johnnycruise

.but the real reason we are not getting the package is that the wine I like is listed at $9.75/glass and it would not be eligible for the beverage package anyway....and that would really irritate me!

I think it depends on what you enjoy doing while on your cruise.

That is my dilemma as well. I will need to purchase the elite package if I buy a package so I can drink wine up to $15/glass. The wines $9 and under are plonk and the pricing on all HAL wine is very arbitrary. The Ruffino pinot grigio is listed on RogerJett's online menu for $11/glass but it's under $9/bottle at our local Total - and it's just OK.

I would stick to drinking alcohol during Happy Hour, but the Happy Hour bars don't seem to have a very robust wine list, and on our last HAL cruise they were very crowded during Happy Hour.

The elite package does include glasses of true (French) Champagne ($12.50) which is why I'm still undecided.

Cheers!

Do you receive the Mariner Onboard Spending Bonus if you purchase the beverage package in advance, or is it better to wait until after boarding?

My DW likes Espresso Martinis, and they make really great ones at the Mix martini bar on the Rotterdam. She orders it with Grey Goose and we had the SBP. On the receipt, you can see that a call brand was specified with the martini, and an additional .50 cents was added, but we never saw any additional charges on our account folio.

Is the espresso martini made with a call brand considered 1 or 2 of the daily limit?

Will the Signature Beverage Package cover martinis made with branded gin/vodka? Last time we sailed on HAL, the house gin/vodka was poor and the only type the bartenders would use under the (then) $8 max.

Do soft drinks taken from the Freestyle Coca-Cola machine count toward the 15/day limit?

It would seem to be easy to automatically print a daily drink sequence number on your receipt, but that I.T. enhancement must not be a priority.

Is laundry by the bag available on cruises shorter than seven days?

Thanks for the replies.

So to clarify, if we're sitting in the Crow's Nest from 11:30 pm until 12:30 am, our beverages could be tallied in two separate daily maximums?

Definitely not complaining, but since Princess uses a 6 am - 6 am reporting period I thought HAL might as well.

Can't find details on the HAL site specifying the time the signature (or elite) beverage package 15 drink daily maximum resets. Is it midnight, 6am, noon or 6pm?

And, is one able to use the beverage package for specialty coffees, waters, juices, or even mimosas, on disembarkation morning?

We ran into a very strange interpretation of the signature beverage package rules on a recent Westerdam cruise. As specified above, a regular Bloody Mary is $7.95. But we always ask for a Bloody Mary with Absolute vodka. The waiter said it will cost an extra .50 cents for the "call brand". We said OK, no problem, because that raises the price to $8.45, which is still under the $9 limit. We were also told that by ordering a "call brand" that drink would count as 2 of our 15 drinks for the day. We objected to this, and we were referred to the bar supervisor, and finally the beverage manager. They all agreed that any call brands in a mixed drink counts as 2 drinks of your 15 drink allotment. We have never heard of this before, and there is nothing in the fine print description of the SBP that addresses "call brand" drinks. I asked the beverage manager that if we ordered a shot of Absolute vodka, with a splash of Bloody Mary mix, would it be considered one drink ? The answer was yes. But if we ordered a mixed drink, and specified a call brand alcohol, then it counts as 2 drinks.

Absolutely crazy. I sent a message to HAL Seattle about this weird policy and received no answer as of today. The beverage manager admitted that it sounds a little strange, but he blamed the problem on the computer system. If you order a call brand, it is added to the drink ticket as a second beverage in addition to the main mixed drink you ordered. That is why it counts as 2 drinks even though you are only getting one shot of alcohol. We never approached the 15 drink limit, but it's hard to tell anymore, because they do not give you receipts unless you request them. Here is another example of the ships and Seattle not communicating on policies.

I was about to pose the question about the call $0.50 and premium $1 upcharge but remaining at $9 or less. Counting it as two drinks is cheating the customer since it is not a double. That would also take away one of the advantages of upgrading to the elite beverage package if any drink made with a liquor other than the house generic liquor is tallied as two drinks vs. one. Let us know if HAL responds to you.

