Azamara Onward replaces library with a bar!

[yogagal47]

On 6/30/2022 at 12:49 PM, lisiamc said:

And so it should. I’m a big fan of the Atlas bar! 🙂

The official Azamara website describes the Atlas bar on Onward as follows:

 

Atlas Bar is an exclusive venue found only aboard Azamara Onward. Atlas Bar is a unique concept offering artisanal cocktails created using the latest one-of-a-kind techniques. These crafted beverages are as delightful to drink as they are to watch being made! In addition, an exotic menu of small plates, both hot and cold, will be offered. These small plates will be served with great panache and prepared with premium ingredients. Atlas Bar is a specialty venue and is not part of Azamara’s complimentary offerings.

 

What is the additional cost for this experience? 

[lisiamc]

7 minutes ago, yogagal47 said:

The official Azamara website describes the Atlas bar on Onward as follows:

 

Atlas Bar is an exclusive venue found only aboard Azamara Onward. Atlas Bar is a unique concept offering artisanal cocktails created using the latest one-of-a-kind techniques. These crafted beverages are as delightful to drink as they are to watch being made! In addition, an exotic menu of small plates, both hot and cold, will be offered. These small plates will be served with great panache and prepared with premium ingredients. Atlas Bar is a specialty venue and is not part of Azamara’s complimentary offerings.

 

What is the additional cost for this experience? 

We like the Ultimate drinks package and had this on our May cruise. So there was no other additional cost for us. But if someone doesn’t have the package, there is a charge per drink. The charge depends on what you order, I think.

[Mackdogmolly]

4 hours ago, lisiamc said:

We like the Ultimate drinks package and had this on our May cruise. So there was no other additional cost for us. But if someone doesn’t have the package, there is a charge per drink. The charge depends on what you order, I think.

That is correct 

[D. B.]

Lots more Profit in Drinks than Books?

[andrcan]

2 hours ago, D. B. said:

Lots more Profit in Drinks than Books?

The triumph of the spirit over the matter)

Look at the recent posts here on Azamara message board: "Complimentary drinks", "Ultimate drinks package", "Current wine list help", "Azamara drink packages and included drinks", "Is there a limit to the number of bottles of wine you can bring on board?"... The only one about the library is "Azamara Onward replaces library with a bar!"🤷

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 minute ago, andrcan said:

The triumph of the spirit over the matter)

Look at the recent posts here on Azamara message board: "Complimentary drinks", "Ultimate drinks package", "Current wine list help", "Azamara drink packages and included drinks", "Is there a limit to the number of bottles of wine you can bring on board?"... The only one about the library is "Azamara Onward replaces library with a bar!"🤷

It seems that even this thread title is an exaggeration, as it has been reported that Azamara is going to stock the shelves of this area with a large compliment of books.  It will therefore become a hybrid library by day/bar by night.  Since the space, while beloved (by many, including me), was never very highly used this seems like a good compromise to make the space appealing to more passengers more of the time.  And if it brings in some more revenue which helps keep Azamara afloat, what's so cynical about that?

[takemewithyou]

I didn’t think they are bringing back books into the new Atlas bar, but they are going on shelves in the living room…..isn’t that correct?

[andrcan]

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

It seems that even this thread title is an exaggeration, as it has been reported that Azamara is going to stock the shelves of this area with a large compliment of books.  It will therefore become a hybrid library by day/bar by night.  Since the space, while beloved (by many, including me), was never very highly used this seems like a good compromise to make the space appealing to more passengers more of the time.  And if it brings in some more revenue which helps keep Azamara afloat, what's so cynical about that?

I'm glad I went to see the original Azamara Drawing Room on board the Pursuit earlier this year. It's beautiful and cozy - and painfully empty each time we went there. So yes, after seeing the room, I got to understand the reasons behind refurbishing it into the bar on the Onward and I'm looking forward to have the Atlas bar experience this December. Furthermore, I don't know how much of a cash cow it is at the moment but one thing I noticed on the Pursuit is the lack of TVs in the lounges; when we wanted to watch a sports event, we had to retreat to our cabin. We asked the bartender in the Den about it - he looked around in surprise and told us, he's only been with the Pursuit for a month having been transferred from the Journey, and over there, they used to have some. So, talking about cynical, I'm wondering if bringing in some elements of sports bar, e.g. TVs streaming various sports events may help increasing the revenue at the Atlas bar.

