X cruiser sails Azamara to Cuba Jan 15 to 24 2019

[Bloodaxe]

23 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

 

Will be interested in Split arrangements, docking or tendering? When we were there on Eclipse in 2010 we tendered and were given tender ticket #35. It took us 3 hours to get off.

Obviously Persuit is a smaller ship, but there was only a ‘jetty’ in Split, so unless it has been extended I imagine you will be tendering. However, you will have the advantage of being on a smaller ship.

I have since learnt that it is advisable to take a ship's excursion in tender ports, as they are taken off the ship first.

 

I am almost sure that Azamara dock in Split, at least we did some years ago, anyway tendering is rarely a problem on Azamara.

[QueenP]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Hi Penny, we are sailing October 3 2020, not April.

I always save the best to last. I would never start a meal with a Sambuca and espresso.

So the Drawing Room comes tomorrow morning.

Cheers!

Norris

I dont know where that April came from! We are doing Oct 3rd, then b2b with the following cruise Oct 10th Venice to Athens. I'll be the one also taking photos of everything I eat, and writing it all down in my diary.....I am a big Patio fan. Waiting on what I'm sure will be fabulous photos of the Drawing Room!

Penny

[Bimmer09]

 

Thursday January 24th 2019 and Azamara Journey is back in Miami 

 

No schlepping to an airport for us-we can never face that so we are staying today at the Marriott Stanton Beach and so in no rush to leave the ship. Our luggage tags allow us to wait until 9.30 a.m (last off) by which time we will have found a lifeboat to climb into for a B2B.

* if you are on a Princess cruise and wonder where the officers are just look under the lifeboat covers. They hide there so they don't have to say hello to the guests.

 

Viking Star,more competition for the U.S cruise lines 

 

Carnival-old ship

 

massive container docks

 

Discoveries doesn't serve breakfast this morning. We enjoy Windows buffet instead. Being British the baked beans were mandatory and I found some Black Pudding (blood sausage) which now means I have to have breakfast here every morning with a follow-up in Discoveries.

 

we sat outside. Carol placed an order inside and it was cooked and brought out to her.

ham and onion omelet, piping hot

 

We had to vacate our cabin by 8 a.m to allow the stewards to clean it for the next guests.

Normally on Princess and X they ask us to wait in a particular room. In Princess' case Club Fusion or Vista Lounge and provide hot drinks and snacks. On X it is Tuscan Grill but we have never gone there and instead use the Hideaway which is quiet. On Az you go where you will and for us that means somewhere quiet where Carol can read. I know a place she will love....

[Bimmer09]

I have wanted to show Carol this room but often my way was barred

 

It's on deck 10 

it features an airy tropical skylight by Michelangelo

 

One of the prettiest and quietest rooms at sea. We had it to ourselves.

The doorways (one port, one starboard) reveal another beautifully furnished Azamara interior.

The doorway is at extreme left in this shot but I cut it out of my view to hide the "Warning: Typhoid zone" sign I had put up to stop people coming in and harshing our buzz.

 

It has a piano and a fireplace

 

It is the ship's library and has real books! Hooray! Libraries are dwindling as people turn to their Kindles and their phones. I prefer books, being excited to turn the page to see what happens next (the butler did it!) rather than scroll down with my finger. I also love the tactile feel and smell of a book.

 

there are board games too where people can interact with each other and take their earbuds out for a minute

 

the big windows look over the pool

 

More....

[Bimmer09]

As always there are nice little decorative touches to enhance the room

 

 

 

these are not edible

 

if you are at your wit's end...

 

I'll wander around a bit to take photos I have missed up until now, leaving Carol with the room all to herself.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I am going to check out Prime C the steakhouse which we will try in 2020

Also on deck 10 (aft)

 

the host stand

 

 

the bar- I love the Laurel and Hardy photos on the wall

 

communal table 

 

No it's not the MDR on a Carnival ship-the tables are undressed as it's turnaround morning and everything is in the laundry (well not the glasses and flatware obviously). The glasses will be Riedel in the Specialty restaurants. 

