Are There Problems on Onward?

[Belfastman]

9 hours ago, Jerry987654321 said:

hey mwf7501 a few people including us have been curious about the condition and refurbishment of the owners suites on onward.  There are currently no videos of that cabin category and we have not seen any comments about the cabin.  If you have a moment could you describe what was refurbished and what was not?  We are really also hoping someone has time to post a video of an owners suite.  We have an owners suite booked for April, so curiosity abounds.  Thx.

All the interior of the owners suite have been refurbished and in a very good state. The rails on the veranda and are veranda doors have not been refreshed. The bathroom shower is excellent both in size and the selection of different jets of water you can have.

[G2G]

On 10/16/2022 at 3:17 PM, tgg said:

 

Many of us with upcoming sailings on Onward are concerned with whether issues raised by earlier passengers  have been addressed.

 

So if you've sailed on Onward in the last few month, could you comment on whether you feel things have been taken care of - or if we should be concerned.  It would be great if you can be as specific as possible. Thanks.

Thank you so much for posting this, it has been reassuring.

[mwf7501]

9 hours ago, Jerry987654321 said:

hey mwf7501 a few people including us have been curious about the condition and refurbishment of the owners suites on onward.  There are currently no videos of that cabin category and we have not seen any comments about the cabin.  If you have a moment could you describe what was refurbished and what was not?  We are really also hoping someone has time to post a video of an owners suite.  We have an owners suite booked for April, so curiosity abounds.  Thx.

Hello Jerry -- I'm not sure I have the technical skills or bandwidth to upload a video, but I will try a few pics later today.

 

Bottom line though is the Onward owners suite is virtually identical to the Pursuit.  If you look at Cruise Critic photos of the Pursuit suite, that is pretty much it, even down to the artwork in some cases.  The bathrooms and dressing area seem identical.  The cabinetry throughout seems identical. The only differences I see are:

-- Different furniture, although similar styles and very comfortable.  The veranda table and chairs are the same as the deck furniture in Windows, the loungers are the same as on the pool deck.

-- The headboard is different.

-- The veranda deck surface on Pursuit appears to be some kind of wood, or wood-appearing surface.   Onward has some sort of solid surface material, very plain but easy on the feet and quiet.

-- The carpeting has the same color tones as Pursuit, but different pattern.

 

Everything (furniture and surfaces) seem virtually all new.  I don't think they replaced the ceiling panels and the crown mold, but they're in very good shape. The windows and slider do not seem new but in good shape.

 

And of course all the above comments are based only on our suite; I assume the others on Onward are the same, but I don't know.

 

Attached is a link to the Cruise Critic Pursuit photos I looked at.   Also you can see a 45 second video by googling "Azamara Pursuit club world owners suite video". 

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/azamara-pursuit-1288/club-world-owners-suite-416885/club-world-owners-suite--v18584087/

 

[mwf7501]

15 hours ago, Jerry987654321 said:

hey mwf7501 a few people including us have been curious about the condition and refurbishment of the owners suites on onward.  There are currently no videos of that cabin category and we have not seen any comments about the cabin.  If you have a moment could you describe what was refurbished and what was not?  We are really also hoping someone has time to post a video of an owners suite.  We have an owners suite booked for April, so curiosity abounds.  Thx.

 

[Jerry987654321]

Thank you for taking the time and posting pics.  It looks very nice hope you continue to enjoy your cruise.  Happy sailing.

[Nippy Sweetie]

Azamazing evening tonight was diabolical. We left. We had to. The entertainment was three beautiful Italian opera singers with their own pianist. For some reason an appalling backing track was being played at ear splitting decibel level and bad distortion. It was painful. Such a waste as the ladies were trained opera singers who had no need of any amplification. We couldn't even hear the poor pianist. I'd love to hear them again without the unnecessary electronics.

 

[ryar27]

Has the machine been fixed in the Swirl are Top?

[Host Jazzbeau]

48 minutes ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

Azamazing evening tonight was diabolical. We left. We had to. The entertainment was three beautiful Italian opera singers with their own pianist. For some reason an appalling backing track was being played at ear splitting decibel level and bad distortion. It was painful. Such a waste as the ladies were trained opera singers who had no need of any amplification. We couldn't even hear the poor pianist. I'd love to hear them again without the unnecessary electronics.

 

Was this onboard?  Since you call it an Azamazing Evening that implies that it was onshore – at a venue not under Azamara's control...

[tgg]

53 minutes ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

Azamazing evening tonight was diabolical. We left. We had to. The entertainment was three beautiful Italian opera singers with their own pianist. For some reason an appalling backing track was being played at ear splitting decibel level and bad distortion. It was painful. Such a waste as the ladies were trained opera singers who had no need of any amplification. We couldn't even hear the poor pianist. I'd love to hear them again without the unnecessary electronics.

 

 

I would have left too.

 

Sometimes I think that the people running audio have grown up with earbuds in their ears for years.  They have undiagnosed hearing loss from listening to too loud music and don't realize that their parents' hearing is sharper than theirs. 

