Aqualina and Prime C refurbishment on Journey

Ok here are the pics. Aqualina had been set up for an art class hence the number of 2 tops but it could also be like that for dinner.

I apologise there are some chairs with arms, it was just we did not get them.

Maybe it’s a British thing but fine dining usually includes chairs with arms

There are still some of the old chairs in Aqualina but that is temporary- there was a miscalculation on the number of new ones required.

I think you can see from the pic at the back of Prime C how busy it could be.

The tables are identical sized to the MDR two tops

 

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So sad. Azamara is changing from the wonderful experience we have experienced in the past. Prime C looks like Windows, right down to the placemats! Tables jammed together is certainly not fine dining.

And the problem is, the amazing crews on Journey and Quest are receiving the brunt of everyone's frustrations which are a direct result of all the negative changes being made by the "bean counters".

 

We've just gotten off Quest and there was most definitely a different "feel" on the ship vs our Journey sailing last fall. The changes are weighing heavy.

 

Another small change which might go unnoticed by some is at breakfast in Windows there are no longer crew who roam with the coffee carafe to refill cups. If you wanted another coffee, you were brought a fresh cup (no saucer). We started getting and refilling our own cofee to ease the load of the crew.

I can't believe what I'm reading. No refills from carafes??? Tiny tables, pushed close together in specialty dining??? We are ardent well-traveled Oceania fans and are about to embark on our first Azamara cruise. Thought we would "try" it and the ability to make a trip to Normandy beaches was the other draw. First frustration was the terrible website and inability to easily navigate shore excursions, etc. Then came the extremely limited excursion offerings and inability to use the "shore excursion credit" without booking and having to ask for refunds and rebooking when we board (perhaps at higher price?). I'm still trying to approach this with a good outlook. Is the food in the specialty restaurants really worth it if the ambiance is slipping?

I can't believe what I'm reading. No refills from carafes??? Tiny tables, pushed close together in specialty dining??? We are ardent well-traveled Oceania fans and are about to embark on our first Azamara cruise. Thought we would "try" it and the ability to make a trip to Normandy beaches was the other draw. First frustration was the terrible website and inability to easily navigate shore excursions, etc. Then came the extremely limited excursion offerings and inability to use the "shore excursion credit" without booking and having to ask for refunds and rebooking when we board (perhaps at higher price?). I'm still trying to approach this with a good outlook. Is the food in the specialty restaurants really worth it if the ambiance is slipping?

I can’t see what the problem is with the lack of carafes of coffee in Windows, we were recently off Quest where in Windows the staff were very attentive and regularly asking us if we wanted more coffee which was quickly delivered. We prefer the coffee from the new machines which now produce a coffee equal in quality to Mosaic rather than the ready brewed stuff from the urns. However, just like food, I recognise that coffee is a subjective subject! Incidentally, Aqualina and Prime C can also provide more specialist coffee than the ready brewed type.

I agree. The no carafes of coffee is a non-issue with the attentiveness of the crew and probably has much to do with hygiene (and possible heightened sanitation levels?) rather than anything else.

Phil

I can’t see what the problem is with the lack of carafes of coffee in Windows, we were recently off Quest where in Windows the staff were very attentive and regularly asking us if we wanted more coffee which was quickly delivered. We prefer the coffee from the new machines which now produce a coffee equal in quality to Mosaic rather than the ready brewed stuff from the urns. However, just like food, I recognise that coffee is a subjective subject! Incidentally, Aqualina and Prime C can also provide more specialist coffee than the ready brewed type.

Great news that there is better coffee in Windows. The attentiveness of the staff there is fantastic even when it is very busy. They have all been trained ' to go the extra mile' and seem happy to do so.

I can’t see what the problem is with the lack of carafes of coffee in Windows, we were recently off Quest where in Windows the staff were very attentive and regularly asking us if we wanted more coffee which was quickly delivered. We prefer the coffee from the new machines which now produce a coffee equal in quality to Mosaic rather than the ready brewed stuff from the urns. However, just like food, I recognise that coffee is a subjective subject! Incidentally, Aqualina and Prime C can also provide more specialist coffee than the ready brewed type.

Thanks, actually as a black coffee drinker I hate coffee from jugs as it does “taste”. So do urns (it just my sensitive taste buds). Did you ask for machine made coffee each day or was that automatic?

At present, we bring “to go” coffee up from Mosaic each morning but maybe we don’t need to.

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Thanks, actually as a black coffee drinker I hate coffee from jugs as it does “taste”. So do urns (it just my sensitive taste buds). Did you ask for machine made coffee each day or was that automatic?

At present, we bring “to go” coffee up from Mosaic each morning but maybe we don’t need to.

 

 

 

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I usually collect one from the new machine on the way into Windows then ask the waiter for the refill to come from the machine. Talking to Tomez on the Quest, the new machines are a recent change as the old ones were costing too much in maintenance. They are much quicker than the ones that were on the Journey on our March cruise.

With luck by the time you join the Journey at Greenwich, they will have changed theirs.

Steve

I usually collect one from the new machine on the way into Windows then ask the waiter for the refill to come from the machine. Talking to Tomez on the Quest, the new machines are a recent change as the old ones were costing too much in maintenance. They are much quicker than the ones that were on the Journey on our March cruise.

 

 

 

With luck by the time you join the Journey at Greenwich, they will have changed theirs.

 

 

 

Steve

Thanks, that is good news - yes the old ones were always breaking down

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We were on the Journey in February 2018 on a 14 day cruise. The cruise was fantastic! It was our first cruise on Azamara after eight cruises on Oceania. In Windows at breakfast we always asked for coffee. After receiving our coffee, we were never offered a second cup and it was almost impossible to get a server to look at us to get a refill. I wondered why so many people were getting their own coffee from the machines. I soon discovered why. It was either do it yourself or you don't get a refill. There were too few servers in Windows in the morning to offer refills. We were never given or offered a carafe of coffee. On Oceania our coffee was constantly refilled at breakfast. This isn't a deal-breaker and I have another cruise booked on Azamara.

We were on the Journey in February 2018 on a 14 day cruise. The cruise was fantastic! It was our first cruise on Azamara after eight cruises on Oceania. In Windows at breakfast we always asked for coffee. After receiving our coffee, we were never offered a second cup and it was almost impossible to get a server to look at us to get a refill. I wondered why so many people were getting their own coffee from the machines. I soon discovered why. It was either do it yourself or you don't get a refill. There were too few servers in Windows in the morning to offer refills. We were never given or offered a carafe of coffee. On Oceania our coffee was constantly refilled at breakfast. This isn't a deal-breaker and I have another cruise booked on Azamara.

That's surprising to hear and definitely not the norm from my experience. I drink mint tea, but have never had a problem getting a cup or refill. More often than not I'm approached for the first cup when I sit down and thereafter just catch one of the servers eye.

Phil

That's surprising to hear and definitely not the norm from my experience. I drink mint tea, but have never had a problem getting a cup or refill. More often than not I'm approached for the first cup when I sit down and thereafter just catch one of the servers eye.

 

Phil

Agree. Had too many English Breakfast cuppas on Quest in April as the servers kept asking to bring refills. Not good preceding long excursion bus rides.;)