Just back! Our AZA-tastic 7 day France Intensive cruise aboard the Azamara Quest! September 21 - 28, 2024

[Sleep7]

Passed this pretty beach on the way back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Had a very late and tasty lunch at The Patio.  So glad to see that they were still serving at 3:00.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and that frozen yogurt.. 😋😋😋

 

[Sleep7]

😊Hi again @LoveChops

I forgot to mention that there is a table set up right at the door to the Windows Cafe where they take Specialty dining reservations too..🙌🏻

[Sleep7]

The last tender to shore was at 3:30 and by 4:15 the tenders were being pulled up and onto the Quest.

 

 

Enjoyed a post late lunch but before dinner drink in the Spirits Bar.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

We checked out our dinner options for the evening..

There was The Patio.

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

The Discoveries Restaurant.

 

[Sleep7]

And last but not least the Indian Buffet in Windows.  Everything was so fresh and delicious!!

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

We were originally supposed to leave Cannes at 4:30pm and sail to Nice to arrive at 8pm and dock there for the evening

However the seas were rough and the captain decided that waiting until morning to enter the harbor in Nice was the safest thing to do and that's just what we did.  Arrived at 5:30 on Saturday morning instead of the night before.

Our last Insider was waiting for us on our bed back in the cabin.. 😢

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Luggage all packed up and out by 9:30pm.

 

[Sleep7]

SATURDAY 9/28/24 - NICE FRANCE.

 

Good morning Nice!

 

 

Another Azamara ship was seen in the distance.

 

 

Last time on this cruise we shall see this sign.

 

 

[Sleep7]

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

A quick 20 minute ride to the airport.  I searched out the customs office to validate my VAT paperwork..

If you buy something in France and leave from France it's very easy.  There are PABLO machines where you just scan the bar code on your VAT form that the store gives you for purchases over 100 Euros.  If you have chosen to receive your refund back to a credit card and the machine gives you a green light that's all you have to do.  You don't need a customs stamp so you don't need to see a customs officer officer or send in your forms.

For the items I bought in France this process worked perfectly.

The two VAT forms from buying items on the ship did not because it was coded that since the ship left from Spain it looked like I had purchased the items in Spain so when I scanned the bar codes on the paperwork that the ship's shop had given us it got the red light and not the green.

I brought those two forms over to the customs agent's window (who was so helpful and sweet) and she stamped them.  Then using the envelope provided by the on board shops I mailed them in to Global Blue.  I had to fill in my credit card information by hand so the refund could go right back on my credit card.

For more info you can click on this.

https://www.douane.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/uploads/files/Documentations-Brochures/Langues-etrangeres/tax-refunds-for-your-purchases-in-france.pdf

I do find that every airport VAT experience varies but we have always gotten the refunds in due time. 

Oh one last tip.. if you do send your paperwork in be sure to take a photo of it before you mail it.

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Sleep7

[Sleep7]

Saw this shuttered COVID testing center.. hopefully never to open again.🤞🏻

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

We got to the airport so early (as we always do in case there is a VAT snafu) we had to wait an hour until the Delta check in desk opened for our 1:00pm flight.

NCE airport is a pretty one!

 

 

 

Nice shopping for last minute gifts!

 

 

[Sleep7]

Using Priority Pass we spent time in this lounge by the "A" gates.

 

[Sleep7]

 

 

It's no Windows Cafe but it did the trick!😁

 

[Sleep7]

Time to head to the gate.

 

 

[Sleep7]

Another perk/downside of booking this trip much later than usual is that the only seats with extra legroom, besides Delta One, on our flight home were Premium Select.

Sam is 6'3" so legroom is important.

Very comfy and the sweetest flight attendant.  Wrote an email to Delta about him when we got home.

Upgraded food and plenty of legroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

8 hours and 26 minutes flying time from NCE to JFK.

 

[Sleep7]

Au revoir Côte d'Azur !👋🏻

 

 

[Sleep7]

The main meal and the snack a few hours later were pretty and tasty.

 

 

 

And the amenities were nice too.

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Halfway there..

 

 

Almost home..

 

[Sleep7]

 

So the sun was not shining when we landed at JFK but our spirits surely were.🌞

It was a perfect vacation in every way.  So so so wonderful to back in the swing of travel and back to life as it was before this past winter.

I felt that every day was truly a gift and enjoyed it to the fullest.

We have already booked another cruise in December and I'm counting the days!

Well so long for now.. I shall continue my "Quest" on a "Journey" back to normalcy in the "Pursuit" of good health and look ahead "Onward" and upward!

Wishing everyone daily joy, good health and always happy travels!💗

 

[Grandma Cruising]

6 hours ago, LoveChops said:

Hi again

 

Just a couple more questions.

 

What time were you able to board the ship?

 

Where did you make reservations for Prime C and Aqualina and did you have any issues getting a table at your preferred time? We like to eat relatively early, 6.30pm. 

 

Thank you!

There will be at least one reservation table set up to make Speciality restaurant bookings. On our cruise last month there was one in The Den on Deck 5. If you ask at Guest Relations they will tell you where they are. I wouldn’t wait to ask your butler. The reservations team gave us a sheet listing all the themes for the buffets plus all other special dining offers (E.g Dinner under the Stars - a served dinner served at tables on the pool deck)

[cavaaller]

thank you once again for taking the time to share your joy your wonderfully positive attitude and beautiful voyage with us.

 

I have to wait more than one year for our next cruise so this was a really nice way to cruise vicariously through you.

 

Thank you and all the best wishes.