harbourside

Is seafood a rare treat on Azamara.  I look forward to having Lobster, scallops, prawns, etc on a cruise.  My favourite is the crab served on Viking buffet every evening. My husband does not eat crustaceans, so could not care less if unavailable .  

2 hours ago, Ibis said:

C. We asked to taste the included sparkling wines and found them both, one from Germany and one from California to be sweet and for us, undrinkable.

I have only ever been offered red or white wine as the included wine  (except welcome drink and captains evenings which was sparkling).  Should also offer Rose as included.

33 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

It does and they do. I can only remember two, though there were more-sautéed spinach with garlic and Parmesan (very tasty-better IMHO than the creamed version), and grilled veggies. Mike seems to recall, Rosemary potatoes and a salad with walnuts and gorgonzola. 

Thanks.  Sides sound like a step up.  Hope we have this menu in January .Australian Circumnaviagion 32 days. Also, hope the hamburgers have reverted back to the ones you had, and not the cardboard discs others have complained about.

What I was trying to find out if the #5 menu also others sides and if they differ from previous menu versions.

12 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

It’s an Italian restaurant. Take a look at the menu Clay posted in #1.

I have.  Not listed.  Previous Mandredi's menus have always had a selection of vegetable sides.

21 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Enjoyed the new (at least to us) Menu at Manfredi’s last night.  The asparagus appetizer is delicious as was the vitello tonato.   The steak while not as thick as in the before times is better than the very thin ones we had just two weeks ago on the previous menu.  The osso bucco is still very tasty though the portion seems smaller which is ok with us as it always was a bit overwhelming before. Friends have said the lasagna isn’t as good as the previous version-may try that next week when we go back.  The Carmelo dessert is tasty but VERY sweet-they pour the caramel sauce at the table so will probably try it without next time. The Millefolgie was light and tasty. 

Do they still have a selection of side dishes, potatoes,vegetables ????

On 3/5/2024 at 10:46 PM, KiwiClaire said:

I have to agree about the burgers on Star. I don’t often eat burgers but I loved the thick juicy pool grill burgers on the 5 previous ocean cruises we’ve done, so the day after we set sail on the 14 Feb cruise we went to the Pool Grill in high anticipation. The thin burger was like cardboard, I didn’t bother eating it. So disappointing. The cheesesteak sandwich however, was delicious! The tuna was good. It was a shame the pulled pork sandwich wasn’t on the menu. 

Is this the new normal for burgers.  No more thick juicy burgers.  Looked forward to having a burger.  Why dumb down the burgers.  With the new price increases, food should be improving, not getting worse.

Another backwards step.  Thanks .

Is it possible to see cabin availability on website.  This function no longer seems to be

available or I cannot find it.

How does this work .  It says up to $1000 per cabin.  I have done a dummy booking and it does not show. 

I presume only the higher suites get this.  No OBC for just Veranda cabins. No information of a sliding scale for cabins.

How does this work.  Are the prices on the website the new reduced prices?????

Maybe there should be some sort of quality control if the food is only superior on World cruises, where they get the best chefs.   Should apply to all cruises.   Head or Executive chefs should be trained to set the required standard, as the food is now a hit or miss in the Restaurant on some cruises.  My first cruise was good, second was not great, my 3rd is a 32 day Circumnavigation of Australia .  For the high price of this cruise, I am hoping for improvement.  This cruise is not sold in segments and at the moment is a one off.   I am a Viking fan, but have not got my head buried in the sand.  Oceania, Seabourn are now very competitive, when everything taken into consideration.

I have heard that you cannot share drinks. eg. Cannot share with wife.  Is this true.  Sounds a bit weird.  

3 hours ago, zalusky said:

Except very few do the full circumnavigation.  Princess and Oceania are among the few that do the southern route.

Viking Oceans is doing 32 day circumnavigation in January 2025 for the first time.  Have booked for this trip. 

This tour is on our Jan 2025 32 day Circumnavigation of Australia. 

It looks a welcome change from the bus tours.

Just checked my cruises for 2025 and for a DV6 cabin it has gone up $6200.00 per person. Australian dollars.

This is a 32 day trip Circumnavigation of Australia. Just as well I booked on board our last cruise. 

Is Viking pricing itself into Luxury lines territory (Seabourn, Silverseas ), and it will compare badly with Oceania, which is now offering included wine and beer  with lunch and dinner, and offering a excursion credit.  A large number of wines are available, not the 1 red and 1 white with Viking.  From what I have read, Oceania food is far better. 

My last cruise with Viking, the food in the MDR was lacking.  I am hoping for better things with my next cruise, and for people paying the new price, they should expect a lot, lot more.

Are the cooking classes free, or is there a charge.

Our prices in New Zealand and Australia include all Gratuities.  I have read that  drinks have 20% charge added to them.

So, in fact, we still have to pay extra gratuities.  A bit misleading.

5 hours ago, Twitchly said:

Raisin buns! So hard to find these. DH is always on the lookout. If you try them, please let us know what you think!

Had them on my last cruise.  Looked lovely but were very cold and tasted stale.  My husbands almond pastry also was stale.  Maybe warming them would have helped.  Definitely not fresh.  Disappointed as they looked so good.

Had the wall bump in DV3046 but not in DV3038.  Next cabin DV3041????

Had the "bump" in DV3046 but not in DV3038.   Next cabin DV3041 ???

On 6/30/2023 at 7:58 AM, Escaper said:

C

 

 

Hawaii to Australia would be lovely, too.

Would love to do Hawaii to Australia or New Zealand.  May happen.  Always asked why they did not do a Circle Australia tour, and now in 2025 they will do one.  Already booked.  

Now $1000.00 Aust. per person. Non refundable.  I have always only paid $500.00 but this had gone  up when I booked my last cruise.  I did query it, but this is now the new norm.

15 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Happy to hear you liked your cabin location.  That is the cabin we will be in for 45 days (a S2S Venus and Orion).   We are circumnavigating Australia, and then NZ...will most likely get some "motion of the ocean".    Hopefully not to bad.  🤞

Will be joining you on the Venus for the Circumnavigation of Australia.

13 hours ago, SteelCity Cruiser said:

We were on the Sydney to Auckland cruise in January/February and the Tasman Sea was very bumpy.  And then we also had the life-experience of cruising up the west coast of New Zealand behind the cyclone (we missed 2 ports due to the storm).  So, if you see the crew stacking the furniture and strapping it down on the Aquavit, be forewarned you're in for some rockin' and rollin'.

 

 

We were on the Sydney to Auckland Cruise Feb 2023 and it was flat.  I was expecting the worst as the crossing is notorious for a bumpy ride and could not believe how calm it was.