May B

That was later proved to be incorrect, supposedly, about Tony Dow.

And btw, things change all the time. Schedules, availability. Go with a very flexible outlook on life and I think you’ll be happier in the long run!

I did sign up from home, but when I got to my stateroom, there was no ticket. I inquired at Guest Services. Everybody is required to attend a special briefing regarding the sub. I think everybody who wanted to go, was able to. I wimped out after watching the description of what I should be able to do by myself, to transfer from the zodiac to the sub. I probably would’ve been fine, but I chose to say no thank you. Besides needing to be able to transfer, you might be unhappy if you’re prone to seasickness or claustrophobia. Evidently the subs have to be balanced somewhat carefully, so anybody who cancels at the last minute causes staff to hunt around for a guest of similar weight. Otherwise, they load some huge beanbag into your seat! Anyway, that’s my understanding. Also, I suspect that a few staff are on standby. Most of them don’t weigh very much, though!

Over on the Crystal boards, I was talking about my Octantis last week. Here are some answers to questions a cruiser asked. First, my quick impressions. Now to a CC member’s questions. “1. My understanding is that higher cost suites get priority for booking the "toys" (e.g., the SOBs, which allow pax to board for zodiak-style explorations while still on the ship, thus avoiding balancing problems getting into a Zodiak when the sea is choppy). Some pax reported in reviews they were unable to get the "toys" bookings they wanted, or even more than one sit-down dinner reservation per week (e.g., all sit-down dinner venues require reservations, as I understand it). “ Me: while it’s true that higher cost suites get a priority booking window, for restaurant reservations as well as shore excursions and water toys, I in my lowliest stateroom category had no trouble booking many things, as well as two dinners, prior to boarding. Interestingly, the time frames published were not strict. Bookings opened earlier than expected, so checking in advance, on a daily basis, was a good idea. The SOB does not give the same experience as the Zodiac. Also, I suspect Zodiacs are suspended in choppy seas. I was able to add two more restaurant bookings, on embarkation day, just by asking. Also, some toys and excursions are added. They keep wait-lists, too, and you can hang out at an appropriate time to see if you can get on at the last minute. So before boarding, we had one reservation at The Restaurant and one at Manfredi’s. Added one more of each. Menu at The Restaurant changes daily, and is an indication of what you’ll find at the World Cafe (buffet). Manfredi’s menu stays the same, but also has a changing fish of the day and pasta of the day. There are two soups, so I had one the first time, the other the second. I love soup, and these were both fine. “2. Are there long lines or problems getting a table at the evening buffet? When I'm tired from an excursion, I don't like standing around in a hungry (sometimes pushy) crowd “ Me: absolutely no trouble getting a table, and barely ever a line. On the sides are a salad/fruit area and a hot food area, same on both sides. At the one end, there’s sushi, sashimi, shellfish, but I’m not 100% sure about sashimi. At the other end, at dinner I’m not sure! Pizza of the day? Some kind of sandwich of the day? And wonderful breads, where you can watch the baker knead, set to rise, put in ovens. Fun! That part is at all three meals. And on one side, The Grill with a few choices. At lunch, ahi tuna steak, burgers. At dinner, steak, perhaps two choices, plus some brisket we never tried. A nice place to sit if you like watching chefs at work. Btw, no sit-down option for breakfast or lunch, but a nice little area of Norwegian specialties. “3. Are there wine lists (for extra pay of course, though base "wine and beer" are included), and if so, roughly how many wines and what quality? thx in advance!” There is a list, I suppose, but I spotted exactly what I wanted, as we walked into The Restaurant, and drank it consistently at all three venues. At the two sit-down venues, they even brought us the nice larger red wine glasses. It was the Francis Coppola Zinfandel, just their basic one that retails on the winery web site for $15.99 and I can get at Luekens for $10.99. Interestingly enough, our Total Wine here in Tampa doesn’t carry it. That gives you an idea of the cost of the included wines, which I didn’t bother with, ever. I think if you’re paying, there are pricier ones. I had the Silver Spirits package. (If I didn’t, my Maker’s would’ve been $8, or Jim Beam for $6. Two other bourbons, one at each price point, but I don’t remember what they were.) As you probably can see, I love talking about my past cruises. 😃

Tenders, the normal kind, brand spanking nice new ones, except at Frazier Sound, where it was zodiacs. I happen to love the zodiacs, but there was a chance of thunder storms, so I didn’t choose to go. Somebody who did go enjoyed it very much. I had wanted to see Okeechobee Lodge, but had to miss it b/c I wimped out.

I was able to book two of them, prior to embarkation, and I was in the cheap seats. Who gets to go is who perseveres at watching for them to be available to book. I cancelled one of mine and both of Mr B’s. On the one I did enjoy, a member of the expedition team was the 12th one (or tenth … I can’t remember if it holds ten or 12). A few other late arriving guests might’ve been contacted by phone when there were some last minute cancelllations. I posted on FaceBbbok that you should be flexible and ask to be wait-listed and even if no wait-lists are available, I got to just get added at departure time to the birch bark canoe demonstration. I hadn’t booked it in advance b/c I hadn’t read the description! But at the evening briefing, I realized I’d enjoy it. So went to Guest Services but no w/l so the next a.m., I just went down there, prepared to go. Worked out great.

