X cruiser sails Azamara to Cuba Jan 15 to 24 2019

[tigerbeth]

 Well Norris ,I am happily following along too. Bit late to the party , pour me a wine & i'll be happy !!😃🥂

I have been looking forward to another classic review from yourself.

No big cruises for us this year ,off to Spain & Portugal in May then Croatia in August sailing the islands in a small cruiser .

I have been looking at cruises to Cuba so I will be very interested to read your opinion.

Beth

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next time I would see the sunset would be in Cuba. Pinch myself.

 

 

The Pool bar is open until 10 p.m

 

I have the place to myself 

 

 

This waiter, Sandsay from India would take extra good care of my needs. A raised eyebrow told him I needed a Guinness and a finger pointed skyward (not that finger!) told him I needed a cocktail.

 

Sailing into the inky blackness

 

Norris

[Barwick Cruiser]

12 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norris, very much enjoying  this review.  Azamara, so far looks very interesting.  Two questions for you, first off, the three buildings in this picture in Miami...are these resort/hotel properties or private condos?  Secondly, the loungers in your most recent post, on the pool deck, are they for everyone or are they for suites only or something?  They look super comfy!!

 

Keep up the great work, look forward each day to a new instalment!

Cathy

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Here is four minutes and thirty five seconds of your life that you will never get back. It's my handheld video of our sailaway. The Go Pro recorded the whole thing but that would be 30 minutes gone. Between shots I was taking the photos you have already seen.

Following this we will go to dinner as (a) there is cooked food on board apparently (b) we haven't eaten in 11 hours. 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

9 minutes ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Norris, very much enjoying  this review.  Azamara, so far looks very interesting.  Two questions for you, first off, the three buildings in this picture in Miami...are these resort/hotel properties or private condos?  Secondly, the loungers in your most recent post, on the pool deck, are they for everyone or are they for suites only or something?  They look super comfy!!

 

Keep up the great work, look forward each day to a new instalment!

Cathy

 

 

Cathy,welcome!

Those are mainly expensive condos on Fisher Island . It  has the highest per capita income in the USA.         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Island%2C_Florida

The loungers are all padded throughout the ship and have attached pillows. Each morning the crew set folded towels on each for the guests. No sign of lounger hogs and I was usually the first or second person on the pool deck, keeping a vigilant watch (A Movado)

Norris

[Bimmer09]

29 minutes ago, singinalot said:

WOW! what a sunset. You always manage to capture them so beautifully

 

 Thanks Crystal, I saw many on this trip and one (this ain't it!) that blew my socks off (I bought a new pair) and if my memory serves me well (it doesn't) it was on the way to Cienfuegos after we left Havana.

You will know when you see it.

Coming soon- food porn!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The sun has gone and the pool deck is as empty as my stomach. I  take a walk back to Windows Cafe and the joint is jumping. There is a live action station or two-drawing a lot of attention is a man frying scallops in a pan. Hmm-nice color on those sir!

 

The plan is to dine in Discoveries-the MDR all the way aft 2 decks below our deck 7 cabin on deck 5. The buffet is two above on deck 9.  Never heard a peep from either.

 

There are only 4 elevators on the ship and so I wasn't' surprised to find myself in one with Alicia Hill the CD and was able to put a face to the name and voice. She was bright and bubbly as imagined.

 

There was a knock on the door while I was preparing for dinner. Our next door neighbor-a strikingly thin lady in her late 70's I'd guess with flaming red hair. She needed me to open a bottle of club soda. You may see her in some photos and video, dancing in Cuba with a great joie de vivre. She was traveling solo but was no shrinking violet. Which reminds me I must water the plants here.

 

Carol and I made our way to Discoveries around 7.45 p.m and found the Discoveries Bar jam-packed. Not with jam- I mean people waiting to eat. There was a wait for a table. Gave our room number and went to the Mosaic cafe nearby to sit it out. I kept an eye on movement in Discoveries and once 2 seats became available we moved so that the host stand could see us better.

 

A server soon appeared and I ordered a glass of red wine from today's selection of 2 reds 2 whites and a rose. I chose an anonymous Italian red. I was planning on buying an Ultimate Beverage Package* because it had better wines including my favorite Malbec.

