beachseeker

So sorry to disagree. We took our grandchildren on a Princess cruise earlier this year. It was one of the worst cruises we have ever been on. The food was almost inedible. Entertainment average. It was impossible to find a sunbed, people were reserving them all day. When I finally spoke to a deck steward about removing these things they were totally uninterested. Cabin was ok. Never again.

Just back from an Alaskan cruise on the Princess Coral. We were in a suite and are Platinum. Our last cruise was Azamara in a club continent room and we are Explorer so pretty close in cabins and loyalty level.

Princess wins for Internet (200 free min), laundry (unlimited), room (much larger and bathroom huge), speciality restaurants (booked 3 times during the cruise- not when we boarded and was available), and loyalty lounge (not available to Explorer on Azamara), entertainment (best band ever played every night in the Wheelhouse along with 3 good production shows).

Azamara wins for room service, butler, liquor in the room, and included beverages.

Tie: Meet and Greet was attended by at least 5 officers on both cruises but if food and drink are important then Azamara has the nod, service was really good on both ships, food was excellent on both ships (probably had more choices we liked on Azamara).

This was our best Princess cruise and felt truly appreciated as a customer on this cruise. We just booked a Feb 2016 Panama Canal with Azamara. Princess was our 2nd choice. Wondering if we made the right choice but in the end itinerary dictates and overnight in Cabo and Cartegena wins. But.... Princess delivered for us in Alaska.

We just returned home from a Princess cruise where we had two dinners in speciality restaurants included and we booked a third night. It was a larger ship (1900 pax) than Azamara but only has two speciality restaurants. We booked all three nights 24 hours in advanced (not all on the first night) and at the time requested (not set times). It was a much more pleasant experience than our last cruise on Azamara in terms of the specialty restaurants. It was nice to be able to make decisions as we went instead of deciding the first day and it certainly was better than being told "we are booked for the rest of the cruise" on day 2.

I was also on the August 20th sailing and found the Cruise Critic meeting a disappointment. Without the introductions, what is the point? I found that Tony was almost invisible throughout the cruise. He seemed to be busier entertaining family members on board than he was at doing his job. Shows were either not introduced, or they were introduced by Joe. Unlike Eric, Tony made very rare appearances.

Tony was the CD on our first cruise and we were impressed. We commented that he seemed to be everywhere! Russ was good on our 2nd cruise but Tony was better IMO. Hopefully, whatever had Tony distracted is only temporary.

2) The Denali Nature Tour was a total waste of time, as stated on this board many times. We saw absolutely no wildlife on this short excursion. We did have enough time leaving at 3pm to do the longer Tundra tour and get back to the Lodge around 11PM (still light out). Princess would not allow us to change to the longer tour where caribou and bears were frequently spotted.

Just returned from land tour + cruise on the Coral. We were able to switch the Nature Tour for the 8 hour Tundra Tour. Our TA made the switch for us several months before sailing. I'm sorry you were not able to make the switch. It is worth every moment that you spend on the longer tour.

We have run into Mosquitos in Fairbanks for the past two days. Not horrible, but definitely around.

Help! It appears that there really isn't an option for a quiet Club Continent Suite!

We have only been on the Quest (twice) and both times were in a Club Continent Suite. Noise was not a factor at any time during our two cruises.

I've never sailed on Azamara. Usually sail Solstice Class ships on Celebrity. I'm looking at an Asian cruise on the Quest and looking at a Club Continent Suite (#8044). Just a little concerned that all of the Club Continent suites are on the deck directly below the pool. Wondering what kind of noise level we might be dealing with during the evening and night. Figure we won't be sleeping a lot during any days. Thanks for any feedback about noise or other opinions from anyone who's been in these cabins.:D

We have been in 8056 and 8058 which are farther aft and under Windows cafe but noise was not been an issue.

I see this thread is gaining momentum, i.e., heating up, so I'll jump in here to say I have not heard on the internal grapevine that there is a problem around Guests getting into the Specialty Restaurants and/or the new Dining Packages.

 

That doesn't mean it isn't so, just that there's no internal buzz that there's a problem - which is one of the reasons I read this CC forum regularly - to see if a problem exists that we didn't know about. Sort of like reading indian smoke signals rising over the distant hills...some smoke means there's trouble brewing and other smoke simply means they're roasting dinner over the spit. What I'm saying in an off-handed way is that I worry this smoke has turned from dinner to trouble.

 

I have sent off an email to the Hotel Dept tonight to get an assessment. I expect I'll have some sort of response in the morning. I'll let you know when I hear.

 

Bonnie

Bonnie, I hope Azamara will look at how often the specialty restaurants are booked and how quickly they are booked. If they only look at number of registered complaints, I don't think they will get the whole picture. While we were disappointed, we did not make a formal complaint. Our cruise was before the dining packages were introduced.

Susan

I am a suite guest and prefer dining late in prime C. i always have gotten in but ieat between 8:15 and 9 if i go to the show. I think the problem will be bigger for those who like to eat early.. when i arrive at the dock i will book and i can cancel if i am on land or not hungry..

 

I have been in Prime C when it is empty and also over crowded.

 

Robin

Robin, I think the itinerary makes a difference. Our Mediterranean cruise was similar to what you described above. Late nights in ports or overnights mean many passengers are eating onshore. Our last cruise was the Caribbean and over the holidays. There were many multi generation families on board and we saw many large groups dining together. One reservation would easily take 4 or 5 tables. Not sure whether we will sail Azamara again, but we definitely will not sail with Azamara for the Caribbean.

