RW75

Just went to book a shore excursion and the six that were in my account are gone.

You are so right. Can’t tell you how many times I have been laughed at by travelling companions for using plastic bags when packing. Suddenly became an issue in Dar es Salaam as plastic bags irrespective of single use variety or not can not be brought into the country. Nothing a $20 note doesn’t solve. Use a packing cube and you’re a genius to someone whom has never seen them, use a plastic bag and you’re a lunatic. Some people never see the budget option as the best option.

Genuinely have no idea, certainly looked like a large number of cases in the same condition. No rain that I noticed. Maybe rain is just too easy an answer to the question of how it happened. Over the years there are few things I haven’t tried. Only occasionally do I ever check luggage and usually ensure an equal distribution of contents between checked and carry on. I know plenty of people whom swear by the case covers. Certainly see the value in them now.

When I boarded Quest in Miami earlier this year I arrived with a soaking wet case courtesy of American Airlines. No idea how, the new case was covered in black marks and everything was wet. Several people appeared to have the same issue at reclaim. The Uber driver was not happy. Did the best I could to dry clothes overnight with the expectation of using the laundry onboard. Was chatting to an officer prior to boarding and mentioned the wet case when asked how my journey had been. He said to let them know if I needed anything. Upon almost immediate delivery I was asked by the room steward if I needed any assistance, said he would take the case away. Everything was taken away and returned in a much better condition. No charge was made. Unexpected and very much appreciated. Became another reason to add to the long list of reasons why I love Azamara.

Thank you for taking the time to post, your thoughts and observations are very balanced and you’ve provided a huge amount of pertinent information. Not to mention your excellent photographs.

I’m now feeling I need to dine more in Prime C just to know I can have a drink at the bar. Actually pleased with the many responses giving the polar opposite of my experience.

You think? If my money is good enough to be taken and I want to sit at the bar and order at the bar, that’s what I want. Obviously I went and sat down without further comment. There’s no excuse, it’s simply poor service. The little things that aren’t quite right or disappoint are the things that people single out as a memory or a criticism. Saying Covid or low occupancy and accepting as a valid reason is wearing thin.

Yes, honestly. I’ve been told I can’t sit at the bar on several occasions. Pre Covid. I tried to walk in as I could see plenty of empty tables at 8.45 this year and was told he bar was closed but, I could have a drink when seated.

The buffet on deck nine. There’s a reservation desk for Aqualine, Prime C and Chefs Table.

That is the issue here. When a business wants to operate on two defined times, it rarely works as well as someone expected. My last cruise I simply didn’t bother booking. The poor attitude at the reservation desk in Windows lost maybe $300 in revenue from me. I know that’s no big deal, but, it’s lost revenue. Managing customers and micro management of table turning is not difficult. Equally, having more outgoing, welcoming and empathetic staff on the reservations desk may help. I have never managed to have a drink at the bar in Prime C. Always discouraged or blatantly told there is no bar service. Perfect space to get ahead or slow down the service.

Good! Now be a little more assertive and make sure you have that table you want. Don’t allow a few silly barriers to ruin your evening. Believe me when I say I hate with a passion everyone whom expects to sit down at 7.30. That’s about 90% of people booking a table anywhere. When it’s managed in the correct way no one is unhappy on either side of the equation and the customer will leave happy. Expectation management is not always sensibly deployed among staff anywhere. Please do have a chat with the F&B manager. Chances are you’ll end up meeting the executive chef also as I have noticed the double act approach quite often.

Take a walk down to deck 4 and tell whomever is on the desk that you would like to speak with the F&B manager. I don’t want to sound cruel, however, you are making this situation much worse than it actually is by not doing so. I say this from a professional prospective as hospitality and bending customers to my will has been my lifelong profession. Please be a little assertive. If you are being faced with unsuitable dining times, be logical and make it work. Take 6.30, have a drink at the bar. If there’s an attempt to move you along or not have you sat at the bar simply decline politely. If you order at 7, you’re not having anything on your table for another fifteen minutes. Ask for a break between courses, order course by course. Do not be scared to speak to the F&B manager. You will find a ten minute chat with coffee will make you feel better, probably offer a little insight into something you hadn’t even considered and importantly your problems will no longer be problems.

Speak with the F&B manager. Don’t sit there feeling irritated, deal with the problem and don’t feel remorse for doing so. Bad attitude can ruin any experience and as a customer you should not accept this.

I left Quest the day we docked for an overnight in Lisbon in March this year. There were several people whom I know very comfortably made a 1005 flight to London and a 1010 flight to New York following the overnight. As noted above, work on an hour to the airport. I’ve done it in fifteen minutes, not sure that would happen on a weekday morning. Uber pick up right outside the terminal building by the bus stops. Easy to prebook for around €16 or a nice ‘premium car’ transfer can be booked for about €25.

Saw the Montaudon in Lidl £14.99 and decided I had better try. Was definitely better once it went in the freezer for fifteen minutes. Thinking I may be buying something else by the bottle onboard if this is onboard Onward next month. Was not unpleasant at all, much better very very cold. would rather drink NF

Never a problem. Buy more bagels! Im assuming lox is exactly the same as gravadlax? Always made that assumption. Cured in salt, sugar and herbs?

I’ve never come across an issue. You’ll provide ID when signing up or booking an interline rate. Often travelled alone using my partners eligibility and never been asked for proof after the booking stage. I carry my eligibility for benefits entitlement from his carrier just in case. Never needed it. The general rule is eligibility at time of booking.

Finding a half decent bagel outside London seems impossible in the UK. A few months ago I was chatting to a Jewish couple on a flight as I had ordered a Kosher meal and they hadn’t. Missed the window of booking opportunity. I happily swapped as the conversation began on the ground. I learned long ago Kosher is always good airline catering. The lady wrote me a list of places in Manchester to find a good bagel. My partner would bring back bagels from New York every couple of weeks, from a bakery somewhere around E55th I believe. They never dried out on the aircraft and were always delicious. Has to be full fat cream cheese for me.

Often find I am surprised at iPhone photos. Sure I take better pictures than I ever did with a camera. love the smoked negroni.

Now I want blueberry bagels.

Happy Anniversary. Your pictures are excellent. Very good to know the mask mandate has been lifted for crew.

Should I be ordering a shower curtain from Amazon? Does Onward really not have the same shower curtains as the other ships? Those new shower curtains were so welcomed, not to mention they looked nicer. There I was thinking the days of clinging shower curtains were gone. Never again would I have to fight with a shower curtain. Maybe I’ll wear it to White Night. Would be quite happy to be billed the $2.99 cost to replace it.

You’re quite correct, not a mention anywhere on the website now. Yet another disappointment. Especially as I have a booking that I asked to have repriced and was told I’d be better to wait for the new promotion. Now I’m going to cancel and loose my deposit and book with Explora as they have a cruise I liked the price of that overlapped the dates I had on Azamara.

Tango9 Thank you for that information, much appreciated. Hopefully I’ll have the oportunity.

Thank you Grandma Cruising, certainly will. Would be surprised if my low bid is accepted, however, if the occupancy is low and not much uptake I could be fortunate.