said that the company must be authorized?)

thanks,

mare

Generally, yes, as long as you notify Guest Relations in advance.  We walked off very early (5:30 am!) in Puntarenas in order to catch an early flight home.  

did I miss it? where are the outlets at the desk? I always dry my hair and do makeup there, so wondering. I also hope the stool at the desk is of sufficient height. otherwise, I'm liking the décor (actually better than the "new" décor on Azamara...and I'm a big Azamara fan)

Curious too!

 

Frances

New décor...more modern and streamlined. some like it but many do not. I love Azamara but honestly prefer a more classic look. And, yes, prices are going up quite a bit.

we had the pleasure of having Russ as our cruise director on every Quest cruise since 2010 (it just worked out that way) Will miss him greatly on Azamara, but we have been looking for new cruise experiences, so maybe Crystal is in our future and we'll see him again.

Oceania has some fantastic Cuba itineraries. We are booked on the one that is in Havana for New Year’s Eve 2019/20. They are worth looking into.

 

Michael

We are on verge on booking Oceania for Cuba for February 2020. We were hoping that Azamara would have cruises there but nothing at all. Oh, and Viking has Cuba cruises (but I don't like the itineraries as much.)

I got the email just now. Yes, Veranda Plus is mentioned and the only extra perks I can see for LCV upper tier members is one night of complimentary specialty restaurants and spirits in the room. Can't see prices so don't know if it is worth it or not. From what I can see from all three ships' itineraries is there are no cruises involving Cuba and nothing in North America. Very disappointing.

Thanks Bonnie. Hoping to get to Cuba in 2019 or 2020.

mare

Unlike some others posting here, we've been able to cruise only once a year. Our first voyage on Azamara was in 2010 also, and we were hooked! We've strayed only once (to Oceania, which was pleasant but not Azamara.) Certainly, itineraries are extremely important to us, as are late nights and overnights. But the ambience, the food, the wonderful fellow passengers, and the music, and the crew kept us coming back. We were disappointed when we lost the wonderful harpist, but we were glad we had someone like Max on the piano before and after dinner. We found Discoveries bar always too busy before dinner and the Living Room on 10 forward (we always choose staterooms aft) just too much of a trek, so we gravitated to Spirits. Mosaic and Spirits are the heart of the ship. Now more of Spirits is being lost apparently to sales desks and huge video screens with piped in music. No relaxing ambience there! Disappointing for sure. I realize that those of us on Cruise Critic represent just a fraction of the pool of possible passengers but we care passionately about our "little cruise line." Change isn't easy and you can't please everyone, but it is clear that what is currently happening is a big concern to many, previously loyal, passengers. I can only hope that the Azamara experience will not be completely lost, but it's been a good run for us.

Thank you for posting, your personal views are interesting on this one.

Spirits is a huge disappointment on our current cruise. Of course no one is using it so its the self fulfilling prophecy I now think from your post is what the cruise line may want.

The reason no one is using it is there is no entertainment, garish casino screens flashing at you and from tonight, the LCV staff working in a portion of the lounge.

Every cruise I have ever been on with Azamara, Spirits has been a very busy place much enjoyed by many and great friendships formed with fellow guests over a post dinner drink. Cant do that in the disco, actually can't even hear myself think there, certainly not the ambience for a post dinner/show drink.

OK if thats the direction Azamara wants to take such that there is no place for a relaxing post dinner/show drink, fine. Doesn't fit what we want in a cruise so we will no doubt reduce our frequency of sailing on Azamara. We still love the onboard service, but not at any price, and if we are paying top dollar, it has to be for something that fits with what we like/want.

Exactly!

I thought Azamara got rid of the "crap art" sales? I am hoping that the so-called Art Gallery on the plan is to feature the work of the Artist-in-Residence? On our Baltic cruise last summer we really enjoyed the new approach to art with the Artist-in-Residence doing many "live" paintings, especially of the ports on the cruise and also doing discussions about his approach to his work and answering questions. And at the end all his work he had done on the cruise, along with some of his other painting, were displayed and sold. But they had to kind of set up the work all around the ship in random spaces and it seems like it would be nice to have a small space for this. Or has Azamara abandoned that concept? I thought it was a real positive because it was unique as well as an enrichment experience for guests.