[donaldsc]

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

It seems that even this thread title is an exaggeration, as it has been reported that Azamara is going to stock the shelves of this area with a large compliment of books.  It will therefore become a hybrid library by day/bar by night.  Since the space, while beloved (by many, including me), was never very highly used this seems like a good compromise to make the space appealing to more passengers more of the time.  And if it brings in some more revenue which helps keep Azamara afloat, what's so cynical about that?

 

I have not been on an Azamara ship for a few years but when I did cruise on them you could expect to see me in the library frequently.  Most of the time I was not the only one there.  it wasn't crowded but it wasn't empty.

 

DON

[royallondon]

4 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

I didn’t think they are bringing back books into the new Atlas bar, but they are going on shelves in the living room…..isn’t that correct?

That was my understanding (from the Captain at a Q&A session) having been on board last week.  1500 additional books were scheduled to be put in the new library space (living room) in Athens last Wednesday.

 

Interestingly the doors to the Atlas bar were closed (but not locked) on the 3 occasions we passed by during the day (to see if it was being used as a day “quiet space” )

 

The Captain also said the original mural had actually been preserved having been covered over before the new distressed style designer luggage trunk design was applied.  
 

Regards

 

[lisiamc]

7 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

It seems that even this thread title is an exaggeration, as it has been reported that Azamara is going to stock the shelves of this area with a large compliment of books.  It will therefore become a hybrid library by day/bar by night.  Since the space, while beloved (by many, including me), was never very highly used this seems like a good compromise to make the space appealing to more passengers more of the time.  And if it brings in some more revenue which helps keep Azamara afloat, what's so cynical about that?

The shelves that are going to be stocked with books are the ones in the side area of The Living Room. The shelves in the Atlas Bar have been removed. It will still be a quiet area suitable for reading during the day, though.

Edited July 26, 2022 by lisiamc

[lisiamc]

1 hour ago, royallondon said:

That was my understanding (from the Captain at a Q&A session) having been on board last week.  1500 additional books were scheduled to be put in the new library space (living room) in Athens last Wednesday.

 

Interestingly the doors to the Atlas bar were closed (but not locked) on the 3 occasions we passed by during the day (to see if it was being used as a day “quiet space” )

 

The Captain also said the original mural had actually been preserved having been covered over before the new distressed style designer luggage trunk design was applied.  
 

Regards

 

That’s great news! I’d love to see the mural restored some day.

[BuckGood]

On 5/11/2022 at 2:31 AM, travelberlin said:

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

No Offense but I NEVER saw Anyone in the Library’s on Any of the ships so I’m glad Azamara has added another venue And looking forward to using it on our upcoming December cruise! 

[BuckGood]

On 5/23/2022 at 6:12 AM, lahore said:

In my opinion, for what it is worth, diversity is important and I feel very sorry when people (other passengers, cruise line directors) decide that we are all the same.  

By way of example, we don't drink alcohol, and I do tire of people thinking most decisions revolve around a need to have a drink.  Also, not everyone goes on a cruise to socialise - I love the peace and quiet of watching the waves and adore being at sea - my work requires me to be constantly surrounded by people and to act gregarious even if don't feel like it; I don't seek that out on holiday.  If I did, I would go on a mass market line, which I purposefully don't. Further along that line, what is wrong with having a place that is quiet and not always filled with people (e.g., a library)?  As someone else said, aren't there enough bars onboard....how many do you need?   
 

By now you may have a picture of me as an old fuddy duddy; in reality I am not at the upper end of cruise age groups by any stretch and I am told that I can be great fun. It's so difficult to find somewhere quiet on cruise ships, can we not eliminate any more?

We have been on at least 5 Azamara cruises and have NEVER EVER seen Anyone sitting in the library reading NEVER! To me it was a Waste of Great space and glad they made it into Another Bar! 

[DaveA]

On 5/11/2022 at 7:31 AM, travelberlin said:

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. 

At the captain's Q&A earlier this month it was reported that the bar is proving generally popular and generating useful revenue. It is therefore likely to be rolled out to other ships in due course.

[lisiamc]

3 minutes ago, DaveA said:

At the captain's Q&A earlier this month it was reported that the bar is proving generally popular and generating useful revenue. It is therefore likely to be rolled out to other ships in due course.

Not sure what this says about me and my barfly tendencies 😁, but despite early trepidation, DH and I both enjoyed the Atlas Bar, and look forward to seeing it rolled out on the other ships. 
 

