Cjohns16

Sad stories to tell and most annoying. Last Friday week ie 8 days ago , I called my travel agent and requested that he booked me on a V3 Veranda suit on Azamara Quest . He came back and said cabin 6025 was being held for me. Instead of making an option with Azamara cruises, he decided to ask DERTOUR, a large German travel agent to make the booking. Large here means slow. DERTOUR came with an option and a price increase of €1,400 on the Monday. I rejected this price and asked Azamara to honour the original price. They have not responded and the DERTOUR option ran out Thursday. So back to looking for a different solution. The error was my travel agent and my fault for not explaining that first make an option at a fixed price and then transfer the option to DERTOUR.

For each of my solar eclipses , I spent a year planning and yes the weather is a critical factor but there are hundreds more. In Shanghai July 22, 2009 was no different. I learnt that a foreigner that I would not be allowed to drive a car in China. I selected a coastal site 100km away, to get to the maximum duration 6minures 3 seconds. Now on this location I was on a man made beach, so I took wooden blocks to stabilise my telescope on the beach. By chance, I had a golf umbrella with me. Why, 15minutes before the totality, the monsoon hit us. Only the telescope owners stayed and the Chinese young adults, who ran around dancing in the monsoon rains , shouting and using their smartphones to flash photograph - selfies. Ok yes we are not alone on / in the world and we cannot control what others will do during a solar eclipse event. So what is my comment. Pick a ship, hope for the best and if as in 2009 , you get wet, enjoy the experience.

I looked at the Cunard QM2 and Anne offerings but decided to book the Azamara Quest. This will be my 5th total eclipse and the first at sea and unfortunately without my travel telescope.I have cruised already 5 times with Azamara, and getting the early booking free package, turns this into an all inclusive cruise, just like Crystal cruises my favourite non cold destination cruise line. On August 12th, only the weather gods will know if we will be lucky.

I think those who want to dine in casual mode really should swip right and dine port side. This also includes those who need to face time and shout with loud voices.

Having completed 70 cruises over a period 40 years, I have seen many changes, some good , others not so. I am not a brand folllower, although I have met many who are. Back in the 1980s on Cunard ocean liners, every sea day was a Black Tie. If you did not want to comply then the main dining room suggested eating in Kings Court tonight. Now on Crystal cruises, if on gala nights , say 40% want to dress formal, how about assigning say the starboard side for those dressing formal and port side or the others. Crystal does not used the market place in the evening, although Crystal old did.

Up front the Crystal experience is world class. We have spent more than 3 years at sea and Crystal is by far the best. To help you, on our cruise we had 2 formal nights, many men wore dinner jackets, black ties ok my was a white bow tie. White night is super cool. I used my white runners, socks, jeans and a white t-shirt. The ship turn Waterside into an all white , like a Hollywood film set and the cove is where it all happens. If you look at your booking online, you will find the daily dress code for your cruise.

Now having completed 70 cruises, I must correct Keith1010. Man over Board, throw anything any that floats , so why the smartphone.

I could not agree more. 3 weeks ago on Crystal Symphony, in Waterside during dinner, a middle aged female chose to shout and hold a video chat with a remote person. We tried to ask her to leave the restaurant but to no avail. We called for the restaurant management who asked the women to speak quieter. The real solution is to enforce a no telephone usage during meal times. On the rare ocassion when you need to take the call, stand up and leave the restaurant immediately.

I have just cruised again on Crystal Symphony, 24 days and felt the need to communicate directly with Crystal Cruises new management. I spent a fair of time searching for an email address. CrystalComms@crystalcruises.com. I wrote a very positive email and explained that I was however concerned about the relocation of the current Bridge room which is being moved to allow a casino to be installed later this year. What was impressive, someone responded and said that they have forwarded my suggestions to the appropriate management. Good luck.

Is there a 2024 Azamara cruise app? If I start on my Android smartphone the old app, it tells me to update the app but in Google play there isn't an update? To be more precise, one which works before I join the Azamara cruise.

Last year , 2023 my wife cruised 4 times Oceania and once on NCL Regent. Both cruise lines are good but Oceania is no where close to Regent cruises. The Seven seas Explorer is very elegant, beautiful art work. Oceania food was dated and offered us the same menus over our 4 cruises , which was disappointing. Oceania staff and service was not good whereas Regent was very good. We will cruise with both again one day but our focus is now with Crystal Cruises.

Today I received notification from Info CC that a wire transfer has been made to us. I can also confirm payment of usd 4450, converted to Euros is now in our bank account.

Based on my understanding of water purification on cruise ships I strongly recommend not drinking tap water.

We are now using Cunard for our world cruises which we define ad 100+ days. Having done a few shorter 35 days in Britannia club and now in the Britannia club on Queen Mary 2, world cruise, we are going to down grade to open dining on Queen Anne for our 2025 and 2026 world cruises in Britannia. Yes I will miss cabin 13030 on qm2, it had a private helicopter pad which is not used by many passengers at 8.00 in the mornings. The cabins as far as I can seen are virtually identical, the only different seems to be that I will need to collect fresh water ourselves, instead of our Steward delivering them.

March 5th , 1 PM GMT is the date and time for Cunard world cruises release for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne. Passengers on board the 2024 world cruise also have the routing and booking forms, released this evening. We will take a look at Queen Anne 2006 which will start and finish in Hamburg, Germany.