Is it up to the passenger to keep a running tally of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to ensure (s)he doesn't go over the magic number of 15, or does one get a charge slip indicating how many have been consumed that day?

I know that I can't book specialty dining till I am on board the ship, but is it a mad dash with a long line? I would hate to rush on board just to stand in a line to book dining reservations. I was hoping to enjoy our day in SJU rather than stopping in the middle of the day to go stand in line.

 

What is the process? How crazy is it? When do they run out of reservations?

There are four dining times per night: 6:00, 6:30, 8:00 and 8:30. We had zero problems getting the nights we wanted, but sometimes we had to take 8:30 instead of 8:00 (didn't want the earlier sittings). Each time we dined there were several empty tables. Don't interrupt your SJU plans to go wait in a non-existent line. (IMO, the $30 per person fee does a good job of scaring away many potential diners.)

How kind of you to dissect the OP's review.:rolleyes:

Tilly,

Having cruised on Seabourn several times, I enjoyed reading your review.

One point that should be mentioned ... for the standard balcony rooms, Azamara is considerably less expensive. We paid $500 less per person for the recent 12-night Azamara cruise than our most recent 7-night Seabourn cruise. However, the "standard" balcony staterooms on Azamara are half the size and the bathrooms are 1/4 to 1/3 the size of Seabourn's lowest balcony category. The bathrooms on Azamara in the standard rooms are truly tiny and could be a dealbreaker to some. The category you selected (Club Continent) is nearly as large as the standard Seabourn balcony stateroom, but on my sailing the price of a Club Continent suite made it equal to a Seabourn balcony stateroom on a cruise of similar duration. With Seabourn's more inclusive model and a higher staff to guest ratio, it would be no contest which to select.

And finally, the food and service in the two Azamara premium restaurants are superior to the Azamara main dining room and in some respects superior to Seabourn, but I feel the menu would be quite repetitive if dining in the specialty restaurants exclusively over 10-12 nights. Perhaps Azamara should consider having 2-3 rotating menus for the specialty restaurants to better accommodate suite passengers and to drum up more business from pay-in passengers. (The second time we dined in Aqualina, there were only five tables occupied for the 8:00/8:30 seating.)

johnny

I was lucky to have a better bartender experience than Tilly. Beefeater gin and Finlandia vodka were included and available at every bar (although I noticed if the bartender was unaware a guest had a preference, he would default to Gordon's gin and Smirnoff vodka). The bartenders did a good job with cocktails on my cruise and always asked if I liked the drink. On the rare occasion I didn't, they would do their best to improve it or remove it immediately and offer something else.

That said, I did have non service related complaints about the beverages.

The included wines were on the whole, horrible. The sparkler was beyond poor and couldn't even be improved by adding orange juice or creme de cassis. The wines were repeated over the course of 12 days, and one day the two whites were a choice of a South African Sauvignon blanc or a South American Sauvignon blanc. Really? The Spanish rose wine never changed. It was one of the only wines that was full-bodied, and rose wine is not something I want "full-bodied." If I were blindfolded, I would have thought it was a red wine. Here we were cruising past some of the best rose producing regions in the world and we are served that heavy rioja rose for 12 straight days. (NOTE: I notice another thread since my return includes photos of included wines and the French rose that poster was served is far superior than what we received - hoping that is a permanent change.) My favorite included wine was a Chilean riesling - definitely "boutique."

We ended up buying the "wine lover" package (5 bottles) on the third day and it was good value ... mainly because they ran out of all the chardonnay wines on that tier by the fifth day and substituted chardonnay from the higher "wine connoisseur" tier without us even asking. The sommeliers, like almost all the crew, were wonderful. They made good suggestions and went the extra mile to serve our "package" wine in the Riedel stemware wherever we happened to be sitting throughout the ship. Note - the wine menus on the Azamara website are much more robust than what was actually provisioned. At least 25% of the website wines were unavailable on day 3 (including all of the French chardonnay wines), with that percentage approaching 40% by the end of the cruise.

