luv2ski2

We’ve been to Gibraltar before and took a tour so we only want to see the Siege tunnels and walk around the city center this time. If we take a taxi from the port to the tunnels is the walk to CC safe & reasonable (fairly level ground or downhill and 30 min or less?) or will there be taxis available to take us to CC where we can walk back to the ship OOO?

We sailed on the Pursuit March 5-23, 2023 - Rio to Lisbon and had a great time. It was our 3rd Azamara cruise and we booked 3 more while on board. We seldom book ship's excursions as I learned when I owned a travel agency in the 1990s that there is NO incentive for the tour company to satisfy the guests, their only objective is to get the group back to the ship on time. Somehow, we ended up with $1650 in OBC on the Pursuit so we booked several excursions. None of them were up to par - one was so bad Azamara returned the money we paid to our OBC - the guide on the next one, a hike to the top of the Volcano didn't know the way and we never got to the rim of the volcano which was why we all booked the hike. The 3rd one, also a hike, had a guide who was nice but knew very little about what we were seeing. My TA suggested I write Azamara's guest relations, which I've done, but so far "crickets". Once they get their website issues resolved I plan to call/write again.Long and short, we still love sailing on Azamara as other than their excursions - and new website - it's a quality organization and a very laid back experience.

RCL sold Amazara, it wasn't a hostile takeover, so I think it's unlikely that RCL will sabotage Azamara's excursion department during the transition as they know it is a money maker and part of the sale. We are not "bus" people, so we do not book the "Panormic View" excursions, rather we book those that show the activity level as moderate or, more often, strenuous. Even then, the group is as fast as the slowest person. In years past the countries and/or the ports required (didn't suggest) that cruise lines book local tour operators to provide excursions. The pandemic was devastating to these companies, so cruise lines are scrambling to find competent tour operators. I suggest you keep that in mind when you book. We frequently book private tour operators. The key is to look at the port and excursion and determine if getting back to the ship on time (which is the biggest selling point for cruise lines) is questionable. When I expressed a concern to a private guide, she told me that with social media her business would cease overnight if she didn't get someone back on time. As a result, she had backups in place in case the car broke down etc. I also do this so I know how WE could get to the next port if for some reason we needed to do so.

Something we enjoy most on Azamara Cruises is getting to know people from all over. Spending time with you and Andrew was one of the highlights of our trip. Our 2024 is booked - 13 nt Central Am Tapestry 1/5-18/24 and B2B Spain and France intensive 9/13-30/24. Take another look and see if one might fit in your schedule and you can book in Oct. And then let's look at 2025 next year and find one that sounds good. SOOOO glad your luggage caught up with you! I know it was a nightmare. After almost losing a bag years ago (only because I'd seen it with a group from Tennesee and called that airport's "lost luggage" dept was it located), I make a list of everything I pack - "just in case". Tem laughs at me, but I figure better safe than sorry. We'll stay in touch!. PS Thank you again for the TRUE maple syrup. I plan to make pancakes or waffles this weekend (to be honest mine are better than Azamara's) and will relish every bite with that wonderful syrup. Pictures will be forwarded soon.

Yes, it WAS an enjoyable cruise. I concur with Betsey's post. We extended our trip with 3 days in Madrid and loved it. We finally got home last night - and thankfully with our bags. We had $1650 in OBC so we booked Prime C/Acquelina 8 times and weren't disappointed with the food and service but must add their new requirement that you sign the "check" on a tablet was a bit confusing. It "suggests" tips based on a percentage. My DHH, unthinkingly, clicked on 20% and we learned mid-cruise that it equated to a $50 tip for one night. Needless to say, we disputed the charge, and it was removed but it was embarrassing. As is our custom, we recognized our favorite servers with a cash tip at the end of the cruise. Unfortunately, our experiences with the excursions were not very good. We ONLY booked thru the ship as we had so much OBC. Our 1st one was a sailing/beach/snorkeling trip in Buzios. The guide told us the boat was switched that morning so we couldn't stop at the beach. The Catamaran that replaced the other boat broke down (the engine was smoking up a storm) so we didn't get to snorkel (with the jellyfish that surrounded the boat) but were stranded on a smelly old boat with no beer or wine for several hours and had to be towed back to shore. Our guide on the 1st hike was a lovely man, and knew the history of the Island, but we didn't get the "narrated" hike advertised so we knew little about what we were seeing. The guide on the hike in La Palma to the volcano was another nice man but he got lost (told me it was his 1st time to lead the hike) so we didn't go up to the top of the volcano and stand on the rim as was advertised. I love to hike and enjoyed the others on the hike so I enjoyed myself, but it was probably my only chance to look into a volcano and it didn't happen. We LOVED White Night as the band played the kind of music we dance to - the dance floor was packed - and the food and company were excellent. I wished the band/s had played similar music in the Living Room more often. We also loved meeting people that we'd blogged with on CC and especially those who we got to know at Sol Ipanema Hotel in Rio before we sailed. We booked 3 more cruises while on board but won't sail until January 2024. I pray you all stay safe and healthy so you can sail the seas again. And with luck, maybe our paths will cross again.

We just got off The Pursuit (Rio to Lisbon 3/7-/23). 1) Specialty dining is not included. It's best to book a package rather than per night. I believe we paid $199 for 4 visits for 2 people . 2) Sodas and Alcoholic beverages, including "house" wine/beer/liquor are included 24/7. Cappuccinos are included but as I can't have caffein I'm not sure when/where. 3) gratuities are included but in the specialty dining rooms they give you a table to sign after dinner and it has a place to add a tip. We chose to wait until the last night and tipped the servers who went "above and beyond". 4) Azamara does not have "free" shore excursions. Except on TransAtlantic/Pacific cruises they have an Azamazing Evening which is an excursion for everyone on board. They are excellent. In Gdansk. Poland we were taken to a special symphony in a luxurious downtown theater/opera house. 5) Windows is a inside buffet that serves B/L/D. They vary the menu and offer eggs made-to-order at breakfast. We didn't eat there very often so I'm not sure how often they serve sushi. They did serve it at "White Night" and it was excellent (I spent a summer in Japan so I'm fairly picky about sushi). The main dining room is called Discoveries. It is not a buffet except for a Sunday Brunch - which is extremely good. Meals are served there B/L/D. There is an outdoor Patio that grills burgers, chicken, meatless offerings, kbobs, French fries, vegetables plus there a salad bar and ice cream/frozen yogurt. I spoke to several guests on Azamara who have sailed on "O" - we have not. The consensus was they are very similar except you have to buy a drink pkg on O, where the basic pkg is included on AZ, there is more nightlife after dinner on AZ (drinks are included so why not stay up 🙂 And there are no "free" daily escursions. Because AZ "sells" themselves as "port intensive" with "longer stays" I don't think they're going to cut the time in port as O has done.

Heike will deifinitely be missed! I wish her smooth sailing wherever she goes. Our evening dinner with her was one of the highlights of our cruise. Farewll dear friend.