Coming back to Quest - any questions you want answering (plus some things we have learned about travelling nowadays)

[uktog]

Back to the boarding routine etc. It is as Huntingdon said and is extremely well organised and again it’s something that works very well if you do exactly as they ask pre cruise and again my advice is carry paper copies of

a.  The bar code you get having registered for your test

b.  Your online check in form which has a bar code on it. 
The antigen test is quick, the lady did not try and find my brain as happened boarding another line, but during the wait for your results you convince yourself you have covid! 
 

They’ve bought new technology for check in, lots of scanning of forms, passports, asking about your health, taking your photo all on hand held devices with agents walking around to you (so much less standing in lines etc). 
 

Unfortunately despite Azamara’s efforts to make it all slick the Greeks had other ideas. They insisted there were to be full passport checks done, then did not turn up until 1430 so there were a lot of ripple waiting them went for a tea break an hour later!  We heard after that Apex guests were being held up really badly and when we left (early) at 1915 they were still there. 
 

Once onboard we were taken to our station shown a very clear video that lasts 5 minutes then off to our rooms where our keys waited. Cases arrived about 30 mins later. 
 

Talking to Ryzard it seems they aim to start boarding a little later on cruises eg not 1130 but not clear what, but have you going straight to your room and your case with you in under an hour.  They also now have lots of tracking info and data from the devices so can quickly see if things are slowing up and also look at patterns over cruises to refine the process. 
 

So great boarding experience even with covid testing. 

[Westaussie]

You're making me homesick (for Azamara)!!  Have a great cruise.

[excitedofharpenden]

Thanks for your reports Ann. Good to hear it's well organised. Ryszard, knowing what he is like will be on the ball and right in amongst it. I hope he didn't hurt his back loading the cases 😄

 

My only comment. I understand there to be only 180 guests onboard this sailing. This will make life much easier. I'm hoping that my November cruise isn't too full. Up to 70% would be ok. More than 500, what with social distancing etc would be more of a struggle. 

 

Phil 

[uktog]

4 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Thanks for your reports Ann. Good to hear it's well organised. Ryszard, knowing what he is like will be on the ball and right in amongst it. I hope he didn't hurt his back loading the cases 😄

 

My only comment. I understand there to be only 180 guests onboard this sailing. This will make life much easier. I'm hoping that my November cruise isn't too full. Up to 70% would be ok. More than 500, what with social distancing etc would be more of a struggle. 

 

Phil 

There’s actually only 150 or so guests on board plus 20+ contractors who evidently don’t count as crew. There’s also less crew I hear so they believe they can scale this process up as they’d been working on it for seven years but had to break free to try it. You are right time will tell if it works! 

[uktog]

I’m seeing lots of changes some covid related I’m sure. All good ones so far and I will post a few each day 

Here is one - Windows remains very casual at night but is a themed set menu. I will try and post each days menu. We ate in discoveries last night where some of the French dishes also appear on the menu there. I had the duck starter, it was delicious DH had the short ribs and raved about them. 
I had a smoked paprika chicken breast for my main a new Azamara dish and a winner! 
 

 

[Grandma Cruising]

12 hours ago, uktog said:

I have very very bad news for you David. I will be asking Ryzard what on earth this is……

Oh nooooo 😣

[uktog]

On 9/9/2021 at 8:43 PM, takemewithyou said:

@uktogThis is so exciting that you will do some reporting from Quest!!  So happy and excited for you to be onboard again!

1.  If you dine in specialties or Patio, I would love to hear what you think of the food compared with pre Covid sailings.

2. Also comparison of variety of menu offered in main dining room and food quality 

3. evening entertainment reports

Thank you so much for offering to do this!

Safe travels and hope you have a great holiday aboard Quest!

So far very impressed. We have the Patio in the plan for a lunch. We attended part of the preview show last night - did not see the earlier items but what we did see looked promising. I will report on each as we see them. 
 

