Anybody onboard currently?

[uktog]

If you’re bored with the whole thing why not do what others do - ask that they recognise the second top cruiser instead? For them it might be a very meaningful event. 
I much prefer the Viking model of a drinks party but simple round of applause for the top cruiser - no pointing them out or parading. 
The event should  recognise loyalty many are very loyal with less than 5 cruises. Top cruiser only recognises wealth and the personal circumstances to be able to engage in multiple cruises only. So I agree time for a radical rethink 

[Belfastman]

The top cruiser on one of our recent cruises built up their nights in inside cabins and so could get more nights for much less cost than those who cruise in suites.

[DS]

Amazon update for Monday from onboard Quest

              The specialist electrician will be flying into Macapa (pilot station at mouth of Amazon) Tuesday afternoon (from Bogota!).   We will get there about 8 PM Tuesday.   Then the work starts.

              No definitive word on itinerary changes yet and don’t expect any until we get to Macapa and they get better info  -- with one exception… looks like we will skip Santarem:   the 8 or 9 hours we were to be there are how much behind we will be and we have to get to Manaus for several reasons.   First, it’s the Azamazing Evening, but more important operationally, it’s the only place in the river we can get fresh water and offload dirty water.   The ship can not make its own fresh water in the dirty/muddy river, and it’s illegal to discharge waste water in the river.  That announcement (skipping Santarem) has not been publicly/officially made, but several senior officers have said that’s what will happen.  We do expect some measure of water rationing ( not for passengers, but for ships systems like laundry) while in the river-- looks like I might have to hang up my own towels!

              Meanwhile onboard the food is good, the entertainment fine, the sea pretty calm and the weather glorious!

[DS]

Amazon update for Tuesday from onboard Quest

           Its 9:30 PM, ships time, and we are just hauling in anchor to leave Macapa, after picking up river pilot and specialist electricians, and clearing Brazilian customs/formalities—been anchored about 3 hours.

           Entered the Amazon this morning.   Well before we could see land, we could see the muddy waters.  After land was sighted, one could see areas where smoke was rising.  Within a few hours the air was redolent with smoke, as it continues now, permeating into the cabins and other rooms onboard.  The river flow out at about 3 knots, so our forward speed today has been reduced to 10-12 knots.  There appeared to be a following wind this afternoon, so we ended up making good time to Macapa.

           Don’t expect updated itinerary until sometime tomorrow, after ship’s staff confers with river pilots, gets input from electricians, works with port agents and Miami on various stops.

           All-in-all, a nice day at sea with calm seas (rivers) until the smoke took over in midafternoon.  As noted, tomorrow’s planned stop in Santarem has been cancelled, so expect another sea day—hopefully with less smoke

[Mackdogmolly]

22 minutes ago, DS said:

Amazon update for Tuesday from onboard Quest

           Its 9:30 PM, ships time, and we are just hauling in anchor to leave Macapa, after picking up river pilot and specialist electricians, and clearing Brazilian customs/formalities—been anchored about 3 hours.

           Entered the Amazon this morning.   Well before we could see land, we could see the muddy waters.  After land was sighted, one could see areas where smoke was rising.  Within a few hours the air was redolent with smoke, as it continues now, permeating into the cabins and other rooms onboard.  The river flow out at about 3 knots, so our forward speed today has been reduced to 10-12 knots.  There appeared to be a following wind this afternoon, so we ended up making good time to Macapa.

           Don’t expect updated itinerary until sometime tomorrow, after ship’s staff confers with river pilots, gets input from electricians, works with port agents and Miami on various stops.

           All-in-all, a nice day at sea with calm seas (rivers) until the smoke took over in midafternoon.  As noted, tomorrow’s planned stop in Santarem has been cancelled, so expect another sea day—hopefully with less smoke

Thanks for the update. Hope all goes well for you 

[terry&mike]

12 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Thanks for the update. Hope all goes well for you 

In looking at the TV this morning, although it hasn’t been announced yet, it appears as though our stop in Boca tomorrow has also been cancelled. Currently, we are cruising up the Amazon, and can see houses along the shore, jungle, and a few small boats about. The air is heavy with smoke from the wildfires. 