Back to the liquors ... the beverage (by the drink) upgrade packages are deceptive and confusing, a true hodgepodge with narry a one including all types of beverages. None of the liquor packages include wine by the glass or vice-versa, or the coffee pods from the coffee bar. The wine by the glass package was the absolute worst value and the bartender told me only two people on our cruise had purchased it (~40 people purchased one of the three liquor packages). And an annoyance ... the Margarita page of the drinks menu is full of cocktails made with Patron tequila which isn't included in any of the three liquor packages - a bit sneaky.

On the other hand, the "up charge" for a cocktail made with a liquor from one of the three tiers was reasonable: $4.95 (premium), $5.95 (top-shelf) or $6.95 (ultimate). I bought the premium package for the last day only (that is allowed!) and found I saved about $3 over by-the-drink consumption, and that was trying hard to (over)indulge in whatever I wanted even if I really wasn't thirsty. Not something I could have kept up with for more than a couple of days, much less 12. Much better to buy your first drink or two with the premium liquor, then move on to the included list. I find Beefeater gin and Finlandia vodka quite acceptable, and the Mount Gay white rum was better than Bacardi (in my opinion). Whisk(e)y and tequila drinkers aren't so lucky, as the included options are below average.

So for me, included liquors were fine, up charges for higher end liquors were OK, the wine package was fairly priced for what we drank, but the included wines need considerable improvement.

Cheers everyone! (And to the OP, don't fret - vermouth (both dry and sweet) is included.:p)

No, 20.00 Euros will only get you from S. Basilio to Piazzale Roma!

Piazzale Roma is the terminus of the intercity buses. Also, it is just across the bridge from the train station.

45.00 Euros from S. Basilio all the way to Marco Polo Airport.

Cab is 20 Euros flat rate (no luggage surcharges) and it will pick up/drop off directly at the S. Basilio terminal. Exorbitantly expensive for the short 1 1/2 mile ride, but it is what it is. There should be some waiting quayside between 7 am and 8:30 am, but if not, you can call them.

I would recommend a cab over the vaporetto which would be 7.50 Euros per person. The vaporetto will most likely be crowded, take 4x as long and provide no assistance with luggage. Also would not recommend walking with luggage since most bridges have stairs as opposed to ramps.

Cassis

We were excited about this port as it was one of two we had not visited previously. It was also the only "tender" port on our itinerary. Azamara handled it very well. Cassis is a compact harborfront town with several do-it-yourself options within easy reach. However, we signed up for the later of the two walking tour shore excursions since we wanted an overview. In hindsight, this was totally unnecessary. We were to assemble at the pier after taking the tender independently. We arrived 15 minutes early and everyone was there but six people. The next tender arrived precisely at the meeting time and had three more participants. The leader said we must wait for another tender, so 15 minutes went by and the next tender did not have the last three. It reminded me why I generally don't take the shore excursions ... hurry up and wait! We walked less than 1/2 mile total and stopped at four places - a parfumerie, a linen museum, a cookie shop and a wine tasting bar. We could have done the itinerary in an hour, but live and learn.

The wine tasting was a single sample, but we thought the wine was interesting so stayed behind as the tour was disbanding. It is called "Divino" and I recommend a visit if you enjoy wine of Provence. The hostess' name was Veronique and she was the only person in the place who spoke English. She made us feel very welcome and poured types of wine based on our personal preferences - the wine bar had white, rose and red wine from 12 different area wineries and each generous glass (full glass, not a taste) was only 5 Euros. Divino offers various snacks, including a delicious cheese and charcuterie plate that accompanied the wine beautifully. We met up quite accidentally with two women from the ship who we hadn't met on board, but struck up quite a nice conversation nonetheless. Before we knew it, two hours had passed! Good wine makes good friends!

Other options were a boat trip to the calenques (mini-fjords) that I wish we had taken instead of the tour. Four boating tour options, between 45 minutes and just under two hours in duration. A very nice beach is within 5-10 minutes’ walk of the harbor. The downside of a tender port, at least for us, is that we don't want to make multiple trips back and forth. Since we hadn't brought our swimsuits and we had drunk our fair share of the vine, once we returned to the ship we decided not to go back ashore. Besides, the white party was tonight!

Although not a port of call, I will deviate and just say it was very nice and most everyone "participated" in the dress code to some degree. The sun setting with the cliffs of Cassis as a backdrop, and then the full moon rising. Certainly, what summer in the Med is all about. And the weather? Perfect ... absolutely perfect.

