Some thoughts on 1st AZ in 4 yrs/Scotland Intensive/Journey/Aug 17-29

[AllisonJames]

Hello Everyone — I posted a lot on our pre-cruise challenges so thought I’d follow up with a cruise report and maybe the info will help someone. Our many times rebooked/first cruise since the pandemic/1st time back on AZ since July 2019 (which was also a similar itinerary on Journey so will provide some comparisons).

 

The headline: to us, the experience overall still felt like the same AZ and same Journey. The PROS are still the PROS and unfortunately, the CONS are still the CONS (except somewhat worse, in our opinion). The experience seemed very similar to 2019…although since then the casino is now the Den, and since we had enjoyed the Den on Pursuit we were glad we could now enjoy it on Journey and spent considerable time there.

 

PROS: casual, friendly atmosphere, service (with one particular exception), itineraries, Perry Golf package which brought us to AZ in the first place and will keep us with AZ. The intimate ship experience continues to feel like a good fit for us.

 

CONS: Unfortunately the aspects we criticized four years ago — beverage options (particularly wine selection) and shore excursions seem to have gotten worse.

 

Not a particular PRO or a CON: The food. We continue to give it a B. This is just not a line for foodies, in our opinion. Nothing we ate made us say “wow that was delicious” and we had some very mediocre fish and pasta dishes. The soups continue to be very good. The desserts seemed a little bit improved in presentation/imagination.

 

Entertainment - we haven’t attended many of the “in-house” shows in the past, not really our interest and we like to have dinner later. This cruise we got lucky with three different shows brought in and so we intentionally scheduled so we could see them - the Scotland Show which we had seen before but is very enjoyable, the Azamazing Evening which was Red Hot Chili Pipers (really fun) and the violinist onboard for just a few shows. Also, we really enjoyed the Journey Jazz Band at brunch and they had one show of their own…we wish AZ would give them more shows. So I will rate our entertainment experience this cruise improved.

 

CONS - for a line supposed to focus on destination immersion the shore excursions are seriously weak and ridiculously priced/very low value. Not everyone is using only onboard credit to pay for these excursions but it is as if AZ has decided that is the case and so can rake everyone over the coals. We took 3 AZ shore excursions as this cruise was very challenging to make independent arrangements. It was going to be 4 but AZ cancelled one leaving me high and dry with nothing to do in Inverness. The excursions we went on I will rate a B-/C+ for the experience…mostly because they provided too little time at the destination. For example, At Stirling Castle, only 90 min of free time which meant I flew through everything. An extra 30 - 45 min would have made a big difference.

 

THE BIGGEST CON - we boarded intending to purchase the ultimate bev package to get better quality wines and other cocktails. And since we did not have any kind of package in our offer, this was going to cost us almost $500 but considering our previous disappointments on AZ with the wine we were willing to pay it. However, before committing we decided to check wine availability out in detail and we are glad we did because three of the wines advertised online as being included and which made the package appealing (Domaine Chandon, Whispering Angel, and Kendall Jackson Chardonnay) were not on the ultimate bev package on Journey. Instead a very poor Chardonnay from Chile and not much else of interest. We spoke to the sommelier at Aqualina on our 2nd night and he told us AZ was “redoing the wine selection” (same thing we were told in 2019) and also that it was very difficult to get those wines based on where the ship had been during the summer. So instead we went with the 5 bottle package which is where our second big issue with wine comes in….the extremely poor wine service in Discoveries and the Patio. They are set up to pour the included wines but if you go off script it all falls apart. First they have to find the wine list (not kidding) and bring it to you. Then you have to wait for the Sommelier to come over, then they go and try to find the wine, and half the time they come back and say they don’t have it. This process generally required 30 minutes and by that time you are served your appetizer and still don’t have the wine.

 

Regarding these two Cons, we completed extensive feedback on this and never received any kind of response.

 

One more small Con - Journey is looking a little bit down at the heels, just not as shiny as previously…hopefully she will be spruced up in drydock, she deserves it!

 

I could write more but I will let anyone ask questions.  We still enjoy AZ and the Perry Golf package is wonderful, so we have decided in the future we will only cruise AZ on a Perry Golf cruise and if we are doing other non-golf itineraries we will seek out other lines (probably Viking Ocean, maybe try Oceania on the R ships, or SB or SS).

[sovilav01]

Regarding the wine, we had the same problem on the Quest last April and May. At lunch time, I was ordering our wine 30 minutes before eating to be sure I was to have it with my meal. Speaking of sommelier, I don’t think they are enough qualified to use that term, this was our experience last spring.