 

* Worth noting that at no time did any server try to sell me a UBP

 

 

One of the two hosts came to tell us our table was ready and escorted us there. We had waited 30 minutes. He told us on the way to the table that there were some very popular appetizers in the buffet tonight and many partook and then come running to the MDR for the rest of their meal and they got slammed.

This would be our only time of waiting for a table.

 

Let's eat!

 

 

 

[hllwdcruiser]

Stay warm, Norris! Your city's weather was all over the news this morning in South Florida. 

 

PS - Can't wait to see the food and you've got me looking up Azamara cruises to Cuba....

Edited January 30, 2019 by hllwdcruiser

[bbqoug]

On 1/28/2019 at 4:32 PM, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

 

Hmmm, maybe time to take down the Christmas and New Year menus?

Carol understands the photo and summons a Lyft ride share as we have given up on taxis for the past year or so. She arrives and we take our reserved table outdoors which is where we prefer to eat in a warm climate. Alex will be our waiter and he lit one of those outdoor heaters

as the temperature hadn't got above 70F yet. Cosy now.

 

 

Carol continues her trip notes (actual photo!)

 

We have vittles!

On my plate is an omelette with spinach, tomatoes, bacon and cheddar plus white toast with the prince of foods-fried potatoes. Drink is a "Rise and Shine" ( I did that already 3 hours ago) juice which is a sassy slap yo mamma drink with carrots and ginger.

 

Carol has a Rise and Shine plus Cuban Colada (double espresso, sweet) to drink. Wake you up drink! She has scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes with biscuits.

 

The meal was $80 and the gratuity of 20% already charged on the bill.

 

 

Norris,

I am enjoying reading through your review.

These photos bring back good memories from when my wife & I stayed at the Surfcomber Hotel at South Beach before boarding the Azamara Quest in Miami.

We really enjoyed the Surfcomber and had a fantastic cruise on Quest.

[Bimmer09]

Carol's "start of the cruise" really begins with the first napkin setting on her lap by a smiling waiter. We appreciate attentive service. But the food is where the "Rubber meets the road" or in this case "Rudder meets the sea".

 

We are given menus and drinks orders are taken

 

 

 

We sit all the way aft

 

Shrimp cocktail with good sized shrimp for me

 

Yukon Gold soup for Carol and Norris

 

Carol's Caesar (Greatest battle tactician ever when not inventing salads) with anchovies

 

Norris enjoys his Sole Meuniere

 

Carol's amazing stir-fry

 

another angle

 

It was "Singapore style tiger prawns with slow roasted pork, rice noodles,Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts and soy curry sauce". What a mouthful!

 

Joseph, our smiling, laughing waiter from the Philippines, brought the dessert menu

 

 

The room was clearing out but we weren't running off to a welcome aboard show while there were good vittles to be had

 

 

My Chocolate profiteroles with vanilla and praline ice cream with warm fudge

 

and my "I just can't resist" rum and raisin gelato

 

Carol's apple and blueberry crepe

 

Our compliments to the Chef. This menu was more varied and with more choices than Luminae, our 2nd favorite restaurant at sea. The cooking was on par with our favorite restaurant at sea which is Murano on Celebrity but that costs us $50 a head. If this succulent

flavorful food is the standard in Discoveries then we will be back, again and again. Kudos!

We'll return for breakfast to fuel up for our 6 hour Blexie tour of Havana.

 

After a visit to the pool deck for an after-dinner walk it was time for bed at 11 pm.

The bed was very comfortable and I was soon in the Land of Nod.

 

Norris

 

 

[raudacruise]

16 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Newbies are most welcome! I have 13 big long reviews on CC. Collect the set!

13 reviews?!  Good thing I’m retired and have plenty of time to “wade” through them. 😎

[Barwick Cruiser]

Discoveries is an included restaurant?  No extra charge?  Wow, that menu and the food looks amazing and so much better than MDR on Celebrity...which I thought was pretty good on our Reflection cruise a couple weeks ago!

Cathy

[Jiminy1955]

27 minutes ago, raudacruise said:

13 reviews?!  Good thing I’m retired and have plenty of time to “wade” through them. 😎

 

Norris I too enjoy your reviews and am following along on this one.  Where can we find all 13 of your reviews?  I only see 2 in your signature.  

