Azamara Pursuit - Semi Live review, B2B2B - France and Italy intensive

[Georgeven]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Georgeven
Pictures editing

[Georgeven]

[Lottie A]

Beautiful photo's again. 

I will be in Sorrento in a month on Pursuit. Can't wait! 

[Georgeven]

Forgot to mention that last night and tonight we had dinner at the Windows Cafe: French and Italian Buffetts, respectively. Excellent and varied food with live stations... wonderful.

 

That sunset this evening was breathtaking... 

 

Weather has been OK, a little windy but still no cancellations like last week. For some the waves when tendering could make it uncomfortable.

 

and to close the day today Azamara has brought on board “A night at the Opera”... Believe me, this was a hit, incredible Italian talent for just one show... this was like the Azamazing Evening elevated and on board. 

 

 

 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Georgeven
Picture edit

[Mackdogmolly]

7 hours ago, uktog said:

As the post says one of the maitre ds

 

12 minutes ago, Georgeven said:

Forgot to mention that last night and tonight we had dinner at the Windows Cafe: French and Italian Buffetts, respectively. Excellent and varied food with live stations... wonderful.

 

That sunset this evening was breathtaking... 

 

Weather has been OK, a little windy but still no cancellations like last week. For some the waves when tendering could make it uncomfortable.

 

and to close the day today Azamara has brought on board “A night at the Opera”... Believe me, this was a hit, incredible Italian talent for just one show... this was like the Azamazing Evening elevated and on board. 

 

 

 

We had an evening such as this on our Venice to Barcelona cruise last summer. They brought a fabulous Italian tenor onboard for a private late night concert on the pool deck. . Unforgettable!

[Grandma Cruising]

We had a soprano singing on deck in the early evening with the wonderful backdrop of Amalfi last year.

[uktog]

David the tenor is becoming quite an Azamara favourite. He drove up to Monte Carlo to give us a very memorable night on deck two years ago

[Literary Lynne]

Wow - I really hope we have a Night at the Opera on Pursuit in October - Monte Carlo to Barcelona. That would really blow my socks off.

Lynne😂

[Georgeven]

Some observations about the Buffett...

 

On this last leg of our 3 weeks voyage we have decided to try out some nights in a row the buffet at Windows Cafe. 

The food has been excellent, as we have already said; and the service is usually good. Some issues I will address soon.
We really enjoy the food in the buffet with a smaller but better selection of dishes than on the bigger ships. Here you get quality over quantity, something I feel is much better and less food goes to waste ( I think ). Also to get almost 90% new dishes every night is so much better than having a big selection that never change.

When it comes to serving wine in the Buffett there is still potential for improvements. This week we also have the Ultimate Beverage package again and when we order wine by the glass from the wine list usually the problems start. This is based on the last 3 night and some lunches this week and you feel that as soon as you like to order wine that is not the one of the day, you see they get a little “oh, now I have to go and get that bottle” attitude. Some of the times they do not have the wine you ask for and bring you another one that substitutes it and that is ok, but please let us know before you start serving it to us, so we might be able to see if you have another we might prefer. 

There should also be a system maybe when you have ordered a wine from the wine list they can serve it in another wine glass (they did once) so other waiters know that you are not drinking the wine of the day and can ask what are you having and do you like some more. A couple of nights another waiter pass by and see your half empty glass and starts to pour the wine of the day and then mix it with a different one. It is not so nice to drink your Merlot and then they fill it up with Cabernet Sauvignon so we have to sent it back. 

This always happens specially if you drink a rose wine or a sparkling wine or Champagne for lunch/dinner from the wine list.
However we still have to give them credit for always looking after you and you do never sit long with an empty glass. 

 

 

[Grandma Cruising]

Other people have had this problem - it seems like it’s an issue that Azamara need to sort out. Have you discussed it with the F& B manager or the Hotel Director?

[Georgeven]

Canoli for everybody...

 

Today we were in Giardini Naxos, for a visit to Taormina. 

 

We we started the day with a beautiful breakfast     at Prime C for LCV members discoverer and upper levels... good menu, senior officers all around, delicious food and nice view while crossing the Messina Strait. It’s so nice that they go all the way for doing this. 

 

Then we we arrived to Giardini Naxos; smooth tendering operation and we had our transfer to Taormina with time on your own. 

 

beautiful weather, beautiful place, amazing views... we just walked all around and found a place to have lunch: Lasagna with Homemade pasta, a bottle of Sicilian Rosè wine at the Gambero Rosso restaurant, a little bit out of the Main Street but quiet, and delicious. Then a fresh Canoli and Cappuccinos, what else can you ask for??? 

 

Return to the ship and a little bit of relaxing before heading to dinner at the Windows Cafe for Spanish Night and Paella live station and surprise, Elisabeth aka F&B manager has ordered Canolis for everybody brought to the ship from local deliveries and brought to your tables around the different dining venues by the senior officers. Canoli extravaganza and this is another thing that Azamara did that just Azamazed us. Thank you Elisabeth 😉 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2019 by Georgeven

[Georgeven]

17 minutes ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

Other people have had this problem - it seems like it’s an issue that Azamara need to sort out. Have you discussed it with the F& B manager or the Hotel Director?