 

sunlight streams in through the floor to ceiling starboard windows (looking aft)

 

Looks like we will be having two specialty dinners in 2020 as I promised to give Aqualina another visit and steak is definitely  something we love. I passed by Prime C a couple of times in the evenings and the smell of searing bovine flesh made me do a happy dance.

If it's such a small ship how come I never got around to experiencing all it had to offer-every venue? No tapas for me each evening (The Living Room), no evening shows or lectures. No chocolate buffet!! I may have been suffering from dengue fever or something. Caviar and Champagne bar in the Living Room? It was in the Insider time and again.  Themed buffets...French, Italian, Indian, Mediterranean just from memory. How do you choose where to eat when there are so many choices? I could go on board and survive just by eating in the Patio if they served breakfast. The buffet food was top notch, as good as Oceanview Cafe. Afternoon Tea in the beautiful forward facing sea view Living room from 11.30 a.m to 4 p.m. Who does that?! I never saw the Morning Show on tv (CD and assistant) as I was always out and about. I did like that we could see our account on the tv and the webcam was pretty clear. I loved the reading lamps by the bed-don't always get those.

 

I blame the long tours and the very relaxing pool deck...no canned music, considerate people, no hairy chest guys doing cannonballs into the pool ( I don't mind it if the pools have been drained) no kids with diapers, no yelling and ordering shots.

 

Azamara, thank you.

[Bimmer09]

The staircases on Azamara follow this elegant pattern

 

art abounds as it does on X and Princess

 

 

this one by a Cuban photographer

 

another selfie with art deck 5

 

the dining team set up a display for the oncoming passengers to tempt them to try the specialty restaurants

 

some folks wait to be called in the Cabaret Room where the shows take place

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

9 hours ago, QueenP said:

I dont know where that April came from! We are doing Oct 3rd, then b2b with the following cruise Oct 10th Venice to Athens. I'll be the one also taking photos of everything I eat, and writing it all down in my diary.....I am a big Patio fan. Waiting on what I'm sure will be fabulous photos of the Drawing Room!

Penny

 OK Penny. We sail together indeed. See you onboard!

I will get my just Patio share in future. Such a varied menu.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

14 hours ago, deladane said:

 

Hopefully you get those last few posts done before Friday, as that's when I leave for New Orleans for our cruise!!!

 

Dana, if not today I expect to be finished tomorrow morning.

Tell everybody where you are sailing to and on which ship, if you will.

Norris

[RedBlu]

We are also X cruisers & will be sailing with Azamara for the first time later this month. We have been thoroughly enjoying your review since day 1 & are quite sad that it is coming to an end, reading it has been a highlight in our day! Your style of writing is so very entertaining & informative & your photos just wonderful.  When booking our forthcoming cruise we felt that Azamara would be our sort of cruise line and your report has certainly confirmed this. Thank you Norris & Carol for all your hard work, it has been a joy following along & we look forward to the next one.

Pat & Tony

 

[Bimmer09]

There comes a time when we really have to get off the ship and make room for the next 680 passengers. That time was now at 9.30 a.m and we grabbed our carry-on bags and headed down to deck 5. We met Alicia Hill there. We had met her twice prior and the second time was the day after White Night when she asked if we had enjoyed it- I said yes as I think it is just a great occasion. When she asked if we enjoyed the food we told her we ate in Discoveries. She shook her head not having expected that answer. Next time I am there at 6.30 when it begins with my white nakin tucked inside my white shirt. Today she was saying goodbye to pax and I told her about our booking Pursuit for the 10th Anniversary rendezvous. Big smile and " I guess I'll see you there then!"

 

All good things come to an end and our feet dragged themselves off the ship and down into the luggage hall where there wasn't much left. We found our bags and expected a porter to offer help but none were hungry enough for the $20 we usually pay. Through customs.

It's not a crazy scrum for rides out of the port when the ship only holds a quarter of the crowd that gets off the ships we normally sail. Outside is just a short walk away and we are in the sun arranging a Lyft to our hotel. We arrive there at 10 a.m which is of course 5 hours before check-in. Carol asks for the earliest possible high room and goes to sit by the pool to wait for a text. I sit in the shade by the valet stand and then hit the Starbucks a few feet away.

At 11 a.m we are in our room. I guess it helps to be a Marriott regular.

