Our Thoughts on July 14 Sailing

[jdarch]

Hi All –

Here is our mini journal from the July 14 sailing:

Greetings from Azamara Journey Day 3.5 docking at Hamilton:

Enjoying our second supposedly “partly cloudy w/scattered showers” day - which actually has been beautiful (they don’t seem to get the weather right here either). So, what about the Journey? Reader’s Digest version: the ship has been pretty much what we had come to expect with one big exception: it is not a pretty ship…it is knock you over gorgeous. No really. Just our two cents of course.

Details:

Boarding? We arrived at CapeLiberty at 11:45 am, luggage was taken quickly (more about this later). For those that have left from Bayonne before, they have moved the Long-Term parking just up the pier from the check-in baggage area, so don’t drive all the way back out again (Ahem, as I did). We were boarded right away, had the customary bubbles and went up to lunch. The staff at all times was extremely friendly, and helpful beyond call. They were actually loading the new, long-awaited deck loungers when we came on. According to the rumor mill the microfrigs were delivered at some point but weren’t installed because they had the wrong AC power connector. Yes, in this high tech world even the best can train wreck over a simple connector, just ask NASA.

Room/Staff? We were able to go to our cabin right after lunch (6062 – a regular veranda room) and immediately met Godofredo our butler. Now: I have never had butler service before, but despite previous postings, he shows every bit of the professional attitude, attention and service I would expect from one. As far as we can tell he only works this area with one steward who is equally pleasant and attentive. Our room is straightened several times a day, fruit refreshed, evening candies or cookies, flowers on the pillows etc.

About luggage: possibly due to our early arrival (first loaded = last unloaded), the last large piece of our luggage (with the camera inside-oops) didn’t arrive until 5:00 pm or so; we were past the VerrazanoBridge so I missed some nice shots. I know: why didn’t I carry the camera? D’oh!

Dining? Discoveries’ meals have been extraordinary. Richard, the Maitre’d (from Poland), is beyond excellent. While having cocktails in the Martini Bar just outside, I watched him maintain an air of professionalism and calm patience in a couple of situations (read as unreasonable patrons with bad attitudes) that would have sent most folks screaming into the night. Outstanding. We did enjoy the open seating and being able to chat with various folks at adjacent tables. You may request a certain server or area if available – I always asked for seating as far forward (the stern of the ship moves around quite a bit when at sea) so we ended up with Edwin three times which was a treat. We had reservations at Prime C and cancelled them because the experience was so good at Discoveries!

Specialty Restaurant? We did keep our reservations at Aqualina our first night in St George. Menu is posted elsewhere on here and is even better than it appears. Yes, as other folks have posted, Dominique the M'd there is a joy to meet as well. We were seated with a beautiful view of the harbor. Extraordinary experience doesn't cover it. As just as we were basking in all this, the Captain and first officer (?) walked up and introduced themselves; they asked how we were enjoying our trip – no, not pleasantries either – they wanted to hear all we had to say. Feeling very royal at the moment, thank you. As an aside, Captain Lekkas makes regular announcements to welcome you to each phase of the trip, detail weather and location, etc. all of which end with a thank you, and “Bye for now…” a little expression everyone grew to love. Getting the impression we are enjoying this??

The Ride? As advertised, this is a small ship and it does move around a good deal - especially up top and in the stern – nothing horrible in relatively calm seas, or for most folks. But. If you are susceptible to motion sickness as I am, prepare in whatever fashion suits you. Various people all espoused the ear patch, wrist band, ginger pills, ferret fur, or whatever works for you. I wore a Transcope patch (Rx) this cruise and on Zenith last year. Works fine except for side effects - sometimes the cure is as bad as the illness. Hm. I might try meclizine next time. Just my two cents.

Enough for the moment. I’ll post some more later and answer any questions if I can.

“Bye for now…”

[Andy]

Hi Jdarch !

