Joe-Neth

Yes, Russ is the CD but the snap of him was unflattering and he wouldn’t thank me for posting it.

Tony Markey is CD on the new Pursuit.

 

 

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Please greet Russ and Philip for me, they will remember me.

Thank you so much for the detail Corinne. Lovely to see Philip etc in the photo and yourselves!

Have fun.

Lynne

After 15 Azamara cruises I left Azamara 5 years ago because of an issue that they did not want to solve.

Good to see Philip! He may be the nicest HD at sea.

I'm missing the CD Russ or Tony. Are they still sailing with Azamara? They were great as well.

If there is not a bridge director, there will be some party bridge, but on average you will see 2-3 tables only. Besides, a real tournament is so much nicer..... Also on the smaller ships there will be a bridge director now and then. No difference with the Marina and Riviera there. Just check in advance.

I read about the book of Audrey Grant. Very good indeed.

Normally there will be a bridge instructor on board when there are 3 (4?) or more sea days. But if you want to be sure, you should ask Oceania to confirm. When they can sell all cabins they will do so. It is all about the money. I have decided not to make such cruises anymore when a bridge director is not guaranteed. Probably you can check it at the website.

On our last TA Montreal - Southampton the bridge instructors were very good and friendly as well.

Hey Joe-Neth- Are you from the Netherlands? You and I must have too much time on our hands as my wife says, if we continue to bat this ball back and forth.

Out of the 47 cruises I have been on I have only jumped ship once in Veracruz, Mexico. You don't get money back and you don't want any, you just want off the ship.

My friend and I were on a Silversea cruise and he jumped ship in Valdez after we had gotten off in Anchorage. He still had 9 more Silversea cruises booked. Boy, did Silversea get that problem straightened out fast. It was just a mis-communication as many things are, but he left the ship and flew home out of Valdez, Alaska, not an easy thing to do on the spur of the moment.

You are smart!

If you will not sail on Azamara again, why are you continuing to follow the Azamara forum? I think you have expressed your concerns enough and seem to have nothing new to offer since you have not cruised with them for 2 years.

 

And on my last Amamara cruise, I did not have chicken for dinner even once.

Maybe they were out of chickens? :)

I agree that it was possible to escape the chickens, but then the choice was very limited. Funny that some people don't understand this without an explanation. And yes, the beef was certainly good.

If all people who don't prefer Azamara should leave here, this forum would be of no value. Only a combination of both positive and negative opinions can be interesting for new guests. They will probably not have read reviews of almost 2 years ago. Apparently you don't like critics, but isn't this site named cruise-critic? So who is the one that can better leave? :)

Indeed, my last Azamara cruise was about 2 years ago though the overall experience on the Az Quest is almost as good as on the Marina and Riviera. (definitely not the Journey, though Eric is great)

I did not leave Az because (lack) of quality, though the food on Oceania ships is much better in every way. Indeed Az has some other nice aspects, like the way they welcome you already at the gangway. Ofcourse this is just an opinion and I would never say that people who don't agree better can leave here. So happy that different opinions are tolerated at cruise critic......

However, when the head office is not honest to me, I look for an alternative which I have found. If Azamara's dishonest people would be on the ships as well, Azamara would certainly not be for me. But it's just the office.

If you are curious, just ask the CD's.

For me Az is something like a last choice now, also because the prizes have been increasing too much. I'm not interested in Azamazing events and liquors that are now included.

But you never know... maybe some day I get an offer from my TA for the Quest which I can't refuse. Then it would be nice to meet many nice crew members (who could hardly believe what happened!) on the Quest again. The people of the head office will not be on the ship, which will be great as well.

 

11 of your 25 posts have been voicing your displeasure with Azamara. Point taken and maybe you should move on and enjoy your future cruises on whichever line makes you happy:)

 

Just noticed your post above. Tks for your reply It really sounds like Az is not for you so have many happy days cruising on O:)!!

 

I only have to repeat the comment of dwtlion here (maybe you missed it):

" Once again you took the bait with your AZ can do no wrong and nothing is comparable or better. Congratulations. Objective comments or differing opinions are obviously verboten in your world. Time to go cherry pick another cc review to prove your point" .

 

I completely agree.

 

By the way: I don't think you read very carefully. I don't need to move on, for I left Azamara already 2 years ago. Indeed I will enjoy other cruiseline(s) and I hope you will enjoy Azamara's chicken and melon.

Everybody happy.

