MIAMI TO ATHENS Roll Call for the Crossing April 2, 2015.

Jim & Pat Bittle # 6055 (B2B from Costa Rica)
Alice Van de Water (B2B from Costa Rica)
Jan & Harry Hufford # 6063 (B2B from Costa Rica)
Suzanne & Mark # 8069
Olivia
Marcie & Tom # 8059
Peggy & Jerry # 8053
Andrea Novick # 7086
JoAnn & Frank # 8061
Tom & Mona # 8046
Tony Mondae # 6012

Add Jan & Harry Hufford. B2B from Costa Rica and Alice Vandewater

We have not booked I simply asked SW about cabins and I think she said I could let her know this Sat???? Appreciate folks who have sent me emails BUT if I book I wll let u know

Jim & Pat 6055

I'm in 6060.

We are in 6063.

Jan & Harry Hufford

Pat and I are booked on the Azamara Journey from Caldaria CR on March 21, 2015, but only to Miami. We'll be in stateroom 7064. Look forward to seeing those who are starting the trans-Atlantic cruise in Costa Rica or earlier.

Mike, count Florida

We are in 7067!

hoping to make this work. The air is an issue, as it looks like we will have to go up to DC and fly to MIA from there, leave our car and then fly back to IAD and drive home from there. Not easy living in an area where we have to use Richmond or Norfolk airport and leave a car somewhere. Also was hoping to maybe get to stop over in Paris for a couple of days, but again that ups the air price.......so will do some more research and see how it aill plays out.

thanks Marcie for all the info and help you have provided so far, we may just end up flying straight back from Athens.

You're welcome JoAnn. We're looking forward to cruising with you and Frank again. Maybe Laura & Jack and Jill & Jim will join us ?

no, they will have a safari in May, so don't think they will be interested. I mentioned it to the Dreyfus's and they didn't indicate any interest.

Azamara is providing some wonderful cruises for 2015 and they are heading to Australia for 2016 going to start looking closely and very possibly book a couple cruises..

Marcie, I got your email on this & we heard all about it a couple weeks back. I am thinking about it. I've never done a TA because with so many sea days in a row worries me on a smaller ship.....sea sickness:( Looks like a great group going:):)

Don't forget to register for the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle party! It's a nice way to meet fellow cruisers and Azamara does a nice job with the party as they are quite involved with the CC board.

https://secure.azamaraclubcruises.com/cruisecritic/getParty.do

OK looks like we got it covered. By staying over one night I found a really good airfare on Sunday. Can't be all bad a night in Athens right?

We just switched cabins. Couldn't resist the larger Continent Club Suite with the Buy one - 2nd passenger gets 50% off promotional.

we too changed to the Club Continent Suite Marcie, now in 8060. Much happier with the larger cabin.

We had this same type cabin on Oceania on the Regatta and it was very nice and spacious. Had been hoping that at some point they might offer a low cost upgrade, but this promo was a very good deal so glad you mentioned it and we checked it out.

Sounds like we made for a busy day for Susan, as I made the switch today, too. Except, since I don't have a "2nd passenger" with me, had to pay the piper a little more dearly. Happy to have the extra room, especially the tub for a trip this long! When I have cruised other lines, I just don't seem to be happy on booking until I'm in a Regent-sized basic cabin. Well, other than on the one expedition trip I took to Antarctica, and a river trip with 120 s.ft. and I did just fine in those cabins, too. Azamara with nice single supps seems like such a good value. And with good reviews from people on this board I've known for many years, looking forward to a great trip! Even losing an hour of sleep many nights!

Still have no idea what I would ever do with a butler. And hope I can switch out those 4 little complimentary room bottles, only one of the four would I even open, to the one I like.

Olivia, I was thinking the same thing....wish I could switch out for ONE bottle of Sambucca!

JoAnn, made your switch on the roll call.

Thanks Marcie. I too am hoping maybe we can switch a couple of those out for wine.

You can switch them out for any of the 4 items (ie 4 vodkas or rum etc). Don't know if they will switch for wine. You can bring on Sambuca or any other hooch. You could reload in the Azores at a decent price.
Jim

Thanks, Jim, very helpful!

Thanks Jim.

We're "bumping up" to 8069.

This will be such a fun cruise.

I just signed up for Meet & Mingle Party on cruisecritic roll call. Hope everyone does too. Here's the link :
April 2, 2015 Azamara Journey Meet & Mingle Party

Now this is a great sale but only last until August 24th if anyone wants to join us. Our April 2nd on Journey from Miami to Athens is on the list getting companion fare @ 50% off Plus $500 OBC.

