Azamara Quest - Mediterranean Cities, October 28-November 4 2021

[Bimmer09]

3 hours ago, MJSailors said:

Norris-

     I look to read your GJ every day. Most enjoyable and your photos are very descriptive of all the places you visited on this vacation. 

Thank you for all the effort you put into the GJ. .

      As I was reading your account of the Basilica in Monserrat and the outside coffee time you shared with Carol, I was thinking to myself... Wait ! Did you purchase a souvenir magnet ? Glad that you thought to purchase one and that you were able to sprint to the shop and back to the bus in time ! Whew ! 

       I look forward to more pages to peruse until your journey is finished.

By the way- my DH thought of a Christmas gift for each other. We are booked on the Summit this coming May with an itinerary of Newport, Bermuda and Charleston. We have an Aqua class cabin and are looking forward to Blu. The ship has been totally refurbished and looks bright and upbeat.While they aren’t the most exotic ports, they suit our interests. This will be the first cruise for us since Covid began. Fingers crossed it is a go for us ! 

Take care- 

MJ🙋🏻

MJ, the Summit is a fine looking tub and you'll love Blu! We have only ever used it for breakfasts as on our first X we were in a suite and it was beating Luminae (which improved on our 2nd X). We loved our smoothies in the morning. We only used it on the first Silhouette review but it was memorable.

 

Newport is a nice town. We did the Cliff Walk and an interior tour of the Breakers mansion (Regal Princess review)

 

It's too early to wish you Bon Voyage but I hope you cruise in May.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

2 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Hey Norris, Here's a hint.  Buy a new stainless steel fridge  voila.  no magnets will stick and you don't need to buy any more.  lol

Steve,

We don't have our magnets on the fridge door but instead buy light magnetic boards from Am****

The fridge door has a limited size whereas we can wallpaper the whole house with these puppies.

Our travel destinations will NOT be limited by the size of our fridge!!

EXHIBIT A

 

We have 5 of these boards arranged vertically

[Bimmer09]

53 minutes ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Thanks again for the memories!

I am green with envy . . . the Basilica is so empty!!

It was like an overflowing sardine can when we were there in 2012.

But I did also get to walk along the cliff path to the Santa Cova Chapel.

Alas we had no time to walk the cliff path nor to take the high funicular but they are there for the next time.

It had been 6 years since we were in Barcelona but we will return.

Rome we will return to but not for a cruise as we are never there long enough and hate to leave.

We've seen all the major sites but just like the ambiance of being there. Dining outside is our favorite way to eat and Rome excels at that. Plus we could take train day trips to other cities.

Only if we are staying in Tuscany would I rent a car-an Alpha Romeo convertible I imagine, staying in a rented farmhouse or such. One can dream.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Back on board I recount my morning to a new friend whom I have been talking to each day. Darco who I believe has the Indulgences concession onboard. He returns home to Serbia tomorrow having been on a B2B.

[ChucktownSteve]

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she won-der-ful?

 

I WONDER  how nobody caught that.  They must be blind?

[mchell810]

13 minutes ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she won-der-ful?

 

I WONDER  how nobody caught that.  They must be blind?

 

I don't usually play the song game, but I can tell you need someone to jump in 😉

 

Stevie Wonder!

[Sheal]

3 hours ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Hey Norris, Here's a hint.  Buy a new stainless steel fridge  voila.  no magnets will stick and you don't need to buy any more.  lol

LOL.  Mine is coming next Monday.  I put them all in a shoebox wondering what I was to do but now Norris has solved that dilemma for me. 

1 hour ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Thanks again for the memories!

I am green with envy . . . the Basilica is so empty!!

It was like an overflowing sardine can when we were there in 2012.

But I did also get to walk along the cliff path to the Santa Cova Chapel.

My in-laws took my two girls (early 20's) about 6 years ago as a side trip until we arrived the next morning.  I specifically told them what train they needed to be on (super early as it was Chorus day).  Needless to say, they got there late and all I heard about was how they were crammed into the back and forced to stand there.  Well, I will make it right for them next time.  We will all get up at the crack of dawn and drag our tired behinds on that bus and this time we will be sitting.  Only problem I need to solve is when to go.  So many places and so little time.

 

 

19 minutes ago, ChucktownSteve said:

I WONDER  how nobody caught that.  They must be blind?

I just logged in and have to admit this is the first one I recognized.  Shaking my head back and forth. 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Sheal
lousy speller

[TeaBag]

Thank you Norris for the wonderful review.   You have kept me cruising vicariously.  I enjoyed the Montserrat trip.  As many times as we have been in Spain, we have never been there.  I really can't wait to sail on this lovely ship and I do so hope our Norway Intensive will actually sail.  Looks like COVID is heating up again in Europe..............

