live from marina!!!!!!! Musings from an O newbie - Azamara cheerleader.

[pacheco18]

Quite honestly Jan - I was really enjoying each and every day with my "peeps" and the internet service onboard was very slow. If I took the time to discuss my every movement, I would have wasted precious vacation time and taken away from all the good times that I can now write about at my leisure.

 

I really was savouring every single moment.....from my experience on Lufthansa's first class on the new 747 configuration (separate seat and BED - where the flight attendant woke me AFTER we landed....everyone was leaving and I was still in my jammies :o) --- to the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (bath with rubber duckie) ... and then to the wonderful hotel in Vienna (Hollmann Beletage) where I fell in love with one of the world's most beautiful cities. From my harrowing 6 hour train from Budapest to Vienna on my last day before flying to Stockholm to catch the ship, almost missing my 5 am transfer from the hotel to the airport where I was exploring Stockholm and the Ice Bar with my friends with no sleep for almost 72 hours!!!!!! :cool:

 

I have scolded other CC posters about getting off the darn site and getting the heck out there!!!! Travel is about experiences that I will share with you with full descriptions now that I can take time to get them all out!

 

I can tell you that we had wonderful tours with Guide-Guru and Natalia --- never have I been so lucky as to have had such knowledgable guides who got us through several hours of intense sightseeing in extremely crowded venues with such professionalism. With the exception on of one destination (where the scheduled guide took ill) all were exemplary and were lower costs than any of the other tour operators. In Poland - we used another company and Pawel was superb. Tour was well priced and the guide was a young man with lots of love for his country - it showed and the tour was great. We were one of the last people to make it back but we got every moment we could with this fantastic young man. Who was - incidentally - very good looking :o

 

Yes Jan - we ate - my scale shows it. I have a new love in my life from the cruise ......

 

VODKA hahahaha ....... maybe you were thinking " THATS why she didn't write.... we found Russian Standard and Bison Grass vodka and Beluga - which is all to die for. On my evening with my family in SPB we ate at a fabulous restaurant in the residential section and we danced and pounded back the vodka like true Russians. Next day I thought for sure I would pay for this but ...NO aftereffects!!!! Love this stuff! Maybe I will move to Russia!!!!

 

Best place to shop in SPB - the gift shop at the Grand Choral synagogue .... everything is half the price of anywhere else. And the crafts are exquisite.

Maybe God spared me the hangover because I went to temple on Friday!!!!! LOL It was a very unique experience and it was fantastic!

 

This trip was jam packed with sightseeing - it's not a relaxing time spent by the beach. It was go go go. Most days had us on the road at 8 and back on the ship by 5.

 

Shopping for amber is best done in Talinn Estonia. Prices are better there than Russia. Try the Amber Waves in Upper Town. Get some Pandora charms in Amber there for $20E. Best bargain around. Woolens are best in the Lower Town. If you aren't going to Berlin ....skip Rostock and stay in Warnemunde....what a lovely place to wander around ... go to the beach there and watch the people ...

 

Gdansk - LOVE IT --- take time to stop and have a fresh microbrew and kielbasa and pierogies on any side street. Buy Bison Grass Vodka.... good deals on amber there too!

 

In Copenhagen --- make time to go to the market in the main square and take time to visit Christiana -- the hippie commune. Go with a guide. We booked historian and Professor Paul Hartvigson and Paul de Wolfe. We got the full treatment and skipped nothing of interest. Do the pub crawl with them ..... three days of sightseeing plus transfers for less than US100 per person.

 

Don't miss a drink at the Ice Bar in Stockholm ..... gotta do it ..... book in advance on their website and save a few $$$. Shop at the City Hall souvenir shop as it is less expensive than anywhere else for souvenirs - fun wooden butter knives and little platters with the horse painted on them are great gifts and light and easy to pack.

