excitedofharpenden

Unsure where I criticized Host Andy and his hard work? Which we're all obviously very grateful for? I certainly didn't mean to. I was merely echoing the concern many felt when the first drawings of the CC suite bathrooms came out. We were all hoping that there would be some counter space and some place to store our toiletries, and the talk then was that it was just artist renderings, etc., but it seems it's just the same. Just an observation, that's all.

 

Obviously the ship is stunning, and I'm anxious to see Quest, as we'll be on her a couple of weeks after her dry dock in a Club Continent Suite. I promise to only be effusive in my praise from now on. :D

I don't think I ever saw renderings of the Club Continent suite which showed a lot of counter space or cupboards. It's always looked open plan. I think it will be a case of seeing how it is. Personally providing things like toothbrushes can be kept away from surfaces that are cleaned like the sink area I prefer open plan to cabinets which can be fiddly to use and attract dirt in them.

Phil

Having looked at the new itinerary for 29 August on Azamara's web site it looks as though the visit to Paros has been changed to Patmos, which I believe is a different island.

Indeed they are. Both nice. Went to Patmos last year and had a very nice beach day.

Phil

That's good to hear as I have the same concern as the OP. So does everyone have to wait until they board to book speciality restaurants?

Yes, but there is also usually a desk set up just after check in. I have seen a bit of talk on the board recently about booking the Specialties and possibly not getting in. Honestly, in all my Azamara cruises in suite and non-suite cabins I've never had an issue getting into either Prime C or Aqualina. You might need to be a little flexible on time and give a little notice, but the Maitre d's will always do what they can to accommodate you. It's really not a problem. Well it's never been for me.

Phil

Hi Zouave,

 

I'm going to try my very best to post photos. At the very least, I will try to check out the Spa Suites. Only 1 concern.... I presume that guests may be booked in them, so I'm unsure how available they will be for viewing/photos etc. I'm putting this on my list for Day 1, but we already have the Meet and Mingle at 6 pm, so it's going to be a *very* hectic day. Hopefully, something can be worked out, so that I can take photos of the Spa Suite.

Just enjoy your cruise Andy!;). There'll be lots of pics coming out I'm sure.

Phil

And I bet Heike has her Marigold Gloves on and is helping with the dusting Phil!

Lol. I think you are probably right Lottie!

I was so excited to wake up and enjoy all these new photos with my morning coffee (and the US East Coast blizzard outside - well, we're south of the "blizzard" but it IS snowing outside!)

 

I don't love all the carpeting, but I am enjoying the colors more than I thought I would when I saw the renderings. The beige & grey & greiges are very soothing!

Keep safe in the blizzard to y'all in its path. I'm sure there are quite a few struggling to get to their cruises.

Phil

My thoughts too! It has to be though ....because Host Andy is on the next cruise in three days and they wouldn't let him down. :)

 

Thanks to all for these incredible pictures of Journey's transformation and I'm now looking forward to some pictures of the finished product.

 

Hope you have a great cruise Andy.

They've got the furniture onboard, the carpets are pretty well down and most of the tiling and flooring around the ship seems to have been done so I think it will start to take on the new look at a pace now. Extra contractors brought on to get the work done.

Phil

Infrared Heating Lamps installed on Sunset Veranda and the Patio :

 

I'm really pleased to see these!

Phil

New Chairs for Discoveries Dining Room :

(Looks like there will be more than 1 style of chair)

 

From the renderings seen I think those will be for the round table in the middle of the upper tier of Discoveries used amongst other things as the Captain's Table.

Phil

Thanks for the feedback on this - in answer to the comment I would be grateful if you could feedback to management, no I have never ever entered a service area, the memo was lying openly on the counter by the juice bar in Windows Café. I am not happy at the public posting of this inference that I have been anywhere in the ship I should not have been. I am also unhappy that management would even think I would do that and pass that comment to you.

I can understand the circumstances surrounding Australia and their strict food hygiene rules, but knowing you Ann accessing crew areas is something you'd never do. It's a very odd response to your highlighting of the issue.

Phil

If that's true, than the 400/600 number I quoted from page 1 of this thread is incorrect.

 

Either way, it's a lot of people, doing a lot of work....

I understand that they have increased the number of contractors from that originally planned.

Phil

Looks good, doesn't it Andy? I think out if all the areas of the ship it's The Patio I'm most looking forward to seeing. The ceiling around the covered areas of the pool deck looks so much better.

Phil

 

I did find the Meet & Mingle, thank you so much! I was only person #5 to sign up for it, so hopefully 20 more people will find it.

You'll probably get to 25, but don't worry if you don't. In spite of what the Meet and Mingle email says Azamara hold one regardless of the number registered. If you don't reach the magic 25 prior to the cruise and you get an email saying it's been "denied" you can disregard it. Time of meeting if you don't get an invite in your cabin is shown in the Daily Pursuits paper.

Phil

As Ann says you will hear rehearsals when they have them. They tended to be afternoon on the cruise I was on, but it never lasted that long. It didn't really bother me.

