Semi live from Azamara Pursuit May 17th Athens to Barcelona

[travelberlin]

Once again thank you for following my thread and for accompanying me during my cruise with the Azamara Pursuit from Athens to Barcelona.

 

Now it is a cold but sunny day back here and it is also beautiful. Nice bright colors on this spring day. 
 

To end this thread, I would like to give you my thoughts on my cruise experience.

 

Overall I had a very nice cruise and I was glad to be onboard an Azamara ship again.

 

From my perspective there are some areas of improvement. Those areas are: a) the pre cruise experience and communication, b) the internet access, c) the spa price-value relation and d) the products availability, including price-value relation, in the shops.

 

The first area is imo new to Azamara. Changing terms and conditions on a short notice and contradictory information have contributed to unnecessary anxiety before the cruise. It is important that Azamara quickly finds ways to improve the pre cruise communication specially because many first time cruisers are considering Azamara and confusing information does not speak well about the cruise line.
 

The deficiencies in Internet as well as the price-value relation in the shops and spa are issues that have been there a long time, even before COVID.
 

I guess Azamara has not much possibility to influence the products and prices in the spa and shops, however it should give the providers a feedback on it. Just to mention some examples, even with on board credit, it hurts to pay more than US 300 for a massage or US 140 for a manicure and pedicure or US 110 for a hair cut. It also hurts to pay almost US 100 for a shirt with the Azamara logo (US 75 plus country taxes). If we would not have onboard credit, I doubt it that many of us will be buying those products or using those services. At least in Europe those prices are not good value for money. A quick research on the offers from European cruise lines could give an idea of which prices those cruise lines charge.

 

In relation to the Internet, I think it is time for Azamara to find a solution either upgrading their system, finding alternative ways for better connectivity and/or offering Internet for free. The price of US 20 per day seems not justifiable for such a low quality. Again, the competition, that is other cruise lines, is offering better quality internet at half of that price if not for free.

 

Having said that, I was glad to see that the onboard experience was as good as always. Here I have to say that the onboard experience depends of our own situation. For example, I experience my cruises with Azamara as a solo traveler. My impressions are from this point of view. I find that Azamara is solo friendly. As a solo traveler, you can meet other people and socialize if you wish or you can just be on your own. I usually like to be on my own when I cruise solo. I have socialized less than usual this time onboard, because I was trying to avoid COVID. I did not go to all shows in the theater because only a few number of people were wearing masks. I have also not taken any ship excursions for the same reason. COVID is still a contagious virus  and maybe there were asymptomatic people onboard. I did not want to risk getting infected because this would affect further plans my husband and I have,  and more important because I did not want to be a risk for my husband’s health after returning home. I hope I have succeeded with that.

 

As a solo traveler, I have not felt in any form neglected onboard. Crew and officers were friendly and attentive. I have felt very well while cruising with the Azamara Pursuit. As a consequence I have booked another cruise with Azamara for February next year. I would have booked one for August this year but all ships are leaving from ports where I would have to fly again. I prefer not to fly that often, because the flights are not reliable with all those cancellations taking place.

 

I wish to thank the Crew and Officers of the Azamara Pursuit for contributing to making my cruise from Athens to Barcelona a very good one. I am glad you are back after two years of difficult years. It was good to see you again smiling with your eyes. Thank you! 
 

Ivi

[MouseBerry]

Thanks for the well written and very much informative semi live blog. My DW and me are about to leave for our first Az cruise embarking in Barcelona. I wish you a good cruise with MSC. We were very much loyal MSC cruisers for more than a decade, but experience last year on two MSC cruises in Yacht Club were not very good. It was not really bad, but consdering the price point and pre-covid cruises experience we expected more. One of the reasons we want to try a different cruise line. Yes, Az communication is not really good. From this level it can only move to the better😉

 

cheers

MouseBerry

[read2learn]

My cruise on the Pursuit begins on June 7th and I am excited to be back on board.  Your thread has been most informative and enjoyable to read. If I may trouble you with one last question, is it possible to carry off your own luggage when we disembark? I need to leave for the airport as early as possible.  Best wishes for smooth sailing on your next voyage!

[laurieb]

1 hour ago, read2learn said:

My cruise on the Pursuit begins on June 7th and I am excited to be back on board.  Your thread has been most informative and enjoyable to read. If I may trouble you with one last question, is it possible to carry off your own luggage when we disembark? I need to leave for the airport as early as possible.  Best wishes for smooth sailing on your next voyage!

We have carried our luggage off for early flights many times.  