The sale is only for one week

If there is one sure way to make the value of our Azamara Club Cruises® offers even better, it’s to combine two of them. We just did, and we’re calling it our AzAmazing Sale and a Half. Book one of twelve carefully selected 2015 voyages with travel to South America, Asia, and more, and receive 50% off your companion fare AND a $500 onboard spending credit. Enjoy savings when you and your companion book and savings onboard with a credit that can be used for spa treatments, beverage package upgrades, or even off the ship on a Land Discoveries® shore excursion. Every Azamara voyage is an experience and a half, thanks to our boutique, club-like ships, Destination Immersion®, and inclusive amenities. When you book a select voyage by August 24, 2014, you’ll receive our AzAmazing Sale and a Half benefits as well. Hurry. This sale is only around for one week.
BOOK TODAY
to receive some of our biggest savings of the year.

The 12 departures that this sale applies to are:

Journey
10-JAN-15 17 Days Antarctica, Falklands & Patagonia Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina 27-JAN-15 11 Days Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 07-FEB-15 12 Days Rio Carnival & Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21-MAR-15 12 Days Costa Rica Coast to Coast, Panama Canal & New Orleans Caldera, Costa Rica Miami, Florida 02-APR-15 16 Days South Beach to Acropolis Miami, Florida Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Quest
05-JAN-15 15 Days Discovering Vietnam & Thailand Hong Kong, China Singapore 20-JAN-15 14 Days Burma, Sumatra & Malaysia Singapore Singapore 03-FEB-15 14 Days Thailand, Java & Bali Singapore Benoa, Bali, Indonesia 17-FEB-15 16 Days Asian Kaleidoscope Benoa, Bali, Indonesia Osaka (Kyoto), Japan 05-MAR-15 16 Days Great Cities & Waterways of Asia: Japan to the Equator Osaka (Kyoto), Japan Singapore 21-MAR-15 16 Days The Spice Route Singapore Dubai, United Arab Emirates 06-APR-15 18 Days Dubai to the Turquoise Coast & Istanbul Dubai, United Arab Emirates Istanbul, Turkey
__________________

The party grows. Please add Mona and Tom to the roll call, cabin 8046. Since we had to cancel PAGODA earlier this year it has just been too long since we've been able to cruise with our good friends.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone again and also looking forward to our first cruise on Azamara. It should be a lot of fun. Now I've got to plan our return flight and think about a hotel in Athens.

See all of you soon.

OUTSTANDING Tom, so glad you are joining the party. This just gets better and better!

Marcie, please update our cabin number to 8071.

Tom & Mona, we're so happy you're coming with us !!

I've added you to the roll call.

Tom and Mona -- glad you're coming along.

Oh wow Tom I just saw this!! So excited to see you and Mona again!!

So happy to hear you two will be with us, Tom!

We booked the Hyatt Regency for one night yesterday. One night in Athens at the Electra Palace at the end before flying home.

We'll see you there! Lets plan on dinner Wed. night 4/1.

Oh, yes, yes!

ok sounds great Peggy. Tom and Mona are staying there as well.

we are looking at this!!!!

wonderful Cindy......come and join the party.

Cindy, I hope to cruise with you and Dave again! Please join in! Since we won't have many ports, may be more like a social cruise to be with our cruise friends again, lots of lunches and dinners onboard, and recovering the next day from the night before. Hey, I'm in, already have my air booked to get home. Going to try for a cheapie to Miami.

Yes Yes Yes Cindy...come with us. It's been waaaaaaay too long since we've seen you and Dave.

I just booked Holiday Inn Port Of Miami-Downtown for April 1st using our IHG Free Anniversary night. Whatever the cocktail/dinner plans are for that evening count us in. Our AA flight arrives at 4:59pm.

Marcie - We, Tom, Mona, Peggy and Jerry, and Olivia (I think) are all at the Hyatt Regency. Not sure how close we are to you, but we should be able to work something, Peggy mentioned getting together for dinner, but we haven't made any definite plans yet. Lets keep in touch and try to coordinate something.

I looked and we're only 1/2 mile away so no problem getting together.

Perfect, sounds like a plan.

Is our roll call up to date?

Marcie - I think Peggy and Jerry have also moved to a club continent suite, not sure of the number, but saw it somewhere.

Tony is going??? Thats wonderful. Will be so good to see him, been thinking of him a lot these last few weeks. Can you send me an email for him?

We're in 8053.

Marcie - we have moved to 8067 if you want to update.

Hi Marcie. Mona and I are in 8046.

We're also at the Hyatt Regency before the cruise and the Grande Bretagne after the cruise.

Tom.

Cindy and dave, are you still thinking? Some of your BK friends were talking past couple of days onboard the Voyager now, and hoping it works for you two to be with us!

I think we need to take a look at this before it's too late!

Yes Kathy you definitly do!!!!!!

YES, YES Kathy! # 8061 is available and you'd be our next door neighbor!

And..........you can help celebrate Frank's 75th birthday!!!!