 

Helsinki - for upmarket shoppers there are good prices on Longchamp and Furla purses as they have sales on! Don't miss the folk market in the centre of the city - try the reindeer meatballs and fried anchovies ..... excellent ----this is the best place to buy fur hats!!!!!!! Everywhere else is too expensive. a good mink hat will cost less than 100E in this market. Woolens and other handcrafted items are excellent value in this market!!!! There is a lady selling water colours that are so delicate they will blow your mind. I got several unframed pieces that were less than 15E each.....

 

Things are expensive in this part of the world ... Russia being the worst. Find unique treasures. The crafts are of high quality and are lovely but not cheap. Things for the most part are not made in China.

 

Shopping on the ship.....unless you have deep pockets and don't care what you spend ....or you have a rich Sugar Daddy (I looked but couldn't find one).... it's pricey. Beautiful things but I just window shopped. The amber was 3 times the price of Talinn. Same pieces.

 

Same with Canyon Ranch ---- wow. I am a Spa Junkie but I couldn't do it. In Vienna I found a place called Mon Corps. A Hammam. But BETTER. For $189.00 tip included, I got a 4 hour treatment. Tea First then the sauna - then the washing ritual - 2 practitioners, then the Rasaul med treatement, while that was on I got my hair washed and a foot massage. Followed by rest period where I was served Ice Cream and cookies. Then a 30 minute Morrocan Oil rub. Then nuts and tea. I was cacabrained after!! ;) Don't really know how I managed to take the Ubahn back to my hotel after being in town only a few hours. Now THAT treatment is hard to beat.

 

A surprise pop up rainstorm in Hungary cut short my touring and caused me and my guide and my friend from the Hollmann hotel to run into a hotel for "tea" (read: Martinis).....the Corinthia Hotel - Budapest - where I met a couple from Little Rock who were waiting to board a River Cruise that was delayed due to flood damage to the locks. They regaled us with stories of Bill and Hillary and trips abroad with Ed Meese during the Reagan years .... this is why I travel!!!!

OH THE PEOPLE YOU'LL MEET!

 

 

So - this is the fluff.......I know that you are all anxious to hear what will be the ravings of the Azamara Cheerleader about her Newbie cruise on Oceania.

OH - THE STORIES YOU'LL HEAR!!!

 

 

 

Stay tuned ... I am just revving up.

 

 

What's your next cruise -- we need to shop together!

The O spa -- they are kidding of course -- between the shore excursions and the spa, they have priced themselves out of my life.

 

You think going to synagogue helps with cruising? I need to go more often. LOL

 

Really anxious to get your impressions of the O experience and the comparison to your beloved Azamara (which I will be on in a month - with the WORST shoreside service in the world).

[Paulchili]

Cindi,

It sounds like you had quite an adventure and a great time.

Awaiting all the details.

Welcome back home.

Paul

[LuAnn]

+1

Lyn, I think you and I were on the Marina when we had some much "resistance" from the staff just to get space for a M&G. I remeber I had asked for a mike so that the "leader" and others could be heard better - no dice from the concierge :mad: it's a good thing I didn't ask for (free) canapés - no telling what I'd be told then :D.

I was on 3 segments B2B and it didn't help me any on the other segments either.

 

don't get me started!!! ;) LuAnn

[LHT28]

+1

Lyn, I think you and I were on the Marina when we had some much "resistance" from the staff just to get space for a M&G. I remeber I had asked for a mike so that the "leader" and others could be heard better - no dice from the concierge :mad: it's a good thing I didn't ask for (free) canapés - no telling what I'd be told then :D.

I was on 3 segments B2B and it didn't help me any on the other segments either.

Yes & I had almost 100 people on that cruise I tried to work with the concierge but was put off on several days

[pacheco18]

I thought I had some of the good stuff..... THE SHOPPING TIPS. Trust me - I KNOW how to shop.

 

"If it ain't half off, it ain't on sale."

Fran from "the Nanny".

 

Sounds like u might be overpaying. Lol

U might need my help

[pacheco18]

Yes & I had almost 100 people on that cruise I tried to work with the concierge but was put off on several days

 

I don't think the concierge can do a thing. You need an officer in your corner.