Is the food that bad in the MDR on Oceania? It seems that it is the norm for people to want to eat in the specialty restaurants every night! Or at least, get as many reservations as possible.

Maybe meant as a bit joking, but I will give a serious answer.

It's hard to say in which Oceania restaurant dinner is best. For a part a matter of tast. But where ever you go it beats Azamara easily.

For me, the Asian restaurant is a pleasant extra: it's fabulous and ofcourse completely different.

Fresh berries as was mentioned on this forum: Indeed the berries were always fresh, but the fruit selection was better in every way. Much more variation, so no more the 3 different types of melon which you see on other cruise ships, not only Azamara. If I would sail Azamara in the future (but I will not) I think I would start hating chicken, the most served meat on board.

In fact comparing the quality of the food is useless: Oceania is just a level higher.

When it's about the prize: just add up all what you have to pay for a cruise, including gratuities, drinks and maybe specialty restaurants. Then make your choice not forgetting about the quality. Should not be too difficult.

i did 12 Azamara cruises and the first 10 were great. At the last 2 (back to back) some crew members really were rude to say the least. Officers also less visible. The head office made me an offer which I accepted, but then they withdrawed, lied about it and got rude. So no more Azamara for me.

A small correction should be made: I got the offer at the ship, not from the head office. But afterwards the headoffice didn't like it and lied about it.

So, a bit difference, but with the same result.

The AzAmazing Event on Crete. When our tender arrived, the folkdancing was almost over. After some minutes we already had to move on to a so-so restaurant where we got some some food. The wine-tasting of just 1 type of wine followed and the big show ended with a probable kindergarten teacher and back on the ship fireworks during 1 minute.

"AzAmazing" will be a new word, for "amazing that it is less than nothing".

If you missed it, you had to pay a penalty! of 150! dollar.

I think Azamara just found an alibi to increase the cruise prizes.

I expect they will start a chicken extravaganza or so in the near future for it's the most served meat on board now.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

After having sailed on Azamara many times I tried Oceania last year. There was nothing wrong with the cruise but it does not compare to the Azamara experience. I sailed the Regatta, same "R" ship as Azamara's. There was no enthusiasm from any of the crew. They did their jobs well without any heart or soul. There cruise director is rarely visible. They introduce the entertainment and then disappear. They are missing that special something that you only find on Azamara!!

i did 12 Azamara cruises and the first 10 were great. At the last 2 (back to back) some crew members really were rude to say the least. Officers also less visible. The head office made me an offer which I accepted, but then they withdrawed, lied about it and got rude. So no more Azamara for me.

I did 6 Oceania cruises. The first three some years ago were so so. But the last three at the Riviera were fabulous. Crew definitely nicer than at the Azamara Journey and to be compared with the Az Quest. No silly boring Azamazing next to nothing evenings, pfffff. The food at Oceania is very much better than at Azamara. Especially if you don't like to eat chicken every day.....

Most imortant: Oceania did not betray me like Azamara did. I will miss Russ and Philip at the Quest, but CD Lesley Jon at the Riviera is great and friendly as well.

Though the Marina and Riviera are a little bigger than the R ships, I prefer them. The airco is always working, the toilets are not flooding and the enigine is fas less noisy. I can understand other people at dinner now and sleep at night.

I think sailing with Oceania I get value for money while since 2 years Azamara is much too expensive.

Most important however as Azamara HD Philip Herbert once said in an interview: The company should always be honest to its guests.

Unfortunately the Azamara head office must have missed this wise advise!

DH and I will still be dressing up. One of the highlights of the cruise for us. Bring on the bling.

Bring on the bling...??

Sounds rather primitive to me. Even more when it would be the highligts of a cruise!

I'm glad that everybody can dress as he/she wishes (ofcourse with certain limitations).

No more tuxedo, because it's monday or so.

It may be different when it's for Christmass however.

I mean there should be a reason for everything.

What I would change?

I would get rid of some people at the head office who panic when on board a Cruise Director has made a promise to a guest, which the office does not like.

Just say: We are very sorry, but we can't keep this promise.

NEVER start lying about it!

For me the change will be too late, for after 12 or 13 Azamara Cruises I will not return after this unbelievable treatment.

Ofcourse I would also stop the Azamazing next-to-nothing-shows, but this is less important than honesty.

A Disaster Cruise with the Aranui 3.

Our Dutch travel agency All Over Tours recommended this ship. But why?

Food was bad most of the time. Bread at breakfast was unedible, even when toasted. Even the water stinks and tasted like that. Rice cooked in this water? brrrrrr.................

