The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

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Selecting an Alaska cruisetour can be daunting for the uninitiated. With more that 50 cruisetours offered by the major players, how do you sift through the options to find an Alaska cruisetour that’s right for you? To find out, we sat down with Paul Allen, vice president of sales for Holland America Line.  Read more... (1017 words, 4 images, estimated 4:04 mins reading time)

On tap for European river cruises: more choices of pre- and post-cruise tours, more special interest programs and more bicycles. Yes, more bicycles.  Read more... (174 words, 2 images, estimated 42 secs reading time)

Make the most of your Alaska cruise from Seattle by pitching camp for a few days to explore the “Emerald City.”

ON A SUNNY SATURDAY IN AUGUST, a crowd gathers at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The mood is festive, particularly at Pike Place Fish, where fishmongers, garbed in Grundens (the Swedish-stitched orange bib overalls) joke as they toss whole Sockeye Salmon, Alaskan Halibut and Yellow Fin Tuna over the counter to be packaged. “Want to see a flying fish?” says one, as he sends a salmon sailing to a co-worker. With cameras rolling and flashes sparkling, the tourists laugh.  Read more... (1346 words, 7 images, estimated 5:23 mins reading time)

A video snapshot of Azamara Quest’s first port call in Menorca, Spain.

Hear the sounds of the Mediterranean from the balcony of stateroom 8069 on Azamara Quest.

 

Tunis, Tunisia, originally uploaded by Ralph Grizzle.

The view from my balcony while docked in Tunis may not be the most picturesque port this ship has seen, but the distant mountains are beautiful as the sun sets, and the capital city itself was full of beauty and surprises on Azamara’s first call in Africa.

Many passengers opted for shore excursions from the ship, but others negotiated with taxi drivers near the modern and clean terminal.  Read more... (233 words, 2 images, estimated 56 secs reading time)

Departing Barcelona with Captain Theodore Mitropoulos on Azamara Quest

In 2007, Celebrity Cruises tapped Las Vegas-based culinary consultants Blau & Associates to work with the Celebrity and Azamara fleets. Elizabeth Blau and her team are credited with helping transform Las Vegas into the culinary destination that it is today.

My first dining experience aboard Azamara Quest was at Prime C. And what a treat.  Read more... (353 words, 6 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

All staterooms on the 694-passenger Azamara Quest (and on sister ship Azamara Journey) feature butler service and upgraded amenities such as European bedding with duvet and pillow-top mattress; 100 percent Egyptian-cotton bathrobes; umbrella; binoculars; bottled Evian water; welcome fruit basket; fresh-cut flowers; pillow menu and more.

 Read more... (182 words, 3 images, estimated 44 secs reading time)

 

Azamara Quest’s Mosaic Cafe is where Starbucks meet the sea.

Well, not quite, but this cozy cafe on deck 5 serves up the goodies, such as cafe latte, cappucino and Americano (a tad pricey at $4 plus 18 percent gratuity).

You could pay less ashore in Barcelona, of course, but on Quest, sweets such as chocolate chip cookies, biscotti and minature cakes, are included.  Read more... (114 words, 1 image, estimated 27 secs reading time)