[TERRIER1]

Looking forward to your review and who you used as guides. We will be doing a Viking Star ocean cruise of the Baltic and fjords in July 2005 (that is not a typo - new ship:)) and would love to here your experiences.

[LHT28]

Viking Star ocean cruise of the Baltic and fjords in July 2005 (that is not a typo - new ship:)) and would love to here your experiences.

is it a time machine;)

[Jancruz]

I don't think the concierge can do a thing. You need an officer in your corner.

 

Executive Concierge can do quite a lot..

Jancruz1

[Jancruz]

Looking forward to your review and who you used as guides. We will be doing a Viking Star ocean cruise of the Baltic and fjords in July 2005 (that is not a typo - new ship:)) and would love to here your experiences.

 

Of course it is a typo and I hope the ship is ready..you do know that the new ship was the plan for the R9 and R10 that was never built by Renaissance and in addition they will have no casino..

I personally would not pay in full 18 months up front on a new cruise linebut that is personal preferemce

Jancruz1

[Jancruz]

Hi Cindi,

I am so glad you are back and all is well..I didnt mean to be rude, I just meant there were other things I thought you could write about while you were on board..looking forward to your full review!!

Jancruz1

[TERRIER1]

Of course it is a typo and I hope the ship is ready..you do know that the new ship was the plan for the R9 and R10 that was never built by Renaissance and in addition they will have no casino..

I personally would not pay in full 18 months up front on a new cruise linebut that is personal preferemce

Jancruz1

 

I need to learn to type. Thanks for pointing the typo out. I love the lay out of the ship and have never gambled in the casinos on Oceania so no loss to us. The itinenary was just what we were looking for and everything else about the ship was just up our alley. I was reluctant to pre-pay but the money isn't earning anything in the bank and the cabins are filling. Will have to wait and see.

[TERRIER1]

is it a time machine;)

 

Obviously I am living in the past. I never even stepped foot on a cruise ship until 2008 so I completely screwed up the date. Thanks for pointing my typo out. :)

[JimandStan]

Of course it is a typo and I hope the ship is ready..you do know that the new ship was the plan for the R9 and R10 that was never built by Renaissance and in addition they will have no casino..

I personally would not pay in full 18 months up front on a new cruise linebut that is personal preferemce

Jancruz1

 

The Deck plans have been out for months and they are aggressively marketing her-

http://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruiseships/east_mediterranean/viking-star/deck.aspx

The Infinity Pool fascinates me, but I'm not so sure that I would be happy swimming in it....:o

[TERRIER1]

]

The Infinity Pool fascinates me, but I'm not so sure that I would be happy swimming in it....:o[/font][/size]

 

I will need to bring my mask and snorkel. :)

[cindilouwho]

]

The Infinity Pool fascinates me, but I'm not so sure that I would be happy swimming in it....:o[/font][/size]

 

I will need to bring my mask and snorkel. :)

 

Never mind the mask and snorkel - just don't forget your bathing suit!!! OMG what a floating billboard that would make. :eek:

[potterhill]

I don't think the concierge can do a thing. You need an officer in your corner.

 

I have given up on Oceania's concierges. They act like they are interested but I've never gotten a response. They take your cabin # and say they will call but never do. When you try to track them down to find out if they can offer any assistance regarding your request (which they agreed to look into) they are unavailable. Can't figure why they are on the ships unless it is as window dressing. If I can't get the information I require on my own I now go without.

 

I guess this would be my biggest criticism of Oceania. But since I live my life everyday without a concierge, it's not a huge hardship. Just unexpected and disappointing.

 

Mo

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[cindilouwho]

As a preface I would like to say that all "musings" and opinions are subjective and different people do see things differently. What I will discuss are the opinions of myself and the group that I travelled with - and I will be very circumspect about how I arrived at the impressions and endeavor to be fair and balanced in this report.

 

I will post a review in the review section but this is really meant to be a comparison between Oceania and Azamara experiences. There can be no comparison of the ships because the Marina is larger and new while AZ uses the older R ships - so that point is moot.