 

We have a simple lunch from the Starbucks and eat it on their patio. Some paninis no photos.

The cameras were resting as I had already photographed the neighborhood to a crisp and was now being as lazy as possible. That was exemplified by a nice afternoon nap with the warm breeze from the ocean wafting the window sheers. I had a dream where I was dining at the Patio and had just ordered "one of everything!" and the waiter said "oh, your usual sir?" Yup!

 

We have already booked a restaurant that interests Carol. Good Yelp reviews she said-called Yardbird Southern Table and Bar. The Las Vegas branch was the top prize on Hell's Kitchen some years ago. But before then we have a plan to be by the ship channel by 5 p.m to watch Azamara Journey sail away from Miami.

 

And that's where you'll find me.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The ship channel from Port of Miami was about a 15 minute leisurely stroll from the hotel. In Fort Lauderdale I have a longer trek across soft sand to photograph the ships leaving, although I can see them from our hotel, but have to use a zoom lens. I prefer Miami as a sailaway port as  it takes a while to get to the sea whereas in Port everglades you are there within 15 minutes.

 

We emerge from the foliage

 

South Beach at our backs

 

 

 

Florida is for fun

 

 

 

the warm weather allows people to come out and express their individuality.

This guy's bike carries a loud sound system on the tandem seat

 

I like his buddy's "Build a wall around Trump" tee shirt

 

We are settled in. Carol has a bench and I am pacing around

 

We wait....

[lola2013]

Norris,

Will I see you pedaling along Lake Shore Drive on a similar bike?  Once again, thanks for the great review!

Susan

[Bimmer09]

As you can see from the fact that we bought a Med cruise on the Pursuit 20 months hence, we have added Azamara to our list of favored cruise lines which now stands at 3 and gives us about 35 ships and itineraries to choose from, to fit just 2 cruises a year max. Won't get to sail them all.

Azamara, like the other 2, had to be experienced where the proof of the pudding lies. Brochures not so much although they serve a strong purpose as a lure. CC feedback in the Members and Photo Reviews are weighed too. We will definitely look at Azamara when it come time to book our Caribbean 2021 cruise (and beyond). 

My Az reviews will likely always be on the X board. I wanted as many people as possible to see Azamara and Cuba. The same will apply to Az in the Med and Adriatic. I have shown more Az photos than any review on that board as far as I am aware. So X and Princess people and people who thought of maybe taking an Az cruise are now better informed of the product.  The increased exposure will surely not hurt Az and some folks reading this have already made an Az booking. That is a good thing for the brand. I think those readers made a sound choice.

 

Had it not been for our already booking a 6.30 dinner at Yardbird I would have been very happy to eat at McCormick and Schmick's just 20 yards away. It has a blessed location and savory smells wafting from it. We haven't eaten in one since Seattle 19 years ago. Maybe next time we come off a ship in Miami. 2021?

 

those savory smells also caught the attention of this fine stray cat who sat beside us 

 

It's 5 p.m and a ship has blown its horn. We watch and wait

 

25 years at sea Carnival Sensation, with the tacked-on balcony cabins

 

 

she does 4 and 5 day cruises and will visit Cuba 17 times this year

 

another ship approaches -has to be the Journey this time, surely?

 

 

and we wait....

[Bimmer09]

The Miami sky is pregnant with rain and we hope it stays away until we are back at the hotel

Look there! Carol shouts down from the palm tree I made her shimmy up for a better view.

 

 

heading straight for us

 

yikes! that sky!

 

 

 

 

a beauty

 

 

the aft! Home, sweet home. We are aft on all 3 cruises currently booked

 

the pilot boat follows

 

"see you in Koper!" I cry but my voice is unheard

 

 

Carol is sobbing, her face wet with tears but I have no kerchief to dry them, so I pick up the cat and hand it to her. She wiped her tears with it.

[Covepointcruiser]

I was surprised that you ate in Cuba and had drinks with ice!   Let us all know how you are doing when you return home.   The U.S. CDC says there is an outbreak of Cholera and other less deadly intestinal diseases in Cuba.   They have severe problems with treating sewage with mush of it running untreated into rivers and the ocean.   When we visit I will bring bottled water from the ship and I won’t eat.   It’s too much of a risk for my husband and me.   There have been some deaths after Cuba visits.