[terry&mike]

1 hour ago, terry&mike said:

In looking at the TV this morning, although it hasn’t been announced yet, it appears as though our stop in Boca tomorrow has also been cancelled. Currently, we are cruising up the Amazon, and can see houses along the shore, jungle, and a few small boats about. The air is heavy with smoke from the wildfires. 

Captain just said we will port in Boca de Veleria tomorrow! Yay!

[DS]

We made it to Manaus!  On our way back out the river.  In both Manaus and Santarem we were originally scheduled to be docked, but had to revert to using tenders because of the water level.   What does this actually look like?  see attached.   The water usually is at or near the top of the dock, with “floating docks” attached to it.   You can see the floating dock (looks like a barge) now (with a bus on it) where the tenders dock.   The water level is down 50 feet or more, and dropping another foot every 3-4 days!  You can see lots of sand that used to be underwater (with some grass beginning to grow).  The water level on shore is way to shallow for our ship.

[DS]

7 minutes ago, DS said:

We made it to Manaus!  On our way back out the river.  In both Manaus and Santarem we were originally scheduled to be docked, but had to revert to using tenders because of the water level.   What does this actually look like?  see attached.   The water usually is at or near the top of the dock, with “floating docks” attached to it.   You can see the floating dock (looks like a barge) now (with a bus on it) where the tenders dock.   The water level is down 50 feet or more, and dropping another foot every 3-4 days!  You can see lots of sand that used to be underwater (with some grass beginning to grow).  The water level on shore is way to shallow for our ship.

Actually, @terry&mike have posted some other nice pictures and info on our trip on the "roll call" page.   If interested in more Amazon stuff, see their excellent info:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2828028-november-18-2023-amazon-intensive-voyage/page/10/

 

[lahore]

On 11/20/2023 at 9:50 PM, uktog said:

If you’re bored with the whole thing why not do what others do - ask that they recognise the second top cruiser instead? For them it might be a very meaningful event. 
I much prefer the Viking model of a drinks party but simple round of applause for the top cruiser - no pointing them out or parading. 
The event should  recognise loyalty many are very loyal with less than 5 cruises. Top cruiser only recognises wealth and the personal circumstances to be able to engage in multiple cruises only. So I agree time for a radical rethink 

Agree, I think Azamara is quite classy because of its understated-ness.  I find this whole celebration of wealth and indulgence thing really crass,  So what if someone has enough money to spend cumulative years on a costly cruise line, I also celebrate someone who saved up like crazy for their first cruise on Azamara (I fit into neither category btw). If I wanted ostentatious wealth I'd sail on Regent or Silversea etc..

[roger b]

We are on Pursuit  sailing Las Palmas to Cape Town,  this being our first time with Azamara,  we have been  privileged  to travel with the best Captain  and crew we have ever cruised with  in 50+ cruises .

 The Captain  Antonio is everywhere  and has been on the ball all day and evening  participating  in everything.

  They crew and service are also first class .

  With so many sea days they  have made it a wonderful  trip.

 My only down side is the food could be so much better and the two specialty restaurants  are not worth the added expense.

  

[beatnix]

54 minutes ago, roger b said:

We are on Pursuit  sailing Las Palmas to Cape Town,  this being our first time with Azamara,  we have been  privileged  to travel with the best Captain  and crew we have ever cruised with  in 50+ cruises .

 The Captain  Antonio is everywhere  and has been on the ball all day and evening  participating  in everything.

  They crew and service are also first class .

  With so many sea days they  have made it a wonderful  trip.

 My only down side is the food could be so much better and the two specialty restaurants  are not worth the added expense.

  

We are also on this cruise and enjoy every moment. Meals we usually have at Disoveries and had some really wonderful dishes. 