It’s a bit like the idea of The Den was. I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it, but I really do. I don’t know why I was hesitant, since I never used the casino anyway. Maybe I’m just not fond of change, and it takes me a while to come around?

[uktog]

I’m on Quest just now. There have been folks using the library every time I have been there. There are also 4 groups onboard including Music at Sea. They are holding events from time to time in the Library. There was also a Sabbath Service there the other night. The Hotel staff are rightly unsure how all these groups could be accommodated if the library became another bar. A bar would not be an appropriate setting for some. 

[lisiamc]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

I’m on Quest just now. There have been folks using the library every time I have been there. There are also 4 groups onboard including Music at Sea. They are holding events from time to time in the Library. There was also a Sabbath Service there the other night. The Hotel staff are rightly unsure how all these groups could be accommodated if the library became another bar. A bar would not be an appropriate setting for some. 

We’re on Onward again in November, on a b2b, so it should be a long enough time on ship to see how they handle activities and meetings in the absence of the Drawing Room.

[Vagabondvoyager]

2 hours ago, uktog said:

I’m on Quest just now. There have been folks using the library every time I have been there. There are also 4 groups onboard including Music at Sea. They are holding events from time to time in the Library. There was also a Sabbath Service there the other night. The Hotel staff are rightly unsure how all these groups could be accommodated if the library became another bar. A bar would not be an appropriate setting for some. 

I was on the Quest over Christmas and on the Pursuit in June for 17 nights.  Everyday when I went to the Library, there were people in there reading or doing the puzzles.  It is the one place where guests can go that is quiet and comfortable.  How many bars are necessary on a ship?  If drinking is that important to you, book your cruises on Carnival.

[Riocca]

No wish to be controversial but most of the negative comments come from those who haven’t cruised on Azamara Onward. We were on the maiden so have experienced it first hand and have seen what has been done to mitigate the change of use. 
Firstly there is a library it’s just been relocated to the living room, admittedly books were scarce but this was a logistical issue which I think has now been resolved. Much is made of the wonderful library on Viking ships but this is in the Explorer’s Lounge so a very similar situation to that on Onward. 
Secondly the Atlas bar only opens in the evening so during the day it’s available as a quiet space, this was our experience and we used it on a number of occasions as did others.

 

I think most people use the Drawing Room during the day we’ve not seen it used much in the evenings except for the Best of the Best and private functions so I’m not sure what people are actually losing. It could be used for private functions during the day as the bar is cleared down, but I think on the maiden meetings were either in the Show Lounge or an area in the Living Room depending on the type of function.

 

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Riocca said:

No wish to be controversial but most of the negative comments come from those who haven’t cruised on Azamara Onward. We were on the maiden so have experienced it first hand and have seen what has been done to mitigate the change of use. 
Firstly there is a library it’s just been relocated to the living room, admittedly books were scarce but this was a logistical issue which I think has now been resolved. Much is made of the wonderful library on Viking ships but this is in the Explorer’s Lounge so a very similar situation to that on Onward. 
Secondly the Atlas bar only opens in the evening so during the day it’s available as a quiet space, this was our experience and we used it on a number of occasions as did others.

 

I think most people use the Drawing Room during the day we’ve not seen it used much in the evenings except for the Best of the Best and private functions so I’m not sure what people are actually losing. It could be used for private functions during the day as the bar is cleared down, but I think on the maiden meetings were either in the Show Lounge or an area in the Living Room depending on the type of function.

 

I was only reporting the situation on Quest and the views of officers there. I will be on Onward later in the year and will form a final view then. But I am certainly not short of places to enjoy a drink on Quest and I enjoy the Library as a place to sit especially on the first day when the weather wasn’t so good 

[AJCM]

Given that the library room is gone on Onward and is presumedly likely to go on the others if proving popular;  on past cruises we’ve found the Living Room a good quiet space to sit and read during a sea day; along with others doing the same. It’s really quiet unless either approaching a port or from late afternoon, when activities commence (and sometimes at 9.30am if the trivia is moved there). With the change, this is the logical alternative location for the library collection.

 

When weather permits,  the outside loungers on deck 5 are also a very enjoyable quiet location, with the benefit of the sound and sight of the ocean; as well as easy access to a coffee.

 

These are good alternatives for those who don’t want to read in the Atlas Bar during the day. The library has seemed quite under utilised whenever we’ve strolled through during the day. Also, on any occasion we’ve visited the library at night (when it’s not closed due to a function) to check out the Atlas, we’ve been on our own; except for two occasions when onboard solo musicians were practising.