New to Azamara and have a few questions.

[lizzy41]

I have cruised a lot but never with Azamara.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  The specialty restaurants.....are they a must do also the chef's  table?

 

2.  Shore excursions best to book early or do they add more excursions closer to the cruise?

 

3.  I love casual on vacation are capri pants, smart jeans etc. acceptable in the evening? During day time are shorts ok?

 

4. The casino,  what is the minimum on the tables?

 

5.  Are the cocktails made fresh or from mixes.

 

6. Which beers are usually included for "free".

 

Look forward to your responses.

[Grandma Cruising]

I’d certainly recommend trying the speciality restaurants, you can save a bit by buying the ‘3table tour’ instead of paying individually. Can’t comment on the Chef’s Table.

If there are excursions you really want to do I’d advise booking early as popular ones can get sold out. From time to time they email offers on particular excursions, if it’s one you’ve already booked, just cancel & rebook online.

Capri pants & smart jeans are fine in the evening & shorts fine during the day.

No casinos.

I think the complimentary beers include draft Carlesberg and Becks .

 

Have you had a look at the topic Tips for Azamara Newbies? The associated spreadsheet is useful.

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by Grandma Cruising

[uktog]

32 minutes ago, lizzy41 said:

I have cruised a lot but never with Azamara.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  The specialty restaurants.....are they a must do also the chef's  table?

 

2.  Shore excursions best to book early or do they add more excursions closer to the cruise?

 

3.  I love casual on vacation are capri pants, smart jeans etc. acceptable in the evening? During day time are shorts ok?

 

4. The casino,  what is the minimum on the tables?

 

5.  Are the cocktails made fresh or from mixes.

 

6. Which beers are usually included for "free".

 

Look forward to your responses.

1. Nice to do not an absolute must do. Chef’s table would be my choice more special and personal. Tables in Speciality Restaurants now are very close together 

2. They do add more but popular ones can also sell out. So maybe book ones early you can always cancel them and rebook a new trip for no penalty up to 48 hours before the trip

3. Smart jeans and capris are acceptable and yes shorts in the day 

4. There are no casinos on Azamara

5. Drinks are assembled fresh but yes some involve pre mixes 

6. Currently Becks is the free bottled lager with Carling on draft also offered 

Edited October 2, 2022 by uktog

[wjfan417]

We normally purchase the package that includes the 2 specialty restaurants and the Chef’s Table. They normally offer a French Chef’s Table, Italian Chef’s Table, and another a couple times during the cruise. It’s limited to about 14 people, and the wines paired with the food is more upscale than the normal wines served.

[hamrag]

5 hours ago, lizzy41 said:

I have cruised a lot but never with Azamara.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  The specialty restaurants.....are they a must do also the chef's  table?

 

For us they were, as the MDR is very average. Like you, we have cruised a lot and despite the Az 'premium' ticket we found the MDR to be similar to the best of the mass cruiselines.

 

On both of our 7 night cruises, we booked the 3 meal specialty package and these meals were superb as was the White Night experience....do not miss that, it is spectacular so nothing like the white nights on other cruiselines which are simply meh. 

 

We cannot comment from experience in relation to the other questions you posed, sorry.

Edited October 2, 2022 by hamrag

[marinaro44]

It is one man's opinion that the main dining room is "very average."  It is , in my opinion, very good, and much better than the dining rooms on mass market cruise lines. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 minutes ago, marinaro44 said:

It is one man's opinion that the main dining room is "very average."  It is , in my opinion, very good, and much better than the dining rooms on mass market cruise lines. 

Exactly 

[uktog]

Currently the Main Dining Room is excellent and that’s why I suggested Chefs Table to be worth the step up as the gap to the specialities is smaller than might have been in the past. 
White Nights   - it’s a love it or less keen talking to people today. Last night a lot of wait in line and crush with no lobster tails but great dancing music.  

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, uktog said:

Currently the Main Dining Room is excellent and that’s why I suggested Chefs Table to be worth the step up as the gap to the specialities is smaller than might have been in the past.

