marinaro44

3 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

Did you know that EVERY Drive-through ATM in America has complete instructions in braille?

Why buy braille ATMs for people driving cars, when they don’t need that function?

It may be possible that the driver is an Uber and is taking a blind passenger, or it's a teen taking a blind grandmother.

3 hours ago, ECCruise said:

Our first 5 times on Oceania we found them spectacular.  The food (of course), the service, the whole experience.  Cruise #6, in Alaska, started showing "stress cracks" for lack of better words.  Service not as crisp, food still good but not outstanding.

 

Cruise #7 was the Amazon one.  Service cold and frankly, almost surly in some cases. Nothing even remotely like Azamara.  No contact with senior officers at all.  And the snob factor, with many pax, was at Force 10.  It was all about how many "O" sailings you had been on, what cabin level, where you lived, etc.  Left us cold.

Sounds like our Regent experiences.

31 minutes ago, Xcelsior said:

I know originally you were supposed to get priority for bids based on status, but do we know if they are still doing that?  

What I recall is that in the case of equal bids, loyalty level would break the tie.  Worth a buck...or maybe even a cent.

1 hour ago, blag said:

Agreed, the location is good. We've had both 8056 and 8066 in the past and not been bothered by the low rumble.

Interesting that it apparently affects that particular suite.  We always want a bow-facing bed, so maybe we've never done 8060 or its Onward equivalent.

2 hours ago, blag said:

Cabin Number 8060

Ship Journey

Month/Year sailed April 2024

Would you choose this room again N

Is noise an issue Y

This a noisy part of the ship. There is exhaust or some kind of mechanical plant causing vibration and continuous low rumbling noise across the corridor from this suite. The aircon was turned up to create additional masking white noise.

We stay in 8056-8066 on every Azamara cruise.  I hear that noise in the hallway but have never heard it in the suite.  Best location for a CC suite, in my opinion:  walk-in shower, low traffic, carpeting overhead, minimal motion, easy access to dining venues, Mosaic and guest relations.

Will be in one of these suites for 55 days by the end of the year.

1 hour ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Aft view is my first go to cabin/suite if available. 

 

RE: Regent

I must have been on the three wrong ships.  I didn't meet any entitled, stuffy passengers and my service was efficient and personable. Even from the Compass Rose hostess on the first sailing who I ran into on our third one after she was promoted because she was so good at service.

 

Sometimes people put out vibes that cause staff to be impersonal as if that's what is expected of them.

If you are referring to me with that last statement, I will tell you that my wife and I have always been treated personally and warmly on our 48 Azamara cruises and 10 Windstar cruises, by stateroom stewards up to captains.  We treat them all as friends, and want to be treated the same by them.

My favorite example of a stuffy, smug Regent passenger was the response he gave when I asked why he cruises on Regent:  "I can afford Regent.  Why would I cruise with anyone else?"  That said, I'm pleased that you found Regent to your liking.

If music isn't 'live,' I'd prefer not to have it.  And I don't want it 'live' on the pool deck, especially during lunch at the Patio.

When I wrote to Azamara to ask about air, they sent this response:

Good morning,

Thank you for getting in touch.

Yes, we do provide flights through Azamara. Please give our US Customer Service Team a call on 001-833-292-2292 and they can assist you with arranging this.

Don't know if this still the case.

1 hour ago, tgg said:

We also have no interest in ordering lobster on a ship. I'm guessing that anyone who enjoys fresh Maine lobster knows that lobster that has been frozen will never taste as good. Maybe people just enjoy the idea of lobster. 😉

Bingo, Toni.  Not sure if it's really homarus americanus or homarus gammarus, anyway.  Tails always seem small on cruise ships.

1 hour ago, BrendaJ said:

I can’t even imagine what the announcement might be, unless it is to announce a new Azamara Circle level between Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Platinum. That might make a few people happy.

Need a new level above Platinum.

43 minutes ago, Mrs.Dukes said:

We’re on the Best of the Med cruise on Pursuit this July. For a while, there has been an AzAmazing evening on the schedule for our night in Koper, “Choir Perfomance at Tito Square.”. I signed up for this a while ago. Today while looking at shore excursions, I noticed there is a different AzAmazing evening scheduled at the same time in addition (“Viennese Waltz and White Horses.”) Anyone ever have this happen where there were 2 different events?

Interesting.  Lipica, Slovenia, near Koper, is home of an important stud farm for the Lipizzaner white horses.

On 3/28/2024 at 7:01 AM, uktog said:

I think everyone understands that. The problem arises when the reasons given are incorrect and inconsistent. It’s the same as answers on wines in packages- discontinued, not available, still in the stockroom, will be here tomorrow- had all of these within 4 hours on the same cruise! 

Yes, I understand that because you've said it here often.  My point was that it applies to a lot of events, not just the rice table.  Everyone may not understand that.

Some events just don't happen on every cruise:  fruhschoppen and dim sum brunch are two of our favorites.  Can't do everything on every cruise.

11 hours ago, aliaschief said:

That he is. 

Lovely person, too.

19 minutes ago, MomC said:

Since I am traveling solo for the first time, I have not booked a Club Continent Suite—thus, I will have to pay to eat in one.  When my husband was alive, we were in a suite; thus we didn’t pay and that was why I didn’t remember the charge.  Do I still get house cocktails included in the price?

 

Thank you,

 

Mom C

Yes

Uh-oh...no veal chop.

1 hour ago, Juandebowwow said:

Only criticism is the archaic “wait in line / index card” specialty restaurant reservation system that has to be done when you first board the ship - a grade schooler with a laptop could bring this system into the 21st century in under an hour! Azamara please fix this !!!!!

Please don't!  Nothing more frustrating than trying to get into the Regent system at some designated late night hour, after pricier suites have already grabbed the prime slots, to claim the one reservation you're entitled to before boarding, and then having to compete, once on board, with those who bribe the maitre'd to get additional reservations.  First come, first served.  Leave things alone.

48 minutes ago, Nunfa1 said:

Thanks, the allergy is only for coconut, so easily avoided, although the amount of products with coconut oil in seems to be increasing rapidly. This brand looks ok.

Works fine for us.

Try squaremouth.com or travelinsurance.com and request quotes.

Finally posted :  New York to San Juan with an overnight in St. George's, Bermuda, October 19, seven nights

2 hours ago, Jay19 said:

So how do you feel about the Best of the Best dinner where only top suite guests are invited?

Mixed feelings, but not as public as 195 people dining on the promenade deck for all to see...and be required to stay away.  BoB done rather discreetly.

I don't begrudge the world travelers anything they're getting.  I just don't want to be onboard while they're getting it

Won't go on a cruise where some are kept on the outside looking in.  Really dislike separate breakfast room for suite passengers, even though we're usually in one.  Just rubs me wrong.

"Tomorrow a special dinner for World Voyagers. Meet for cocktails in Cabaret Lounge followed by dinner on the Promenade under the lifeboats."

This is why I want no part of any world voyage.

29 minutes ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

On lines that don't include the gratuity, a portion goes to the "unseen backroom people". In over 50 years of cruising, I have come across several issues of how these general funds are distributed.

If gratuities are NOT included, a portion of what goes to the unseen backroom people?  And what are these "several issues?"

Increased tipping has become a way of life since Covid.  Gratuities are included in your fare.  Still prefer the crew fund for recognizing the crew.  Thanks entire crew, not just the visible ones.