Barcelona

Our final day included a half day at sea followed by a 1 pm arrival at Barcelona. I wasn't sure how I would like this arrangement, but for someone who had been to Barcelona before and didn't feel the need to see every single sight in town, it was ideal. We docked in the best spot at the World Trade Center pier. Just 5-10 minute easy stroll from the foot of Las Ramblas. The megaships are much, much farther away and require a bus transfer or a considerable hike. Las Ramblas was packed with tourists and we enjoyed ourselves in spite of the dire warnings about crime printed in the ship's newsletter! Halfway up the boulevard on the left is the Mercado de la Boqueria. This is a large food market selling just about every high and low end fresh food Spain is known for. It is also fairly cool which is a welcome relief from the summer heat! Not sure how the locals feel about tourists gathered around a whole "jamon iberico" that they have no intention of purchasing, but there are smaller items that can easily fit in a suitcase and won't incur the wrath of the US Dept. of Agriculture upon re-entry to the USA. There are also several cafes (seated or standing) where a great lunch or snack can be taken.

Since we were already in our final port, I figured the disembarkation process would be smooth. The cruise director made an announcement the final evening advising that we could leave whenever we wanted between 7:15 am and 9:30 am. We walked off at 7:25 and all the bags were in their proper rows and we were in a taxi in two minutes. No mass of people, and no long taxi queues. We were at the airport by 7:55 am, so no trouble at all to make our 10:25 am flight. The cab fare was about 30 Euros, but with all of the nebulous surcharges it was 40 Euros, still much less than two Azamara motorcoach transfers. Having the ship arrive the previous afternoon is really the way to plan. No worrying about will we arrive late or will customs take hours to clear the ship. Just walk off, pick up the bags (porters were available) and catch a cab.

Summary

What did we think of the itinerary? Very relaxing the first four days, then a bit harried with the Big 3 of Naples/Rome/Florence (full days with significant travel from the port to the touristic sights), followed by a more leisurely pace (which gave us a chance to recover). The itinerary was perfect for those who have never cruised the Western Mediterranean. All of the ports are interesting and the only one I would not really recommend is Naples, but we weren't supposed to go there to begin with! My personal favorites were Dubrovnik and Cassis.

The Azamara Journey's size allowed us to visit smaller ports and get preferred docking space in most of the larger ports. We had a great time.

Monte Carlo

Change of plans and we docked at Port Hercule instead of tendering in. No one complained! We walked along the quay to an elevator that took us up to the old city of Monaco. The weather was beautiful and we passed a hidden beach that we promise to visit next time. A quick walk through the cathedral to pay respects at the tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, then to the Palace to see the changing of the guard. Note - facing the palace, stand on the left side. All those who arrived early on the right side for a good vantage point were displaced by the 50 or so "VIPs" who stood in front of them at the last minute! Afterwards, we walked down the hill and back to the ship for lunch. We had planned to go to Nice to see the flower market, but it was Monday - the flower market's "day off." We also considered going to Eze, which we had visited before, but the bus schedule was too limited for an unplanned trip - only 6 trips per day, and the journey would require both a local Monaco bus to "Cremaillere" as well as the intercity bus 112 to Eze Village: https://www.departement06.fr/documents/A-votre-service/Deplacements/transports-en-commun/112.pdf.

With Nice and Eze no longer viable options and since we had visited the casino previously, we decided to visit the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden). This is easy to reach. Just take Monaco bus #2 at the foot of the harbor (about every 10 minutes from bus stop Princesse Stephanie) and ride to the end of the line: http://www.cam.mc/PLAN_CAM.pdf. The Jardin Exotique isn't especially big with plant life mostly of the desert variety, but the garden is located at one of the highest points in the principality - the views over Monaco to the sea are extraordinary. Plenty of great photo ops. The garden path is a nice descent, but at the end there are steps to return to the top. If there was an elevator, we didn't find it!

