marinaro44

20 minutes ago, lisiamc said:

As others have mentioned, it is very location-dependent. We were lucky enough to have been upgraded to Onward 8056. 

We just left 8056 yesterday.  No issue.

8056 was quiet.  I'd think most of the CC suites aft of the rear elevator would be.

1 hour ago, Ajbike said:

Good Afternoon All,

 

We are booking the suitesIntensive, sailing on the Pursuit in October. Our TA got us a great deal on a Club Continent suite, but as as I was checking out availability I noticed they are all on Deck 8 , below the pool deck. Has anyone had experience with these, how is the noise level into the room?

 

Thanks,

8056 was quiet for 24 nights.  Aft of the rear elevator they are generally quiet.

1 hour ago, D. B. said:

I just called Azamara yesterday and was told that Azamara would no longer equal our Celebrity Captains Club Elite+ perks after February 1,2023 because of the change of ownership.

If you've never cruised Azamara, that's true.

36 minutes ago, nordski said:

In the general guidelines for this board there is a request for a broad tolerance of grammatical errors given the very differing backgrounds of people who post here.

If one has ceased to benefit from some poster’s efforts I believe that there is a blocking function that should help alleviate frustrations.

Thank you for posting this.

13 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

Yikes! I checked the safety bar. The corners are super sharp. Might have to pad with wash cloths.

Handle to open shower door has sharp corners, too.

2 hours ago, kml246 said:

Took our first Azamara cruise on Onward last month. Ate in specialties mostly. I wore dress pants and a long sleeve buttoned dress shirt each time and my wife wore a dress each night. There was a variety of dress, some men wearing jackets, but most were dressed country club casual, pants and a collared shirt. Women wore a variety of styles including slacks and tops. There were a few people that, IMO, violated the dress code. There were some t-shirts and dungaree type blue jeans. Didn't let it bother us.

Blue jeans are allowed if not distressed.  T-shirts, no.

33 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

How many and what international nights are there?

Read my posting above.  India tonight.  Arabia, also, on an earlier night.

Sometimes they are able to schedule additional Tables, depending on length of cruise and size of demand.

Just went to Cartagena.  Needed to either be fully vaccinated or recently tested.

1 hour ago, tmacktravels said:

I have recently referred a couple  to Azamara. If they haven’t cruised with Azamara before they will get $150 OBC and those referring get $300 towards a future cruise. From my own perspective, I only did it as they are friends and they were very interested in the cruises I had done with Azamara. 

That's what the program is for, not for shopping on-line for a referral after you've already decided to book.

Something done because of Covid.  Now back to buffets.  We've had Italy, Germany, Britain, Greece, Mexico and others on Onward this month.  Enjoy.

49 minutes ago, boxman52 said:

People seem to take it as an absolute extreme. Either silence, bean bag/bridge tossing as the main afternoon event or bellyflop competitions and a zoo around the pool

Something in the middle that caters for all should be found. Day before yesterday on a sea day the band played at the pool for 45 mins. The atmosphere lifted. I'd suggest they should have come back a couple of hours later.

Currently and Azamara don't advertise as a "silent" cruise, the balance isn't correct in my view. This cruise is advertised as a holiday cruise so you'd expect to have something a little more then long hours of nothing 

Another example of the "lazy" approach to the entertainment is the slides of the lecturers. They must be 25 years old. Anyone who does presentations for a living would be embarrassed to show them

The ship since we were on in August has improved in many ways. The staff and food are excellent.

A number of people have remarked & used the word "boring"

At the end of the day it's up to the cruise line

As an aside I've been on many different lines & go back on the Onward in March.

This is, again, a perfect example of a difference in opinion.  And I just spent time with a senior officer pointing out a number of issues that should be fixed, so I am not a pollyanna.

I very much dislike the loud music the contracted outside band plays by the pool.  We've avoided lunch at the Patio because the loud music at 12:30 is so intrusive and, to us, not in the least entertaining.  The last thing I want is to have them return later to play again.

And the Cabaret has been packed for the talks from the former U.S. intelligence officer, with more questions than the 50 minute time slot can accommodate.

On port days the day is not packed with on-board activities.  Azamara's a destination cruise line.  On sea days, it has plenty.  Whether these appeal to someone is, once again, a matter of personal preference.  If someone doesn't like trivia, doesn't play bridge or mah Jongg, dislikes deck games, has no interest in art lessons, etc., and wants more than two enrichment lectures and a Q&A session with a senior officer or two during the day, it may come down to sitting in a deck chair and having a good read with a tea or coffee.  The stollen is also delicious, by the way, as is the panettone.

