T&C Fulham

I agree. There are so many issues with the website and it's been spoken of for so long here I don't think anything will happen soon to correct it.

But what about understanding what one has paid for and what is excluded?

Where is this information available? It is certainly not in the pack received with our 'ticket'.

I really don't want to get into an argument about whether I get rose or sparkling wine when I get on to the boat. Or whether, as I have just posted, it will cost me 658 USD extra.

I am sure the sommeliers are great folk but where does one find out what the money I have paid entitles me to?

What information did everyone else get to see when they paid out for this cruise?

Tony

Is there any way we, the forum users, can get Azamara to update the beverage package information on their website for the Journey.

At the moment it is showing one bottle of red and one of white - no rose or sparkling - on offer without a package.

When I click on My Azamara I am offered a Premium Package for 15.95 USD per person per day but with still no variations to the wine. More spirits but the same boring one red and one white wine.

For 21.95 pp pd I get the wine choices that others in this forum say are part of the basic (no extras) offer. That is 658.50 for the two of us on a 15 day cruise.

I am not denying that the posters around here are wrong but I'd love to see it on Azmara's web site.

Does this Bonnie who people talk to around here have any sway?

Tony

uktog,

On the cruise you are on you have four dates (24/25/31 and 1) that you might want to think about now as they get very busy.

Sound advice but how do I go about finding out what is where on those four nights?

Tony

Thanks Host Grandma.

See you are from the East Riding. I come from Willerby and my wife is from Anlaby - but we've been in London for ages.

Thanks for the beverage link. It is a shame it is apparently wrong. As it shows one is almost forced into a paying package if one does not want the risk of the one red or white not being to one's taste.

The suite link does at least show that the special restaurants are available at no cost. 235 minutes of internet are not going to go far on a 15 day trip if one wants to do more than pick up messages.

Thanks Lottie about the special evenings. Presumably they are all listed by day, theme and restaurant when you reach your cabin on boarding day. If not I can envisage quite a bit of confusion and disappointment.

Tony

uktog,

Cross posted about fizz. Point noted.

Often the sparkling white is better in my experience.

Tony

Thanks Phil,

Two points.

That PDF is headed 2014. Is that the date? I guess that in Harpenden the cost of fizz has gone up a lot in the last three years. It certainly has in SW6.

Going for the Californian fizz only one glass a day for myself and my wife would clock up 360 USD - making an add-on package a snip. But, if it is FOC anyway, as suggested a few posts ago, it is academic.

Tony

I like Indian Buffet evening . I'd also recommend the Indonesian Rjsttafel.

Where do they do these?

Tony

Add to that you might want a night on the Patio to enjoy outdoor eating and a slight change in the type of menu - like Phil I have not now got the capacity for two weeks specialities

We are new to Azamara - regular Seabourn and Silver Seas folk. There we eat on deck as often as possible and avoid the fine dining at all times as, with them anyway, it is no finer than in the Main Dining Room or the next one down in size.

We like the specialities when they do them in the Seabourn second dining room as it has the effect of going out to different restaurants.

Silver Seas currently theme their second dining room as Italian - but sadly not particularly good Italian..

Are you saying that it is only the speciality restaurants that ring the changes? I don't fancy booking them the moment we board ship. To me it sounds a bit like being asked what you want for pudding before the starter and mains have been served. Some places do - but rarely the quality spots.

Tony

Thanks Phil,

That info is out of date. It's now as marinaro quoted, from mid-2016.

I wonder how much more of the Amazara web site is out of date? I am looking at add-on packages. We do like a glass of fizz and I almost committed myself to a package that included it. Now I learn that it comes FOC.

Tony

Wish you had asked about dining reservations here on the Azamara board before your cruise. We make ours immediately upon boarding, as we are usually in a suite and want to take advantage of not having a charge for specialty dining. You might want to consider one of the Chef's Tables if you are into fine dining.

OK. I'll ask then. I have not been given any information about speciality dining. I am in a Club Continental Suite. What does this entitle me to and how do I deal with it?

Tony

Unless you had specific preferences for top shelf liquors, it was not necessary to buy a liquor package. Two choices of red wine, two of white, one rose, and one sparkling wine are available in all dining venues and at every bar whenever open, as are standard brand liquors and many popular mixed drinks.

Does this vary from boat to boat?

Our complimentary package does not mention rose or sparkling. And only one red/white rather than two.

Boutique Wines

Our current boutique wine list features a regularly changing selection of one red and one white wine by the glass each day throughout your voyage.

We source some of our boutique wines locally while the ships are sailing in wine-producing regions such as Italy, France, and Spain.

When the ships are sailing in regions such as Asia, northern Europe, or regions where local wines are not as common, we offer a selection of wines from around the world.

Tony

OK - under 500 USD new.

I really don't want Kathy to have a camera without a viewfinder and Sony seem to be the people who offer one at that price.

I see the Sony Alpha A 6000 which has a good sized sensor. You might get one in the US for your price

I see the Sony Cyber-shot hx90v.

Or you could buy a Ricoh Digital GR second hand and the hot shoe viewfinder - which is the camera I use.

Tony

Despite marketing based on numbers of pixels now available on camera phones, pixel numbers are not the only consideration, or even the most significant one, and camera phones by their shape are much more difficult to hold still without camera shake.

