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First Azamara Cruise Complete. Wow!


JIMinNC
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We returned over the weekend from our first Azamara cruise (Quest Sept 5 Barcelona to Rome) and without a doubt the enthusiasm many here have for Azamara is well-justified. It was a wonderful trip!

 

We were in a Club Ocean Suite (7005) and were blown away by the accommodations and the view over the bow of the ship. We were invited to an incredible multi-course dinner with the Captain and senior crew, got a bridge and engine control room tour, and special VIP seating at the Azamazing evening in Valencia, Spain. We dined in Prime C twice (once for Chef's Table), Aqualina twice, and Discoveries twice. Great food in all. Only did the Windows buffet prior to the Azamazing Evening. The entire crew was great, especially our butler Eyup.

 

Thanks to a lot of OBC, we booked Azamara shore excursions in each port of call and all were very, very good. Also was able to upgrade to the Ultimate beverage package, so it was nice not to have to worry about "included" or "not included."

 

The only bad thing is, having now experienced a Club Ocean Suite on our first cruise, we've likely been spoiled. My wife has already said she wants that same cabin for future cruises! This was meant to be a splurge for our 25th anniversary, but I fear the bar has been raised, so it will be more difficult to settle for a lesser, more affordable cabin in the future.

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Boy, I sure do hope to have a similar experience on our first Azamara Journey cruise in March. We will be in a N1 cabin.

Looking forward to a different type of cruise after many on the large ships of Celebrity,

 

In an N1 you will not get the multi course dinner (Best of the Best) as that is only for the biggest two suite sizes (Ocean and Owners.) You probably will not be on Bus 1 to the Azamazing evening but again, if not in Bus 1 you will be the first group called after the less able walkers have gone in Bus 2. You will still have a special time I am sure

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Being on Bus 1 is a mixed blessing I believe as you then have to wait whilst the rest of the audience arrive. On the other hand being on Bus 1 when you leave is great.

 

Or not as we experienced in Bangkok earlier this year, the Bus 1 driver took a very circuitous route back to the port and we were held on the bus until the other busses disembarked....until we passengers mutinied:D:D

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Being on Bus 1 is a mixed blessing I believe as you then have to wait whilst the rest of the audience arrive. On the other hand being on Bus 1 when you leave is great.

 

In our case we did have to wait a short time while the others arrived, but the fact that we got first and second row seats for the show made it well worth the short wait. They had drinks for us while some other busses arrived and before we took our seats, so we just chatted with some of the other guests during the short wait before we were taken as a group to our seats. It was a great evening.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Being on Bus 1 is a mixed blessing I believe as you then have to wait whilst the rest of the audience arrive. On the other hand being on Bus 1 when you leave is great.

 

Just returned from our first Azamara cruise aboard Journey (Lisbon to Barcelona). My wife and I were directed to travel on coach #1 for our 'Evening' because we'd spent a few dollars more on our accommodations than some of the other guests. Our 'exclusivity' allowed us to enjoy being seated on the house right side of the stage for a performance that pretty much demanded being viewed from the front of house.

Yes, if you've bought a suite maybe you should expect a bit of exclusivity but had we booked a suite (we were in V1 accommodations on deck 8) we would have been just as angry as many of the guest we spoke with at the end of the performance.

Next time I'll get on coach number 4 - 8 thank you. All their seats were perfectly located where you could actually see the entire performance - front of house.

Bus 1 and 2 was a joke.

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I take bus one, I have found the wait to long at times. The

Nights I have done I was in front row in the center. I think you should of moved. I have so I can take pictures.

 

I am not sure if you are force to sit where they tell you.

 

The one thing I hate is leaving ship early to hang out in some venues as there no food. The other making me leave a venue when I rather stay and take pictures. I have missed the bus doing that and going to the toilet. Thry need to figure out a way to let the people who want to rush back go and the rest go later.

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Not meaning to take away anything from the artists that worked so hard to give all their guest an evening to remember I would have more enjoyed spending my time checking out the venue rather than watching a performance.

The venue was architecturally remarkable and hailing a taxi to get my wife and me back to the ship would not have been difficult or expensive had such an option been made available.

Understandably two empty seats on a coach that was full when leaving the ship becomes a logistical nightmare for the staff when that coach gets ready to return - so we followed the rules :halo:.

A staff member from the ships tour desk said in kind of a snippy manor that we could have moved around and stood through the performance if we had wanted. I told her that I could fly if I had wings if I had wanted to but she found no humor in my response :rolleyes:.

