jollyjoyce

Can anyone onboard Onward please tell me if the hairdryer is the same as on the other ships ie you have to hold down the switch when using ! I hope they bought some proper ones for the new ship & then I needn’t take my own in 2 weeks. Thank you in anticipation.

She will indeed be missed by passenger and crew alike. Definitely the best hotel director we have ever met. A special human being.

Good luck to her and kudos for grabbing the next opportunity sent her way.

We just received an email from Azamara saying that Heike is leaving Azamara.

I know that lots of us regular Azamara folks love her . Personally I have the utmost respect for a lady who is by far the best hotel director we have encountered on land or sea....and she is a lovely caring human being.

I'm a bit worried about what this departure says......

I am starting this thread so folks can can comment in 1 place.

Good luck Heike and we wish you every good wish for your future whatever it holds.

We too are from UK and did this cruise on Azamara a few years ago.

You need to get your own India Visa...I found it was a little bit of a challenge filling in the form but we got there !!! Did t again a couple of years later so didn't put us off lol

We did not need to apply for Sri Lanka Visa.....I think Azamara did it.

We don't need Visas for Dubai..normally visa on arrival is available for UK... or always has been on the numerous times we have flown in !!

Go to visacentral to check as this info might be out of date now.

Have a wonderful cruise, its a fabulous itinerary.

Joyce

2 hours ago, Riocca said:

It’s on Facebook on the Azamara Reminiscing group, presumably it’s from the information sheets produced on each ship.

Lee posted them 

Hi, like everyone else it’s a while since we enjoyed the Azamara experience…. Can anyone tell us if there is still a bottle of fizz in the cabin on embarkation ? I know there always used to be …just wondering if I need to bring our own! 
On 10th July Onward cruise & really looking forward to it with a glass half full attitude.  Can’t wait to see what the Atlas Bar is really like..as we have $1000 OBC I’m sure we will sample it !

4 hours ago, eclipst said:

 

I suspect you should be complaining to your local government about about "over-regulation" (or the other side of that coin, praising local consumer protection laws). 
 

For instance, "California requires all sellers of travel to register with the Attorney General's Office and to display the registration number on all advertising."
 

Whose laws do you think should govern the sale? Your local laws? California? Montana? Malta? China? 

I am certainly NOT looking for an argument ...but...you were replying to les37b...and I have to say that I agree with him.  

We too are in the UK and we too were  given $1000 OBC , everything onboard is priced in $US, why not give us the balance in $US...its not like they are going to give is £££££ at the end of the cruise if we haven't spent the whole amount.

We haven't sailed yet and are looking forward to our 11th Azamara experience in July.

4 hours ago, margo2011 said:

Thanks for a your help ,but we never received an ATOL certificate from Azamar ?????

 

 

You should have received an ATOL certificate from your TA with the confirmation.  Check your emails that there isn't an attachment at the bottom .

On 5/26/2022 at 11:56 AM, margo2011 said:

Due to cruise on the pursuit 31st May ,but sadly my husband just tested positive for Covid .When we booked we wanted to fly from Liverpool but we’re told Azamara don’t use easy jet or Ryanair so would have to use Lufthansa at extra costs but more important two lengthy travel days with stops in Frankfurt .We booked  with the understanding it was a package covering all aspects of our holiday .

Our TA have checked with Azamara today who confirmed our flights will have to be recovered from our insurance company ,why ,our contract is with Azamara as our TA kept stating . She said their cruise with confidence only covers change of ports or cancelled flights that they would rearrange .Fuming as they also said if you have had Covid within 10 days of boarding you cannot travel with them even if you then test negative .Whilst from a safety point of view I think this is good for all passengers ,they need to let us know we have had days of anxiety thinking if we tested on Monday and were clear we could still go .

Azamara sold this as a fly cruise not a cruise only so why isn’t it a package ? Anyone know ?can I claw back costs on my credit card as they are stopping me from boarding .So not providing the service I paid for ,the flight costs are approximately a third of the total package .

I am posting this so others are aware if cancelling because of Covid they won’t be refunded from Azamara.

 

Anyway rant over just getting ready to put clothes back in the wardrobe .

I just checked our ATOL certificate….flights booked with Az..are with BA & Turkish. We are covered from the date we leave LHR until the date we get back. We too did it all through Azamara as TA said we would be covered.