The problem is that pixels are easier to market. What we want as photographers is less noise, easier GUI and, as we get older, less bulk and weight!

Once a photographer nullifies camera shake by (a) the use of a tripod or (b) flash he/she enters a new level of detail. Back in film days it was said that usually the shots from a 5x4 camera were sharper than those from a 35mm was because people put the larger cameras on tripods.

I run a classic car concours and one magazine photographer attends with camera about the size of a cigarette packet - but he uses a tripod all the time.

I have tried a variety of steadying devices on my smart phone but they all end up by making it larger than our pocket Ricoh.

Tony

Most people cannot distinguish between the pictures taken with a good camera and the pictures taken with a good phone.

Seems we have already driven the OP away in a confused state of mind but I challenge the above statement. Good friends of ours have sent us four shots taken on Sunday. Two are out of focus or suffer from movement. One is under exposed. One is what I'd expect most of the time from our pocketable Ricoh. These people take masses of photos on their phone.

I have a GoPro but nothing would induce me to take it holiday to take stills.

Yes, you can electronically zoom camera shots. Look at the shots with the IMG prefix in this sequence and you'll see the problem.

http://www.tonygamble.uk/Gloriana_2017/index.html

Sadly Google is little help when you key in 'camera with viewfinder' as it still produces cameras where one has to rely on the screen on the back.

I'll assume that Kathy has abandoned the thought of buying herself a proper camera by now but, if not, I am happy to come up with a few < 500USD suggestions.

Tony

Hello

 

. Would like someone in the know advise.

 

I'm a professional photographer so I hope that qualifies as someone in the know.

If you have a local camera store use it.

There is a saying that the best camera in the world is the one with you. If you don't want something dangling round your neck most of the time buy one you can slip into a decent sized pocket or hand bag.

Most cameras have an idiot proof mode. If you are worried about bells and whistles make sure the one you buy has one.

Buy a camera with a viewfinder you put to your eye. More pictures are spoiled by camera shake than anything else. It is hard to hold a camera steady if you have to hold it at reading distance from your eyes. Putting a camera to your eye steadies the camera against your cheek and also makes your picture taking less conspicuous. Viewfinders cost money which is why manufacturers try to do without them - but don't get conned as you need to pay that little bit extra. The improvement in your results will be significant.

Wide angle gives a better sense of where you are than telephoto. Of course, if you are a bird watcher or wild life enthusiast, a telephoto is probably needed. But if you simply want to capture a memory of a place or an event a wider than normal angle will allow you to include some of the foreground and this is the view you see with your eyes.

If you are buying from a local camera store don't be frightened by once owned as long as they guarantee it. Despite what the manufacturer's marketers will suggest cameras have not changed much over the last few years.

What do I use? For my work I use an Olympus micro four thirds with masses of alternative lenses. For my holiday I take my wife's Ricoh DR. It does not come with a viewfinder but they sell them as an accessory. Results. I would defy you to spot which enlargements on my study wall are from which camera.

Come back with any questions you want. I will subscribe to this thread so I can reply quickly.

Tony

London UK

Thanks Bpos.

I don't suppose we would but I had no idea it was such a trap.

Good to have it pointed out.

Tony

I saw the trishaw offered on the internet.

Presumably people do live to tell the tale?

Tony

So do I Acrusa.

Tony

Azamara again - but a short day from 10.00 to 4.00

To get a bit of feeling of what it was a while ago I have on my list a visit to the Fisherman's Village. There may be more than one but TripAdvisor are not too clear.

Would anyone like to come up with a better suggestion - or simply warn me off this one?

Tony

Azamara early January.

We are not museum and temple enthusiasts so we'll give them a miss.

My initial thoughts for the three days are:-

The Floating Market - 60 miles away I understand so a day trip.

Flower Market - which I assume is not the same thing, (Dummy??)

Patpong Night Market. For a bit of fun - I hope.

Khao San Road. Vital according to TripAdvisor. Any view?

Siam Paragon. A market that I do hope is not a supermarket.

Fresh ideas requested and 'avoid at all costs' equally welcome.

Tony

Thanks Keith.

Tony

We were here on another cruise two years ago.

We are here for two days this time.

My thoughts are to book a trip to the Mekon Delta on the first day as we have no deadline to get back to the boat.

For the second day I have Ben Than Market and Quan An Ngon listed. We need to be back for a 4.00 pm sailing.

Any comments or suggestions fellow travellors?

Tony

What would you folk do?

My thoughts are a day pottering round the town.

Then a day at Non Nuoc Beach.

All suggestions welcome.

Tony

We've already been to Halong Bay and we went out on a boat, saw the cave and lots of islands.

We don't want to do it again so my thoughts are to get to Hong Gai. It sounds relatively unspoilt and not too touristy.

Presumably it is not a long taxi ride from where the Azamara boat will be docked.

Are we doing the right thing?

Tony

From there we headed back along the new and rather lovely promenade. This has views over many limestone "rocks" in that part of the bay. There were some new buildings opposite the water.Very quickly we came to the area where the fishing boats were unloading and we stopped to watch and take photos. Fascinating to watch the local people busy with their boats and catches.

Just checking you are talking about Ha Long City?

I ask as we did the Bay about 18 months ago and would not want to do it a second time.

Tony