And my 5 months to 50!!

Marcie - Jennifer just emailed me that she has switched us to 8061.

Kathy - 8067 is available.........come on and join us, lots of great LCT cruisers.

I've moved to cabin 7086.

Why is everybody leaving my floor. Beginning to concern me

We're still on 6 Tony. We got the special where we booked an inside room and got a free upgrade to a veranda suite. We've had a butler suite before and never used the butler, so why pay the extra. Our suite has more storage room than we can use so we're happy.

Thank you Jim. Appreciate the input. I was concerned that perhaps it was something I had said that every that had everyone fleeing for a higher deck. Thanks again.

I am also at the Hyatt on April 1 and would love to do dinner with all of you.

People say this all the time, but in this case it is really true.....what a great group of friends on this cruise. I do wish so much we could be there with you! Easter week is always set aside for the Grandchildren and I sure don't want to be the one to change that. I know all of you would feel the same way. Have a great time!

Tony - you are in for dinner. Don't have definite place yet, but Tom Giusto knows of a place walking distance, so probably will be there. Will check later in March and see if he can get a reservation.

Kathy - we too are so disappointed you couldn't make it, but certainly understand the reason. Our Grandkids are usually out that week too, well except the TN girls, but we often don't see them then, so for us not such an issue. We will think about you and see you in Sept on CANAL......you are still on that right?

If you haven't done it yet, be sure to check in online. It really speeds up the boarding process.

Plan to Jim, as soon as I resolve my issue with my club number which says it doesn't match my last name, even though its right off my Celebrity Captain's club card. Thanks for the reminder.

Also, don't forget to order pre-printed luggage tags. It takes about 5 to 7 days to get them in the mail.

With the on line check in you can print out your own luggage tags which will have your name & stateroom number on them.

Where/how do you order the pre printed ones Suzanne? My printer is dead, and Frank has to hook up his printer to my computer when I absolutely have to print something, or I have to forward to him.....driving me crazy, need a new printer.

If you don't have luggage tags, give the bag handlers at the dock your name & stateroom number and they will put them on.

I have done the online check in and printed out our express passes. Do not see anywhere to print luggage tags or to request them by mail. Guess I could call Jennifer and have her request them, but if I can save her time would prefer to. Can someone tell me how to request them? Would prefer to have them on the luggage when we leave the hotel, although Jim your suggestion works too.

At the on line check in page, just below "start check in process" there is a block "request luggage tags. I think you can access the luggage tag box at the end of getting express pass as well.

We are on the previous Journey cruise - Costa Rica Coast to Coast departing Caldera Costa Rica on March 21. We are arriving the previous day - Friday, March 20th - from Miami on American Airlines flight 1317 at 12:03 PM and just made arrangements for a transfer to the DoubleTree hotel in Puntarenas, CR - close to Caldara - at a very reasonable rate of $90.00 US dollars for the two of us with luggage, or $100 US dollars for up to five people. If anyone is looking for a transfer to Puntarenas around noon, let me know - count_florida@hotmail.com - and I'll make the necessary arrangements. We would split the fare, which is before tip, but pretty clearly a reasonable tip is appropriate in these circumstances. In fact, I think the price is a real bargain; it's over 150 kilometers from San Jose to Puntarenas, about a three hour trip!

I am also posting this on the Cruise Critic roll call for the Azamara Journey - Costa Rica Coast to Coast cruise.

We & the Huffords are arriving in San Jose on March 18 and staying there until the 21st. We have a car taking us to the ship on Saturday. See you on board.

Hi Jim & Pat,
See you when we board in Miami.

Got the boarding passes requested, online check in is done, express pass printed......good to go. Apparently the link for the boarding passes doesn't come up until 30 days, and at that point it came right up and sent me an email reminder.

Less than a month now, getting excited and looking forward to trying Azamara. See everyone either in Miami or onboard.

There's talk over on the CC board about getting together for a drink just after muster on the first day up on deck 10 in Looking Glass. Do we want to join the others on the CC roll call or have an LCT sail away somewhere like the Sunset Bar in the outdoor portion of Windows Cafe on deck 9? I guess that would be weather permitting.

Not to be snooty, but I think an LCT get together would be fun, and we can meet the others at the official meet and greet, but we are up for whatever everyone else chooses.

Suzanne - since you are the expert here, is it safe to plan evening dress as we would on Regent? I've read a lot on the boards, and it would appear so and that is how I am planning, but just thought I would check with you to see if you had any other suggestions or input.

Only two and a half weeks now, love it.

I think it's pretty casual ? I'm thinking Country Club Casual each evening. Tom isn't planning to take a suit or even a sports coat, should we be rethinking this? "Pssssss...don't look now but here come the Bumpkins"

I signed up for some meet and greet on CC, no idea when it is...all new to us.