Antonio for me is a role model for a captain, never met one like him on nearly 30 cruises.

[Mackdogmolly]

Azamara has the best crews and captains at sea! 

[java spot]

If someone on any ship has a spare moment to post I would love to see a menu of prices at the spa for the more mundane services such as haircut and pedicure. Many thanks. 

[Leo_On_Geo]

Also on this cruise, and I have to say I had some the best meals in discoveries every night. I think Azamara has really stepped up its game in terms of food.
My only negative comment is the lack of variety in discoveries for lunch. Menus were rather repetitive.
Overall, it was an excellent cruise, and very happy with the FCC we were given.

[ghstudio]

We are on the onward in an n2 suite on the way to San Juan.  No issues other than grey sky and roughish  seas

[sabrina5zunoi3]

On 11/20/2023 at 1:25 PM, Belfastman said:

The top cruiser on one of our recent cruises built up their nights in inside cabins and so could get more nights for much less cost than those who cruise in suites.

It is a fact!

[FengShui@Sea]

We are currently on the Quest.  One of the issues that we attribute to only operating on three engines is reduced electrical power throughout the ship.  It appears that Azamara determined that sending a ship down to the Antarctic without sufficient power to heat our suite would be perfectly acceptable.  Granted we are in an Owners suite with a lot of windows, but there is minimal heat coming out of the ceiling vent, and I stress ‘minimal’.  So after two visits from technicians pretending to fix the problem, and us making note of this issue on the comment card, we arrived back to our suite last evening to the comical sight of blankets attached to the balcony windows with masking tape.  

 

[FengShui@Sea]

@java spot

[uktog]

1 hour ago, FengShui@Sea said:

We are currently on the Quest.  One of the issues that we attribute to only operating on three engines is reduced electrical power throughout the ship.  It appears that Azamara determined that sending a ship down to the Antarctic without sufficient power to heat our suite would be perfectly acceptable.  Granted we are in an Owners suite with a lot of windows, but there is minimal heat coming out of the ceiling vent, and I stress ‘minimal’.  So after two visits from technicians pretending to fix the problem, and us making note of this issue on the comment card, we arrived back to our suite last evening to the comical sight of blankets attached to the balcony windows with masking tape.  

 

Oh dear. Looks a bit sad. What if you wanted to take a photo out the window? 

[uktog]

A question for anyone who brought hair straighteners- do they still work on reduced power?  And is phone charging etc slower? 

[FengShui@Sea]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

A question for anyone who brought hair straighteners- do they still work on reduced power?  And is phone charging etc slower? 

All of our devices seem to charge the same as at home, no problem there.  

[Mackdogmolly]

I wonder if there is any news on when they will receive the part they need to fix the problem.

And so sorry about the lack of proper heat in your suite, Holly and Will!

[Riocca]

Years ago we did the Antarctic Cruise on Star Princess in a corner aft suite of similar size to an Owners Suite on Azamara. The ship was operating normally but we also suffered the heating in the suite being unable to cope with the low outside temperatures, we also lost hot water for 2 days.

Just wondering if it could be that modern cruise ships are not designed to handle the low Antarctic temperatures.

That said we’re hoping that they can fix Quest soon as we are due to join her in Rio in March.

[Mackdogmolly]

5 minutes ago, Riocca said:

Years ago we did the Antarctic Cruise on Star Princess in a corner aft suite of similar size to an Owners Suite on Azamara. The ship was operating normally but we also suffered the heating in the suite being unable to cope with the low outside temperatures, we also lost hot water for 2 days.

Just wondering if it could be that modern cruise ships are not designed to handle the low Antarctic temperatures.

That said we’re hoping that they can fix Quest soon as we are due to join her in Rio in March.

If this is the case, I’m surprised we haven’t heard more complaints about this issue. Since I will be on board in February for this itinerary, I guess I should be grateful for a lower cabin class!