excitedofharpenden

Have not long returned from a super Greece Intensive 11 night cruise on Quest. The old adage "it's all about the people" holds true. We were lucky to have a great team in charge from Captain Johannes through to HD Tatiana Morello, new F and B Manager Ertan from Turkey and on to Cruise Director Darren Lynton who is just great. Service in Aqualina from Suraj was top notch, from breakfast in the morning to dinner in the evening. We had a couple of really nice meals at Patio served by Bafaati. An excellent and professional waiter. If any of you going on Quest are lucky enough to have Robert as your butler, you are in for a treat. I remember him as a waiter in the Specialty Restaurant. The guy is indeed special. All in all a wonderful cruise with very good food and the usual brilliant service from everyone. I see no decline in Azamara since the change of ownership. I felt the same way last Autumn. Looking forward to the next one. Phil

Exactly. The "free" nights I've learned over time are not free, but if you have enough of them and you are booking a full priced cruise they can work. Trouble is with the plethora of deals Azamara have you are more likely to be better off using those than the free nights. I've got three. I honestly doubt I'll use them. Phil

Hope you are enjoying. We are having a fab time despite the heat. Phil

The one before had 670 and the next has about the same. It seems so hard to predict and I'm not sure why this cruise hasn't sold. Except that I booked reasonably late (April) and struggled with flights which were expensive. Coming into kids holiday season here. Perhaps that's a reason that folk struggled to get here in reasonable cost. Agree, we need to see ships sail full. Phil

Just started to sail now. Check in was the best I have EVER done on Azamara. On the ship after 10 minutes at 12.15. No waiting. It's 40°+ here and Azamara instructed the port no waiting. Normal lifeboat drill because of circumstances. I'm told 308 onboard. So quiet. Great to see some familiar crew faces. Phil

The hanging cage chairs in the Living Room on Pursuit weren't hanging and sat on the floor for ages. Are they still on the floor? Azamara really let themselves down on not correctimg small details like this that are very obvious. It's odd. Like a disconnect between the ship and the land operation. Phil

You shouldn't say about that little secret. Now everyone will be fighting for the spot!😁 Phil

I've actually been ok with paying for it if I've been if not in one of the big suites. It makes for much less of a bun fight out there. Transatlantics and other repositioning cruises with lots pf sea days have been problematic in the past when more were allowed. And I don't think it's expensive. Just limited in how many passes they sold. Phil

As far as I'm aware it is still $99 for a single and regardless of cruise length. Phil

Aside from some nicer spirits, particularly for me the vodka, the main draw with the Ultimate is that it gives you access to more wines. If I have some OBC to use I might upgrade as a treat. On the whole I'd say I'm happy with the complimentary though. Phil

Johnny Cash is alive and well and living on Azamara 🙂 Phil

What? Loyalty points or OBC or both? How many people need to post here to advise you? You dont need to worry. See my previous post. Why don't you just wait until you are actually on the ship? Phil

@ghstudio, have a great cruise. Glad you are enjoying so much. I've left Celebrity behind too. No longer appeals to me. I'm not their demographic any longer. Phil

Honestly, I'm not sure how many times it has to be posted on this board that you don't need to worry about your loyalty level. They will know your cruise history on the ship. And I see so many times people posting that their OBC was correct or at least sorted out with no problems. Phil

Thanks. Yes, that's the one. We are doing the cruise and then spending 10 days in Japan. I want to do a bit of Shingansen train travel😎. See you then. Phil

Yes, that should be what you get in 8015. When not in bed mode I found them really comfy to curl up and sit in. Better than the love seats I think. Phil

You'll know which cabins have a convertible sofa because it will be those cabins marked with a black box on the deck plan all the others will have a love seat. I think that's how it works. And they are more like a big seat than a sofa. Phil

Was that an accessible cabin? I don't remember the reimagined ships standard verandah and window cabins having an outlet by the bed. In an accessible one there was. Phil

Each to their own. We've been many times to Aqualina for breakfast and enjoy it there as an alternative to the buffet or dining room. We still occasionally do that too, depending upon what time we get up. Until recently Aqualina wasn't available to anyone for breakfast, but it was decided it would be a nice enhancement. To be fair, this isn't a discussion on the merits of a suite and its price. Much more to it than eggs benedict on better tableware! Phil

This is all great information. Thanks. I will make sure to do a special needs form and will take an extension cord from home. Wonder if I need a special one for a ship electrical system? tgg, I like the idea of taping down to avoid tripping. I had it in mind to ask on the ship for them to put masking tape down. Thanks again for the replies. Phil

I've booked a Japanese Intensive cruise for next year on Journey in a standard outside cabin. My other half uses a CPAP machine. What are others experience using one of these in a standard size cabin? Successful? Any things to be aware of? Thanks for the replies. Phil

In the good old days (sounding like I'm ancient!) it was most definitely run by Azamara. I used to get a call and they'd tell me what cabin category I could upgrade to and would even ask me which cabin number I'd l like. Realising the amount of time that took and really not practical, but I wish there were still some way of knowing and controlling the cabin they move you to. For me now it's not worth the aggravation. Phil

Totally agree. No class system on Azamara. If you are staying in a suite you can eat a sit down breakfast in Aqualina specialty restaurant, but it's nice and low key. No "we're eating in Luminae" as happens on Celebrity. Azamara is a different experience and for me more honest. Whether one prefers that is down to the individual. Phil

And this has been bubbling away for ages. Venice have been talking about it for years, but they finally got there act together. Not least because of events like this, San Basilio pier. Phil

I'm not surprised. A wordy canned response that doesn't address the issue raised or make it right just makes it worse, but I have to say it doesn't surprise me. Once you walk off that ship, resolution is in the lap of the Gods. Fortunately I haven't had an experience like this. If I was in your situation I think I'd just take a deep breath and put it down to experience and vote with my feet in future. Incidentally, the most I spent on an excursion was £850. An overnight in Jordan visiting Petra amongst others. Overpriced? Sure it was. I could have arranged the same tour privately for £450. But it still remains the best tour I have ever done and that's the lasting memory. Yours, unfortunately is the opposite. Phil