Tonight was the Azamazing Evening. We didn't really know what to expect. Ours was called "Les Farfadais at the Grimaldi Forum." Dinner was going to be buffet style in either the dining room or Windows Cafe. We went fairly early to Windows (better views of Monte Carlo!) and we were glad we did. It filled up. Then, deck by deck the passengers were called to the Cabaret Lounge, given a sticker with a bus number and trotted off the ship to a waiting motorcoach. The Grimaldi Forum venue is at the far end of Monaco ... maybe two miles away.:rolleyes: The theater was very large with stadium seating, so good sight lines throughout. The performance was vocal and acrobatic, perhaps describing as a small-scale "Cirque du Soleil" would not be inaccurate. The singer was fantastic and the athlete-acrobats were first rate. After about a 50 minute performance, we were walked back to our waiting motorcoach, driven back to the pier and greeted with smiles, sparkling wine and a band. (Passengers had the option to stay in Monte Carlo if they wished to make a quick stop by the casino.) The logistical handling of nearly 600 passengers was close to seamless, and the Les Farfadais performance itself truly exceeded our expectations.

Halfway through our sea day as we were sailing through the Strait of Messina, the captain advised us that, due to expected windy weather, we would be docking at Naples instead of anchoring off Sorrento.:(

We passed Stromboli Volcano at sunset. Now that was a great photo-op!

We were disappointed with the port change, but what can you do? The tours weren't really affected, and they added a city tour of Naples. Unfortunately, they didn't add a tour to Sorrento and that's where we wanted to go. Friday morning and the temperature had dropped to near 60 degrees and the rain and wind started. Ugly, and we knew the captain made the right choice. Tenders can be tricky in good weather, but in bad weather they can be dangerous to enter and exit.

We decided we would stay on board until lunchtime to give the weather a chance to pass. There was a man from the Naples tourist office in the lobby who gave us some really bad advice. He suggested we take the subway to the main train station then take the Circumvesuviana train to the end of the line - Sorrento. We were docked adjacent the Naples Mollo Beverello ferry terminal and I noticed there were fast ferries to Sorrento, but Mr. Tourist Office said, "Oh, the train is much cheaper." Big, big mistake. Off we went in the waning rain through major road construction to the subway station. Not far, but major obstacles and walking in busy streets due to the road works. After taking the subway to the main train station we walked to the other end of the station for the train to Sorrento. This is a commuter train in the worst sense. Hard plastic seats, too many passengers for the number of seats and people smoking everywhere in the station and some smoking on the train (even though the train had "no smoking" placards throughout.) The train was 20 minutes late and then proceeded to stop at every single stop. Very gritty neighborhoods with more graffiti than I've ever seen. With the delay, it took nearly 2 1/2 hours to get to Sorrento.

Since we had no desire to take the train back to Naples, we only had about 1 1/2 hours in Sorrento. We walked thought the beautiful town and had a quick, but delicious, late lunch in a pizzeria on Via S. Cesareo then visited a couple of limoncello factory stores for tasting. Loaded up with bottles and candies it was time to go to the port for the boat back to Naples. An easy walk (though a bit steep) downhill. The boat left on time and we were back in Naples 40 minutes later. So, if you want to visit Sorrento from Naples, take the boat ... it might be 12 Euros each way as opposed to 3.50, but it is more convenient and MUCH quicker. We were docked next to the Harmony of the Seas and got a size perspective as our ferry pulled into the Naples Harbor. It appeared to be at least 8x larger than the Azamara Journey. Wow!

Saturday finds us in Civitavecchia. Since the port had about eight other cruise ships, we decided to have another leisurely morning on board to give the masses time to disembark. Leaving at 11 am, we waited and waited for the port shuttle, giving up after 25 minutes so we walked. Not a short walk, but we didn't pass the shuttle headed to the Journey until we were 3/4 of the way out. Still windy, but beautiful sunshine. Another 10 minute walk along the promenade to the train station. We bought our tickets to Roma - S. Pietro station and were there about an hour later (in air conditioned comfort, unlike the previous day's commuter rail adventure). It is about 12 minutes’ walk (sloping downhill, not steep at all) to St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican City) from the Roma - S. Pietro station, and that station is in a much, much better neighborhood than the main station (Termini). After taking photos, we continued our walk to Piazza Navona (about 20 minutes, flat surface) and a nice restaurant called "Casa Bleve." If you have been to Rome before, I highly recommend spending a leisurely afternoon in this converted palazzo. Great food, wine and service. Not cheap, but not terribly expensive either. We weren't rushed at all. The owner called us a taxi and we were back at the S. Pietro station in less than ten minutes. The return train trip skipped most of the intermediate stations, so it only took about 40 minutes to get back to Civitavecchia. We went looking for the port shuttle back to the ship and discovered it was at the opposite end of town, almost as far as walking to the ship itself!

