Tony and went on our first Azamara cruise this summer. We had a fantastic time cruising around Norway (16-night Norway Intensive cruise) with friends.
Delta lost our luggage and had to make do with clothes, shoes, and toiletries that we bought the morning we embarked the Journey. It was so stressful to say the least. We made the best of the trip and had such a fantastic time.
Here
are some of my tips for anyone that's cruising with Azamara for the first time:
Arrive to your port of embarkation at least 2 (3 is
better) before getting on the ship.
Cross-pack your suitcases in case one gets lost. At least
you’ll both still have a little of everything. (Tony and I plan to do carry-on only from now on, unless we have a non-stop flight).
Pack in your carry on your medications, camera/batteries,
insurance & cruise documents.
Don’t over pack. No problem in repeat wearing of clothes.
There’s self-service laundry that you can use. Paid laundry service isn’t that
expensive.
No need for fancy cocktail dresses or suits. Smart casual
is the way to go in the evenings.
Buy trip insurance.
Read up on the ports you’ll be visiting so you can get
the lay of the land in what to see/do.
Check out the ship’s shore excursions. I was on a recent
cruise in Norway and really loved a couple of their tours.
Pace yourself. Don’t do scheduled tours in every port.
Take time to relax and enjoy the port town at a leisurely pace. I like to research restaurants in advance so I
don’t end up in a tourist trap.
On any cruise, I like to pick an itinerary that has some
sea days or late morning arrivals so that I’m not rushed every single day.
When you get on board, you’ll get a card with the itinerary
that includes arrival and departure, as well as a list of the ethnic foods that
will be served at the buffet in the Windows Café. It will also list the day for
the White Night event.
Bring a white outfit (or at least a shirt/blouse) for
White Nite.
You can check your onboard balance on the tv, or request
a copy at guest relations.
Make sure your passport is up-to-date and doesn’t expire
within 6 months of traveling.
Turn your phone onto airplane mode when you are on the
ship to avoid high cell phone charges.
Bring a small battery operated tea light for the bathroom.
It’s very dark at night.
Enjoy the food in the dining room. It’s okay to order a
couple of appetizers to try things out if you haven’t before. Our group of six sometimes
ordered a second entrée to share.
Get to the future
cruise desk and ask for their brochures for future cruises. If you book any
cruise while onboard during the first portion of the cruise, you get an extra
$100 off the price of the cruise, $300 versus $200 in the case of my 16-night
Norway cruise. You can look now to get an idea so that you don't spend a lot of
time researching while on the ship.