 

Thanks for your excellent review. The more I hear from returning Azamara passengers such as yourself... the more I cannot wait for my Quest sailing later this year. I am glad you had a wonderful Cruise !

[mringenoldus]

Great review!! It's getting harder and harder to wait.

 

Can you fill us in on your port activities?

[RSGS315]

Hello Jdarch,

 

We were also on the July 14th sailing of the Journey, and have to agree with your wonderful revue of this fabulous cruise.

We ate at Aqualina the same night as you did and chatted with the Captain and Staff Captain while they were making their rounds there. We found the Captain very visible and approachable, when he made his daily rounds on deck.

I agree that Richard and Dominique are very friendly and professional

Richard will be promoted to dining room manager, we heard, and Dominique is going over to the Quest in the fall he told us.

Dominique told me that the food budget for Azamara is twice as much as it is for Celebrity. The quality of meats and seafood was excellent. The only disappointment was the Lobster Tail that was overcooked and dry.

The motion of the ship didn't bother us at all, but we are seasoned "sailors". Cruising the Tasman Sea in 1998 in 65 foot seas during a cyclone gave us our sea legs, I guess. We no longer carry any remedies, just in case, as we did for years.

All in all we loved the Journey and would certainly sail her again.

The ship is not for everybody, so if you are expecting whistles and bells you booked the wrong ship. There is a cruise ship for everybody, but not every ship is right for everyone.

 

Happy Cruising, Ginnie

[POOHISME2]

Thanks for the review.

[ragwing]

Great, great review!

So glad your having an excellent experience!!

[mari10]

Thanks for the great review. Everything sounds wonderful!

We've almost had to cancel numerous times due to elderly parents and various crises, but I'm happy to say that we're going!

I can't wait...

Mari:)

[PSCruiser]

Thanks for the great review. Please post more ASAP. Your report makes it even harder to wait for our turn in Sept.

[crzfanatic]

I love your attitude! From everything I have been reading lately, we are going to love the Journey. I am really getting excited since my countdown clock turned to 39 days today. Our travel agent is on the ship either this week or next and I am anxious to hear his views. Sept 1st can't come soon enough for me.

 

Andy

[Dolphins]

Happy to hear that the Captain gives frequent weather updates. this is important to passengers that have motion problems. In addition, complete weather information in Bermuda is essential, including wind direction, to help us plan our day there. Thanks for posting.

[WCAB]

I keep running outside to tell my husband a new tidbit I have found while reading the posts. We will be on the 09/15/07 cruise and I am so excited. If possible give us a little more detail on your daily activities on the ship and shore. Sure sounds like a lovely time.

 

Carol

[jdarch]

Thanks – glad you find our review helpful. We’re home now and suffering BDAWDL (Bermuda Withdrawal). Sigh. In re-reading, I think some may find our positive notes a bit over the top; well, yes, we found Journey that enjoyable (particularly after all the negatives we heard). That said, I do have a very few “hmm” moments which I’ll post later. First let us gush some more:

Ship size? With the size of the ship, you might expect to see all the passengers all the time. Actually we were surprised – frequently thinking, “It’s busy, but where is everybody?” It is nice to greet familiar faces on board and on the islands, but oddly, it seldom appears there are even 700 people on board!

Casino? After some comments here, we were expecting a micro-casino compared to Zenith. It’s certainly no AC, and the layout is not as open as Zenith, but as I recall it’s not that much smaller. There are three blackjack tables ($5,$10,$25 min), a large roulette table, a three card Poker table, as well as an electronic poker table and the ever-present rows of slots. I did enjoy the Zenith casino better: I won in that one...sigh.

