uktog

I always thought it was brave channeling all emails to one mailbox. Maybe they’d underestimated how many folks were struggling still with issues. Let’s hope it sorts for you soon.

Thanks that’s great news - is this for Explora 2 or both ships?

Viking cancelled their equivalent trips yesterday

Thanks a lot. Sounds ideal. Were the boat tours included ones or did you branch out on your own/buy the added tour from Viking Packing is as planned which is great to get reassurance. We can do rain, we have webbed feet living here 😂

Excellent advice - I used Airolo on my Japan intensive. Because we were relatively near land most of the time it also provided very good WiFi on a lot of the evenings whilst moving between ports. Like @fruitmachine I paid a low price. I went for 50gb for 30 days for €25 as we were using it as a navigation system during our land based trip. However we could have had a lot less. Even allowing for uploading all our photos and videos we only used 15gb

The Emporium on Explora is unlike any “buffet” you have seen before. It’s wrong to call it a buffet. It’s more a la carte on demand in a casual setting

We too are doing this itinerary in January. Thank you for your informative post. Two quick questions- am I right in assuming I pack layers for all weather conditions and for non snorkelers what’s the one thing you would say “you must do”. Thanks

Yes that was certainly our experience (our discount was 25% as platinum so we paid $6 a day each)

Great balanced review thanks. For us Sakura tastes were great because we can only manage mild. I think next cruise we will ask them to go light on spices as they (rightly) may have turned the dial up on spices based on feedback. Glad you enjoyed your adventure

There are also two relatively new Captains Kresimir and Dario both trained by both Captains Johannes and Carl and also by Captain G and Captain Antonio. Their approach is also equally customer focused but with a modern twist. I’d say the captaincy of all Azamara ships is in great hands - not just Onward

And I found them much better mixed on both Quest and Journey albeit without the theatrical show that Onward had

We first stayed in an OT2 then a Premium Penthouse. Decided the Penthouse wasn’t worth the upcharge so our next two bookings are in an OT1 and OT2 based on availability at the time of booking and our preference re location.

Some of us were trying to use that pool when Mr Green Suit was posing and his minders were shooing us away. The problem is these people come with an extensive retinue, so easy to spot. They take over bars (inside and out) and are very noisy In restaurants. On the same cruise we’d a woman constantly having bar drinks remixed and poured whilst she filmed them or walking around filming and talking into her iPhone but unaware she was about to bump into guests etc

Not in Southampton but we had to move our bags ourselves “for security reasons”. I think the only people who can accurately answer are “on the ground” in other words guest relations once onboard

Journey is going to be in South Africa over winter 2025/6 according to the CEOs webinar when she highlighted a new cruise itinerary to the Vanilla Islands and mentioned it could be back to back with a South Africa cruise and/or safari.

We had a night light in November- I wonder if some had gone missing and the suite host hadn’t checked

Unless the ship is full it’s very easy to get more than one speciality booking especially if you can be flexible on timings. There’s a desk set up on Deck 5 that’s staffed 8-6 and the staff there are really helpful. On our 17 nights onboard even though we were over run by freeloaders we got 3 in Marble and 4 in Sakura (the lower Marble score was personal choice). One day we only decided at 4pm to see if there was space.

On all sailings you can make one booking in each of Marble, Sakura and Anthology 60 days before departure either via your travel agent or by calling the service number for your country yourself. It’s easy to do - we had no issues doing it

In my experience reduced pricing after final payment has very much been a feature of cruise pricing on all lines the difference is since the pandemic it’s been more widely advertised. However it’s rarely worth waiting for if you want a particular cruise because it’s too big a risk (some cruises do sell out) and the price reduction is offset by far higher airfares and hotel costs. It’s also typically the less desirable rooms available within each category. Prices may be reduced but most people find when it’s mapped against what they paid for their total holiday there’s little difference.

We did 17 nights on the original fixed menu. Never had an issue choosing, no boredom for us and repetition only of dishes we loved and wanted to enjoy again eg the lamb chops in Sakura

My definition of friends includes people we’ve got to know on-board who become friends quickly. We really enjoy these new group meals however we’d hate a “blind date” in the speciality restaurants.

You could say it’s prudent behaviour trying to maximise the sale of every cabin. Since Covid it’s been rare for any cruise line to sell out 100% in the months following final payment. So any effort to sell more is what investors will appreciate There were always late sales it’s just they’re better communicated

The focus of the Speciality restaurants is on an experience with your travelling companions or a group of friends who have booked together. There is no joining together with stangers

Evian only included in the Ultimate package there is no water options on the premium. Didn’t see Acqua Panna

Interesting having given feedback to the former manager at Azamara now in a senior leadership role I found someone extremely willing to listen and react. As an example the opening and closing hours of a venue were altered and our room steward was changed