BillC

Phil:

I believe you met Janet and Bruce Huff, whi hail from Ottawa, Canada. We have sailed with them multiple times and have also done land tours ( e.g. tiger safaris in India ) . They are wonderful friends that we met while on an Azamara cruise. Maybe it's my age but I believe I have more good friends that I have met while on Azamara cruises than I have on land!

Re: Monica - I always knew when she was on board because the bacon ( the non-streaky kind ! ) was always cooked so perfectly. She shared her approach which involves a convection oven and parchment paper. It works like a charm but it's much easier to eat on the ship than cook at home.We'll be in Barcelona before our next cruise and she lists the Catalanas Tapa Bar as her favorite there.

Thanks for the update! Great to hear that everything continues to hum along. You are correct about Monica. She not only is a great chef, but a very delightful person, as well.

You are correct that the discount only applies to a new booking. Suggest you book on board to get that discount, and then send an email to Nicole telling her the new booking number. She will then process the free night discount by modifying the cruise fare for your booking.

We've done all 3 menus multiple time and heartily recommend them, either not knowing anyone attending ( a great way to make new friends! ) or in a group of friends we've sailed with previously.

You may want to investigate purchasing a package of specialty dinners that would include the 2 restaurants and a Chef's Table at a discounted rate.

Yes, you can overide the ship's detergent. Just don't push the detergent button when you start the machine. We usually bring our own traveling detergent when traveling.

Yes, you can have a leisurely full breakfast in your room on the B2B day. You will receive a packet with instructions and your new key cards the night before the end of the current cruise. You will be asked to gather, usually in the bar by the main dining room, at 9 AM to get logged out of the previous cruise, and have your card validated, and picture taken for the next cruise. Most times this is done by security on deck 4 but in a few ports we have had to get off the ship, and right back on. Access to your room is available all day to you. It's usually a good day to do your laundry. You must attend each of the drills for each of the cruises. If you miss one because you were off the ship you will have to attend a make up session the next day.

Azamara almost always docks at the San Basilio Terminal which is a short walk from the water taxi stop. On rare occasions they would dock at the main ship facility - the Venezia Termino. That is where the larger cruise ships dock, and it's usually somewhat of a mess.If you look on Azamara's website directions to both berths are included.

I think she meant to write "beard". Based on the photo that you posted that would work.

Just tell your butler when you get on what reservations and times you want in each restaurant, and he will get them for you.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The best approach is to seek out the sommelier in Prime C early in your voyage and ask when the tables are scheduled for that cruise. If you can put a group together they will often schedule an extra Chef's Table for you.You can also ask who you'd like to host the Table, and they will try and arrange based on availability. Our last Table was one I will always remember since we asked for Jason to host it. He not only did, but brought his staff captain along , as well. This was shortly before he left Azamara and everyone had a joyous time at the event.We also asked for Eric to host another one ( which was really a surprise birthday party for him ) and just about all the senior officers and maitre d's showed up for the cake cutting.

Edie also hired Juliana Meyer Schmidt several months ago as sales director for Latin and South America. Julians married Chris Schmidt, the former activities manager on the Journey a year ago March.

I might as well weigh in on dining in the Sunset Bar issue. As you can see from my signature we have spent almost a year on Azamara, and have more cruises booked. We seldom eat in the MDR, not because we don;t like it, but the Sunset Bar is the 'place for us". I estimate that we have eaten 2/3 of our breakfasts, lunches and dinners there, including having plates delivered there from both the pool grill and the egg station of Windows- something they are very happy to do. The ambiance can't be beat for a very leisurely meal, many times just grazing over several hours, renewing old friendshipos, and making many new ones.Many of our friends who travel with us are quite upset about the change, ut I will remain in a "wait and see" mode until the details are firmed up and announced. If it were me I'd put the planned Tapas Bar in the Sunset area.

Kudos on producing such an outstanding video featuring Captain Jose!

No matter where you choose to eat that night please drop in to the party. the vibe is amazing particularly the performances by all the entertainment staff. IMHO it's much better that the Azamazing Evenings, which are generally good to very good.

Monica is an outstanding chef with a great personality. She also make the best bacon of any of the Azamara Chefs.

The LCV upgrade process not only does not apply to "Guarantee" bookings, but only is available to LCV members. Your profile does not indicate any sailings to-date on Azamara so that option is not available to you yet.

The Pool Bar opens at 11 AM and closes before sunset. If the weather is bad it will close early, or not open at all.

I have found that Azamara treats all passengers exceedingly well from their very first cruise. The "special treatment" really arises from the relationships that you build with the crew and officers. It sounds corny but they truly make you feel like you are coming "home".

The initial problems with the call center switch were not limited to the UK, but we felt them as well in North America. Over the last few months their performance has improved significantly from my perspective as a travel agent that calls them just about every day.

I also understand the quality issues re: their IT systems. The current system used by agencies is called "Cruise Match" and RCL, Celebrity and Azamara announced this week that a completely new booking management system, called "Espresso" will start operations on 3/29/15. The Cruise Match sysatem will be retired on 8/3/15. The only unknown that I have is how much of an improvement the new system will be. Having spent 37 years in the IT industry, I am hopeful, but do expect that it won't be perfect on day 1.

Sounds like you have a very poor travel agency. They can readily access your record by accessing the Azamara website and entering your last name and booking number. They can have the confirmation even sent to you directly. They are paid a fair commission for handling your booking. They should earn it.

We always give a little extra to the staff who have gone out of their way to be "extra Special" to us but the nicest thing to do is to mention them, by name, in the survey you are asked to complete at the end of the cruise.

I have never ben turned down on a requested date for a Chef's Table. On our last cruise we added one for the last night on board, and it turned out wonderfully.Eric was most kind in accepting our request to host it, and Both Captain Jason ( who was getting off the next day ) and Johannes stopped by to say "hello".

The Top-Floor Dining Packages are as follows:

3 Table Tour $60 per person

4 Table Tour $80 per person

Chef"s Tab;e Plus 2 $115 per person

Chef's Table Plus 4 $155 per person

The Chef's Table Tour $225 per person ( 3 Chef's Tables )

The price for a single Chef's Table is $95 per person

The maximum they can seat is 12. Suggest you seek out the Prime C manager when you board and tell him what dinner you'd like and the room #'s of those in your group, as well as what date you'd prefer.

We have done all 3 menus multiple times and find them totally enjoyable. Although the Executive Chef does make several appearances during the meal it is really the sommelier who arranges the evening, invites a guest host ( you can request a particular officer and they'll try and make it happen ), and then introduces each course and explain why the wine was paired. We have done some that were a table full of our cruising friends and also have done several that we did not know anyone else at the table. Both approaches worked out very well, and we were able to add to our list of fellow cruisers. Considering the wines poured, the creative menus and the excellent service in Prime C, I consider the pricing very fair.

While sitting in Mosaic yesterday before leaving the Journey at 1 PM I heard that magnificent deep laugh coming up the stairway from Deck 4. Who else could that be but Dale! Great to see him again. He and Victor are the best. Dale will be working the crew bar this week but goes back to guest services next week after he's finished his training update classes.

Thanks Johannes for starting the post.

Could not agree more about the comments about Captain Jason. The crew really likes and respects him. He also has a great sense of humor that at times can be very dry, and very funny. See you on the Antarctica cruise, which will be his last before vacation.