Pool/Hot Tubs? As the photos show, the pool area is smallish; now perhaps I was there at all the right times, but I seldom saw the pool close to crowded and if you’re patient, you can even have a hot tub to yourself. The new deck loungers are beautiful and comfy - wood w/ navy blue cushions and head rests. Hm – I wonder if they would have minded if I tried to fold one into my garment bag…

Entertainment? We didn’t see all the entertainment, but here's a sampling: the Cabaret shows while perhaps not as large as other ships, were very polished. Several of the performers are top notch. I spent 25 years as an audio engineer – I found the production excellent. The comedian/magician Bob Brizendine performed two nights, and was very, very funny. If he is on your trip, don’t miss him. The Newlywed/Not so Newlywed Game is fun enough to watch; however, as the only “20 Yearers,” my bride corralled me into participating - ah, sweet embarrassment. And I thought there weren’t many people there… until afterward, when several folks smiled when they saw us and made it clear they were there. Nuff said.

Shore Excursions? This year we purchased the three day bus/ferry pass for $28 pp, well worth it if you want to explore the island. Now. About Island buses: the ride to your destination can be an event in itself: Bermuda roads are narrow – I mean narrow; the bus drivers are skilled - and fearless. Sit in front if you can – it is as close as you can get to an amusement part ride without rails.

St George: Unfortunately, we had only one day in St George (my favorite town); it is much more quaint than Hamilton, and beyond the cute shops, there is more Bermuda history there, particularly if you dig under the “visitor” layer. This year, we did try the touristy route and went to the Caverns. At $16 per cave I thought tickets a little pricey, but the estate above the caves is gorgeous and well-maintained, and though brief, the cavern visit is quite something (stalagmites go up right?). A group of a gazillion nine-year olds were waiting to enter Crystal Cavern, so the staff pointed us to Fantasy Cave instead. Just remember: for all the steps you walk down you have to climb back up… For those who are utterly exhausted after all this, the famous Swizzle Inn just happens to sit back at the intersection by the bus stop…

Hamilton: We visited most of the shops and walked up to Fort Hamilton last year, so this time, we got out of Dodge and caught a bus to “The Flatts” (north center of the island); beyond the little town, the clear blue of the water where the ocean enters Harrington Bay is beyond words and just across the bridge is one of the pleasant surprises of the Island: the Bermuda Aquarium/Zoo. I was half-expecting bored fish, miserable animals, and jaded exhibits. Quite the opposite: the exhibits are well-interpreted for all ages; the fish are stunning, and the zoo appears well-maintained: seals, birds, monkeys, snakes, the occasional bat, really quite something. Now the flamingo yard (swamp?) is a bit funky – but I understand that comes with the territory. Beautiful ocean overlooks to boot. We spent almost two hours on our visit there.

Beaches? From St George, if you want amenities, Tobacco Bay is a good choice. This year we went to Alexandra Battery Beach on the northeast shore. A short taxi ride, or if you want some exercise, it is just over a mile to walk – a good part of it uphill, but a nice view of the town from the top. And worth it: a beautiful spot right next to the old fort with calm waters and lots of sea glass; sorry, no amenities, but the trade off? There were only four other people there. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone…

From Hamilton, you can go to Horseshoe Bay on the South Shore. It is larger and more crowded especially after mid-day, but if you’re willing to walk a ways in either direction you can find your own spot with great waves and pink sand. BTW, last year we walked back up the hill to the bus stop; this year we took the $1 shuttle ride. We endorse the ride…

“Bye for now…”

[uktog]

Thanks for the lovely review. As others have said, you probably set out to enjoy this trip and that made it all the more positive. We do not go on the Quest until 2009 but it is good to read as the reviews come in how good the experience is getting and whilst some will always find issue with it, it sounds like a great product is beginning to emerge (unfortunately a little late for the early adopters)

Look forward to hearing more about your trip

[newcruiser25]

We were on the 30 June sailing and the ship was just as wonderful as described above. I'm sooo jealous!!! The crew is every bit accomodating, friendy and professional as jdarch mentioned. We were very impressed with all crew members we came across... our Butler Nelson and his assistant Mario, the staff in the dining room and restaurants, the staff at the SPA and Captain Lekkas and his Officers.... they are all great. Journey offers a great cuise!