Where is your next venture?

[Bimmer09]

As we didn't have a real one and regretted it we thought we'd treat our Barcelona afternoon like a lazy sea day.(the Azamara sea-day brunches are something special-see my Cuba review)

So lunch outside Windows Cafe was just the ticket and one of the few times Carol would visit the buffet.

THE TABLE

 

THE SCENERY

 

THE TASTY VITTLES

 

FRIED POTATOES, ALOO GOBBI (INDIAN), ROASTED CAULIFLOWER (INDIAN) SOME ROUND PORK THING AND MEATLOAF (but didn't see any gravy, so dry meatloaf but flavorful)

 

NORRIS GETS HIS JUST DESSERTS

 

BANANA, STRAWBERRY AND PISTACHIO GELATO WITH SALTED CARAMEL SYRUP

(for LT Hambone who is weeping)

[Bimmer09]

9 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

Thank you Norris for the wonderful review.   You have kept me cruising vicariously.  I enjoyed the Montserrat trip.  As many times as we have been in Spain, we have never been there.  I really can't wait to sail on this lovely ship and I do so hope our Norway Intensive will actually sail.  Looks like COVID is heating up again in Europe..............

Where is your next venture?

I hope your Norway Intensive sails-why should it not? Az are willing to sail (and really have to) with half capacity or less. Ships tied up cost money and make bupkis. Norway is seldom in Covid news.

Our one visit to Norway wasn't as intensive as Az will make it but blew my socks off (I'm just wearing slippers as I type).

Stunningly beautiful country. Good food. Memories to last forever. Hope you like waterfalls.

 

Our next planned adventure is August next year and a return to the Bayreuth Wagner festival our #1 travel lure since our first visit in 1999 when one of the singers there got us front row seats. That means we also visit Munich and usually tag on a couple of days in Vienna.

 

Cruisewise it is our first CruiseTour to Alaska on Princess-10 days, 3 on land by Mt Denali and 7 on the Sapphire Princess, Whittier to Vancouver where we have friends and a favorite restaurant (5 Sails). That's May 21 2023. If we fit in another cruise in the meantime I'll come back here to tell you so keep the Notification button alive.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I depend a lot on my photos to remember what I did on any particular day and on this afternoon after that nice lunch following a lot of walking around (2.7 miles today according to Carol's Fitbit) there must have been a nap of at least two hours. The ship was so quiet. Moored in a calm harbor it didn't move an inch.

Comfy bed. A nap was inevitable and heavenly.

 

Tonight we were dining in Prime C one of the two Specialty Restaurants on board. With lesser passenger loads AZ have been alternating them so there is only one choice per night. At $30 per head for quality food and ambiance they are in step and on a par with Princess' Specialties in price and quality. The Crown Grill on Princess is hard to beat for its atmospherically lit, leather and wood decor and above all the open kitchen with flames and smoke, chefs hats ablaze and the aroma of charred bovine flesh and seared chef.

They also have (or had??) a dessert called the Crown Dependence which was five or six desserts on one plate. They will wheel you back to your cabin on a stretcher. It's over 3 years since we sailed on our most traveled cruise line-Princess where we are Elite members and get to boss other passengers around.

 

So we are looking forward to a really nice dinner in a small cosy restaurant.

 

I also need more Euros for Barcelona and Dublin so I make a trip down to Guest Relations. They have 2 ATMs down here on deck 4. You have to withdraw U.S. Dollars and then change them at the counter for Euros. The ATM fee is $6.50. The Euro exchange was a higher  rate (but not by much) than the Chase Bank in Chicago who charged $1.25 each Euro when the rate was 1.18. We should have known when we walked into the Currency Exchange section and the teller, wearing a Covid mask reached into a drawer and put on an eye mask. Lone Ranger fans will know what I am talking about.

 

I passed through the Mosaic Cafe on my way up to deck 9

 

visited the men's room on deck 9

I love the rolled terry towels for drying your hands here. Just like Celebrity

 

and stopped for a beer and thank this man-Nitin by name who kept me hydrated all week. I only needed to raise an eyebrow when I caught his gaze and he was over in a flash with a nice cold, sudsy Becks beer. Wonderful smiling service on Azamara.

 

Chores done, I could now wait for a sunset

 

 

[Grandma Cruising]

6 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

I don't usually play the song game, but I can tell you need someone to jump in 😉

 

Stevie Wonder!

You got there before me!

[Bimmer09]

THERE ARE NO WORDS...

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

SHIP NERD BONUS

 

 

[Bimmer09]

FOOD NERD BONUS

Before we go to dinner, do you remember the missing Indonesian dish on Greek Night?