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

We were in a suite for the Quest's San Juan to Miami cruise in December and wanted to eat in Aqualina and were not able to get a reservation. We tried booking on the first full day on board and was told all specialty restaurants were booked for the entire cruise.

While I unsderstand it is a perk for suite guests, I have trouble believing that anyone pays the average $1000 extra for that $175 benefit, just as I'm sure the free small bottles of booze in the suite are also not the reason most people book a suite. A suite is worth it for the extra space, and perhaps to some, the Butler service, but deciding to book one or not based on the specialty restaurant availability seems like overkill.

It is not the only reason, but it is a published perk that Azamara appears to be unable to fulfill on some (sounds like more often than not) voyages. Not sure if there is a solution but perhaps instead of unlimited access, maybe 2 nights free for suites so that all passengers booked in a suite have an opportunity to take advantage of a published perk. The specialty dining is a valued perk for us and one we were very disappointed that we were not able to use more than once. If I sail Azamara again, I now know that I must make any reservations that I want at the pier. Not being able to book a specialty restaurant unless it us booked while boarding, whether sailing in a suite or not, is a negative IMO. Enough to cause us not to choose Azamara? Probably not, but it did affect our overall enjoyment of the cruise.

How did they not deliver? I believe you failed to plan ahead.

 

On a two week cruise this past February, friends had a suite. They dined in the specialty restaurants every single night. As soon as they boarded, not on the pier, they requested alternating specialty restaurants for the duration of the cruise and had no problem.

In 2012 requesting 24 hours in advance was plenty of time to reserve a specialty restaurant. In 2013, we tried booking on the first full day onboard. Too late. I don't think we failed to plan, I think more people are booking specialty restaurants which makes the perk of unlimited access to specialty restaurants for all suites impossible to deliver. IMO Azamara needs to rethink this perk. IMO your comment was a bit harsh but I have my girl panties on so have a good day.

Thanks Andy, A great idea as what concerned me is that suite guests, who are able to dine in the restaurants every night 'subject to availability' may not get a table any night! :eek:

This was the case for us on the Quest in December. We felt Azamara did not deliver one of the main suite perks which was a big selling point to us in booking a suite. We were able to make only one reservation which was for the first night.

I figure I'll run out of money and vacation days long before I run out places I want to visit.

At least you started traveling while you are younger. We didn't start until our early 50's, so we have a lot we want to see in a shorter time period. But we are definitely working on our bucket list. Our problem, we go somewhere new and enjoy it so much that we want to go back again.

Was it offered only on the official sea day or are the scenic cruising days an option as well?

D gets my vote as long as suites are not excluded. If they are then, B would be my second choice.

Bonnie' date=' the robes are fine. I don't understand a desire for small thin cheapo robes. They are meant for post-shower and not for pool side but will serve either way. Your robes are the only ones I have ever used and they are mighty fine. In a five star lux London hotel they would cost 50 pounds minimum to take home. Hello Miami, leave the robes as is. You might offer shorter versions for those who request same from their cabin attendant, but default to status quo.[/quote']

 

Ditto. I too enjoy the robes supplied.

I take Bonine and have drank moderately (wine at dinner) without any complications but everyone is different. For me the Patch and drinking wine at dinner did not mix well.

Alaska (Seattle to Seattle) was the roughest seas I have experienced with 27 feet seas. Our Mediterranean cruise on the Quest was from Rome to Athens and was very smooth. DH and I remarked that you hardly knew that you were moving. But, weather and storms can effect any sailing and make a normally calm cruise into a roller coaster.

Our event was changed in St Maarten on the Quest New Year's cruise from a botanical garden to the pier. We thought it was a less than stellar evening but made no official complaint. I guess Azamara agreed with us because we received a FCC when we returned home for 10% of our cruise cost to be used by Jan 2015.

We always stay in Suites and eat in the specialty restaurant every night switching between the two. No problem at all

On our first cruise making a reservation in a specialty restaurant was no problem but on this past New Year's cruise on the Quest the restaurants were booked after the first day. Being in a suite made no difference. I'm fine eating in the MDR but DH prefers the specialty restaurants and felt a suite amenity that we paid for was not delivered.

Very envious of those of you who have ALL three ABC islands on your itinerary.

We've been to all three several times but have never been lucky enough to go to them all on the same sailing.

LuLu

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The reason we chose Feb 15, 2015 sailing on Eclipse.

As I have never sailed on Carnival I would not try it because of one reason: loud music. Each time we met a Carnival ship at any port they were playing loud music on deck. Loud enough to hear it quite far away. And not only for sail-away.

I like sea days or staying on the ship/returning early to relax on deck. Can't imagine that with such loud music.

 

Lots of ppl here are complaining about the level of music at Celebrity ships. Carnival seems to be MUCH worse.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Only been on Carnival twice but loud music was not an issue on either cruise.

We enjoyed both of our Carnival cruises. We found the food to be very good, service was good, and neither cruise was in any a "party cruise". The Magic, I believe, is similar to the Breeze and we thought it was well laid out. We had no problem finding a lounger by the pool area, unlike our experience on the Solstice. Loved the pub on the Magic. It was where we usually ended our day.

:D

All the cabins also have a coffee table that raises up to a dining table, which is nice.

That is a great idea!