More Musings from an Azamara Cheerleader and O Newbie

[cindilouwho]

Well folks - Just 6 weeks to go till my first O cruise. Noticing a very big difference in shoreside service. While Az is notoriously bad on shoreside and tremendous onboard, O seems to have it together on Customer service precruise. Have had occassion to call in a few times and each time I came away with all the info I needed. Travel documents have been delivered and I am anxiously counting down the days to cruise. One more dye job and 49 more sleeps!

 

This will be my 88th cruise!!! Lucky 8's - better put some $$$ on the numbers in the casino!

 

I did have an issue with my booking that someone in senior management at O helped me fix. I had met him at a O presentation in February and he was relentless in assisting me to get exactly what I wanted. Professional all the way -- and so nice to boot. I am impressed. All I ever got from AZ executives was grief. I won't mention her name but it was a nightmare.

 

Looking forward to having a wonderful shipboard experience and will promise to blog from onboard on AZ and O forums!

[Paulchili]

Cindi,

Fair winds and following seas for your cruise,

Paul

[cindilouwho]

Cindi,

Fair winds and following seas for your cruise,

Paul

 

thanks paul --- same to you!!! :D

[vival]

Hi Cindi, really looking forward to your live posts. We also love Azamara but due to dates and itinerary have booked Oceania in October. I for one will be really interested in your views.

[Jancruz]

Hi Cindi, Have enjoyed your blogging and look forward to you reports and comparisons..

Jancruz1

[OzAbroad]

Hope you love your cruise. We are big O fans and are booked to try our first Azamara cruise. Very keen on experiencing the famous A onboard service and friendliness I have heard so much about

[cindilouwho]

Just got my documents from O for the cruise. Very nice "brochure" -- I miss the old days when you got a pretty document wallet with all sorts of cool stuff to rifle through. Pages 7 through 30 are just ads for the shore excursions, but that's ok .... gives me lots of details to add to our already booked private tours :o !

 

I will read it in the privacy of the "loo" - always a great place to ponder my future wanderings. LOL

 

Just to mention as a comparison - AZ doesn't send anything unless you ask and then it's only a couple of luggage tags. You print off your stuff online and a couple of times I even printed my own baggage tags and stapled them to my luggage.

 

Not that I check anything anyway--- just travel with carry-ons ! That way I ensure the airline doesn't send my luggage to the "black hole" instead of my destination.

 

Now I am trying to decide if taking the "booze Option" will work for me --- I do love my martinis but how fast can I consume them on a very port intensive cruise of the Baltic? Any ideas????

[cindilouwho]

And just to add to the mix - I sent a note to both FDR and KK to praise an experience I had with the exec who helped me out and I did get a personal acknowledgement from KK!! Very, very impressed!! The exec himself contacted me directly and had been told of the compliment ..... very good management protocols!

 

I also had that from AZ way back when .... genuinely approachable .... but the "other" exec....well.....that's a story for another day. Perhaps when you meet me on a future cruise we will relax over a nice martini and DISCUSS amongst ourselves!!! LOL :eek:

[LHT28]

Maybe when you return you will become an O cheerleader :D

[cindilouwho]

Maybe when you return you will become an O cheerleader :D

 

It's looking highly likely at this point.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Cindy, how do you do just with carry-ons? Enquiring minds want to know. If I'm just going somewhere for a week, no problem, but cruises, yikes. And when y ou combine a 2 week cruise with a week on land, can't imagine!

[cdn.cruiser]

I was wondering the same thing! Just carry ons!

[LHT28]

i have not been on azmara, and haven't been on oceania in a few years - when did they start having cheerleaders on board? No matter, i think it's a great idea! Do you have to buy your own uniforms or are they provided by the ship? (photos please.)

Too funny!!! :)

 

Good one

[RachelG]

Currently having trouble with oceania's excursion booking. Supposedly if you book 5 or more excursions in advance, you get 25 % discount. It has not happened via their website. I have been given a number to call, but should not have to.. It should be seamless. Anyway, not impressed so sr.

[JimandStan]

Currently having trouble with oceania's excursion booking. Supposedly if you book 5 or more excursions in advance, you get 25 % discount. It has not happened via their website. I have been given a number to call, but should not have to.. It should be seamless. Anyway, not impressed so sr.

 

The discount isn't automatic because the number of excursions which one needs to book before the discount kicks in varies by the length of the voyage.

 

Your World Collection

provides the flexibility for you to custom design

a personalized, value-packed collection of

excursions by allowing you to select from our

entire portfolio just the right number of tours

you desire. Best of all, you’ll save 25% off regular

à la carte prices, subject to a minimum number

of excursions required to be reserved depending

on voyage length.

[ricki]

Have a great time, Cindi, and report back on your experience.

 

We board Marina July 15 for a 14 day Baltic. This will be our second time sailing on Marina and fell in love with her last spring on a Southern France and Italy cruise. I hope you do, too. We've been sailing Crystal almost exclusively since 1997, and feel that Oceania is giving Crystal some significant competition.

 

It's a return trip to the Baltic for me, but the first time for DH. My number one not miss suggestion would be the Vigeland Sculptures in Frogner Park in Oslo.