I described a dish called Nepalese Pork Dumplings. Anyway I have found the missing photograph and it speaks to the variety of the dinner entrees on Azamara 

[Bimmer09]

CABLE CAR NERD BONUS

These shots pinpoint the Quest's position in the Barcelona harbor

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

Deck 10 aft on the starboard side. Aqualina the Italian specialty is on the port side. There is a private event going on in there tonight. Maybe a Chef's dinner.

 

We were greeted by the bar and soon after by a member of staff. I'll show pics of the room before we get to the food.

 

 

There's a table set up for a Chef's Dinner but that's not happening in here tonight

 

 

 

We love cheese but I'll bet good money we forget to order some at the end of our meal

 

 

[Bimmer09]

The table is set.The black napkins have been laid on laps. Glasses of Merlot for Madame et Messieur poured. Yes, Carol* is drinking wine. Our new friend Yonela, the Sommelier stops by to say hello.

 

* When I went to Guest Realations earlier for my Euros I got an account printout and saw that we still had $100 in shipboard credit. Carol found a use for it that evening and treated herself to a hot stone massage in the spa. She can tell you about that when she catches up with this review.

 

Meantime here is a picture. Do you notice anything wrong with the Prime C menu?

 

Of course you do! I'll leave my minor criticisms of Azamara until later. They are few.

 

[Bimmer09]

 

The Aquafina menu cover held the menus for both venues

 

Italians among you will notice theres's no pasta course. I did on the Journey and criticized the lack. Bonnie MacLaird, the excellent ambassador for Az on this board back then (bring her back!) forwarded my views to the Exec Chef who was "working on an update" but nothing changed.  The evening wasn't Italian enough for us on Journey. No strolling accordionist or guy selling roses. No knife fights in the kitchen  with Beppe accusing Tonio of looking longingly at his wife Lola while chopping the cilantro.

 

There are many tempting choices on these menus. Come hungry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Bimmer09
remove photos

[ChucktownSteve]

2 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

THERE ARE NO WORDS...

 

Is that our Todd Rundgren reference?  Oh, ah, ooooo.  More great pix. Thankx.

Edited November 23, 2021 by ChucktownSteve

[Bimmer09]

 

That was an "amuse bouche" to start us off. Salmon rolled around some creme fraiche. Looks a bit like a slice of Swiss Roll (for my British readers). Some balsamic glaze and we are off to a good start.

 

Carol's Caesar salad. A steakhouse staple. Chicken or shrimp were offered gratis

 

My potato soup with scallion, Cheddar cheese bacon and herbed sour cream. Yummy!

 

Crab and lobster cakes with pineapple salsa and fennel salad

 

 

Chateaubriand (for 2) with good fries, creamed spinach and leeks and some dodgy focusing

 

a trio of gelato-vanilla, chocolate and coconut. I love coconut, Carol not so much

 

finally-and you'll notice I forgot the cheese cart. Idiot!! 

(Full marks for the Riedel stemware)

 

A fine repast! $30 pp!

 

 

Note: I am wearing black pants and have a black napkin on my lap- I am not that guy who wears his pants up to his chest! Nor am I a guy who wears long black socks with sandals. Gimme credit!

[Bimmer09]

24 minutes ago, ChucktownSteve said:

 

Is that our Todd Rundgren reference?  Oh, ah, ooooo.  More great pix. Thankx.

Not familiar with Todd but meant the pics tell the story without help from me.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

LAST PIC OF THE DAY

Carol had already packed before hitting the spa so after dinner it was my turn to get the bags out before 11pm. Done. The room had to be vacated by 8 a.m. We were meeting Pepito Tours on the dock at 9. I stepped onto the balcony and took a photo of the W Hotel across the harbor...

 

Night, night!

[Baynanno1]

23 hours late for Stevie Wonder . . .

[Bimmer09]

Quest, it's been fun!

Up early again. We have to be out of the cabin by 8 a.m. At 6 I have my coffee from Windows and am at my smoking station. There I meet and say adios to a gentleman-Joe from Georgia whose company I have enjoyed all week. We have made each other laugh.

 

A crew of 10 get to work pressure washing, scrubbing and buffing the pool deck, ready for the new passengers who will be coming aboard for the Spain Intensive cruise ending in Lisbon.

I meet Carol at the buffet around 7 when it opens

 

She the fruit plate, bacon and scrambled eggs, I the hash brown triangles just like McDonalds, British back bacon, and something pretending to be Black Pudding.

 

when I come back to smoke the furniture has gone but the team have prepped a table for me in front of the bar. I thank them but I'll stand as I have to go soon. There is fresh coffee.

 

 

I walk the length of deck 7 back to my cabin. It's not the usual clutter on disembarkation day