cruisingaussies

Two votes here FOR O's shower doors, we found them better than AZ's shower curtains.  Also, O's R class cabin re-fit has been superbly done, more storage space and lighter décor.  However, this does come at a price which we now consider does not represent value, so we'll stick with AZ as far as we can, desirability of itineraries to take into consideration.  We wish they had fewer embarks and debarks in Istanbul and Athens.

18 hours ago, royallondon said:

Received email.  Much to do about nothing, over hyped.

Agree. Totally, utterly underwhelming. 

Hello!  Does anyone have an updated price for a pedicure please?

21 minutes ago, uktog said:

No it’s not it’s now $49.95 pp and $125 for Chefs Table 

Grrrrr!  Thanks (?) for the not so good news!

On 2/21/2024 at 11:51 PM, Mrs.Dukes said:

After you book the excursion on line, make sure you click save. Then you need to phone Azamara (I believe within 48 hours of booking) if you want to apply your OBC to pay for the excursion, or it will be cancelled. Some people have reported lately that they have a button above excursions which allows you to pay with OBC online, however that hasn’t shown up on my account. When I called to pay with the OBC, it was handled very quickly, and they sent me an updated confirmation.

Thank you so much. I called Azamara and got on to a super helpful agent in the US. It took 45 minutes but she confirmed our shore excursions, paid for with our OBC. It’s ridiculous that some of us can’t do this through Azamara’s website (I don’t have that button either).  Yet another failure of the still utterly rubbish website, I dread having anything to do with it. 

8 hours ago, BritishLandS said:

Speciality is $35 pp and Chef's Table $95pp

Thank you!

I booked two shorex through the website on16 January, for our 01 March departure.  On checking today, there is no record of any excursions being booked, so I've booked them again.

Does Azamara send an email confirmation?  Other cruise lines, Celebrity for example, do.  

I've taken screen shots but because of the limitations of their website I can't get all the details.

We have OBC that we want to use for payment.

1 hour ago, uktog said:

Just boarded Quest the flyer clearly says $26.95 for the ultimate 

 

Thanks for posting. Bon voyage!

3 hours ago, BritishLandS said:

We are currently onboard Onward.

The old prices for speciality dining and beverage packages prevail. 😁

Excursions, on the other hand, have increased on boarding by up to 25% on the pre-boarding cost. 🥴

Thanks for the heads up.  The cost of excursions is/was already ridiculous.  Looks like I'll be going home with yet another handbag to spend my OBC (and probably DH's as well 😅).

Would you be so kind as to confirm the price of speciality dining?  Chef's Table?          Thank you.

49 minutes ago, Dr. Pam said:

I have reserved transfers for this weekend prior to starting on our cruise.  A168 Limousine Hong Kong <a168hklimo@gmail.com>  i have reserved  a good size van to carry 3 adults and 5 large suitcases.

Thanks, I’ll also check it out. 

3 hours ago, uktog said:

I’ve had cosmo done within the package. Just ask. It’s ok though blind test to the real deal and you would immediately know it was an adaptation. 
Yes the yuk rose had a “solid” taste- can’t describe it properly but it was also too sweet and was from Languedoc

Thank you Anne! DH will hope they’ll be able to closely follow his recipe for the Cosmo. 

Fingers crossed that a different rose is available, otherwise sadly shall have to avoid. 

Thanks for all the very useful information. We board Onward on 01 March. 
 

Sorry bit of a thread creep. I recall that its possible to have a bartender create a Cosmopolitan by using ingredients available in the included drinks. Anyone know about this?

UKtog, you mentioned the undrinkable Rose.  Do you remember where it was from?  We had some on board last year and it was indeed not good, from the Languedoc. We lived there for years and there is some good Rose available from that region. Hope that Az have latched on to something better. 

And definite thread creep, is Schweppes tonic water available?  If not we’ll have to schlep our own on board. 
 

16 hours ago, AJCM said:

Currently in Adelaide and had a fantastic azamazing night last night - James Morrison quintet in the Adelaide Town Hall. Just great musicianship and James is a wonderful, humorous front man. Everything went very smoothly.