Most people from the big group French passengers don't understand English. The result is two groups of passengers who live apart and don't like eachother to say the least....

All explanations in three languages which results in much waiting.

A very unfriendly crew, not flexible at all and to many of them are rude. They don't know the word "service" and are not interested if the passengers like their vacation.

Lectures in hard to understand English , German and French.

The English speaking guide often forgets important issues. The following day you hear them (too late) from German or French passengers..

The itinerary was systematically changed. One of the two ideal snorkel opportunities was skipped, because it toook a little more fuel to keep this Island in the schedule. It's all about the money!

The ship almost never was in time. For that reason no opportunity two have a private snorkel tour at the second snorkel Island. Disgusting!

The ship stinks (engine). At the aft deck your clothes get black spots from the funnel (soot). Nowhere inside the ship fresh air. It stinks everywhere.

Many locals on board, sleeping at the aftdeck and in rooms that should be used for cargo. Would we all fit in the (never tested) lifeboats?

Apart from the beautiful destinations a vacation to forget as soon as possible.

Maybe the ship was unsafe, because many locals also joined the ship and they had to sleep at the aft deck (open) and a storage place. Would we fit in the (never tested) lifeboats?

Bread at breakfast was horrible, even after toasting. Juice was never fresh. Meat and fish most of the time much overcooked. Most wines not good enough to make a salad with.

The ship was never in time.

The words hospitality and service are unknown.

The ship was rather clean when the travel started, but not after 13 days!

Being at the aft deck, several times our clothes got black spots, caused by the funnel.

Should I really continue?

We were glad to leave this ship in June 2014 after a vacation with wrong information, bad food, stinking and badly tasting drinking water, one of the most interesting itenararies skipped for financial reasons and an unfriendly rude crew.

June 2014 not much has changed.

But the food was really bad and the crew was unfriendly and rude. The words flexibility and hospitality are unknown.

The itinerary was changed in disfavour of the guests and the ship seemed to be unsafe. Only 1 drill for the crew and too many locals sleeping at the aftdeck and a cargo-room. Better take a ship where you are welcome. Not only your money.

Freighet to Paradise, as they call it? Forget it!

Druke,

Thanks but I guess I am too anxious to read about this Freighter Cruise and I missed my original posts hers. I will go check.....

June 2014, it was a trip to forget as soon as possible. Bad food, unlucky changes in Itinerary and a very ubfriendly and rude crew.

A Disaster Cruise with the Aranui 3.

A combination of cargo and about 165 passengers (or many more).

Our Dutch travel agency All Over Tours recommended this ship. But why?

Food was bad most of the time. Bread at breakfast was unedible, even when toasted. Even the water stinks and tasted like that. Rice cooked in this water? brrrrrr.................

Most people from the big group French passengers don't understand English. The result is two groups of passengers who live apart and don't like eachother to say the least....

All explanations in three languages which results in much waiting.

A very unfriendly crew, not flexible at all and to many of them are rude. They don't know the word "service" and are not interested if the passengers like their vacation.

Lectures in hardly to understand English , German and French.

The English speaking guide often forgets important issues. The following day you hear them (too late) from German or French passengers.

The itinerary was systematically changed. (Travelagency All Over Tours did not know).

One of the two ideal snorkel opportunities was skipped, because it toook a little more fuel to keep this Island in the schedule. It's all about the money!

The ship almost never was in time. For that reason no good opportunity to have a private snorkel tour at the second snorkel Island.

The ship stinks (engine). At the aft deck your clothes get black spots from the funnel (soot). Nowhere inside the ship fresh air. It stinks everywhere.

Many locals on board, sleeping at the aftdeck and in rooms that should be used for cargo. Would we all fit in the (never tested) lifeboats?

Apart from the beautiful destinations a vacation to forget as soon as possible.

A Disaster Cruise with the Aranui 3.

Our Dutch travel agency All Over Tours recommended this ship. But why?

Food was bad most of the time. Bread at breakfast was unedible, even when toasted. Even the water stinks and tasted like that. Rice cooked in this water? brrrrrr.................

Most people from the big group French passengers don't understand English. The result is two groups of passengers who live apart and don't like eachother to say the least....

All explanations in three languages which results in much waiting.

A very unfriendly crew, not flexible at all and to many of them are rude. They don't know the word "service" and are not interested if the passengers like their vacation.

Lectures in hard to understand English , German and French.