The menu choice last night gave us a big problem aka there was too much choice! The food was really good and the attention to presentation has gone up a notch in Discoveries. I had two new dishes and two repeat favourites and it was in the favourites the attention to presentation was noticed. Simple things like how the cheesecake for DH was served with a “dragonfly” sweet stick and sauce decoration- a little touch which was unfortunately demolished before I got my camera out. The fruit on my apple and blueberry crepe had been put on decoratively not “spooned on” if you get my drift. 

[uktog]

On 9/9/2021 at 9:20 PM, takemewithyou said:

Oh…another thing!  Hope you don’t mind me asking for another topic…..would love to hear what you think of the current included wines on offer.  

Ok for me it’s a thumbs down for the rose but a thumbs up for the new Sauvignon blanc. I will try and photo the bottles in the next few days and of course will continue drinking to aid the research 

[uktog]

On 9/10/2021 at 5:35 AM, laurieb said:

So happy you’re going on this cruise!  
I’m curious to know if they are having best of the best.  Looking forward to reading about your cruise
 

I will find out but I doubt if it’s happening it will be with officers as the ship is still sailing under RC protocols re covid and officers dining with guests is a no no. 
 

They are doing special dining events in Aqualina eg a 6 course Greek themed tasting menu one night for $75 each so maybe you would still get the meal but no company! 

[excitedofharpenden]

53 minutes ago, uktog said:

I’m seeing lots of changes some covid related I’m sure. All good ones so far and I will post a few each day 

Here is one - Windows remains very casual at night but is a themed set menu. I will try and post each days menu. We ate in discoveries last night where some of the French dishes also appear on the menu there. I had the duck starter, it was delicious DH had the short ribs and raved about them. 
I had a smoked paprika chicken breast for my main a new Azamara dish and a winner! 
 

 

Looks good. I had to laugh. Who is the al orange guy responsible for the duck?

 

Phil 

[excitedofharpenden]

I see references to the meet and mingles on the roll calls. Are they still doing them in view of covid?  I thought they had been suspended. 

 

Phil 

[uktog]

2 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I see references to the meet and mingles on the roll calls. Are they still doing them in view of covid?  I thought they had been suspended. 

 

Phil 

Certainly not happening just now would not be allowed you have to stay in your bubble group when socialising so no setting up dinners unless you plan to eat together every night. So if it’s one of your roll calls Phil I would manage expectations aka hold your horses!

 

You can’t register for m and m I though cc had suspended that in recognition of this. 
 

However meeting and chatting to people happens- table to table, at socially distanced trivia and there’s quite a buzz of chat round the pool just now

[TSmith48]

On 9/10/2021 at 1:31 AM, uktog said:

There has been the most wonderful thread from Huntingdon, who as a first time cruiser on Azamara took time to tell us so much about the first cruise that sailed on Quest post pandemic.

 

<snip>.

 

After 21 months away from Azamara I think you can guess how excited we feel tonight (although packing was stressful, we have lost the skill for overseas trips).  It will be special to go home to our sailing family.

So envious! I hope you have a brilliant time, and will be following closely from Western Australia. Take care and enjoy!

[tiggertom]

Thanks for reporting back @uktog. Following closely in hope for boarding Pursiut in February.

[laser2000]

3 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Thanks for your reports Ann. Good to hear it's well organised. Ryszard, knowing what he is like will be on the ball and right in amongst it. I hope he didn't hurt his back loading the cases 😄

 

My only comment. I understand there to be only 180 guests onboard this sailing. This will make life much easier. I'm hoping that my November cruise isn't too full. Up to 70% would be ok. More than 500, what with social distancing etc would be more of a struggle. 

 

Phil 

Perhaps the first Journey cruise on 13th October will be a real test as the deck plan on the booking page indicates 80% of cabins booked. If this is correct there could be in excess of 500 passengers and wonder how  the Discoveries & Buffet will cope with tables being socially distanced.  I recall a comment somewhere that the ships will only be running at 50% maximum capacity but perhaps I was mistaken.