 

Off the top - shoreside O BEATS shoreside AZ HANDS DOWN!!!

 

To begin at the beginning. I have already commented on the boarding and just to elaborate, it was the beginning of boarding and there was a backlog of folks that had been waiting for boarding to commence. Before opening up the all the check-in counters, O decided to call out the suites, PH suites, Concierge and regular cabins to approach the check-in counters separately. I was standing with some nice people that I met in line and didn't really feel the need to rush in but I found it a bit strange that people weren't allowed just to stand in the appropriate line at check-in immediately. There were separate areas for Suite and Concierge and stateroom passengers so it just seemed a little odd to be so class structured. No big deal, but it just took me a little aback.

 

At boarding there were some O staff to welcome you aboard and direct you to the lunch venue in the Terrace Café. No welcome champagne to greet you as there is on AZ. I also noticed that there were no officers nor senior management staff on hand to say hello. On AZ the Hotel Manager has always been there to meet and greet....along with an officer or two. This was just a shuttle stop on the way up the elevator to the Café.

 

A very nice lunch was served and I did notice that there were several Maitre D's from the restaurants walking around. This is when I began to notice that they didn't approach you, but rather "responded" to you if you got their attention. This was something that I noticed frequently during the cruise and was a very big difference from AZ. It was more the norm than the exception. The food was nice, the Martini that I ordered was excellent and I settled into the party mood! I got the attention of one of the GDR head Maitre D's and asked him about a problem I had with the reservations for the specialty restaurants and about my dietary requirements. I must say, he was very prompt in assisting me with the issue and within a few hours, the matter was completely resolved to our satisfaction. Well Done! With regards to my special diet, it seemed that once it was known onboard that I had special needs - all venues were aware and they did their best to always alert me as to ingredients used. It was really amazing. I cannot compare it to AZ service in that regard since I have only recently gone gluten and dairy free. Well Done!

 

 

 

Enter the stateroom ---- WOW - It was fabulous! The entire ship is well appointed, immaculate and beautifully furnished and decorated. So too was my suite. I had some flowers that had been delivered by friends that smelled lovely and I was very impressed with the size of the PH suite and the bathroom was amazing!!!! I am a big bathroom fan -- have to have a bathtub --- so running into the "loo" excitedly you can imagine my shock when I was met with the stench of sewage!!!! :eek: The flowers in the room masked the smell....I thought I might be imagining it when the room steward came in to say hi and I asked him about it. He said it was a "known" issue and they had been fighting to stay ahead of it by using more water in the toilet and a ton of chemicals...some of which were under the counter. This problem recurred for 5 days on and off...and the smell was also in the hall on several days. This is a problem. I have had a problem with smells before on AZ - not sewage but food - and I got several visits from the Hotel Manager to ensure that the problem was resolved - she even came to tell me exactly the nature of the issue and how it was corrected. My butler (Sonu) - who was exceptional - asked me about it on occasion and I told him that I was smelling it off and on but the issue was never really fixed. Also - my friends noticed the sewage smell every time they went up to play shuffleboard only there it was like a dead animal --- they reported it but nothing was done so they stopped playing shuffleboard. The problem was never resolved.

 

Soon I was enjoying the lovely day and my friends arrived and boarded....we had reservations at the Ice Bar and then back to enjoy the much touted Terrace Café. I thought the food was nice.....but the folks who had steaks noticed they were not correctly prepared. And they were tough. I had the lamb chops, they were very rare and I like rare so that was ok with me but it was a little on the "baaaa" side if you get my drift!!! LOL No issues - we were enjoying each others company so all was good. BUT....the steak issue and incorrect prep was a general theme throughout the cruise with the exception of the steak house. The Terrace Café has more to offer than Windows on AZ for sure...with lobster and steak and sashimi! And Waves - the pool grill - was far superior to AZ pool grill. The service there was also much better than AZ.

 

One thing that was totally missing each day was a nice goodbye from the Senior Staff and an Officer or 2 - AZ has folks seeing you off the ship. Also - where were my cold/hot towels when I got back on the ship? Where was the friendly face to greet me and welcome me back - usually a few Senior staff. I didn't realize how much this little touch means until I had to do without it!!!!