[Host Jazzbeau]

On Journey last October I bought the Connoisseur Wine Package from the head sommelier, Silas.  He became my new best friend and was really helpful with selection – offering good pairings and allowing me to go above the price limit (at a surcharge) to get really interesting wines.  I was very happy with that solution.

[takemewithyou]

Regarding the appearance of Journey……does anyone have any information on when the dry dock is scheduled and what work might be carried out?

[blag]

1 hour ago, takemewithyou said:

Regarding the appearance of Journey……does anyone have any information on when the dry dock is scheduled and what work might be carried out?

 

 

7 hours ago, AllisonJames said:

Journey is looking a little bit down at the heels, just not as shiny as previously

 

According to CruiseMapper her last refurbishment was in 2021. Of course, the extent of that refurbishment is unknown.

I am somewhat surprised by AllisonJames' comment about Journey's condition. We were on board for three weeks or so in March and I can't say that I noticed any areas that were 'down at the heels'. 

[uktog]

A very balanced assessment. I hope your feedback is acknowledged some time although in our experience that no longer seems to happen

[cruisinsusin]

19 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

On Journey last October I bought the Connoisseur Wine Package from the head sommelier, Silas.  He became my new best friend and was really helpful with selection – offering good pairings and allowing me to go above the price limit (at a surcharge) to get really interesting wines.  I was very happy with that solution.

We appeciated Silas as well- very helpful!

[excitedofharpenden]

A very fair assessment I would say. Thanks for your thoughts. 

 

Phil 

[excitedofharpenden]

20 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

On Journey last October I bought the Connoisseur Wine Package from the head sommelier, Silas.  He became my new best friend and was really helpful with selection – offering good pairings and allowing me to go above the price limit (at a surcharge) to get really interesting wines.  I was very happy with that solution.

Silas was on Quest in July. He's a star. 

 

Phil 

[AllisonJames]

Regarding Journey needing to be spruced up…it’s not as though you board and think “wow it’s a wreck!” overall it still looks decent. I am frankly amazed how well those carpets in those colors have held up. But let’s face it, it’s now been 7 years since the re-imagination so it’s time for some decor improvements. I thought our stateroom was looking a little worn…the wallpaper, the dark cabinets which seem a little dated…especially with all the other lines with new ships and others that have bright, shiny new stateroom decor—the “new” Crystal spent $150M upgrading those two ships. Also, furniture in the Living Room a little worn…this is normal wear and tear of all these years.  I well remember the WOW factor when the AZ re-imagination was unveiled (we sailed Quest when all of that was brand new, and we sailed Pursuit’s maiden voyage and experienced the same, so yes, to us Journey deserves an upgrade. Also, I found the mattress a little hard, which may be because we are used to pillow top mattresses now, at home and in many hotels.  My other niggle is that it always seems like the windows in Aqualina and 
Prime C are dirty…I know it is a ship so may be hard to keep them clean but I noticed it in 2019 and said to my husband this time “They still haven’t cleaned the windows!” 

[takemewithyou]

30 minutes ago, AllisonJames said:

Regarding Journey needing to be spruced up…it’s not as though you board and think “wow it’s a wreck!” overall it still looks decent. I am frankly amazed how well those carpets in those colors have held up. But let’s face it, it’s now been 7 years since the re-imagination so it’s time for some decor improvements. I thought our stateroom was looking a little worn…the wallpaper, the dark cabinets which seem a little dated…especially with all the other lines with new ships and others that have bright, shiny new stateroom decor—the “new” Crystal spent $150M upgrading those two ships. Also, furniture in the Living Room a little worn…this is normal wear and tear of all these years.  I well remember the WOW factor when the AZ re-imagination was unveiled (we sailed Quest when all of that was brand new, and we sailed Pursuit’s maiden voyage and experienced the same, so yes, to us Journey deserves an upgrade. Also, I found the mattress a little hard, which may be because we are used to pillow top mattresses now, at home and in many hotels.  My other niggle is that it always seems like the windows in Aqualina and 
Prime C are dirty…I know it is a ship so may be hard to keep them clean but I noticed it in 2019 and said to my husband this time “They still haven’t cleaned the windows!” 

Thanks.  I appreciated your honest review and I appreciate that you elaborated on Journey’s condition. Since that is our next booking on Azamara for late 2024, I am interested in when drydock is and what may be done. Hopefully others can comment if they have heard any specifics.