 

Early Bon Voyage!

 

Ricki

[orchestrapal]

Cindy, how do you do just with carry-ons? Enquiring minds want to know. If I'm just going somewhere for a week, no problem, but cruises, yikes. And when y ou combine a 2 week cruise with a week on land, can't imagine!

 

For 35 years we have traveled with one 22" and one piece of hand luggage each be it for a week or five as we are currently doing on our land trip in Switzerland.

The more you travel the less you bring. No one cares what you wear especially on O since we don't have the Formal Police as they do on other lines.

Pack for a week and travel for several...same thing. ;)

[cindilouwho]

For 35 years we have traveled with one 22" and one piece of hand luggage each be it for a week or five as we are currently doing on our land trip in Switzerland.

The more you travel the less you bring. No one cares what you wear especially on O since we don't have the Formal Police as they do on other lines.

Pack for a week and travel for several...same thing. ;)

 

Exactly right! I somehow manage to get everything in that I need by rolling and packing cubes. I have been able to pack 7 pairs of pants, 2 shorts, 2 dresses, 14 tops, sweater, undies, lingerie, 2 bathing suits and coverup and 6 pairs of shoes. I wear my bulkiest clothes in transit - Lululemons and runners! Since they excluded liquids from carryons that had been my biggest challenge but now I collect sample sizes of Clarins from Shoppers Drug Mart/Sears where I have developed a great relationship with the folks at the counter. They even put a few things away for me when new samples come in! This is the best way for me to get everything in and the little foil packs do not count as liquid so they don't go in the bag. Anything else that is a toiletry that may be bulky, I buy in destination and leave it there on the way home.

 

My friends are totally amazed at how much I am able to pack - maybe it's time to start a business .... packing people up for their vacations!!!! :rolleyes:

 

Drib - I will be wearing the AZ cheerleading costume on my cruise to the Baltic. If you want to see it....better book now!!! There will be a small fee for pictures.

 

Thanks to all for your well wishes! I am not concerned --- I seem to be able to fun anywhere I go!!! :o

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I get the little bottles at Shopper's too! And I do carry-on for land trips, since I don't really care so much how I look. But on a cruise, I do. Not that I really dress up, I don't, I just upgrade from my usual t-shirt and pants or capris. Nice pants, tops, and a dress or two takes up the room.

 

That goes for my husband too--cruising is the only time I actually iron his shirts, and the only time he wears anything but jeans. I know, khaki pants take up less room, but he wants both!

 

Oh, and I hate doing laundry on a cruise, although I'm not averse to sending it out. And after a week trekking around Barcelona and the Costa Brava, we'll be arriving with some laundry! What I will do is have a suitcase just for the cruise, that won't get opened until we get on the ship (at which point all the shirts will have to be re-ironed, I know!)

[LHT28]

YIKES Cindi :eek:

I need help packing

I used to be able to pack light for land trips but even that no longer works well for me

We mostly traveled by motorcycle in our younger days ...so there was not much room to pack but you wear jeans most of the time & can wear them a few days before hitting the laundry spots

We once went overseas for a week & I did manage a small carry-on each I mean small, wish I could remember how I did it LOL

 

We have a trip in summer & flying to the US so will practice packing light in a 22 " carry-on & see how that works maybe I can do the same for next year's O cruise :D

[Emperor Norton]

J...

Now I am trying to decide if taking the "booze Option" will work for me --- I do love my martinis but how fast can I consume them on a very port intensive cruise of the Baltic? Any ideas????

 

I'll just offer it stays light very late into the morning, especially if you're in St. Petersburg so the days can be very long even on a port intensive cruise.;)

[cindilouwho]

YIKES Cindi :eek:

I need help packing

I used to be able to pack light for land trips but even that no longer works well for me

We mostly traveled by motorcycle in our younger days ...so there was not much room to pack but you wear jeans most of the time & can wear them a few days before hitting the laundry spots

We once went overseas for a week & I did manage a small carry-on each I mean small, wish I could remember how I did it LOL

 

We have a trip in summer & flying to the US so will practice packing light in a 22 " carry-on & see how that works maybe I can do the same for next year's O cruise :D

 

You are in my neck of the woods!!! If you need help I am good to meet for lunch to discuss!!! Martini as payment please!!!

[LHT28]

You are in my neck of the woods!!! If you need help I am good to meet for lunch to discuss!!! Martini as payment please!!!

Thanks for the offer...you just never know :D

[CintiPam]

I somehow manage to get everything in that I need by rolling and packing cubes. I have been able to pack 7 pairs of pants, 2 shorts, 2 dresses, 14 tops, sweater, undies, lingerie, 2 bathing suits and coverup and 6 pairs of shoes. I wear my bulkiest clothes in transit - Lululemons and runners!

 

I very much enjoy your postings, cindilouwho, but, particularly by including six pairs of shoes, you are stretching your credibility with this post!:)

[Paulchili]

I very much enjoy your postings, cindilouwho, but, particularly by including six pairs of shoes, you are stretching your credibility with this post!:)

 

Unless they are ballet shoes/slippers :D