OctoberKat

Thanks.

So there is no exchange desk on board?

Would like to voyage on a luxury ship with larger suites but as a couple we are not prone to dressing up and would rather not have to pack a great deal. So even "casual elegance" and "country-club casual" don't appeal. This is not a budget issue, rather one of comfort and preference. Any recommendations?

Expedition Luxury ships tend not to have larger suites so they are out.

Azamara isn't as top-flight as I'd like but they do offer a few larger suites and we have booked two cruises. Other options?

I was told elsethread that currency aboard Quest is the dollar so I intend to have dollars available for additional gratuities (if merited, see also "incentives"). Is there a facility on board that will dispense Euros for dollars or against a debit card? Or should I plan to load up on Euros in Amsterdam?

Here's a link to some of those Facebook fjords photos, hoping this doesn't contravene the rules here:

This is the first cruise I booked, I thought it would be first cruise ever but since then I also booked us on the Nov. 1, 2015 South France & Spain cruise. What can I say? It's catching.

If booking this Norwegian voyage, however, I'd say book early because better cabins are inventory sensitive.

The South France/Spain cruise will be the first for Jim, other than our exquisite barge trip on the Canal Briare in the Upper Loire Valley in June. I last cruised in 1968 (age 18) on The Panama Line from Cristobal to New Orleans. That line now is defunct.

Thank you.

What kind of "pill?"

I'm also interested what the seas likely are like in mid-August during this itinerary. Jim's prone to sea sickness, too.

If you have it in mind to book a higher category suite on this cruise, you'll want to reserve soon. We had to accept an ocean suite because all owner's suites already were spoken for.

This folder could be retitled "River/Barge Cruising."

Jim and I barged last June with European Waterways on the Renaissance for six nights on the Canal Briare and Upper Loire Valley. Utterly splendid and the best possible way to travel the bucolic French countryside, enjoy the superb cuisines and wine. We paid around $1K per night and gladly would have paid more.

http://www.gobarging.com/renaissance-barge

We're going again in July on Belmond's Le Semaine des Grand Crus aboard the Amaryllis.

http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-france/holidays/grand_cru

Both ultra-deluxe barges carry eight passengers and five or six crew.

I'm betting AZ will have no difficulty whatsoever in booking these refurbished suites.

This is excellent news as we prefer a king bed and are booked in owner's suite on the 1 Nov 2015 So. France and Spain cruise and in ocean club on the 11 August 2016 Norwegian Fjords jaunt.

That's very helpful, Bowie, and confirms my thinking on this.

I've already booked two Azamara cruises through my travel agent and I'm happy enough with the pricing. Now I'm asking particularly if there's sufficient benefit booking premium air travel (first or biz) through Choice with travel agent.

Assuming one has sufficient miles for upgrade. Most of my awards are on Amex. Yes, I know these can be transferred but that is yet another layer to negotiate.

Is there any benefit to booking through Choice if one prefers first or biz classes?

Thank you, Deirdre.

Last June we enjoyed an utterly wonderful barge cruise with European Waterways of the Briare Canal/Upper Loire Valley on the Renaissance. Sophisticated, savvy, kindly crew; exquisite environs, large cabins (for a barge), great bathrooms (for a barge), daily excursion to a chateau, vineyard or village market. Gorgeous countryside -- flowers, trees, ancient villages.

http://www.gobarging.com/renaissance-barge

Of course, we're going again next summer in July -- in Burgundy on the Le Semaine des Grand Crus, with Belmond.

http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-france/holidays/grand_cru

If seeking best pricing and perks, which booking venues deliver more: travel agent, Azamara website, other websites (consolidators)?

Is there a way to see online at the Azamara web site cabins still available for booking on a particular cruise?

We'll be delighted with any Captain who shepherds us into these blessed fjords, and grateful.

Actually our Norwegian cabin is forward, 6002 and I'm a bit worried about that. At least on Deck 6 there will be less motion than upper decks.

Thanks. It's not a need so much as a want so I would not want to hog an accessible room. But good to know.

So, there is no stand-alone walk-in shower in the Ocean Club suite? We are booked for the Norwegian voyage in 2016.

In 2015, we're in Owner's Suite (So. France, Spain); does it have a stand-alone walk-in shower?

So excited to read this thread. We are booked on a 15-night Azamara Quest cruise of Norwegian Fjords and North Cape departing Amsterdam August 11, 2016.