Park Lane and the art auctions are definitely gone (thank goodness!) On our January cruise, the artist in residence had an area across from Mosaic. While his work was not to our taste, we enjoyed talking to him and seeing the paintings he was working on. So I'm ok with having an area on 5 for this purpose. I don't like the idea of having future cruise sales right in the middle of a public area, however. Oceania had their future cruise sales where Mosaic is on Azamara and I found it distracting when we wanted to listen to music or sit and relax and have a drink, and I personally wouldn't feel comfortable talking about possible future cruises and discussing money, etc. while people are sitting or walking nearby.

I am also less than happy about the direction entertainment is taking. Although Bonnie assured us that there would be live music everywhere, from some of the comments here, it appears that canned music is being piped in to Spirits. Spirits (when there was a piano man) was our go to for before dinner drinks and Mosaic our usual haunt after breakfast or in the afternoons (when we weren't ashore.) Unlike some others, we rarely went to the Living Room, but I guess that may change on our next cruise. At least that won't be for a year and in that time, I hope things will settle down and for the better.

I've been on Azamara Quest in the Med a couple of times. Had some trouble just once when there was a stormy night off Amalfi and I decided to skip dinner and go to sleep early. But, as others have said, a little Bonine and a mid ship cabin will help a lot. And Azamara knows how to do the Med. Would definitely recommend over a bigger ship.

Yamash!ta is the park and waterfront area of Yokohama. Osanbashi is at one end of it and I think it's the only pier big enough for cruise ships.

 

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3204.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3208.html

We're on Azamara, so small ship, and they said specifically Yamash!ta. So I'm even more confused.

I am a little bit confused. I think I read somewhere (now I can't find the post) that transportation options at Haneda to Yokohama were limited in the evening hours and that the limo (or was it the train) stopped running at 5 pm. We will be flying into Haneda next year and departing from Yama****a Pier (that's another question....anyone have experience departing from there rather than Osanbashi?) I believe there is a bus which departs Haneda with a stop at Yama****a Park and also the Marine Tower. This seems to run relatively often and into the evening hours. Can someone confirm this? We will probably be booking a hotel within walking distance of Yama****a Pier.

Thanks.

We spent so many lovely evenings in Spirits singing along with Ed and Max and our fellow guests seemed to be enjoying their music as much as us. They will be much missed.

 

I want to give the new entertainment a chance when I next board Quest in June but fear that the ambience in Spirits will be totally different.

The ambience depends so much on the personality of the piano player. Max and Ed engaged with guests and created a welcoming and fun experience. Having someone just sit at the piano and play background music isn't much better IMO than canned music. On Azamara we love(d) to sit with Max and sing along or make requests. We will miss him a lot. On our one Oceania cruise, the piano man had zero personality and we rarely bothered to sit and listen. On the other hand,the string quartet, surprisingly, was not only musically brilliant, but interacted with guests and we spent much of our time there. I am hoping that by the time our next Azamara cruise comes around, the entertainment issue will be settled in a positive way.

On our Japan cruise next year we arrive in Kobe at 8 am and depart the next day at 2 pm. We'd like to spend a full day in Kyoto but not sure whether to stay overnight in Kyoto and try to get back to the ship the next morning with a brief tour along the way (is Nara doable?) or to come back late in the evening of the first day and then do a half day the next day to Osaka or Nara. Any suggestions?

thanks.

Just came in at the end of this discussion. I have to second Grandma Cruising's assessment of food on the January Quest cruise we were both on. It was outstanding. I've cruised on Oceania and agree that the buffet is somewhat better than Azamara and I like that it is not self serve (although I had to wait a few times to get someone to serve me.) I also loved the grilled to order lobster tails and shrimp every night. I thought their Italian specialty restaurant excellent (and I love Aqualina.) That being said, we found the food in the Main Dining Room pretty bad (I couldn't eat their Jacques Pepin chicken one night...way over salted, and another night the fish did not taste fresh) and their pool grill dreadful (think undercooked chicken.) Maybe it was just a fluke on this particular voyage, but I'd give the edge for food to Azamara.

Back to the original thought on this thread...Azamara's pricing is getting out of reach. I regularly receive Oceania brochures and I have to say I'm seeing a lot of tempting, and affordable, itineraries. We have another Azamara cruise booked for next year (we were lucky and were able to book the circle Japan when it first was released and since then prices have shot up tremendously) but after that, we'll have to wait and see.

As I mentioned on the other thread....when I received this new survey I had to stop myself from laughing out loud...daily motivational quotes and juicing classes??? Oh dear.