The English speaking guide often forgets important issues. The following day you hear them (too late) from German or French passengers..

The itinerary was systematically changed. (All Over Tours did not know).

One of the two ideal snorkel opportunities was skipped, because it toook a little more fuel to keep this Island in the schedule. It's all about the money!

The ship almost never was in time. For that reason no opportunity two have a private snorkel tour at the second snorkel Island. Disgusting!

The ship stinks (engine). At the aft deck your clothes get black spots from the funnel (soot). Nowhere inside the ship fresh air. It stinks everywhere.

Many locals on board, sleeping at the aftdeck and in rooms that should be used for cargo. Would we all fit in the (never tested) lifeboats?

Apart from the beautiful destinations a vacation to forget as soon as possible.

This is what I just sent. Use your own words, but please do let Princess know what you think.

 

to customerrelati.

Attn:

Adrian Fischer, vice president entertainment

 

 

- I believe that the decision to eliminate bridge directors drastically underestimates the fierce dedication that bridge players have for the game and thus the negative customer reactions.

- I propose a modification of the new policy whereby bridge directors are provided for cruises that have 4 or more sea days.

 

--

Kindest regards,

<your name>

I agree, but I think it is more reasonable to work with a %.

4 sea days in 1 week is much. In 3 weeks it's nothing.

For instance: There should be a Bridge Director when (e.g.) 40% or more sea days.

Reasons for not having a TD? Money!

I'm a regular duplicate bridge player at home. I won't miss having bridge directors on cruises. Even when they've had one, I've skipped out on the lessons because they're usually rudimentary and played infrequently in the organized games.

The lessons are usually rudimentary indeed. Partly because many TD's can hardly play a decent game themselves. But also because the level of many players is the level of an already-40-years-playing-beginner who never got a real good instruction and whose first goal is not to learn bridge play anymore but to be entertained.

I read here that bridge directors get a free cruise. That's not true. They pay fares from 60 dollar a day or more for an inside cabin (not the best ones; sometimes just above the engine) to the agencies or directly to the cruise lines who don't work with an agency.

Cruise companies need more money every day. They skip all what they think they can skip. Comments like "the Cruise Director's staff will continue to support passenger non-hosted bridge play onboard" are rather unfair. A CD knows very wel that non hosted bridge play atttracts far less people than a nicely organized tournament. And how will the CD organize the unhosted lessons??

Up to now, you can have dinner served in the MDR. Maybe to morrow the CD will tell us: "the Cruise Director's staff will continue to support passenger non-hosted cooking and dining onboard"

Another cruiseline does not like bridge directors to give hand outs at the bridge lessons. They say because of wasting paper and to save the climate. It does not stop them to provide you with invitations for money making bingo and "offers" about jewelry or pictures almost every day. And ofcourse a bridge player can't play bingo at the same moment. Oops.

Cruise companies have three reasons to drop attendance where they can:

1. money.

2. money.

3. money.

"If Azamara can make the shoreside team anything like their onboard team

then Azamara can justly be called Azamazing!

Hapicruisin"

It's an old problem and I don't think it will be solved.

They need competent people at the office, but when I email, I even don't get an email, or they start lying.

Not the way to keep your clients satisfied!

Since august 2013, stiil waiting for an answer of Bert van Middendorp at the office. He will be busy :)

After 12 Azamara Cruises, I will not return at the ships, before my questions are answered honestly.

About the ships and the crew.

Still good but not as it were some years ago.

Tha Azamazing evening? Less than nothing last time.

The quality of food and shows?

Not as it were before.

To day, not better than the big cruise lines.

Some of the officers like Carl Smith, Philip Herbert, Russ Grieve, Tony Markey:

still outstanding!

My experience with Oceania:

Great dinners and very bad ones occur.

Azamara more stable.

Friendliness was something unknown at our 3 Oceania cruises.

Unfortunately Azamara is going the same way this year.

Oceania has always been lying about missed ports.

Not before I showed them my picture of their broken anchor, they admitted that they lost part of it.

This happened 2 times! at 2 different ships!

Not the bad weather (it was not bad at all) but the lost anchor was the real reason to skip a port!

I made 3 Oceania Cruises. Always at least 1 port was skipped.

My experience with Azamara:

The quality of everything is decreasing and the prizes are higher.

After 12 cruises a simple email of mine (after I got incorrect information, to say it friendly) is not answered by them.

I will not retrun anymore before I get their reply!

Unfortunately it is a dishonest non communicating company