I'm very glad to hear this, as I was quite happy with the MDR in my prior Azamara cruises and if it's even better now – that's even better!

4 hours ago, uktog said:

White Nights   - it’s a love it or less keen talking to people today. Last night a lot of wait in line and crush with no lobster tails but great dancing music.

I'm in the 'less keen' category.  I don't like buffets and I don't like dining outside – but I'm a sucker for Crêpes Suzette.  In a prior discussion of White Nights someone suggested a hybrid approach of dining in one of the restaurants, then joining the celebration for dessert and dancing.  That's what I plan next week.

[laurieb]

13 hours ago, lizzy41 said:

I have cruised a lot but never with Azamara.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  The specialty restaurants.....are they a must do also the chef's  table?

We enjoy the specialty restaurants and find the atmosphere much nicer than the MDR, which can be very loud.  The chef’s tables are a great experience if you appreciate fine dining restaurants, very flavorful dishes that are as nice to look at as they are to eat.

If you are staying in a suite, the specialty restaurants are no additional charge.

 

2.  Shore excursions best to book early or do they add more excursions closer to the cruise?

If you find shore excursions you like, book them early; they can sell out and the prices can go up the closer you get to your cruise

 

3.  I love casual on vacation are capri pants, smart jeans etc. acceptable in the evening? During day time are shorts ok?

Azamara bills itself as country club casual, so nice capris and jeans are fine. Shorts of course during the day

 

4. The casino,  what is the minimum on the tables?

no casinos

 

5.  Are the cocktails made fresh or from mixes.

most are made fresh.  Margarita mix is used for standard margaritas 

 

6. Which beers are usually included for "free".

 

Look forward to your responses.

Hope you enjoy Azamara!  We love it!

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

14 hours ago, lizzy41 said:

2.  Shore excursions best to book early or do they add more excursions closer to the cruise?

If you have OBC, no reason not to book as early as possible – they do sometimes sell out.

 

If the price later goes up, you are protected.  If the price goes down, you can cancel and rebook.  [I have done this with two sales leading up to my cruise this week.]

 

If you don't have OBC, you will have to put the shorex on a credit card.  You are still able to cancel, and you will get a refund to the card.  [Make sure you bring this card with you on the cruise, in case you decide to cancel while onboard.]

 

You can download a PDF of all the shore excursions for your cruise here:

https://www.azamara.com/ebrochure/

[but this doesn't work with all browsers; reports vary, and it may be a security settings issue; for me, Safari and Firefox won't download but Chrome works fine]

[lizzy41]

Thanks everyone that has been very helpful.

 

[combine]

8 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm very glad to hear this, as I was quite happy with the MDR in my prior Azamara cruises and if it's even better now – that's even better!

I'm in the 'less keen' category.  I don't like buffets and I don't like dining outside – but I'm a sucker for Crêpes Suzette.  In a prior discussion of White Nights someone suggested a hybrid approach of dining in one of the restaurants, then joining the celebration for dessert and dancing.  That's what I plan next week.

In August we had our first White Night meal on deck after 12 cruises of dining at another venue  and then joining the dancing afterwards. It was a balmy August evening, lovely and still and really was a great evening. As we usually cruise April and October it’s a bit hit and miss with the weather and being wrapped in a blanket is not my idea of fun.   If all the stars align we may go again but having a choice of other dining areas is really helpful.

[uktog]

21 minutes ago, combine said:

In August we had our first White Night meal on deck after 12 cruises of dining at another venue  and then joining the dancing afterwards. It was a balmy August evening, lovely and still and really was a great evening. As we usually cruise April and October it’s a bit hit and miss with the weather and being wrapped in a blanket is not my idea of fun.   If all the stars align we may go again but having a choice of other dining areas is really helpful.

I did it this week but maybe not next. It depends on location.
 

I found the buffet crush a bit off putting the food was nice but no lobster tails or barbecue fish and less extensive cheeses and desserts than before but still very adequate.  I’m just less able to manage buffets these days due to balance issues. 