 

Since we were a group of 11 - we had been sitting together for dinner each night. Sometimes we were at 2 tables in the Specialty restaurants but that was fine. It seemed that in the GDR the food and the service was very spotty. They seemed to have issues choreographing service at the table. We thought it was because we were a large group, but there were several large groups and this shouldn't be an issue in the environment we were in. It was consistently inconsistent. At breakfast or dinner. On AZ we frequently had large groups and there were some services that were disappointing as will happen but we were always asked how things were and if anything was amiss, over came the "big Guns" to ensure that things were taken care of. For example - upon exiting the GDR on one evening after a very difficult dinner - we were asked how is everything - by one of the waiters NOT by the management - when I replied it was OK - they were shocked and surprised and asked if it was the service or the food but did not press on further.

 

This leads me to our most generalized comment regarding the difference from O to AZ - O seemed to be more "consistently inconsistent" all around.

 

The difference on O and AZ was in the dining room and elsewhere - there appeared to be a lack of attention from senior management - a rather "aloof" attitude about things going on. There was usually no contact unless the passenger initiated it. This is a total difference from AZ, where there is always someone in a position of authority proactively ensuring that you are comfortable. I and the members of the group all felt it, having been on multiple sailings with AZ. We missed it.

 

To continue on a common theme - I never had any interaction with the Hotel Manager - nor the Cruise Director. They were "absent". I don't require the attention but since this is a comparison of the 2 lines - this is a very major point. The Officers were never walking around - I saw the Captain, who is a very personable fellow, at the reception line for the cocktail party and because I was lucky enough to be invited to his table - only on those occasions. Part of AZ's homeliness is the visibility of it's senior staff and officers and their interaction with the passengers. This just didn't happen on O.

 

I would say that all the junior staff, crew, the stewards and the wait staff were equally wonderful on both lines. My Butler was superior to the ones on AZ in attentiveness but lacked a bit of finesse in setting up sailaways I think because he was far busier than the ones on AZ having to service 13 PH suites and 2 larger ones. :eek:

 

The spa area - billed as an oasis for the Concierge and Suite passengers with exclusive access - was a huge disappointment. The area is lovely with tons of potential and we used it frequently. However, the sauna and the hot tub were closed at various times throughout the cruise for servicing....even on the one sea day. Moreover, the change rooms, sauna and steam rooms were very poorly maintained with nothing being tidied up, no towels replaced and never anyone on duty to clean up the lounge chairs. While the "sanctuary space" on O is FAR superior in appearance to AZ - the lack of maintenance diminishes it's attractiveness significantly. Such a shame.

 

Another point that may seem minor but was noticed by our group was about a "shuffleboard story". Our group loves shuffleboard (OK - the guys LOVE shuffleboard) --- we always manage to arrange some extra tournies that turn into fun times and a great way to meet others. At precisely 6pm - bear in mind the sun was setting at 11 or 12 midnight on our cruise, the guys were told that they were locking up the equipment and they had to stop playing. Flexibility? AZ has extended every opportunity to arrange special things for our boys' habit!

 

Going back to inconsistency - Some of you have made the point for me in as much as the Concierge is concerned. My Concierge - William - was superb with me and moved mountains to get things done for me and the group. Yet I did hear that others were not so great. Looking back through the posts, it's clear that some folks had lots of assistance in setting up the Meet and Greets, and others had none. AZ has arranged the Meet & Greets and sometimes has more than 1 or 2 to get feedback from whom they feel can provide constructive criticism.