Hope we don’t have to test it !! 
So sorry you are having to unpack…I would . Be gutted.

I recently put an offer in for upgrade from V1 to CC.... a weak bid !!    If we get the upgrade do we get the speciality dining and other things that go with a CC  ?

I read the small print & couldn't find the answer.

We have never put a bid in previously.

Riocca, So pleased to hear you spent time…a lot by the sound of it lol…in the Atlas Bar. After all the angst about it I find it good to know you used it regularly. I’m sure it will be a great addition to the experience.

2 hours ago, Tuscany4 said:

According to the FB group the Atlas bar has been packed this week.

I guess that would be called a win, but could be partly novelty factor. We will find out when we board tomorrow in Ravenna. Oh and apparently Covid has been rife this week with many isolating in cabins on deck 4 set aside for that purpose. Oh happy days.!!!!!

I look forward to your observations. Stay safe . We will be onboard in July so very interested to hear folk's opinions onboard.

Avoid deck 4.

16 hours ago, Mrmatt said:

Do you know where the Randox testing takes place at Heathrow.  We will be on a connecting flight so would need to be within terminal 5.

Its not Randox but testing available in T5 departures according to the website.

17 hours ago, les37b said:

 

So why are they insisting on something that isn't required? This an azamara requirement only. On my cruise in a month, no country is insisting on a test, no airline is insisting on a test, just the azamara clinic.

 

And if they insist, it shouldn't be with an extortionate markup. In the UK now, you don't even need to isolate if you are positive and are fine to continue work. The vaccines and evolution means it's a mild cold now. Can flu and colds kill? Yep, just like they always have and without this nonsense as it stands now.

 

The insistance on this test for me personally is a real pain as even with a 72 hour window, it's nigh impossible. London will be in chaos on the weekend I need to get sorted because of the Jubilee..... And because testing is nigh history, there are just not many places open. Plus the cheapest PCR I can find, adds another £140 to the cost.

 

 

I don't know where you are flying out from but...I know there are testing stations at Heathrow both in some of the terminals and also walk through ones. PCR & Lateral Flow.  I assume the same at Gatwick. As we are in Cumbria the closest place is Newcastle (!) so are flying down from NCL to LHR and testing in NCL to get the 72 hours correct.

Happy to do it but its added an extra bit of stress before we we even set off !!!  lol

9 hours ago, royallondon said:

Thank you Riocca for these updates, appreciated.

 

I’m puzzled as to why the onboard Senior Management team haven’t been able to address this long ongoing issue.  Surely they have some clout in what should now be a more nimble “guest focused” organisation?  

In the grand scope of things the purchasing of tonic is insignificant.  Plenty of time has elapsed to allow a change to any current purchasing contracts.

Have they really been listening?

 

In the meantime, send the F&B Manager ashore armed with some money in the same way as the Chef does to buy the fresh fish and other produce.

 

Regards 

LOL and I think that F & B manager might beTony ???  He owes it to us Brits to get some decent tonic onboard.  I am sick of asking for it. This is the only thing that I would complain about on Az...hopefully by July when we come onboard it will be sorted......as Tony will be Hotel Director  on Onward.

Thank you Chris for posting pics for us all. They were all really helpful.  

Hope it didn't spoil your trip.  

Hopefully folks on todays sailing will continue to post.

23 hours ago, Belfastman said:

See post 78 above snacks will range in price from $6 - $15.

I missed that..thank you for pointing it out. 

54 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Thanks Chris for the photos and information. Much appreciated. Just an observation. I'm very surprised at the lack of forward planning.  Prices for snacks in Atlas yet to be established?  Don't know what is happening with Best of the Best?  They've had ages to sort these details out.  It's all a bit "make it up as we go along". Unless they know and aren't willing to share the big secret.  A bit strange.

 

Phil 

Phil, I was wondering if the snacks would be classed as free canapés seeing as it is an "upscale" bar.  A bit like the Tapas upstairs ???  Just wondering.....

I know there are more CC suites on Onward. Do you think there is enough capacity in the speciality restaurants for folks not in suites but buying dining packages to be accommodated ….and at a choice of times ? Thank you. Have a fabulous time.

I also think that those who booked a CC suite before these changes will feel a bit miffed at having lost something they thought was a special treat and was included... like the free testing on boarding for us lesser mortals LOL

1 hour ago, cruisefam38 said:

Dining -

The dining experience on the Quest was very good.  The service was excellent in the Discoveries Main Dining room and upstairs in Aqualina in the morning and Prime C in the evening. 