[DebbieMacG]

11 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

I was surprised that you ate in Cuba and had drinks with ice!   Let us all know how you are doing when you return home.   The U.S. CDC says there is an outbreak of Cholera and other less deadly intestinal diseases in Cuba.   They have severe problems with treating sewage with mush of it running untreated into rivers and the ocean.   When we visit I will bring bottled water from the ship and I won’t eat.   It’s too much of a risk for my husband and me.   There have been some deaths after Cuba visits.

The cruise ended 24th Jan

 

 

[DebbieMacG]

Thank you both for a fantastic review, it’s made me even more excited for our 14 night cruise on Journey in May.

Edited March 5, 2019 by DebbieMacG

[p0240]

Wow, Norris, I have enjoyed every photo and comment on this journey to Cuba with you and Carol.  It prompted me to watch the Cuba Libre series which I found really interesting.  Thank you so much for your time and effort to do this review, I am sure everyone appreciates your comments, and I for one, have certainly used your hints and recommendations when touring.  I don't read the X board, so can you always please put a comment on Princess so that we know a review is up on the X board from you.  We are off to Japan in a few weeks on the Diamond Princess, first time to Japan, so very much looking forward to a new destination.

Enjoy being home

Pat

[Bimmer09]

Correction! Too late to edit but the steak house in Governor's Cut when the Journey comes by is Smith and Wollensky and not McCormick's and Schmick.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

45 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

I was surprised that you ate in Cuba and had drinks with ice!   Let us all know how you are doing when you return home.   The U.S. CDC says there is an outbreak of Cholera and other less deadly intestinal diseases in Cuba.   They have severe problems with treating sewage with mush of it running untreated into rivers and the ocean.   When we visit I will bring bottled water from the ship and I won’t eat.   It’s too much of a risk for my husband and me.   There have been some deaths after Cuba visits.

 

Hi, I had zero ill effects after eating 3 meals and drinking several icy drinks in Cuba. I have had several run for the border incidents in Chipotle in Chicago, alas.

Carol didn't eat any salad in the paladar in Havana whereas I wolfed mine down.

We took bottled water on excursions and the guides had bottles for us too.

To eat or not is up to you and I wouldn't urge you to do something you are not comfortable with.

We are all different. 

I returned home almost 6 weeks ago. No illnesses.

Thanks for reading!

Norris

[deladane]

8 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Dana, if not today I expect to be finished tomorrow morning.

Tell everybody where you are sailing to and on which ship, if you will.

Norris

 

Now that Cruise Critic changed the rules about our signatures, I couldn't add a countdown clock for the upcoming cruise because that would mean I'd lose most of the links to my old reviews.  It's so annoying!!

 

We are going on the Carnival Dream, leaving from New Orleans, and with ports of call at Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel 🙂  Look out for my review in the Carnival forum around March 18ish!!

[Bimmer09]

The last Insider

[PurpleTraveller]

Wow Norris, you have excelled yourself! This has been a wonderful review with all of your excellent photos. Cuba and Azamara are now definitely on my radar for the future. Thank you so much for taking me along with you and Carol on your journey, I have thoroughly enjoyed every step along the way. I'm always sorry when your reviews finish but now I can look forward to your Norway review. 

 

I hope you check in on my Norway review. I will probably start posting in mid July upon my return. It is a big trip - two nights in Rome, four nights in Malta, two nights in Southampton, 14 nights on Sapphire Princess and then ten nights visiting family and friends in the UK! I don't know which ports you are going to in Norway but mine are Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger, Trondheim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Lofoten Islands, Alesund and Bergen. 

 

Thank you once again. 

 

Allison

 

Edited March 5, 2019 by PurpleTraveller

[ROWSE]

Thank you again Norris and Carol for entertaining me all these many days!

Loved every moment and your amazing photography!

I look forward to reading the reviews from your exciting cruises to come!

 

Loved  your pictures of the library on the ship, in a small way it reminded me of the Ocean Princess library which felt like “one of a kind” just as your pictures made me feel that this one was.  

 

I think you have made a lot of us excited to visit Cuba!

 

Happy future sailings to you both!