[read2learn]

13 minutes ago, laurieb said:

We have carried our luggage off for early flights many times.  

Thank you. I have as well but wasn't sure if the procedure had changed due to our friend Mr. Covid!  I was so focused on getting the most direct flight home that I didn't research the distance from port to airport in Stockholm so i want to disembard as early as possible.

[travelberlin]

4 hours ago, read2learn said:

My cruise on the Pursuit begins on June 7th and I am excited to be back on board.  Your thread has been most informative and enjoyable to read. If I may trouble you with one last question, is it possible to carry off your own luggage when we disembark? I need to leave for the airport as early as possible.  Best wishes for smooth sailing on your next voyage!

Thank you 🙏. I have carried my own luggage on the day of debarkation. No problem at all.

Ivi

[andrcan]

Thanks, Ivi, for your time and effort to maintain this thread throughout your cruise. It was particularly useful for me as for the first time cruiser who is gonna cruise on the same ship in a couple of days. The information you provided busted my worries and gave the reference point for my expectations. Well done!

[Jem 12]

On 5/21/2022 at 7:44 PM, joyride said:

HA HA, lvi, there is always a bird!!! So enjoying your post, we will be on Pursuit May 31st in Barcelona. Will you be on that cruise, are you B2B? I might consider doing a "live from" post also as a first time Azamara cruiser. 

Oh please do a post that would be brilliant, we have friends onboard for the same cruise so would be lovely to get feedback, we would have joined them but had something else booked ( only a long weekend in Uk.) 

[les37b]

Travelberlin.... Thanks for taking us along for the ride. It's great to get an insight on what to expect a few days before sailing. Your efforts are most appreciated.

Edited May 29, 2022 by les37b

[Host Jazzbeau]

16 hours ago, Jem 12 said:

Oh please do a post that would be brilliant, we have friends onboard for the same cruise so would be lovely to get feedback, we would have joined them but had something else booked ( only a long weekend in Uk.) 

Please do.  So many of the 'regulars' here have pre-Covid, pre-independence memories of Azamara* – it would be good to see the current experience through new eyes!

 

*I'm including my self in that group

[Beamafar]

On 5/23/2022 at 11:21 AM, travelberlin said:

Last evening we had a very nice show. Four ladies, beautiful, young and with marvelous soprano voices, performed open air on the pool deck of the Azamara Pursuit.

 

The style was Pop Opera, which included well known arias from Bizet and Verdi and also songs from ABBA. The end song was Com te partiro, which is one of my favorite songs.

 

Overall was a nice evening and I have enjoyed it.

 

Ivi

Unfortunately AzAmazing Night won’t have been reinstated by the time we sail so we will do our best to enjoy a similar evening with the four ladies - Enchanting Tuscany.  

[capsplace]

On 5/26/2022 at 10:28 AM, Twiga said:

Ivi, Welcome Pickups is available in many cities worldwide.  I have used them in Athens several times.   They are wonderful.  Very reliable.

We used the service in Buenos Aires. 

[capsplace]

We’re new to Azamara, sailing in 2024.  
How have you found the ship, etc, since the change in ownership?  Any changes, plus or minus, in services, amenities, ship and stateroom, shops, casino, food, dining and bars, entertainment?

[asnaleah]

Ivi, did I read that you are sailing on Pursuit in February? We are on Buenos Aires-Rio, Feb 25. Hope you are too so we can meet!

[travelberlin]

5 hours ago, capsplace said:

We’re new to Azamara, sailing in 2024.  
How have you found the ship, etc, since the change in ownership?  Any changes, plus or minus, in services, amenities, ship and stateroom, shops, casino, food, dining and bars, entertainment?

I have found the experience onboard as good as before COVID and before new owners. The pre cruise experience worse than before. Confusing information which created a lot of anxiety before the cruise. Enjoy your 🚢 

Ivi
 

[travelberlin]

4 hours ago, asnaleah said:

Ivi, did I read that you are sailing on Pursuit in February? We are on Buenos Aires-Rio, Feb 25. Hope you are too so we can meet!

Yes I am booked on that one 😃 See you onboard if God so wishes 🙏🏼
Ivi

[Baynanno1]

13 hours ago, capsplace said:

We’re new to Azamara, sailing in 2024.  
How have you found the ship, etc, since the change in ownership?  Any changes, plus or minus, in services, amenities, ship and stateroom, shops, casino, food, dining and bars, entertainment?

I have not cruised since covid, but casinos were removed from Azamara prior to covid.