We only used one of the specialty dining restaurants on the Celebrity Reflection, the Lawn Club.  While it was nice, we didn't think the food or service justified the extra cost.   The hamburger in Luminae was better than the one from Lawn Club.

Luminae, the dining venue dedicated to suite guests served our needs well.  The service was excellent from the embarkation lunch to the disembarkation breakfast. Since the menus tended to skew to seafood some evenings, with options that might be appealing to other travelers, we were able to fall back upon the Opus main dining room menu to fill out our orders. 

Both cruise lines seemed to be more likely to use a variety of spices on these sailings, each strived to bring an international flair to the menu choices in the dining rooms and in the buffet areas.  On each cruise, a couple of nights the food was less desirable than on other nights, which is not to say the food was bad, just not as much to our liking.  That said, most meals were to our liking, and pleasing to our palates.

 

Regarding Public Spaces  -

The Reflection - I am glad the Sky Lounge still exists, although I miss the grand sweep this space once had.  I noticed public spaces such as the Game area, the Library, and the Hideaway being used daily.

On the Quest - the Den and the Living Room were well used on the cruise we took.

Being mindful of the conversion of the Onward's Library into another bar, I hope the cruise lines do not take all these spaces from passengers.  On Azamara and Celebrity, it is nice to plop into a chair on Promenade with a drink at hand, or a bowl of ice cream.  As Retreat level passengers on Celebrity, we don't need those public spaces, and didn't use them on this cruise.  However, other guests did use them.   Passengers in other cabins want and need areas of the ship they can call their own.  There may come a point when we cruise in a balcony, or even a porthole cabin.  I hope there are public spaces we can use without extra cost.   

 

Final Thoughts -

On both cruises, my wife and I discussed the admirable way the crew on each ship were working to make the cruise a success.  Maybe this a stretch, but looking back on these two cruises, I get the sense the entire staff and crew on both ships worked as if their jobs depended on the best service possible.  It could be stated this is always the case, yet when one thinks about the debt these companies have taken on to survive the lean years of the pandemic, and an uncertain future of oceanic travel, it feels the stakes are as high, and even higher, than they have ever been.  Yet they worked with smiles on their faces that could be detected through the masks.  Day after day, week after week, they wore the masks, and smiled.  Waiters, entertainers, ship's crews, and officers smiled, and laughed amongst themselves, and with the ever flowing stream of passengers.

 

As I wrote this reaction report, I found myself smiling as I reminisced, remembering moments and incidents.  I began this not knowing if I would finish it, nor knowing if I would post it on Cruise Critic.  I have chosen to share these musings because these cruise lines were once corporate cousins, and still share some important positive distinctions that are worth noting.  Azamara has it's niche, going to places like St. Barth, longer port stays, and providing celebrations like White Night.  Celebrity does the mass market well, more things to do in larger areas.  Both these cruising experiences came with a price tag.  They were similar, yet different. I for one, wish they were still in the same corporate family.

 

We will cruise these lines again?  We have two cruises booked on Azamara and one cruise booked on Celebrity.  I hope we get to take them, and I am confident we will enjoy each and every one of them. 

I really enjoyed your balanced and fair evaluation of both ships. Delighted you enjoyed both of your cruises. We have sailed on both lines, more Azamara than Celebrity but have enjoyed them all. Thank you for your time. Azamara Onward booked for July so fingers crossed !!

This all helps to spoil our 1st trip abroad for 2 years,  uktog is quite right….and Azamara are alienating their most loyal guests.  Very disappointed .

13 hours ago, uktog said:

You only need an antigen test. It depends where you live but Dam Health, Express Test and Randox are reliable brands. 

Thank you for that uktog. Very useful info.... We are near Carlisle.

I’m sorry to ask this as I read this info recently but am now unable to find the thread where it is located !
Can anyone in Uk please give advise on who to use for PCR tests pre travel. I know that by July when we travel we might not need these but would like to know in advance. We have had 2 jabs plus boosters but read that Azamara will cover expenses if we test positive at check in if we have PCR test results. 
 

Thank you.

Wishing you all good luck for the future Philip.  You did a great job at Azamara while you were there. We sailed with you a few times and we were always impressed by your attitude and kindness.  You were an excellent hotel director.

Thank you.