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Azamara Onward replaces library with a bar!


Vagabondvoyager
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I just read an article about the renovations being done to the Azamara Onward.  The article stated that the beautiful library was removed and replaced with a bar.  This is so sad.  The libraries on the "R" class ships are one the main attractions on these ships.  They're a beautiful place to go and relax and bring back the old days of cruising.  I just can't believe that some corporate head made this very bad decision.  I'm sailing on Azamara because their ships are unique and are a throwback to when cruising was an adventure.  I definitely won't be sailing on the Onward.  If Az intends to remove the libraries from their other ships, I won't be sailing on them either.

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5 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

There is still a library in the Living Room, tho’ it doesn’t look to be so extensive.

It's not the loss of the books but the ruination of a beautiful roo at that bothers me.

I don't like what I am hearing about Azamara at all, nothing booked and not planning anything at this time.

 

 

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5 hours ago, Vagabondvoyager said:

I just read an article about the renovations being done to the Azamara Onward.  The article stated that the beautiful library was removed and replaced with a bar.  This is so sad.  The libraries on the "R" class ships are one the main attractions on these ships.  They're a beautiful place to go and relax and bring back the old days of cruising.  I just can't believe that some corporate head made this very bad decision.  I'm sailing on Azamara because their ships are unique and are a throwback to when cruising was an adventure.  I definitely won't be sailing on the Onward.  If Az intends to remove the libraries from their other ships, I won't be sailing on them either.

Like you, many of us are annoyed by the decision of replacing the library by a bar on the Onward and we hope this will not be copied on the other ships. There is extensive discussion about this issue on the thread that refers to the Azamara Onboard renovations in this board. 
Ivi

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I agree that the library/drawing room was a lovely space.The ceilings were fabulous. 

On my last 5 Azamara cruises, I went there to pick up a sudoku sheet a couple of times, meet prior to a special dinner a couple of times and, once, to look for a book. I saw a family playing a board game one time, and saw a book hunter another time. That’s it. If I were in business, in very tough times, I’d look for under-utilized areas and try to revamp them into something that might help the bottom line. Holding onto something so rarely used for nostalgia’s sake wouldn’t be negotiable. Time will tell if it’s successful. I think that will determine what happens with the other ships. I remember a similar, sometimes heated discussion about the casinos. The Den, in my opinion, is a much better use of that area. Change is inevitable  and somethings go away entirely. Im missing a local coffee shop that didn’t make it through the pandemic. I’m pleased that Azamara, despite growing pains, seems to be surviving Covid-19 and new ownership. My late fall cruise on the Journey was delightful in all of the usual ways and, in less than a month, I’ll have an informed opinion about the Atlas bar.

I imagine there’s a cruise line that suits everyones’ preferences. No single one will be all things to all people, but Azamara seems to suit many, even with the new, green bar!

Melissa

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According to the FB group the Atlas bar has been packed this week.

I guess that would be called a win, but could be partly novelty factor. We will find out when we board tomorrow in Ravenna. Oh and apparently Covid has been rife this week with many isolating in cabins on deck 4 set aside for that purpose. Oh happy days.!!!!!

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2 hours ago, Tuscany4 said:

According to the FB group the Atlas bar has been packed this week.

I guess that would be called a win, but could be partly novelty factor. We will find out when we board tomorrow in Ravenna. Oh and apparently Covid has been rife this week with many isolating in cabins on deck 4 set aside for that purpose. Oh happy days.!!!!!

I look forward to your observations. Stay safe . We will be onboard in July so very interested to hear folk's opinions onboard.

Avoid deck 4.

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On 5/12/2022 at 5:21 AM, jollyjoyce said:

I look forward to your observations. Stay safe . We will be onboard in July so very interested to hear folk's opinions onboard.

Avoid deck 4.

The best way to avoid Deck 4 is to wear a mask..... which few are doing.

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3 hours ago, KirkNC said:

Actually Princess converted it into a bar before AZ bought the ship.

 

Really? Do you have photos or deck plans?

 

I cannot find anything to confirm your statement online.

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8 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Really? Do you have photos or deck plans?

 

I cannot find anything to confirm your statement online.

 

8 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Really? Do you have photos or deck plans?

 

I cannot find anything to confirm your statement online.

If you go to the other thread on Atlas Bar, I believe there maybe pictures.

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Small ships are increasingly rare. One has to pick one's battles. I'd much rather sail on a small ship with a great itinerary than a behemoth with a library.*

 

 

 

 

* Not that one is very likely to find well-stocked libraries on the behemoths either, barring Cunard.

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19 hours ago, KirkNC said:

Actually Princess converted it into a bar before AZ bought the ship.

We were on it in Jan. 2019 and the library was still there.  It is highly unlikely that a major reconstruction was done.

20190101_133757.jpg

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1 hour ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

We were on it in Jan. 2019 and the library was still there.  It is highly unlikely that a major reconstruction was done.

20190101_133757.jpg

Highly unlikely Princess spent one unnecessary nickel on either of their R-ships.  Ocean Princess was a dump when we sailed her.

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It appears I misunderstood the previous thread concerning the bar being installed by Princess.  I thought the pictures in that thread we from the bar before AZ bought the ship.  Sorry for the confusion.

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Am I interested in a ship Library? Nope.

 

Do I use bars on cruises. Yup.

 

Each to their own. I know a decision to make changes to a ship area you admire can sour things. A library will never be one of them.

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1 hour ago, Mackdogmolly said:

How many bars do you need?

 

The more the merrier.... Preferably stocked with decent beverages. If I want a book, I can download to a kindle and have access to far more than a small library.

 

You questioned why a bar was an important aspect for a cruise to me (to socialise).

 

Why do you consider a library is more important than a bar on a cruise ship?

 

 

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29 minutes ago, les37b said:

 

The more the merrier.... Preferably stocked with decent beverages. If I want a book, I can download to a kindle and have access to far more than a small library.

 

You questioned why a bar was an important aspect for a cruise to me (to socialise).

 

Why do you consider a library is more important than a bar on a cruise ship?

 

 

 

I am not sure how many bars the ship had before the conversion of the library.  According to one WEB site, there are 5 of them.   Now it has 6.  How many libraries did it have before the conversion - one.  Now it is zero.  Even if you were reading from a Kindle the library was very comfortable quiet place to read.

 

The change will not stop me from cruising on Azamara if the itinerary is good and I understand the the reason why they did it but that doesn't change my disappointment.  However, it this is indicative of possible other changes on their ships I might end up cruising on Azamara less.

 

DON

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There are already sufficient bars on the Azamara boats.  With the small staterooms and lack of the dazzle that now exist on competing boats, having a room like the Library is somewhat unique these days and adds a bit to the ships.  Using that beautiful room for meetings and events other than just a place to sit and read adds something to the cruise experience that another bar does not, IMHO.  I know that there are many that will like the extra bar area but I hope that Azamara gives careful thought to making that change in the other ships.

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I too would prefer the library to the added bar (and I'm a retired librarian who still prefers to read things printed on paper), but in cases like this I try to step back and imagine what Azamara was thinking when they made the change.

On the one hand, what I view as their competition (Oceania and Viking) have libraries on their ships.  But on the other hand, they also have trendy bars like this on their ships.

And the next generation of customers is probably more attracted to this bar design than they would have been to the library.

In the final analysis, they probably thought 'once the libraries are gone, like the casinos, nobody will remember they ever existed and the issue will die away.'  And they're probably right.

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