[DS]

1.   it was onboard... a Destination Celebration

2.   Every venue has been TOO loud... Cabaret, Living Room, Den.    I also thought that maybe all those "youngsters" had hearing loss so they turned everything up.   Yesterday Roy, the Assit  CD did a set of Jazz numbers in the Living Room before dinner... the canned sound track was too loud.   Today, the Band Saxophonist did a set and the same thing.... the canned track blocks out the soloist.   Both those sets were wonderful... orders of magnitude better than the usual LR band...

[uktog]

Sound levels on Journey were quite good overall. Some ships get it so wrong. Some go for canned music all day which drives me crazy. I’m glad journey didn’t 

[Host Jazzbeau]

17 minutes ago, uktog said:

Sound levels on Journey were quite good overall. Some ships get it so wrong. Some go for canned music all day which drives me crazy. I’m glad journey didn’t 

Agreed.  And I found the sound levels just fine everywhere on Journey [but you need to look up before taking a seat in the Cabaret Lounge to see where the speakers are – don't get too close]

[PirateWife]

There is a problem with the smoke from the smoking area wafting over to the pool bar on all the ships. I don't know if all of the ships have the canopy over the tables at the pool bar, but the canopy tends to trap the smoke for people at the pool bar to smell. Deck 12 may be a little harsh for the smoking area. Maybe in the casino.🙂

[Baynanno1]

1 hour ago, PirateWife said:

There is a problem with the smoke from the smoking area wafting over to the pool bar on all the ships. I don't know if all of the ships have the canopy over the tables at the pool bar, but the canopy tends to trap the smoke for people at the pool bar to smell. Deck 12 may be a little harsh for the smoking area. Maybe in the casino.🙂

 

The casino is as good a suggestion as deck 12 - neither exist on Azamara. 🙃

[laurieb]

On 10/17/2022 at 9:58 AM, mwf7501 said:

Hi Paul, I suspect we’ll see you after dinner.   I admit my wife and I are both somewhat irrationally aggravated by smoke.  But I really think moving it to the back of the pool deck would be a reasonable compromise.  
 

We’re in an owners suite, courtesy of COVID and the fire sale AZ was running last year on our final lift and shift.   Our lights are mounted on the wall, no usb.  
 

Other thoughts — there has been no piped music on the pool deck, which we think is good.   Also, the internet speed has been mostly good, not fast but much better than no internet. 
 

Happy travels to all. 

If the smoking area was move where you’re suggesting , it would affect the Patio and also could impact  Windows, so more complaints there than the bar.  

Edited October 19, 2022 by laurieb

[Nippy Sweetie]

This was called the Azamazing evening. It took place on board. I agree with other posters. All sound settings are too loud. Painfully so. I wonder why it's not been noticed by staff? If I see the cruise director I'll certainly tell him. 

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

This was called the Azamazing evening. It took place on board. I agree with other posters. All sound settings are too loud. Painfully so. I wonder why it's not been noticed by staff? If I see the cruise director I'll certainly tell him. 

I would also tell the hotel director 

[Nippy Sweetie]

I think we'll go to Guest Services about it. I have noticed that others are unhappy with the amplification around the ship.

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 hours ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

I think we'll go to Guest Services about it. I have noticed that others are unhappy with the amplification around the ship.

There’s an old saying:  “Never talk to the monkey when the organ grinder is present.”  As good as the Guest Services people are on Azamara, they don’t have the clout that the CD or HD do. 

[uktog]

9 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

There’s an old saying:  “Never talk to the monkey when the organ grinder is present.”  As good as the Guest Services people are on Azamara, they don’t have the clout that the CD or HD do. 

And as the CD reports to the HD top of the tree is best 

[Nippy Sweetie]

OK. First find the HD! Will persevere. I don't like complaining but know from my work that for one person who takes the trouble to complain there are many who don't but just go elsewhere.

[uktog]

6 hours ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

This was called the Azamazing evening. It took place on board. I agree with other posters. All sound settings are too loud. Painfully so. I wonder why it's not been noticed by staff? If I see the cruise director I'll certainly tell him. 

If the event is onboard it is not supposed to be called Azamazing Evening it is supposed to be called destination celebration to clearly differentiate it is similar but not the same. 
Who called it Azamazing Evening?  
If it was in the printed material that’s a big boob

[Nippy Sweetie]

Doesn't really matter does it?  There were lurid fizzy cocktails and lots of canapes circulated. The Cabaret room was all decorated and big bowls of roses etc. Clearly a big effort had been gone to. Shame about the amplification and backing track. 

[tgg]

1 hour ago, Nippy Sweetie said:

OK. First find the HD! Will persevere. I don't like complaining but know from my work that for one person who takes the trouble to complain there are many who don't but just go elsewhere.

You don't have to "find" the HD.  Let Guest Relations know that you would like to speak to the HD directly.

 

If you can get this continuing problem addressed, those of us with future cruises will thank you. 

[Nippy Sweetie]

I will do that.