Let me be clear:  I am not saying boxman's opinion is wrong, but expressing a "counter view."  [Love that description.]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

But I do like to focus on sharing facts and if appropriate counter views.

And sharing "appropriate counter views" is exactly what has happened on this thread.  No one who was not on the protester's cruise can say her opinion of that cruise was wrong, and no one has, contrary to Hamrag's accusation.  Or that her preferences for entertainment or pool deck atmosphere are wrong.

What others have posted is that their experiences have been different, and that their preferences are different.  They have every right to do this.  In fact, it's important that they do this, so that people reading this thread don't walk away with only the negative point of view based solely on one person's experience.

If someone posts that, say, food in a cruise line's main restaurant is subpar, and others follow with postings that their experiences in that cruise line's main dining rooms have been different, that the food has been fine, that isn't "backlash."  That's expressing a different opinion on the same subject, for the benefit of other readers of that thread.

A special treat at 5 in the Cabaret today when 16-year-old Alex Cameron played the complete Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with recorded orchestra.  Heifetz/Reiner?  No.  But never expected to hear it on a cruise ship.  Very nice, indeed.

2 hours ago, lisiamc said:

Yes, it seems to be a bit fragile at the moment. I had pretty good luck with it for a while yesterday afternoon - enough to do my Duolingo, anyway! I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they’re awaiting delivery of a replacement part or something.

Wifi is good when it's on but long periods with "no internet."  And no explanation.

Seems to me there'd be even less activity in a casino on a "cultural" itinerary than on a "Caribbean" type.  Two nights ago on Onward The Den was packed---couldn't find a seat--when the Cameron Family performed, and last night it was crowded for a guitarist and then again later at ten for Tony and Christine.

2 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Once onboard, the MDR menus for the entire cruise will be available on your cabin tv 

Onward doesn't seem to have this.

18 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

DH and I were on the Onward Eastern Caribbean from December 12-23.  When we arrived, there were several bottles of alcohol and multiple bottles of water in our cabin.  There was also a small sign delineating  prices for various beverages.  Most of the prices did not match the types/sizes of the bottles we received.  Being first time cruisers, we were confused, so we asked Customer Service and were told that all of the alcohol in our cabin was extra price.  We were in a Veranda cabin and did not have the Ultimate Beverage package.  Does that explain why we would have been charged extra for the alcohol in our cabin and others who have posted here apparently were not ?  I just found the answer to my question in the spreadsheet.  It's "yes"

.

Here's another question for you more experienced Azamara cruisers:  We have booked a "Club Continent Suite" for our next voyage.  Under "Complimentary Features" on Azamara's website, it lists "Complimentary specialty dining", but doesn't say how many.  Is there a limit to the number of times this benefit can be used?

No limit.  But reservations are first come, first served, for everyone on board.

11 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Another thread just reminded me:  in addition to the piano bar, Azamara has used the former Casino space to put in a special Travel Guide Library with every travel book I am aware of – every series, every country of the world!  This was on Journey, so I can't speak to all the ships.  It is right near the Shore Excursions Desk, on a series of low bookshelves that most people [speaking personally] miss.  Another great use of a space that I used to avoid...

It's also on Onward and Quest.  Haven't been on Pursuit lately.

4 hours ago, dabear said:

Wow, I am surprised that some of these posters are suggesting that I try another line with a casino if it's a deal breaker. Where did I ever say that !. 

That's why that posting clearly said "IF."

Posting 12, on the other hand, made clear it was a deal-breaker.

On 12/21/2022 at 6:41 PM, marinaro44 said:

Just got seapass for Onward's 12/22 cruise with card wallet!  Grey, not black.  Bag tomorrow?  Maybe?

Yes!!  Beach bags are here!  With new Azamara logo!

2 hours ago, tgg said:

Lovely to catch up with you both again. Safe travels.

To you folks, too.  All best holiday wishes.

4 hours ago, lisiamc said:

That’s good news! (How’d you get your sea pass already? Are you on a pre-cruise extension?)

Back-to-back

On 12/12/2022 at 7:14 PM, uktog said:

The bags and card wallets and any comfortable chairs are in the mythical container in Shanghai 

Just got seapass for Onward's 12/22 cruise with card wallet!  Grey, not black.  Bag tomorrow?  Maybe?

30 minutes ago, tgg said:

I'm sailing on Onward now. I asked the spa manager, and she said your credit can be used for products. Enjoy your cruise. We disembark in the morning.

And we'll miss you!