Phil

I just got back from my worst cruise ever on a huge, glitzy, modern ship.

 

I am so happy to see these pics of Journey and her amazing transformation and I can't wait to be back on an Azamara ship very soon.

Sorry you had a bad cruise Lottie. Costa? The transformation is looking really great. I'm particularly interested to see how The Patio (pool grill area) and poolside will look with the new ceiling and fans installed. I think it will be a very nice area of the ship.

Phil

True, but other cruise lines seem to be able to duplicate the Azamara Norwegian Fjords itineraries

Only the smaller ships, not Celebrity. I've done a Norwegian Fjords cruise on Celebrity and one on Azamara. Chalk and cheese.

Phil

On the other hand, Celebrity has improved their offerings at the Suite level and may start poaching Azamara customers if reports like this one continue. We just upgraded our Greek Isles cruise this summer to a Sky Suite, and the cost per day is less than our Veranda on Quest even though we booked under the super BOGOHO offer. We get the Luminae suites restaurant, premium beverage packages, unlimited internet, a butler, a concierge in Michael's Club -- plus the wider range of entertainment. A suite on Celebrity M-class may be a better value than Azamara -- who'd a thunk it? I'll be sure to do a comparative report in August.

Value is in the eye of the beholder of course, but I don't think you have been on an Azamara ship yet, so with respect I'm not quite sure how you can compare. I've been on Azamara quite a few times and I have also experienced the suite offerings including Luminae on Celebrity and they really are very different. The suite experience is nice and Luminae good, but you still share the ship with 2000 or 3000 other guests. Then of course the likes of Constellation or Solstice can't take you to the same places as an Azamara ship. Best to experience it for yourself.

I'll be on Celebrity again in October and looking forward to the experience. I know I will hanker for a smaller ship though and the price difference for me sin't that far distant. In fact on a number of sailings Azamara comes out cheaper. They charge for those suites, especially now that it includes Michael's Club.

Phil

Ann, it's good to read your comments because you are always fair and balanced. I'm sorry there were a few shortcomings on your cruise. My recollection of talking to Exec Chef Fabio about the Aqualina menus going back to one was they had received feedback from guests saying that each of the two menus had a cut up version of the favourites (some on one, some on the other) and they'd decided to go back to the one all encompassing menu with a couple of changes. Personally I preferred it like that and we had really good meals in Aqualina.

Sometimes there is just something "off" on a cruise. Not sure why. Perhaps yours was one of them and they were finding their feet in Australia, although the report you gave of the Azamazing events would suggest they are fine. Let's hope for a good time in April on Journey. I've spent a lot of my cruising time on that ship recently and it hasn't disappointed.

Phil

There are rolling racks for your hanging clothes and the rest can be transported in the suitcase(s). Your cabin attendant will help you here and transport it down to your new cabin. They will have a note that you are a b2b guest in a different stateroom and your new cabin will be made up ready early. My experience has been vacating the old room at 8.30 and being able to go to the new room by 9.30 and it was ready and my clothes in situ. You probably already know, but as a b2b guest you can also order room service breakfast on the last night.

Phil

Fire watch team. Some familiar faces!

Phil

Phil,

That's for the UK. Isn't there a link for the U.S?

Top right hand corner change the flag to US, but I believe they feed into the same place.

Phil

How do I do that?

I usually have my TA put no upgrade on my reservation. I remember Deirdre being upgraded to one of those forward VX cabins....she was not happy.

Register here:

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/le-club-voyage/offers/stateroom-upgrade

If you book any veranda cabin and are lucky to score the upgrade you'll get a suite. If you are in say a V3, V2 or V1 you wouldn't go to a VX, you'd get an N1 or N2.

Phil

They're booked. It's okay...happy with our location on deck 7, portside. :D

We've been in that stateroom before and it has good access to the laundry room without being too close to it.

We have a VX booked for 2017. I could never justify the price for a suite on a port intensive cruise.....besides the fact, I'm somewhat tight fisted....lol

You could always register for the LCV upgrade.

Phil

Perfect...now I can see the location. Wonder if there's any chance the showers in the new rooms will have doors rather than curtains.

Will these rooms be noisey because of the location?

I'd definitely take port side as starboard you are under the gym. Hard to say if it will be noisy in these new cabins, but I'd play it safe. Not sure about the shower. I'd guess curtains still.

Phil

I looked at the deck plans and couldn't figure out the new cabins. Do you happen to know the room numbers? I can change to a V1 with no extra charge for our August cruise if I choose to.

Here you go Nancy. 8800, 8801, 8802, 8803.

Phil

That's one of the best marketing schemes of the industry and the number of people that bought into it is amazing. Yes, they stopped charging you the fixed service fee of $2.50 or whatever it was per transaction, but they simply billed it into their mark-ups on the exchange rates and didn't lose a penny. You're not worse of, just not better of either. You just think you are and that was the plan :)

And I've bought into the Avios collection routine. I know I get a really bad rate, made worse by the fact that unlike Virgin, BA doesn't offer a Visa alternative, just Amex. I need to rethink my strategy here I feel.

Phil