 

The Food - Everyone's favourite topic. I can always find something to eat and as long as someone else is cooking and cleaning it up, I am in heaven. But - when you pay $1,000 per day or more for your trip, I am looking for a bit more than lukewarm food. The GDR usually served up lukewarm food. And if you sent it back - it came back the same way. I will say that based on a comment card that one of the group sent in, we were invited to speak with the Executive Chef and the Manager of the GDR. They listened and took notes. I had not bothered to go back after the first few mediocre meals but some of my friends did and they said there was a marginal improvement. So, like AZ, O does care to listen. I had an interesting issue - one afternoon I had some coleslaw as an appetizer in Waves. It was so salty as to be inedible. The day before it was divine .... OK - stuff happens - but when I called over the waiter to tell him we all had really salty coleslaw - I got another plate 15 minutes later as a side with my salmon burger and it was EXACTLY the same. No excuse for that.

 

I never liked the pasta onboard AZ ... O does great pasta! AZ tends to have a heavy hand on the salt shaker - O has a lighter touch. More variety with the specialty restaurants on O but AZ ships are smaller.

 

What I really missed were the "special nights" on AZ - O had none really. Like the "White Nights" and BBQ luncheons on AZ where the senior staff and officers help serve and cook and there is local entertainment on board to help celebrate the "flavor" of the destination. In my "musings" it is a thought that this difference may have something to do with the fact that there is little "mixing in" between O staff/officers and the passengers. A tad more isolationist to my mind. But I am just sayin'.....

 

Entertainment - O and AZ about equal. Neither one is known for their great entertainment and I rarely go. The guitarist was phenomenal on O though .... can't say enough about him. I didn't do any excursions and I didn't take the cooking courses. The spa was too expensive so my "shellac nails" had to last 3 weeks!!!! ;)

 

In summation, did I like my Oceania cruise? - yes, I loved it. I met great people had a great time and have many wonderful memories. Is the food good on O - yes it is very good for the most part. If someone was taking his/her first cruise, would they be satisfied with the experience? Yes - very much so. For me - and remember all is subjective - I would prefer Azamara, all things being equal -the group? - a few feel the same - a few said they would not go back on O. None felt they prefer O over AZ.

 

Why? I think the fact is that we all feel that O was overhyped. As I am in the service industry - the last thing you ever want to do is overpromise and underdeliver. I think that is what happened with our group. We were anticipating so much more than we received and that is probably our own fault.

 

I remind you again - this is all subjective. I like O. I may try again if the itinerary, price and timing is right. And this is just a comparison between AZ and O. There are many, many more ships in the sea and this was ONLY my 89th cruise ..... so many ships, so little time! ;)

[pacheco18]

Cindi

I appreciate your candor and your detail.

 

I had a feeling that the lack of officer "involvement" would disappoint you, an Azamara cheerleader. It seems to be what makes Azamara loyalists loyal.

On my last cruise on Nautica I posted about all the unexpected attention I received throughout the cruise -- from the GM, F&B manager, Maitre D's -- it was unusual and almost laughable to us (felt like we won the lottery) -- but I admit, it did make us feel more special and affected our sense of the cruise. I imagine if one is used to that all the time, as Azamara cruisers are, the absence of that attention would be very disappointing. We are not used to it and it probably won't be repeated on O.

 

I agree with your assessment of the GDR - we do not eat there unless we are invited.

We have had sewage smells on Nautica -- but they have been resolved. Stuff happens with plumbing and as long as it is resolved, we are fine with it.

 

O doesn't have special nights, but they do have special events on board -- apparently just not on your cruise. We have had senior staff serve a fabulous pool side BBQ eg. Every cruise on O is different -- has different activities. I like the lack of sameness. Surprise me! Azamara seems to have standard events. On O we have enjoyed scavenger hunts, senior staff cooking pasta, team challenges guests vs officers -- but again, not on every cruise.

 

No cold towels upon return? We have had them and refreshments -- we have had the band playing upon our return. On our last cruise the GM was at the ship to greet everyone at almost every port. Might be a function of the CD.

 

It appears that many of the things you like and that enhance your cruise experience are more standardized on Azamara. You will get them no matter which sailing you are on. Consistency. I can understand why you thought these things are "missing" from Oceania. They are not entirely missing -- they are just not institutionalized for every cruise.