 

I agree with you about the ultimate beverage package.  I had it late 2021 on Quest and found that a lot of the wines mentioned on the web site that were supposed to be on the wine list weren’t there, either!  It was disappointing but at that time everything was being blamed on supply chain issues and that cruise started in Miami. Second cruise, late 2022 I smartened up and did not purchase the package and brought some wines onboard and the wine issues were the same. This June on Pursuit, I did the same thing…..brought my own wines onboard with me and did also have some of the included wines being poured, which were just ok.  I agree that the servers start to panic a bit when you go off script and want to order a bottle of wine and not have the wines automatically on offer.  It does take awhile for the wine you ordered to appear! 

[manc]

We have had the ultimate package for the Intensive Scotland and Intensive Ireland cruises. The wine we like has been at every bar and dining area and flowed firctge last 21 days along with the Perrier water. 

 

I agree that the windows in Prime C and Aqualina are a disgrace. As well as dirty the tinted film is peeling off.

 

Staff are excellent as always.

 

Some minor hiccups as today in Foynes the Insider didn't inform us that there was a shuttle so for most of the day the driver had nothing to do. 

 

The captain hasn't been visible and since our favourite Kiwi Hitel Director left Tomaz hasn't been around often.

 

Problems having to dock at Rosyth rather than Leith affected many. The maps at Greenock not clearly showing how to find the station which was a hike away was our main gripe.

[mj_holiday]

Thanks for taking the time to post your experiences.  We also found the beverage packages, experience etc not to be much of anything.  For liquors, the package description always ended with something like and others.  So going to a bar, it was hit or miss to find out if a liquor you desired was in the package you purchased.

 

Wine service at dinner was rushed and confusing.  I was always offered wine well before I had decided what I wanted to eat.

[AllisonJames]

Interesting comments about Captain and Hotel Director and I agree…we never met either of them during our cruise. We are used to cruises with Captain Carl and Captain Johannes where they would often be at the gangway as we came off the ship or returned so there was definitely a slightly different vibe. Or they would be a Cruisecritic gathering which also didn’t happen on Scotland Intensive.

Edited September 5, 2023 by AllisonJames

[the_dylaness]

I would be hard pressed to find it again but when I was browsing some of the included wine list options the other day I actually saw they had the nerve (on whatever AZ list I was reading) to list Beringer White Zinfandel... I would be ashamed.  This wine costs like $4 something at the drugstore. I understand that the included wines may not all be 1er crus but really, that's awful.

 

We are not purchasing a package for our upcoming cruise.  We will likely use some OBC for a couple of bottles and the rest we'll pay $10 corkage.  If we can't pick up good wine in Spain, France, Italy and so on along the way, we are doing something very wrong.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Some people prefer White Zinfandel, and this may be ignorance on my part but I don't expect there is much difference among them...  I just confirmed with Azamara that I will be able to upgrade from the Premium Package that's included in my booking to the Ultimate for $7 per day, and between Perrier, Hendricks and Saint Germain I should be able to make that pay even if none of the wines appeal.  I certainly won't be drinking White Zinfandel no matter where it comes from! 

[Medeba]

On 9/3/2023 at 7:28 PM, AllisonJames said:

 

One more small Con - Journey is looking a little bit down at the heels, just not as shiny as previously…hopefully she will be spruced up in drydock, she deserves it!

We have just returned from the Ireland Intensive cruise which followed yours.  We agree with your comment about the condition of the ship, especially the furnishings.  We also thought that the crew didn't appear as happy as the crew on the Journey last October.  The senior officers were not very visible.

 

We did have a problem sorting out our OBC (no OBC showing after a couple of days) and I'm glad I had our Azamara invoice on email, which customer relations asked me to send to them, to confirm that we were due the credit.  I then had to get customer relations to deduct our previously booked excursions (out of OBC) as they initially gave us all of the $1000 credit. All good in the end. 

 

One thing I didn't know was that you can buy bottles of alcohol onboard which we did to use up some OBC.  I expect we've never thought about this before as we've always had to fly home.  Coming back to Southampton meant taking alcohol off the ship was not an issue (we only bought one bottle of gin!).

[manc]

We would agree that on Intensive Scotland and Intensive Ireland officers were not visible. On reflection maybe because we were sailing each evening/night and docking early morning. Also the captain  had his daughters aboard and must have spent leisure time with them. 

The staff seemed as on last 15 cruises, happy with their roles.

We booked further trips so were happy with our b2b.