Sunday in Livorno. We have been to both Florence and Pisa, so the recommendation we were given was Lucca. The Journey was docked at the first pier so there was no need to take a shuttle bus - walking was allowed. We were told to take the #1 bus to the train station which was about two miles away. We weren't told that because it was Sunday the first bus wasn't until 8:30 am. So we walked and walked and walked and walked. Flat terrain, but it is really a hike rather that a walk. The bus passed us about 200 yards from the station and it was carrying what appeared to be 100 people all crammed together. We did the hike since the train schedule from Livorno to Lucca is limited Sunday morning. (We knew if we missed the 9:19 train, there would be nothing for nearly three hours.) After an easy connection in Pisa, we were in Lucca less than an hour later.

Outside the train station we rented bicycles for three hours and rode around (actually on top) of the city walls. I believe about three miles total. Very wide, flat and beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Lucca is a really nice city to visit. Afterwards we rode our bikes through town. Not such a good idea as there were pedestrians everywhere and it dawned on me that I hadn't done much bike riding in the past 30 years. And, trying to follow the Google Map app while avoiding pedestrians had me a bit stressed. So, we found a place to park the bikes and just strolled about. We found a nice cafe with good pasta and local wine for a delicious, inexpensive lunch outdoors in the shade of large trees. Lucca is famous for its wine, so I was glad to have the opportunity to try it. We were about 15 minutes late in returning our bikes, but the guy didn't say a word or charge us a penalty. There is a good gelato place outside the station and we had a good snack while waiting on the train. Upon arrival at Livorno station, we went to the bus stop to catch the #1 back to the port with about 300 of our closest friends. Needless to say, when the bus pulled up it was a mad crush so we went looking for a taxi. In the taxi queue we saw some people we'd seen on the ship and we shared a ride back. The taxi is overpriced for the short journey (probably 8-10 Euros had the meter been running, but the drivers know better and tell you 20 Euros to the close port where the Journey was docked, 25 Euros to the bigger ship port where they don't allow you to walk). But, split four ways 20 Euros isn't bad at all. And after the amount of walking and bike riding earlier in the day, we were happy to be dropped off at the gangway.

We noticed the after dinner venues were very slow this evening and it was no surprise - three major ports in three days. The passengers were a bit weary!

Tomorrow we arrive on the French Riviera.

Review of the ports of call of our recent Venice to Barcelona, 11-night sailing on Azamara Journey.

Venice

We arrived a day early and stayed on Murano. Happy with our hotel La Gare Hotel Venezia MGallery ... 300 sq ft standard rooms with well-appointed bathrooms. Provided complimentary pick-up boat from the airport and to/from Venice several times daily. We took the "shuttle" across and walked around, got lost and found and checked out a ciccheti (wine/tapas bar), and enjoyed gelato near St. Mark's Square. Venice is magical. Returned to our "suburban" island for a delightful dinner at Osteria al Duomo. It appears to be a take-out pizza place, but walk through the front section and into a beautiful tree-shaded courtyard. Delicious food - fried seafood platter and mixed grill platter. Could have fed four, but Fitbit said we walked 4 miles that afternoon so we ate it all without a second thought. Everyone we encountered in Venice and Murano was friendly and if there was ever a language barrier, they went out of their way to find someone to help us and make us feel welcome.

We didn't take breakfast at the hotel ... there were a few cafes within 100 yards. Good coffee and a croissant stuffed with local ham and cheese. When it was time to leave, the La Gare Hotel even provided a complimentary shuttle boat to Piazzale Roma on the day of sailing, then back to reality with an overpriced 20 Euro land taxi (flat fee) to S. Basilio cruise terminal (less than 5 minutes). We could have taken a vaporetto for 7.50 Euro each, but believe me it would have been a hassle. Embarkation was a breeze.