So sorry to hear of your loss. Wise words, obviously from experience. Your memories and photos are even more priceless now, no doubt.

Moi aussi. I love carbs, though. And potatoes are probably my favorite. But I prefer mashed, baked, pancakes, kugel, and perhaps some I’m forgetting. I also eat sweet potatoes, incl. baked, fries, mashed. I wish I could show you how my mother-in-law said potato. Can you use the D sound for the Ts?

The style and material of my expedition pants rules them out as being considered anywhere near nice enough for The Restaurant or Manfredi’s, in MY mind, anyway!

I would often wear the shell to dinner that I planned to wear under my expedition shirt the next day, in the Galapagos. Not sure what the gasp was all about. Not the same lightweight pants. I had two pairs of expedition pants for days, and two pairs of casual slacks for evening. Same plan for Octantis, pretty much. What made ME gasp was when some guests came to dinner in the clothes they’d worn THAT DAY when going by zodiac to the various uninhabited (by humans) islands. I could never do all that hiking around and then go to dinner without showering!

It’s gorgeous, Roy! Still looks like the teenshiest but of sun hasn’t quite emerged from the water. Keep enjoying.

Bon voyage, Roy! I’ll be watching closely, as that’s a potential place for me, on occasion.

Thanks for posting this! My first choice is always a zin. It appears on all three lists! Plus there’s something a tad snazzy about saying, I’d like Francis Ford Coppola, please.

This having been said, I must add that my few experiences with Spain Day Tours have been outstanding. We had a tour booked for October, 2020, and the refund was immediate and accurate. The tour we took in Valencia was wonderful. I wonder if the person who was answering you, CoconutJo, was having a bad day, or reacting to something that had just happened. However you do it, have a blast! Barcelona’s a great city. People report loving the food tours (in a true foodie city!).

We often tour on our own, with a heavy dose of Rick Steves walking tours. I can see now why you’re hesitant to go with Spain Day Tours. Enjoy, whatever you decide!

Bon voyage, joyride! I sure hope that seat H stays blocked, and I agree with you, thank goodness there were still premium economy seats available!

Adrian, Great summary with fascinating updates! Bigosh, how somebody could label you as critical of Azamara defies explanation. Mr B and I will try to take your place on Azamara in 2023. So far, we have nothing booked that year or after. Regards to Elaine. 😃 —May B Muriel

You sound ready! I loved Park Guell. I think I’d call it a must-do, along with Sagrada Familia. Another wonderful place is the Palau de Musica. They offer guided tours in English, which sell out. We had to do that on our second trip, b/c it wasn’t available, the first time. We also booked a performance there, which I wouldn’t hesitate to do again, if we were going to be in Barcelona more than one night. I guess if I had to rank my sightseeing in order of how much I loved them, I’d say Park Guell was #1! Palau de Musica was #2, Sagrada Familia, #3; and Picasso Museum was #4 … and I loved that! We were at three of those places in 2014. Now, I think more has been done at Sagrada Familia, and is there an entrance fee at Park Guell? There wasn’t, when we were there. We went by city bus, so we entered through the side gate and strolled down to the actual entrance. On our way back up, there were those guys selling stuff, all displayed on the ground on a cloth, and evidently they got word of police approaching. In the blink of an eye, they had all their things gathered up into the cloth and they were outta there! There may be more of Park Guell than we saw. I just asked Mr B, and he ranked Sagrada Familia as #1, Park Guell as #2 and Palau de Musica, #3. It certainly helped, that we had a beautiful sunny day for Park Guell. Great city. Great food.

Adrian, very much looking forward to hearing about your chat with the captain. I hope you and Steph and Colin, and She Who Is Not Named in these pages, will have an enjoyable finale to your cruise, and then a safe trip home. And I sure hope the couple who never cruised before, and wanted to sail rather than to cruise, are enjoying, too.

Funny! I’m expecting to embark, the day you disembark. Then, from Thunder Bay … fly home through Toronto!

Congrats on your first post here at Cruise Critic, Jo! When Mr. B and I did Park Guell, he was 69 and I was almost 68. I didn’t think it was strenuous at all. Do you sometimes go out for a one hour walk? Do you often take a few flights of stairs onboard a cruise ship? Then I think you’ll be fine! I’m 75 now and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it.

I believe mentioning one or two or three crew members by name in your evaluation will go a long way in rewarding stellar service.

Adrian, what a beautiful post! Not a surprise, but definitely a treat. Keep enjoying; I’ll keep following. —May B Muriel

My recollection of the library on Quest and the other original Azamara was of the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. I hope the beauty will still be there, even if the books aren’t.