uktog

There are no requirements for fully vaccinated people traveling between the Uk and Spain

An update on the attendant issue Azamara are now using just one attendant to a room but they have reduced the number of rooms each attendant looks after to reflect this. The issues with our room was the young girl had been promoted this cruise but still hadn’t grasped all she has to do. They’re going to give her an experienced buddy next cruise. I’m sure she will do fine then.

It can be used for a lot more than that including drinks packages, excursions, experience more packages, the spa, the shops ……

There are no restrictions. If there is anything added re a port specific to your cruise that is communicated onboard. Unlike in the early days of returning to cruising overnight changes in port policies are highly unlikely

Tables are there but remember Windows is waiter service at night and they won’t serve to the Patio. However they do have the sunset veranda open

No patio open at night and no sign of it returning which is very disappointing

I cannot remember but I think you can if you call them. Something says we did that one time. Not all packages work for everyone - same applies to those with high levels of loyalty perks which is why we each have to do our own sums!

They can be however if you read around there are many reports of unscrupulous operators not delivering as promised taking you to their cousins shop over priced restaurants etc. There sense of timing is poor and are less focused on your time deadlines. That’s why most people take the security of the ships tours

It’s a private car so quite a bit more than a taxi but a good way to burn obc if you can’t do it any other way

Arriving and departing are very different experiences. Departure yesterday our neighbour who had fast track business was 45 minutes to check in, 30 minutes at the border queue to get his passport stamped and 30 minutes in the fast track security line. He reckoned the other line was double that. It’s not for the faint hearted!

Yes it’s a great deal that package

Shore excursions now handles the private transfers (well they do on Quest!)

It’s not a part of the world that many are comfortable with private tours.

There is still the Chefs Table Tour available to you.

Yes either on the bus or private car no problem done both. Private car is a nice way to use up obc

A lovely morning in Oslo sadly then the rains came so Quest white night is moved to tomorrow with a delayed departure The Hop on Hop Off (Norway) bus was great at getting us around so we saw lots. We love Vigeland Park having been here before but this time we has nice weather. Does this look familiar to any parents or grandparents? We also though this harbour side sauna plunging into the harbour looked interesting or madness whatever you think 😂😂

That’s way more than we pay in smart hotels here.

I regret to say yes. Still pouncing!

White Night is currently still a more muted affair on some of the the ships still so manage expectations!

The internet is a challenge I’m going to do a port summary once I get home

There are 560 onboard so nearing the full compliment

Supply and demand simples!

It is certainly a lovely itinerary on Quest whether the weather is kind or not. Kristiansand is very pretty. What we are noting is the ship is impacted by the challenges of covid. The last two nights we’ve waited over 30 minutes for a table for 2 anywhere in the dining room. They are using pagers. Once in the dining room there were lots of empty tables and we asked the host about this. She said they had to close down stations as extra staff were needed for room service as guests were isolated and others were choosing to eat room service. No managers were looking after the situation because they are diverted to “live cooking stations” Yes lovely food but I think we need them more talking to guests waiting for ever for the “buzz”. The other big change is certainly on our deck the stateroom attendant has no assistant and although three rooms by us are isolating so not being cleaned our attendant is struggling to manage. We had dirty wine glasses in the room for three days (you never see them which is fair enough so eventually I left a note and they were cleared but you shouldn’t need to ask). Today we ran out of shower gel which is not being regularly topped up (interestingly never see the carts in the corridors) and we asked for more - none came so we’ve now escalated through guest relations. There are a lot of new starts. They are trying their best but many have much less proficiency in English than used to be the baseline. That said, we are very well fed and watered and as ever Norway delights!

No. Heike moved to Pursuit when they split the “dream team” up (Johannes Heike and Eric). However she leaves Azamara in mid August for another role elsewhere. Azamara are currently 2 hotel directors and two food and beverage managers short. There’s been a lot of turnover there. There was a new HD I think he was to go to Journey after training on Quest but he has left instead

If the future itinerary is in Europe euros will be good otherwise dollars are fine as their personal onboard expenses are in dollars.