Dubrovnik

Cruise director Eric said buses would be waiting to take us to Pile Gate of the Old City. No further instruction. Somewhat confused, but should have just gone with the flow. Azamara handled this transfer SEAMLESSLY. Plenty of water bottles on ice (still or sparkling) at the exit. We walked off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, bus to the left. Took our seats, bus left 3 minutes later. Bus driver said nothing. Drove us over the hill and alongside the wall. Pulled into a bus slot in front of the gate. Bus driver said nothing. Opened door and we got out. Oh well. I guess we just come back here when we're ready to go back to the ship. Fast forward. Returned 3 1/2 hours later, bus was there, we got on, bus takes us back to the ship 5 minutes later. No explanation needed. Congrats Azamara!

However, Dubrovnik ... what to do? Plenty! We were there from mid-afternoon until early afternoon the next day. It wasn't our first visit, so we just wandered around. Fascinating city, busy with tourists but safe, safe, safe. Don't fret about where you go - turn down a side street, explore and find a cafe when you need a break. If you've never been, perhaps take the tramway for an overview and definitely walk at least halfway around the wall. For "Game of Thrones" fans, plenty of sites to see - you will recognize MANY locations. The next morning, we took the ferry to Lokrum Island for a swim (dock is straight through the old town, 10 minutes walk if you're quick, 15 minutes if you're not). Highly recommended. Every hour in the earlier morning, then every half hour. Water was very clear ... could see 20-30 feet down. Dubrovnik is truly the Pearl of the Adriatic.

Argostoli

Late morning arrival. Reserved a rental car through Ainos Travel. The owner told us to ask anyone on the end of the pier for her. We did and the man pointed us to her. No hassles. We had prepaid the car and she handed us the key. No walkaround looking for hidden scratches, no signing in multiple places. Easiest car rental ever. Driving in Cephalonia is a bit challenging as it it VERY hilly/mountainous. We first drove to Melissani Lake. Don't miss it. Beautiful underground lake with crystal clear water. Touristy boat ride, but a memorable experience. Next to Antisamos Beach. It was after 1pm and we couldn't find parking, so we continued to Fiskardo. That is quite a drive (over an hour) but well worth it. The most beautiful harbourfront village. We ate at Elli's. WONDERFUL. Our table was one foot from the harbour and the seafood platter and house label local wine were delicious. Afterwards strolled around Fiskardo. (Quite a bit more character than the larger Argostoli.). Next, we drove to Myrtos Beach, the most famous on the island. Set below steep cliffs, it is a mix of stones/sand. We enjoyed a nice swim in the turquoise water - idyllic Greek Isles interlude. Finally drove back to Argostoli via a gas station (gas is $$$ on this island, over 25 Euros for the day, but oh well!). Left the car at the end of the pier, doors unlocked, key under the mat. Called Ainos and said "We're back!" and no unexpected charges on my credit card. BEAUTIFUL day.

Then a day on the Azamara Journey to relax ...

Read your review, Kiwi ... never heard of a cruise line that makes passengers wait until 5pm to board, much less a high-end cruise line that makes passengers wait in the tropical heat all afternoon with no shelter, refreshments or baggage storage. What an inhospitable start!

The main dining room dinner menus are loaded on the TV in the stateroom by the second day of the cruise. We used that to help us determine which nights to eat in the specialty restaurants.

We were on the Journey July 10 - 21. The first three days the Patio was quite underutilized, but once it was "discovered" it was usually about 3/4 full. On one occasion, we saw people placing an order and carrying it back into Windows Cafe since the patio tables were all occupied ... probably due to the ideal alfresco dining weather. Definitely try it at least once. Unfortunately the menu never changes, but as the previous poster reports, it is possible to get your starter from the Windows Cafe buffet. We found the dining experience at the Patio superior to the main dining room, and casual attire was welcome. It is closed whenever there is an evening deck event, and on the Azamazing Evening.

Cover charge is now $30 per person:(. Dining package prices have also increased.