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Not meaning to take away anything from the artists that worked so hard to give all their guest an evening to remember I would have more enjoyed spending my time checking out the venue rather than watching a performance.

 

The venue was architecturally remarkable and hailing a taxi to get my wife and me back to the ship would not have been difficult or expensive had such an option been made available.

 

Understandably two empty seats on a coach that was full when leaving the ship becomes a logistical nightmare for the staff when that coach gets ready to return - so we followed the rules :halo:.

 

A staff member from the ships tour desk said in kind of a snippy manor that we could have moved around and stood through the performance if we had wanted. I told her that I could fly if I had wings if I had wanted to but she found no humor in my response :rolleyes:.

 

 

 

We were at that performance in Valencia and I thought it was spectacular! The City of Arts and Science was breathtaking too. We were center stage a few rows back. Best Azamazing evening I’ve been to

 

 

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We were at that performance in Valencia and I thought it was spectacular! The City of Arts and Science was breathtaking too. We were center stage a few rows back. Best Azamazing evening I’ve been to

 

 

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"We were center stage a few rows back". I'm guessing you missed buses 1 or 2 to get what sounds to me like some of the best seats in the house. Wish we'd sat next to you :).

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Just returned from our first Azamara cruise aboard Journey (Lisbon to Barcelona). My wife and I were directed to travel on coach #1 for our 'Evening' because we'd spent a few dollars more on our accommodations than some of the other guests. Our 'exclusivity' allowed us to enjoy being seated on the house right side of the stage for a performance that pretty much demanded being viewed from the front of house.

Yes, if you've bought a suite maybe you should expect a bit of exclusivity but had we booked a suite (we were in V1 accommodations on deck 8) we would have been just as angry as many of the guest we spoke with at the end of the performance.

Next time I'll get on coach number 4 - 8 thank you. All their seats were perfectly located where you could actually see the entire performance - front of house.

Bus 1 and 2 was a joke.

They do their best given the venue, but it doesn’t always work out. I’ve been on bus 1 or 2 plenty of times and not had a problem. Sorry you did.

 

Phil

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Understandably two empty seats on a coach that was full when leaving the ship becomes a logistical nightmare for the staff when that coach gets ready to return - so we followed the rules :halo:.

.

 

I fully understand why you did that - its a nightmare when some folks just take off on their own, they really should make sure the bus escort knows - Bus 1 and 2 have the LCV team on it so its not difficult to work out who to tell. We too tend to be compliant folks even though we have been on many Azamara cruises, we think it is kinder to the hard working staff to be that way on these nights which are logistical challenges they handle SO well.

 

The other issue is when those who want to go back early from later buses fill Bus 1 and then you are begging to be let on other buses. Lately I have seen then try and call the groups out by bus number to avoid congestion at the exits but then just fill up the buses rather than go on the numbers. That works well.

 

It is unfortunate if the seating does not work out - often for an orchestral concert the front row is not the best and I know they try and get the local agents to think where would be best for the top suite guests but again it does not always work out. If you are with Azamara again and you would prefer to sit somewhere else, just ask - 99.999% of the time it won't be a problem

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The one thing I hate is leaving ship early to hang out in some venues as there no food. The other making me leave a venue when I rather stay and take pictures. I have missed the bus doing that and going to the toilet. Thry need to figure out a way to let the people who want to rush back go and the rest go later.

I'm not sure how they would do that, do you? My experience of the Azamazing Evenings is Azamara do their best to organise things and I think they do a fine job. Catering for the needs of individuals wanting to do their own thing or work to their own time when there are 600+ people to deal with in a short space of time is neither fair to expect or workable. As I said, they do the best they can and most of the comments I hear from others are "they did a great job".

 

Phil

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We have been on “Bus 1” a few times and often Azamara do their best to keep you entertained whilst others are arriving.

In Bergen this August we were taken backstage, well onstage really, to meet the performers and had a group photo taken. By then others were arriving and we went upstairs to enjoy the champagne reception. Seating was not in the front but an area that the auditorium management felt was the best acoustically.

 

Have now been to quite a few AzAmazing Evenings some are better than others but that’s down to personal taste. One thing that never stops amazing is the logistics of the event sometimes in challenging conditions. Can’t wait to see how the AzAmazing Evening in Koper in October 2020, when all 3 ships meet and have a joint event, is handled.

 

 

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