Thanks Marcie for your input. Frank was taking one shirt and tie, and definitely will take a jacket, but I will let him know, maybe have him leave the dress shirt and tie at home and go with open neck shirts in the evening. I may switch out a couple of things based on your input.

Jerry will wear a coat every night -- primarily to stay warm. He'll also probably wear a tie at the specialty restaurants. I'll try to talk him out of bringing a suit. As for me, I'll dress for dinner the same way I would on Regent.
I agree with JoAnn--I'd prefer an LCT get together. Since we don't see our LCT friends very often, they're the ones we'd talk to anyway.

OK, let's plan on a LCT sail-away party just after muster drill. Sunset Bar, deck 9 aft, just outside Windows Cafe (the buffet). Hoping the weather will permit an outdoor event! If not we'll regroup! I think the CC meet & mingle will be the next day, so we can meet the others then. CC is very important to Azamara, so the "party" is generally much nicer and better attended by staff than on other lines.

Yes, dress is country club casual with many people dressing a little less on the casual side. Women do wear cocktail attire, men do wear coat and tie, not every night, but it's certainly in the mix. No suit necessary. Mark will bring his navy blazer, but no suit, and wear a tie a few nights. No one will be out of place dress-wise. Daytime is very casual.

We've never been to one of the Captain's welcome or farewell parties. So far they have been after dinner around 9:30ish and we have always still been in the middle of dinner!

Sounds good Suzanne, like the idea of just a small group for first night cocktails.

Thanks for the input, will pass along to Frank, my guess he probably won't change what he already has in mind.

I've never needed a jacket on Azamara and don't have room to pack one anyway. It's pretty casual. I use a pattern dress shirt on some evenings.
The CC meet & greet will be posted in the daily dribble, but last time it was around 2:30 on embarkation day.

Thanks Suzanne...just after Muster drill works for us.

We and the Huffords embarked on the Azamara Journey yesterday noon and settled in. Cruise Critic meet & greets are held right after the muster drill so you better use that for the LCT meeting or meet at around 4:00, before the drill. Ct the CC gathering we met up with Mike (Count Florida) and Pat and the 6 of us had dinner together.
Tony Markey is the cruise director. Tony & Barry Hopkins began their careers together before Barry went to Radisson. Tony is very much like Barry in the way he runs things.

Have a GREAT time you sure have a fun group of people on board. Look forward to hearing about your adventures

I've just had the BEST news! My friend Lynne, who I met on my first Azamara cruise 2 years ago, just booked. She's coming all the way from Brisbane - her birthday is on April 12th and she decided this was the way she wanted to celebrate. Can't wait for you to meet her!!

We look forward to meeting her Andrea...she shares a birthday with my very BFF (aka...my sister).

only a week now. We are ready.....see everyone next Wednesday or Thursday. Looking forward to a new adventure and trying Azamara.

The hotel director has offered to provide an LCT cocktail party, probably the 2nd or 3rd sea day from 5:30 to 6:30. I need to provide a list of names & suite numbers and we can make the list when we meet on embarkation day. Marcie, please bring your roll call list. Other people, such as Andrea’s Australian friend are also welcome. Please get the word out to any other B&K people who don’t post on LCT. I think we have around 16 people, but we’re not limited on that. See you on the 2nd.
Jim

Great Jim! Thanks for organizing this!!

We can still plan to get together for sail away. If the CC party is scheduled for right after muster, I'm guessing it will be in Looking Glass (think observation lounge). We will probably run by there as we've signed up for it and then go downstairs to the Sunset Bar for sail away. It's a good view point at the aft of the ship and there are tables as well as the bar area. I think there's also a party for guests around the pool deck.

Jim can proabably comment as to what happened at sail away his segment.

We will follow along with you Suzanne if the CC party is at sailaway.

Sounds great Jim, how nice of the Hotel Director to do this, and thanks for organizing it.

At last count, I think we have at least 19 B&K people on board. I can’t help on what will happen at sail away because in Puerto Caldera we didn’t sail until 11 at night, so nothing happened.

Ready to rock and roll. Driver picking us up at 6:30 in the morning, and we are out of here....woohooo, let the fun begin.

Safe travels everyone!

We will figure something out re sail-away!

You too Suzanne, see you onboard.

Have a wonderful cruise Guys! I can't wait for the SeaMail and lots of photos PLEASE!!

Bon Voyage and safe travels!!

Happy Cruising! Hope they've got enough Sambuca on board. Lots of seamail and pictures please!

Hope everyone has a wonderful time on your cruise!!

Looking forward to some good SEA MAIL

Ship is in Key West today. We were told today that checkin should start at 11:30. Rooms usually ready around 1:30, but bars open and lunch served. Pool grill has some good eats. See ya.
Jim & Pat