 

We will do, it’s just something that could be better. Basically it’s because the staff is so good keeping your glass with your included wines that when you have the ultimate package is more difficult for them to know/remember that you have it...

[uktog]

3 hours ago, Georgeven said:

 

We will do, it’s just something that could be better. Basically it’s because the staff is so good keeping your glass with your included wines that when you have the ultimate package is more difficult for them to know/remember that you have it...

Glad you are enjoying the buffets, they are good and very different from other lines. 

Yes please highlight it. It’s an issue we experienced on Pursuit too and our plans for the future are not to have the packages again until they sort this out. Only by people highlighting the issue can they see that it’s not working 

[Ithikan]

Good news about the buffet, Georgeven 🙂

And your photos SO perfectly capture the lovely Taormina!  Grazie!

 

[cinnamon]

Reading about the Canoli brought onboard reminded me of being on Pursuit last month when we docked in Lisbon at 6.00 pm after the TA from Rio. Within 90 minutes of arriving the senior hotel officers were bringing round Pasteis de Nata from Belem. We were very impressed by that and it saved us joining a huge queue to get some the next day when sightseeing. 

Edited May 1, 2019 by cinnamon

[lucas34]

Hi! May I ask if they have smoked salmon for breakfast from room service?

[Baynanno1]

9 hours ago, cinnamon said:

Reading about the Canoli brought onboard reminded me of being on Pursuit last month when we docked in Lisbon at 6.00 pm after the TA from Rio. Within 90 minutes of arriving the senior hotel officers were bringing round Pasteis de Nata from Belem. We were very impressed by that and it saved us joining a huge queue to get some the next day when sightseeing. 

 

I love these, but I guess the supply must have been limited, or we were in the wrong place when they were being handed around! 😞

[Georgeven]

12 hours ago, lucas34 said:

Hi! May I ask if they have smoked salmon for breakfast from room service?

 

Yes they have smoked salmon for breakfast in the room service menu 😉 

 

J.-

[excitedofharpenden]

14 hours ago, lucas34 said:

Hi! May I ask if they have smoked salmon for breakfast from room service?

Recent copies of breakfast room service menu.

 

Phil

[village77]

20 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

I love these, but I guess the supply must have been limited, or we were in the wrong place when they were being handed around! 😞

 

So glad we were not the only ones that missed out!

[Georgeven]

Back after Brindisi and Kotor... 

 

GOOD WEATHER.... yesterday we had a half sea day (sunny), we started the day with a Brunch on the Discoveries restaurant and again it was great food for us late sleepers... then we arrived to Brindisi and we docked just in downtown. Being may 1st, the commercial city was dead, everything was closed... few restaurants were open and there was kind of a fair in the long promenade in the city. We decided to walk around and just see the city in our own terms and even being everything closed we enjoyed the contrasting city... definitely not so much to do around and we were not hungry at all to try a local restaurant however it looks like a nice summer town... 

 

So far our least favorite stop in these three weeks. So we came back to the ship and enjoyed a lazy afternoon by the pool reading and having some champagne 🍾 

 

yesterday was was the White Night Party and buffet, so we got ready after the pool, took a nap... and went for some white night food and then headed to the Living room for a night drink and then let’s get to the cabin...  a beautiful day in a small pretty town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Georgeven
Picture editing

[Georgeven]

Kotor: today we had an early arrival and sail in through the fjord to get to Kotor, we woke up late so we decided to go for breakfast in the old town, this is our second time here so

no need to rush, our plan was to walk around, get breakfast and explore more the old town. 

 

We found a restaurant called: Restaurant City and order a Chicken Sandwich, and what we got was not expected. We got a delicious traditional Kotorian bread with delicious fresh grilled chicken and cheese and salad with fresh orange juice. Delicious. 

 

Kotor is a beautiful medieval old town at the end of a small fjord (kind of)... it’s beautiful, well preserved and lovely...

 

then we we came back to the ship to find our there was an BBQ at the pool deck... then I got a little food before sailing away

 

to closed the day Indian night Buffett at the Ocean view, delicious Indian food so we had dinner there. Service, food and wine were

perfect once again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Georgeven

[Bimmer09]

Great pics from Kotor guys!

Thank you.

Norris

[Grandma Cruising]

That sandwich looks gorgeous!

[Georgeven]

Yesterday our port of call was Trieste, where we docked around 13:00 and since the weather was kind of rainy, not rainy, rain a lot, stop, I think it rains, it pours down... we decided to use a not rainy hour to just go ashore and walk around... it looks like an interesting place, mixed architecture and there were kids everywhere, imagine that a lot of young teenagers walking in big groups around the city... stressful but we enjoyed the city vibe. 

 

We we headed to the ship and decided to use the afternoon relaxing and watching some TV in our iPad in the cabin and then reading in the living room. 

 

Then we we decided to go the room and decided to have a “light” dinner while watching TV and ordered Room Service: you have to try the Mushroom Quesadilla and the Club Sandwich... very very good and had couple of glasses of our French wine we bought couple of weeks ago. The rainy weather didn’t help so much so we didn’t feel like going to the Azamazing Evening, so cannot comment on that. It was an Opera evening in a theater complex in Trieste. So we took an easy night relaxing, watching some TV shows / movies. 

 

Next: Venezia and packing to go back to reality 😞 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2019 by Georgeven
Picture editing