[Bimmer09]

23 minutes ago, Jiminy1955 said:

 

Norris I too enjoy your reviews and am following along on this one.  Where can we find all 13 of your reviews?  I only see 2 in your signature.  

Well the recent  CC upgrade limited my signature. I still have the URLs saved and will put them in a post later. 10 Princess, 2 Celebrity and one comparison between those two.

The Smithsonian already has "first dibs" on them.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Ok, so I am asleep on this comfy Azamara bed for 7 hours, so what better time to show you that video from Joe's Stone Crab. Check out the last minute when two guys clear and set a table-they have obviously done this before.

When I come back we will have breakfast which I interrupt to go photograph Havana which is outside the window, then we are off the ship. 

Yes-today is Havana day 1.

Yippee!!

Norris

 

 

 

 

[Jiminy1955]

36 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Well the recent  CC upgrade limited my signature. I still have the URLs saved and will put them in a post later. 10 Princess, 2 Celebrity and one comparison between those two.

The Smithsonian already has "first dibs" on them.

Norris

 

Great!  Thank you, look forward to it.

 

[offnoncruiser]

Hey Norris,

 

Just getting back to the CC boards today after returning from our Equinox cruise on Saturday.  If memory serves me correctly, Carol and you were originally booked on the 19 Jan Equinox cruise as well before you switched over to the Azamara cruise.  We had a group of 12 on our cruise, we all had a great time, and a few of us spent quite a bit of time at the Sunset Bar enjoying a variety of cigars.  It would have been even more enjoyable to have been able to meet Carol and had you join us for some of your smoke breaks as well, but alas, it wasn't to be. 

 

Very much looking forward to following along your Azamara cruise for the next few weeks, and I'm already wondering what the verdict is going to be at the end.....continuing to cruise Celebrity, Princess, and perhaps now Azamara as well,.........or.........?

 

Thanks.

Bruce

[Bimmer09]

Cuban sunrise

We woke at 6.30 a.m and I was soon up on deck by the pool where coffee and tea were set up in the smoking section. A sunrise came along and I took shots out of a small open window by my chair.

 

 

I liked the factory chimney and the smoke in this one

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, offnoncruiser said:

Hey Norris,

 

Just getting back to the CC boards today after returning from our Equinox cruise on Saturday.  If memory serves me correctly, Carol and you were originally booked on the 19 Jan Equinox cruise as well before you switched over to the Azamara cruise.  We had a group of 12 on our cruise, we all had a great time, and a few of us spent quite a bit of time at the Sunset Bar enjoying a variety of cigars.  It would have been even more enjoyable to have been able to meet Carol and had you join us for some of your smoke breaks as well, but alas, it wasn't to be. 

 

Very much looking forward to following along your Azamara cruise for the next few weeks, and I'm already wondering what the verdict is going to be at the end.....continuing to cruise Celebrity, Princess, and perhaps now Azamara as well,.........or.........?

 

Thanks.

Bruce

Bruce-good memory! Yes we canceled Equinox in favor of a trip to Cuba. It was just too compelling.

Stay tuned!

Norris

[bartnath]

On 1/26/2019 at 12:04 AM, Bimmer09 said:

WHY CUBA?

Time for one of my backstories-and thanks for asking the question!

In 1997 we drove to Michigan each weekend to stay in cosy B and Bs by the lake of the same name. Carol brought a new CD for our driving music-Buena Vista Social Club as she was a Ry Cooder fan. We were hooked and when the BVSC original band came to Chicago we went and were blown away (Chicago is known as the Windy City). Afro Cuban All Stars came from Cuba and we were blasted by virtuoso trumpeters and the rhythm section. We saw Ibrahim Ferrer in Ravinia, outdoors on a balmy summer's night. Hooked on the music no question.

But Cuba was out of bounds to Americans until President Obama made it possible for us to travel back in 2016. Carnival pushed the boat out (the Adonia, now part of the Azamara fleet under the name Pursuit.)

We had no cruise booked for January 2019 after our 2018 Crown Princess one and thought CUBA!! 

We looked at the offerings from Royal, NCL, Oceania and came up with the best Itinerary from Azamara. I've wanted to sail Azamara for a couple of years and have mentioned that fact in some of my reviews.