The new playlist is good and unlike on Quest where the band played 90 minutes only on Journey it was well over two hours non stop (though far fewer slow numbers 😢 but thankfully no ham fisted Elvis impersonating! (Eric can do it none of the others can) b

[ECCruise]

17 hours ago, marinaro44 said:

It is one man's opinion that the main dining room is "very average."  It is , in my opinion, very good, and much better than the dining rooms on mass market cruise lines. 

The ratio of likes and comments clearly says the sentiment is with you.

Just got off 8 days on a mass market line and there was virtually no comparison.  

[KevintheIrishDJ]

14 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm very glad to hear this, as I was quite happy with the MDR in my prior Azamara cruises and if it's even better now – that's even better!

I'm in the 'less keen' category.  I don't like buffets and I don't like dining outside – but I'm a sucker for Crêpes Suzette.  In a prior discussion of White Nights someone suggested a hybrid approach of dining in one of the restaurants, then joining the celebration for dessert and dancing.  That's what I plan next week.

THey have not allowed an open flame in the DR for years, so Crêpes Suzettes are no longer done. So I make them at home.

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by KevintheIrishDJ

[uktog]

46 minutes ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

THey have not allowed an open flame in the DR for years, so Crêpes Suzettes are no longer done. So I make them at home.

 

They are done on White Night as is flame barbecue. OK the barbecue is deck only but if it’s a wet night the crepes are done in the Caberet indoors 

[KevintheIrishDJ]

2 hours ago, uktog said:

They are done on White Night as is flame barbecue. OK the barbecue is deck only but if it’s a wet night the crepes are done in the Caberet indoors 

"On a majority of cruise lines, health and safety laws ban open flames in kitchens, with the exception of crème brulée torches, although even these can only be used in certain areas of the galley next to the fire extinguisher. Like other cruise ship jobs, being a chef on board calls for strict adherence to safety rules as well as compensation for these drawbacks in other ways. So chefs often adapt recipes to electric-powered induction heat sources."

[govanguy]

2 hours ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

"On a majority of cruise lines, health and safety laws ban open flames in kitchens, with the exception of crème brulée torches, although even these can only be used in certain areas of the galley next to the fire extinguisher. Like other cruise ship jobs, being a chef on board calls for strict adherence to safety rules as well as compensation for these drawbacks in other ways. So chefs often adapt recipes to electric-powered induction heat sources."

Always a "hot" night on an Azamara White Night !!!!!!🥳👯‍♂️🎉🔥🔥🔥

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 hours ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

"On a majority of cruise lines, health and safety laws ban open flames in kitchens, with the exception of crème brulée torches, although even these can only be used in certain areas of the galley next to the fire extinguisher. Like other cruise ship jobs, being a chef on board calls for strict adherence to safety rules as well as compensation for these drawbacks in other ways. So chefs often adapt recipes to electric-powered induction heat sources."

Please wait until after you have sailed on Azamara to tell us what they do on board.

[luv2travel90266]

On 10/2/2022 at 5:48 AM, lizzy41 said:

I have cruised a lot but never with Azamara.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  The specialty restaurants.....are they a must do also the chef's  table?

 

 

I consider myself a foodie  and also have a wine collection of 1000 + bottles. The chefs table was comparable to a Michelin star restaurant at a fraction of the cost. I have only completed 1 Azamara cruise but am booked for a back to back in March and will do it again on each leg. Yes it is a must do in my opinion!!  

[KevintheIrishDJ]

On 10/3/2022 at 5:41 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

Please wait until after you have sailed on Azamara to tell us what they do on board.

I am just quoting the regulations.

[Belfastman]

On 10/3/2022 at 4:43 PM, uktog said:

They are done on White Night as is flame barbecue. OK the barbecue is deck only but if it’s a wet night the crepes are done in the Caberet indoors 

The crepes are prepared on an electric hob when they are done inside.

[Lazy Sailor]

Take a look at the experience packages, (covering all sorts of options) and check the sterling prices for buying before travelling. (which will be quoted to you if you phone Azamara). Recently the sterling prices were excellent value. If you buy on board you pay $ and hence the current exchange rate