 

Apparently this is usually held in a large room at Adelaide Oval, but they had a cricket match last night and we were undoubtedly the beneficiaries.

 

We've been to many aza ok shows - this one was truly azamazing.

Wow you hit the jackpot there!  What a great experience, glad you enjoyed it so much. 

On 2/10/2024 at 12:59 AM, RichYak said:

Try telling that to someone from the UK who sails out of Southampton. E-class is the only game in town.

And Australia. We’re stuck with the Edge out of Sydney and that’s it. We don’t care for that ship, nor the rooms with a window that opens. Not prepared to spend on a SV which we did last year including Christmas. X has lost our business for Aus/NZ cruising, including our annual Christmas/NY cruise. Much better deal on Princess with a Reserve Mini Suite. 
 

Edit. Sorry messed up order of quotes. Obviously RichYak replied to 2Long and I meant to reply to both. 🤪

Thanks alwayscruisetime, very interesting.

1 hour ago, thuyronald said:

I'm going to use this company https://myhktour.com/.  for my transfer and tour.  Their rates are more reasonable than a few other company that I've contacted previously.  Our Celebrity Solstice will be arriving in Hong Kong on  March 15th.

 

 

Thanks so much I’ll take a look at their website. 

Is anyone able to recommend a transfer service from the cruise terminal to a hotel near the airport?  For four people.

Thanks for any info.

Can anyone recommend a transfer service from the cruise terminal to a hotel near the airport?  For four people.

Thanks for any info.

5 minutes ago, Roel94 said:

Same person.His name is Joy. He said we do not need one.American.. but anything could change in the next month. I have mine but wish agent waited until I was on ship.

Again, thank you so much, you've helped four of us with your posts.  Do hope you're in calmer waters now.

We're counting down the days until we embark in Sydney on 01 March.

Take care and thanks again.

On 2/3/2024 at 12:31 PM, Roel94 said:

Thursday night by the doc officer. As it the only one I have not turned in yet. He said I did not need it.was he wrong no clue.

Hi again.

First of all, do hope you're feeling OK, so sorry you're getting rough weather and will soon be out of it.

I just re-read your post, plus a friend who is also on the 01 March segment with us just rang Azamara in Aus, who are now saying they contacted the Admin Documentation Officer on board the ship, and he said we do not need to get a visa.  And this agrees with what the Documentation Officer told you.  Has to be the same person?

This is getting more complicated than an Indian visa, which is saying a lot!  At least, the Indian one was a nightmare a few years ago, maybe it got easier.

Hoping for smooth seas for you soon 🤞

23 minutes ago, Roel94 said:

I went off like many guests.had a nice lunch.picked up,some gifts for crew. The sun did show up but not for long.

we also per Captain might not make it to,Cook Islands. So we mainly are missing snorkeling this cruise.

time for my motion pills. My out door furniture on lockdown.

some even in my cabin.

oh well

Hope it's not that bad! 

4 hours ago, hilo4030 said:

Many of the World Cruise cumulative trivia teams need players each new segment, since many players are only

on for a few. Only have to have a couple world cruises per team so you should still check it out, there will be teams needing players!

Great news!  We're on the 01 March Sydney-HKG segment and are looking forward to joining a trivia team.  It's always good to have some mixed nationalities!

Just now, Roel94 said:

I checked with my Aussie friend.when she went in 2023 yiu did not now you do need visas. She looked on your govt sight.

That sounds right to me.

Just now, Roel94 said:

I believe aussies do not need one.

what those the govt page say

I think we do.  I've been Googling and some of the advice from the govt pages is dated as far back as 2014 once you dig down.  There's a lot of conflicting and out of date info. Having lived in PNG years ago for work, I can fully understand this!

Shall endeavour to call the Sydney Consulate again on Monday.  On Friday no departments were answering the phone.

I really do appreciate your keeping in touch with any info you have.

1 minute ago, Roel94 said:

Thursday night by the doc officer. As it the only one I have not turned in yet. He said I did not need it.was he wrong no clue.

Thanks, guess we'll have to get on with organising our own.  Such a pity Azamara don't do as other cruise lines and get a blanket visa.