So music was the original impetus for our interest and we were curious about a country that had been hidden from us since 1959.

Now we had a chance to see it for ourselves....

Norris

Norris - Loving the review as always (your photos are amazing!). Just curious, as a lifelong Michigander, whereabouts you and Carol visited the B&B's?

[Bimmer09]

21 minutes ago, bartnath said:

Norris - Loving the review as always (your photos are amazing!). Just curious, as a lifelong Michigander, whereabouts you and Carol visited the B&B's?

Union Pier and occasionally Saugatuck. In 1999 we bought a cottage in Union Pier and 2 years later sold it and moved to a house on Lake Michigan in Sawyer where we lived from 2002 to 2018 when we sold it.

We also do fall Foliage drives up to the Mission Peninsula and Traverse City.

We will always love Michigan.

Thanks for the question and for joining us here!

Norris

[parrothead33]

Beautiful photos and great review Norris.  Looking forward to seeing more.

Kym

[Bimmer09]

Editor's Note

Norris hasn't forgotten about posting The Insider-the daily news sheet but he needs to scan  it and it is currently not possible for an hour or so.

Would a note from his Mother help?

 

Forsooth it will be a very special day for us today for we are both itching (maybe too much starch on the sheets?) to see Havana which has become familiar to us lately from the Netflix documentaries Cuba and the Cameraman and Cuba Libre! We know our stuff and will be ready for our guides.

 

I am enjoying my coffee (I think Lavazza?) and the lack of people around me. The deck loungers were left out overnight so no rain had fallen.

 

 

There was one officer who I think was in charge of the casual dining up on deck 9.

Dapper in a dark suit and each time he walked through the deck on the far side he would look over and smile and wave "Good Morning!". All the officers were like that. Nice and reminded me of X but not Princess. However this is NOT a comparison review, it's just my daily mounting impressions of Azamara. I'm from Northern Ireland where we say "Hello there" to anyone not pointing a rifle at us and we will engage in a conversation with a stranger at the drop of a hat.

 

Time for breakfast and we will visit Discoveries again for that. I can do the buffet no problem but Carol is averse to steam trays and loves a la minute cooking. I often have a buffet breakfast  and then an MDR one if the timing is right- I need about 3 hours between. Today we don't have that. We dock at 9.30 and meet our Blexie Tour Guide at 10 a.m.

 

To Discoveries we go. It takes 3 minutes to get there including the elevator ride which we seldom had to wait for.

 

Big smiles from hosts Amit and Leze and a table near a window. Napkin laying...buffet or a la carte? The latter is chosen.

 

 

Carol's fruit plate starter. I have ordered the steak and eggs- a 5 oz filet Mignon with scrambled eggs and I know it will take a while to prepare to my medium stipulation.

Glancing out the window we can see buildings...." You have to-go take photographs " says Carol

and I leap from my chair.

 

Indeed, there is Havana on our starboard side.....

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Ladies and Gentlemen....

HAVANA

( 3 Photos merged together in Lightroom)

 

 

My heart beats faster but the cook in me tells me the steak should be resting by now so I need to go back to the breakfast table. 

 

Havana is soon outside the window in Discoveries 

 

and this delicious plate of food is soon inside my stomach!

 

Now we just need to get our passports, Canadian dollars, Cuban Visa, sunscreen etc and wait until we are told we can go ashore. I am so excited! I had brought smelling salts in case Carol had "an attack of the vapors" but they were not needed. I think I can speak to her when I say that one of the best days of her life was about to happen.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

On 1/27/2019 at 3:38 PM, hockeyguru32 said:

Norris if you're going to be a shrimping boat captain I'll be your first mate we'll split everything right down the middle 50/50. Hmmmm seems familiar quote lol. I am locked loaded sitting on the barrel with top shelf rum in hand. I'm here for the long haul as I can never get enough of your reviews. Can't wait until you and Carol retire, and oh what shenanigan's we might see.

Sir, you and I have to sail together one day, dressed as pirates and swigging rum. Hopefully there will be a new build some day with rigging, cannons and serving wenches.

Norris, loving Treasure Island as a book and a tv series way back when...