excitedofharpenden

Just onboard Journey. Guest count is 530 apparently. As of last night Greece port no longer requires a negative Covid test prior to boarding. It's great to be back at last. Phil Ps. Like a turd that won't flush😀

I think you have the answer! Phil

To me this is a huge downgrade shown in the importance of the Cruise Critic meet and greet. To have it hosted by the Assistant Cruise Director. And just another on the list of "you need to arrange this". Big mistake. Perhaps Riocca's observations are correct. Such a pity. Phil

Apologies. I missed that post. I still think you are being unfair. You have suggested it's an Azamara money making scheme. It's not. They have to abide by local rules. I was hoping they'd do away with this requirement by the time we sail. Not much time left now so will just have to get on with. Given what's gone on and the mess covid has made of my cruise plans, it's inconsequential. Safe travels to Athens. Phil

Sorry, but you are being unfair. I note you aren't actually doing an Azamara cruisre. I am. Leave out of Athens on Saturday. I'm going to quote exactly what Azamara told me on their original email. They have given options. Up to the individual what they do. For those countries that still require guests to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding, please consider the following instructions: Test results must be one of the following tests, administered at a testing laboratory or a licensed testing site: PCR: Test date no older than 3 days prior to embarkation Antigen: Test date must be within one day of embarkation Antigen COVID-19 testing is available for $59 USD in the terminal or on the boarding deck. Boarding will be denied to those guests who cannot provide a negative COVID-19 test. Pretty clear to me you don't need the Azamara test if you can do your own and meet the criteria. Where are they trying to make a quick buck? Phil

That's great. Glad you finally got it back 👍 Phil

The Azamara Team are out there! Phil

Thank you! I'll give that a try next time. Phil

That's interesting. I rang at 11.30. Was that the existing reservations, options 3 1 3? Phil

I did get them. When I spoke to Nicole at Azamara on the phone (who was very helpful, polite and apologetic of the wait as they all have been) she looked at the original documents and said that both the first and last pages, the cruise details and luggage tags had been omitted. I think they've just picked up the wrong detail on your first page. Mine are correct, as is my label. I also advised Nicole of my wait time and once again apologised and said they'd had some staffing issues and this was being addressed. Riocca seems to confirm this. Lets hope! It seems I'm not alone. I've probably spent four hours on the phone over the past three months using FCCs and more this luggage tag issue. @uktog, a nice Atlas Bar menu cocktail if I don't buy the Ultimate Package will do just fine🙂 Phil

Because I book direct at the moment there have been occasions when I've needed to call direct to Azamara.Today I waited for an hour and forty minutes on hold waiting to get through to request luggage tags for my cruise (there is an error on the Journey 24th September sailing and they have messed up the documents). To me this as a self booker is not acceptable. And it's got worse over time. I'd be interested to hear from others, particularly if your are a travel agent. Do you have a specially resourced conduit? I don't want to start a discussion on the benefits of using a travel agent.or not, just what others have experienced. Phil

I agree. It's nice to have the choice and be comfy. I will always take a nice sports jacket and smart shirts for an evening or two and enjoy the flexibility. I don't miss the tux at all. Phil

I think you can say that about the reviews in general on CC. I avoid them. TMI can be a bad thing. I've been on ships that would have you believe you were going on a garbage scow if you read some of the reviews! I think you need to ignore the really glowing ones and the very negative and the truth falls somewhere in the middle, acknowledging everyone sees things differently. Added to that is the sample size and recent reviews. Onward hasn't been operating for long. Only way to be sure is to see for yourself and go there to enjoy. I've never been disappointed with the Azamara product. Phil

This one of the notable anomalies with the Azamara ships as they have been "adopted". It's really a case of small, bigger, biggest as far as shade at the Pool Bar. Journey has none, Quest a little more and Pursuit has a good size awning. As Odd has observed, the attempt to provide shade on Journey has some limitations. And whatever is done on that ship it can't stop the direct sun hitting if you are stood at the Pool Bar itself. Pursuit was so much better, but it's quite a structure. Phil

Same here. Phil

Absolutely. It won't give you precision finding. When I used one with a 7 it just said your tag is so many metres away, but with no direction of where it was. Phil

My understanding is that Norway is getting stricter with certain ports and the age of Azamara ships and their green credentials means they have precluded them from certain stops. Geiranger and Flåm are two. Looks like Longyearbyan is another casualty. Phil

I got it👍 Phil

Actually It was more directed at harrodsfan who described them as tiny. I do take your point about confinement, but wanted to mention that too as to how I feel. I didn't want anyone new to Azamara being put off by the "tiny" comment. They are the same size as a veranda, but obviously smaller than a suite. Not everyone stays in a suite though. That poses a question of anyone who has been in a suite and then confined on deck 4. Does your butler still operate for you? Phil

I would like to comment that some of us often stay in the deck 4 outside cabins that have also been used for quarantine. I've spent more than 40 days in one on a series of back to backs and have sometimes been confined. It's never nice to have to do this, no matter what cabin you are in, but the deck 4 OVs aren't "tiny". Admittedly if you are in a suite then it's a bit of a come down, but for me it would be doable. Phil

I'd agree. The mosaics are stunning. Just like a painting from a distance. Phil

I'm getting off Journey on the day you get on and staying the night in Ravenna before getting on Quest on the 7th. We are sharing a few ports with you on that cruise. Perhaps we can at least meet for a drink in one of them. Would be good to put a face to the name. I think you are overnighting in Ravenna at the start too. Phil

I just got a new iPhone 12 which gives a more accurate Airtag location using Precision Finding. I think I have just discovered how to pass the time away when I'm at the airport!🙂 Phil

I really hope to be proved wrong, but my experience has been just as you think it's safe to go back in the water........ Phil

The Chef Experience is a shore excursion you pay for. Typically you will go to a local market with the Executive Chef and other galley crew in attendance. You go back to the ship and he or she will cook something for you using the ingredients. The B o B dinner is more of a formal occasion in the Drawing Room stsrting off with drinks and canapes and moving on to dinner with paired wines. It's served by some of the butlers and waiters and the Head Sommelier pops in too. You are sat at a large 20 odd seater table and four of the senior officers attend too. As has been said, the Executive Chef is given free reign to practice their skills. No two B o Bs are the same food. Phil