 

There is no excuse for ignoring any problem and for the lack of cleanliness you describe. If FDR is reading this, he will not be happy. LOL

 

I am 5 weeks away from my first Azamara cruise. I am looking forward to that on board experience and attention from officers that veteran Azamara cruisers rave about. I, too, hope to do an honest and detailed comparison.

 

I would love to cruise with you someday -- either line.

[Paulchili]

Cindi,

Thank you for your comprehensive and honest (wouldn't expect anything else) report/comparison.

I have many O cruises under my belt and only one A cruise.

I must say that the one thing that stood out for me was the way the senior staff on A were always involved and visible; and the staff generally more friendly?/approachable?, less formal?

Though the staff on O is excellent in my experience, it tends to be less "personal" - except for old acquaintances; the senior officers are indeed invisible.

The food on O was more to my liking - but as you said, food tastes are very subjective.

I too would hate to have a foul smelling BR for most of my cruise, especially if I paid for a PH. Not a good thing.

PS while there is no excuse for inconsistency, it is easier to achieve it on 2 R ships than 4 or 5 ships (2 of which are quite a bit larger).

[wripro]

Cindylouwho.

 

Thanks so much for the review and comparison to AZ. I agree that there is very little communication between officers and passengers on O.

[cindilouwho]

Laraine - Would love to cruise with you too!! I will let you know the next time I go and you do the same! K?

 

Paul - I should clarify about the food .... I really thought the food was great on O. Just the GDR was not fabulous (menu good, preparation iffy) - AZ MDR is usually better but saltier hand and lousy pasta. Specialty restaurants on par just more venues on O. Miss the soufflés on AZ. O more variety dinner lunch in the Terrace. MISS the waffle station on AZ - pancakes and French toast not made to order in the Terrace AND GDR. Smoothies for breakfast on AZ. YUM >>>>>

 

Would have liked a special event --- had a 4th of July bbq that was an absolute joke!!!!!

 

Missed the towels and the refreshments --- there was a table under a canopy set up with two chairs and a bowl of flowers .... it was cordoned off. no one was there. My friend and I hopped the velvet rope one day and posed for a picture there. We were confused. No bands except in Gdansk when we arrived .... and my impromptu rendition of "singin' in the Rain" on my way back along the pier in SPB after dinner and WAY too much vodka with my family.

 

I truly wish that our agent hadn't oversold the cruise. I also went to a presentation where all they talked about was how spectacular the service was supposed to be - personal touches ... now knowing that AZ is not comparable in that department would have lowered our expectations a bit.

 

I wanted to be fair - I will take the blame for not being more educated on my expectations. O is a great cruise line....but to me it would be more like a little more than halfway between HAL and AZ.

 

The sewage issue resolution, the unfortunate situation in the Sanctuary area and an incident in the GDR where I was given an elaborate explanation about them not being able to get me a gluten free-dairy free dessert from Jacques. A few days later, I got it when I was at the Captains table. Like Judge Judy says "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining". Just say, Sorry not possible today! Those things should not have been happening. I wouldn't expect that on any ship.

[Jancruz]

Hi Cindi,

I too appreciated the time you took to post your comparison..as I have been on both ships many times..I did not see the big differences you did..but then I have been on O so many times I know most of the officers on board and have a great relationship with them so maybe not a good comparison from me..I do agree with the shoreside experience O is so much better..it seems ridiculous that A cant get its act together in the office..

Like Lorraine, I also rarely eat in the GDR so cant speak to your experience there..I am glad you had a good time..and happy crusing in the future!! I will look forward to other posts from you!!

Jancruz1

[pacheco18]

Laraine - Would love to cruise with you too!! I will let you know the next time I go and you do the same! K?

 

 

Always on my signature

Please keep my posted

 

On Azamara next September 2014

Care for RT Venice - Croatia cruise and then a farm in Tuscany????

Absolutely divine trip. The farm is the one Rick Steves stays at.

Room for your friends at the farm if you book early.

Only 7 apartments!!!!

[TERRIER1]

Thank you Cindi for your comparisons. I have never sailed on any other cruise but Oceania and only have 6 under my belt but appreciate your honest review.