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.  

22 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

It was great meeting you and Tem too, Cindi! I do hope that we will sail together again someday!

Betsey

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. 

On 3/21/2023 at 12:57 PM, susiesan said:

Due to Oceania shortening port times now on all of their cruises I am thinking about cruising with Azamara in the future instead. I have been on O 5 times, most recent was Dec. 2022. I was last on Azamara in 2009, I know there have been changes. I know about and have sailed on the R ships and enjoy them a lot. I cruise in either an outside cabin or occasionally a veranda if the price is good.

 

1. Is specialty dining still included on AZ like on O? If not, what is the cost per meal?

2. What sort of beverages are included? Is wine and beer served with meals? Are cappuccinos included an extra charge?

3. I think gratuities are included in AZ prices. True?

4. Is there 1 free shore excursion in each port included?

5. Is the Windows dinner buffet like the Terrace on O? Is there a grill and sushi every night?

 

I have been happy with the Oceania ships and service so far but am very upset that they keep limiting time in the ports, using the "going green" excuse. It doesn't appear that Azamara is doing this. Will I be happy with Azamara as it stands today, coming from Oceania?

 

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.  

One word of warning.  Some of the hotels, in particular LaQuinta, included in Priceline's hotels "Express Deals" are extremely "dog friendly" in that they allow BIG dogs that shed in most, if not all of their rooms, We are dog owners/lovers and were disgusted when the LaQuinta hotel room we "won" on Priceline had as many dogs as people and the carpet, walls etc. showed it.  

138 East - you seem to have a wealth of information.  Thanks for the "heads up" on the PATH service to WTC Memorial. We're returning from a Bermuda cruise (Summit departing Bayonne, NJ 6/16) on June 27th and have booked a hotel in Jersey City for 4 nights. Monday, July 1st we need to get to LGA mid morning for an afternoon flight back to Dallas.  Do you have a recommendation?  Thanks!  

Celebrity sales to Bermuda and we, personally, much prefer Celebrity over Princess - better food, better service, fewer sales pitches and cleaner ships.  And, unlike Carnival Corp that owns Princess, RCL Corp., that owns Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, doesn't do remodeling during cruises but puts their ships in dry dock to do this type work.  While we were on a 2-week Holland America cruise sailing around New Zeeland and Australia, HAL had workers replacing all the wall covering in the corridors. For several days we had to climb over workmen, tools etc. to get in/out of our balcony stateroom.  I asked the HAL new booking agent on our sailing who sat with us at dinner one evening about this and she said it was standard for HAL.  The Celebrity Summit is scheduled for dry doc in Feb/March 2019 for a major interior update and she will be sailing to Bermuda this June. 

If you want a truly personalized tour skip the "we offer tours in all your ports-of-call" companies ang go with Dancing Bear Tours. Julia is very responsive to inquiries (I wondered if she ever slept), listened to our preferences, made recommendations on the "must see" sights then designed a tour based on what we wanted rather than what is standard. And our price was below companies that required we book tours in 2-3 ports to get a "discounted" price. (Check out my posts for the other ports-of-call where I list/review our guides).

Julia's guides are chosen for their knowledge and professionalism. Our guide, Kate, has a teaching degree and teaches English at the college level. Her knowledge was amazing and when we asked "off the cuff" questions, like "what would it cost to buy that Dacha over there" she consulted our driver (also a class act) and would give us her best guess. She also never fretted when we wanted to buy something from a local vendor (NOT the typical "tourist" shop). She'd negotiate the price, help with sizing and if the vendor only took Ruples she paid the bill and let us repay her in US dollars. She also took us to the Russian equivalent of a Wal-Mart -at my request - so we could see where Russians go to shop. She even offered to use her club member discount (we declined so we could use our credit cards).

I organized our group on our Roll Call and was able to set parameters - we needed to all be able to walk a LOT and climb stairs (something you have no control over with the bigger companies). Because we didn't have to wait for 15 people to use the toilet in a museum (that had limited facilities), someone taking a smoke break, or one who had to find an elevator, we had time to enjoy lunches at local restaurants, which WE picked, and ordered off the menu (they have Wifi) and were still able to stay on schedule. As a result, we spent more time IN the museums and AT the sights. I must add no matter who you book your tour through - make sure it includes the Siege Memorial MUSEUM not just the memorial. Seeing the film, pictures and artifacts and learning what actually took place is eye opening and gave me a better understanding of why the Soviets wanted to "take" Berlin at the end of WWII.

Julia also offers evening excursions. I attended the ballet and as I was the only one in our group of 8 that was interested, Julia took me in her personal car and my seat was on the floor and center stage!

But the highlight was an evening meal with a Russian couple in their apartment. We were able to visit one-on-one with our hosts (Kate accompanied us and translated) and get a feel for how the Russian people live. What better way to learn about a people and their culture than sharing a meal in someone's home?

On a scale of 1-10 I would rate our experience with Dancing Bear Tours a 10. They provided everything we requested and then some. I HIGHLY recommend this company.

We arrive in Lubeck aboard the Azamara Quest on Sunday 2 August 2015 and want to go to Berlin, spend the night (at our own expense) and rejoin the ship the next night in Wismar. We are experienced travelers and prefer to do this on our own as I spent time in Berlin as a child and have some specific places I want to visit. We might consider joining a SMALL tour once we are in Berlin and may recruit one or more other couples to join us on our Roll Call. Does anyone have suggestions on the best way to get to/from Berlin? We would consider renting a car but would need a Sunday pick-up in Lubeck (actually Kreuzfahrt Terminal in Ostpreubenkai) and after hours return the next night (the ship doesn't sail until midnight) in Wismar.

We are coming to NE Germany on Azamara Quest August 1, 2015. We want to travel from the port in Travemunde to Berlin, stay in a hotel one night and rejoin the cruise the next evening in Wismar. Do you have recommendations on the best way to travel (train, rental car etc). There are 2 of us now but I suspect others on our Roll Call might be interested if we have a good plan.

We are also on the Quest 8/1/15 and trying to determine the best way to get from Travemunde to Berlin on Sunday 8/2 and then from Berlin to Wismar the next afternoon. It looks like getting to/from train stations might be time consuming and I'm not sure about picking up a car on Sunday. Does Azamara offer shuttles at any ports on this itinerary? I'll check this forum again but anyone with a suggestion can email me ckbarrett @ sbcglobal.net (spaces are not needed). Thanks!

I called Azamara to confirm our docks in the ports:

Bangkok - docking at a commercial area at Klong Toey - free shuttles to the center of

Klong Toey not Bangkok which is 7 K from Klong Toey

HCMC - docking in commercial area - Free Shuttle to town

Da Nang - docking in commercial port 10 K from town. Free shuttle into CC Danang

Halong Bay - Tender port. Tenders will drop off in Halong Bay city center

Hong Kong - Ocean Terminal

Hi

 

We are booked on the Journey Nov 25th Singapore to HK and very interested in the private guides information- do you have any email addresses etc for these guides so we could follow up- would be much appreciated

We are also booked on that sailing of The Journey and looking for one or two couples to take private tours with. Have you booked any private tours yet?