[uktog]

12 minutes ago, laser2000 said:

Perhaps the first Journey cruise on 13th October will be a real test as the deck plan on the booking page indicates 80% of cabins booked. If this is correct there could be in excess of 500 passengers and wonder how  the Discoveries & Buffet will cope with tables being socially distanced.  I recall a comment somewhere that the ships will only be running at 50% maximum capacity but perhaps I was mistaken.

I’m not sure if cabins are booked or blocked out. Will see!

[Huntingdon1701]

57 minutes ago, laser2000 said:

Perhaps the first Journey cruise on 13th October will be a real test as the deck plan on the booking page indicates 80% of cabins booked. If this is correct there could be in excess of 500 passengers and wonder how  the Discoveries & Buffet will cope with tables being socially distanced.  I recall a comment somewhere that the ships will only be running at 50% maximum capacity but perhaps I was mistaken.

 

I was told they'd blocked some out for quarantine cabins as a contingency. That may account for some of what you're seeing.

 

My cruise looked almost fully booked when I checked before flying out but there were only 190 of us onboard in the end. Can't believe there were that many no-shows - I think they only said four or five. 

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

I was told they'd blocked some out for quarantine cabins as a contingency. That may account for some of what you're seeing.

 

My cruise looked almost fully booked when I checked before flying out but there were only 190 of us onboard in the end. Can't believe there were that many no-shows - I think they only said four or five. 

I’m not sure if it was your cruise but I heard on one some non vaccinated folks turned up and had to be denied boarding. 
 

They say no one so far has failed the pier side testing- long may that continue 

Edited September 12, 2021 by uktog

[QM2 fan]

We are boarding Quest next sat, 18th. Newbies to Azamara-only done Silversea, Cunard, Princess and Ponant so looking forward to seeing how Azamara does it. Curious as to the wine quality and wondering whether i will need to buy the premium package.. what is the weather like??

[Kitekat]

We had to chose a different cabin for the second voyage of our B2B. Our TA said we might not have to move as many cabins were blocked off for deep cleaning for the next leg. If so, we are hoping we don't have move although it is only next door!

[uktog]

1 hour ago, QM2 fan said:

We are boarding Quest next sat, 18th. Newbies to Azamara-only done Silversea, Cunard, Princess and Ponant so looking forward to seeing how Azamara does it. Curious as to the wine quality and wondering whether i will need to buy the premium package.. what is the weather like??

The weather is perfect not too hot but lovely to lie out in so far. 
I am always wary when people ask about wine quality how to respond as it’s all a matter of taste. I had a lovely included Sauvignon blanc last night but I do now have the package as I struggle to go past whispering Angel rose and as we didn’t spend on other things we decided to have that treat. Did we need to, probably not for the wine but yes to get sparkling water we like and for DH to have his nightly malt. 

[takemewithyou]

@uktogThanks so much for all your reports thus far!  So if I understand correctly, the theme in Windows cafe last night was French, so quite a bit of that menu carried over to Discoveries?  It seems as though it was not one or two items……

[laurieb]

8 hours ago, uktog said:

I will find out but I doubt if it’s happening it will be with officers as the ship is still sailing under RC protocols re covid and officers dining with guests is a no no. 
 

They are doing special dining events in Aqualina eg a 6 course Greek themed tasting menu one night for $75 each so maybe you would still get the meal but no company! 

Shoot; I hope they at least have the meal...

[gymfreak]

53 minutes ago, uktog said:

The weather is perfect not too hot but lovely to lie out in so far. 
I am always wary when people ask about wine quality how to respond as it’s all a matter of taste. I had a lovely included Sauvignon blanc last night but I do now have the package as I struggle to go past whispering Angel rose and as we didn’t spend on other things we decided to have that treat. Did we need to, probably not for the wine but yes to get sparkling water we like and for DH to have his nightly malt. 

Great to see Whispering Angel still on the package, hope it stays there!

[tgg]

10 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Looks good. I had to laugh. Who is the al orange guy responsible for the duck?

 

Phil 

Proofreading is probably a low priority right now on the ship. Maybe you could take a quack at it.😎