[ashes6870]

Thanks for some really great infomation, we are on the Journey in October in Cabin 6064 and would like to hear more about your cabin and Also the Aqualina.

 

Can some direct me to the menu from Aqualina? Thanks again for your thoughts - will be waiting to hear more.

 

:)

[arzz]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your comments on your cruise. We leave on August 11 -- you do not know not only how much this helps us, but also how much it makes me know that we made the right choice for that anniversary getaway!

[happycat Bainbridge Is]

Sounds like something my cat would like to take for motion sickness! Maybe after she finished off the ferret .... Made me laugh.

 

Seriously though, thank you for your informative and well written trip notes - it's been fun and reassuring to the rest of us who are still waiting to try the Azamara experience!

 

I also look forward to your constructive criticisms. Hope you share them with the line directly too.

 

HCBI

[blambition]

I can not wait to sail after reading your review. Thank you! I also would appreciate it if you could direct me to the Aqualina menu as I have not been able to find one on the boards.

Vicki

[VIRGINIAKATHY]

Thank You Thank You Thank You...........been Really Worried About Our 14 Days On Quest In Feb '08......since It Was My Suggestion........your Review Put Many Of My Fears To Rest............ Hopefully Our Group Will Enjoy As Much As You Did............thanks Again!!!!!!!!!!:d

[corona5657]

I was on the 6/23 sailing and I must say I was a little nervous after reading about all the trouble in the beginning. Well, from the minute I got on till the time I left, I had a wonderful time!! Good food, entertainment, fun times! No worries here, you will all have a great time!:D

[Jancruz]

I am so glad the reviews are so much better..we leave on 9/1 and are now looking forward to a very positive experience!

Jan

*****

[cruisingdelt]

Just as I was starting to finish my withdrawal from the July 7 cruise I made the mistake of reading this review. Now my symptoms are back in full swing. Nice review and I agree with it. Can't wait until I return to this ship or Quest.

[fog1]

Happy to hear that the Captain gives frequent weather updates. this is important to passengers that have motion problems. In addition, complete weather information in Bermuda is essential, including wind direction, to help us plan our day there. Thanks for posting.

 

This was the first ship I've ever sailed where the report from the Captain was 100% on target. On the return from Bermuda on the May 19th cruise, we ran into some heavy seas. The Captain said we'd be in for a rough ride for around 3 hours and he was absolutely correct. The seas calmed down and the rest of the ride back to New Jersey was smooth. On the Explorer of the Seas, last August, we followed Hurricane Ernesto up the coast. Never heard a peep from the bridge, however, maybe this was due to the fact the ship rocked and rolled continuously in 20 foot plus seas and the crew was trying to keep things from falling all over the place. :)

[murphysmum]

Hello....We're looking forward to sailing on Quest Feb 08. I've been pleased with all of the reviews I've read and ignored some of the minor complaints. However, several posts have noted a noticeable vibration/ noise in the dining room, seemingly constant. We've booked an aft cabin and I love to eat, so will someone please tell me if the vibration is pronounced or barely noticeable?

 

If so, I'll just change cabins and eat on upper decks....I'm excited about these new ships so I wouldn't cancel.

 

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

 

Murphysmum;)

[corona5657]

Hello....We're looking forward to sailing on Quest Feb 08. I've been pleased with all of the reviews I've read and ignored some of the minor complaints. However, several posts have noted a noticeable vibration/ noise in the dining room, seemingly constant. We've booked an aft cabin and I love to eat, so will someone please tell me if the vibration is pronounced or barely noticeable?

 

If so, I'll just change cabins and eat on upper decks....I'm excited about these new ships so I wouldn't cancel.

 

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

 

Murphysmum;)

 

the noise/vibration wasn't that bad. It didn't interfere with dining if that's what you mean. I had never felt/heard it on any other ships I had been on so maybe that is why I noticed it.