Mrs Miggins

We are on Azamara Intensive Spain in June - both Seville and Bordeaux - lovely itinerary. We are also regulars on Viking - did Azamara, Viking and Scenic last year. Viking was not quite as good as in the past so havent booked anything with them. They also need to come up with some new itineraries. Second time in Koper in April on Azamara - just wandered around - actually quite interesting - good museums, churches, Venetian Gates and Roman ruins - but next time will try Piran. Love a local bus.

Actually I should have used the correct term which is Royal Tunbridge Wells !

Tunbridge Wells is actually very nice, with some excellent restaurants. Mind you Tumbridge Wells sounds like fun.

We went on one of the first excursions to Cassis - one of our group had many many cruises on Azamara - and we ended up getting half of the cost refunded. Firstly we went to lovely overview of the coastline, then we drove to a car park outside the town as coaches are rightly not allowed in - long long wait for a tourist train to take us to the pretty little town. Because everything had taken too long, including heavy traffic on the motorway there, the tour leader who had no idea what the tour description actually said, gave us absolutely no time on our own. We decided to stay and have lunch (excellent) and we got a taxi back to the ship for the 6 of us. Cant recall the cost exactly but it was certainly less than the cost of the shore excursion for one. Hopefully Azamara have got it right now ! Cassis is pretty and some excursions apparently now include a boat trip along the Calanques coast. Have visited Montpellier on a Viking excursion last September from Sete. That also included a chateau visit and was excellent. From Sete on Azamara in April we went to Les Baux, and the Carrieres de Lumieres - fantastic excursion - ending in St Remy - can't recommend highly enough. Portofino a couple of times on Azamara but always DIY from Santa Margherita - short ferry ride. In fact once Azamara dropped us in the morning at Santa Margherita then moved the ship to Portofino - tendered of course to pick us up in the afternoon.

Ok you live and learn - I have never heard of sago pudding. I am from the south of England !

In the UK, especially in the school canteen, this is generally a tapioca milk pudding.

We had 3 cruises last year, Back to Back in April with Azamara (our 10th I think, , River cruise with Scenic (our 3rd) and a Viking Ocean in September (our 4th). All were good but Azamara is the only one we have booked so far for this year. We had been upgraded to a lovely CC suite - the food was excellent especially the specialities. The service impeccable. Most surprising was the quality of the shore excursions, booked because, unusually for those of us in the UK, we had lots of OBC. We are normally DIY as the ship excursions are expensive, but we had to spend the OBC. If I was spending real money I would research alternatives = often getting local busses and trains. The roll call on our June Azamara is active with many booking with Spain Day Tours etc. If you are not confident on your own then there are many alternatives. I would also add that there is often a temptation to book an excursion to somewhere other than the place you are docked. Why sit on a bus if you have not fully explored the many wonderful ports that Azamara visit. Often you can also replicate the shore excursion ie boat to Capri, Positano etc etc. at a fraction of the cost. Research is key.

I have been in one of these cabins once - and would certainly not do it again unless I was solo.

You can choose to have just the scones, with cream and jam. Also I do not think it is compulsory to eat everything although DH does manage his half easily. Sometimes the cream is not the proper 'clotted' cream but this can usually be obtained by request.

Waste ?

Just reading that Viking Venus is delayed by a couple of days into Tilbury by weather. Guests already in the Uk for next cruise to be accommodated in hotels and next cruise will affected. A frequent CC contributor is onboard I believe.

Viking have used Chioggia several times. A friend was on one of these sailings. We were on Azamara last April and docked in Ravenna.

Good news on Seville and Malaga Thank you

Thanks, I was particularly interested in Valencia. Lovely place that we have visited before. All the cruise companies use that Torres de Serranos as the drop off/pick up point. I realise it is not near the Arts and Sciences center but our Azamazing evening is located there so Azamara will definitely bus us to the venue. Last time in Valencia we used the shuttle to the city centre, then visited the Arts and Science centre by taxi and then returned to the ship by taxi. There were certainly shuttles last April on our B2B Barcelona - Ravenna although not many were required as we docked within walking distance of most ports.

Looking forward to our Azamazing Evening in Valencia in the wonderful City of Arts and Sciences.. Have been to Valencia before and there was a shuttle service to the City Centre with both Azamara and Viking. I seem to recall reading that there was some problem with this shuttle - local unions - or something. Hope I am wrong. Does anybody have any recent knowledge. Have been to Vigo and La Coruna before, but not with Azamara. Any knowledge about shuttles. My memory says we just walked from the ship previously. Very disappointed that we only have an evening in Bordeaux before disembarking next morning. I presume that this is due to tides ? Know Bordeaux well and will be sad not to have more time in this lovely place. Should have checked before booking our BA flight back to the UK I know.

After enjoying Sorrento have tea or a drink on the wonderful terrace of The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria and use their private lift back down to the dock !

The lift from the dock in Sorrento (turn right along the back of the beach - follow signs) costs one Euro.

No shuttle required in Sorrento, Amalfi, Katokolon all of which are tender ports which drop you at the town. In Syracuse we were also tendered as there is only one docking place, but you might be docked if Azamara bags the spot first.

Sorry didn't realise that this cruise only has one day in Norway and doesn't visit Sweden at all. Just put the Vasa on the bucket list for another time.

The Mary Rose sank after 30 years service in 1545. Great Museum but I really loved the Vasa Stockholm museum. That ship was raised with the hull intact after sinking on its maiden voyage in 1628. The sight of the entire ship just took my breath away.

Thank you for this wonderful review and the splendid photo's reminding me of past travels. Your last line prompted me to listen again to the wonderful Brokedown Palace from the Grateful Dead. Apparently the lyrics were written by Robert Hunter on his first visit to London whilst "slightly" inebriated having drunk half a bottle of Retsina from a full case he had with him. Not sure that Retsina was the drink of choice in London at the time, but it certainly worked.

I watched this too. In fact they were very complimentary about everything to do with Azamara generally. However it was Azamara's response to a problem in their cabin that was poorly handled. I would be interested to know if the "customer relations" manager is still with Azamara. I have never encountered anyone with this title. I would have thought the Hotel Manager would have dealt with water ingress and `i am surprised at the responses they had from Guest Services. The staff at Embarkation would have been from the local Ground Handling company and not Azamara itself but I am surprised that there was not more co-ordination. We have never had any problems when boarding, quite the reverse. The fact that this 'experienced' couple were taken by surprise when encountering rough seas around Australia is somewhat surprising. I wonder if they participate on Cruise Critic.

I have ordered a lemon drop martini specifying ‘included’ ingredients and it has been happily provided. The ones from the Prime C bar are especially good.

Since this thread is Viking or Azamara, I have not found any differential treatment on Azamara, apart from the speciality restaurant upcharge if you are not in a 'suite'.

Thanks for the information about Perry Golf . Have spent time in lovely Bordeaux as my son spent six months at University there and we also enjoyed a Scenic River Cruise spending several days there just pre covid. Cruise was booked onboard last April and it did not occur to me that our time would be so short. I should have checked of course but it has been a little niggling to receive emails from Azamara promoting Bordeaux.