Our daily activities on our 10-day Panama Canal cruise aboard Azamara Quest.
Day 11 - Puerta Caldera and Disembarkation
We say goodbye to Azamara Quest, visit a coffee plantation, and spend a night in San Jose before returning home.
This morning, Azamara Quest is docked in Puerta Caldera, Costa Rica. It is disembarkation day, so we must say goodbye (for now) to all of our Azamara Quest friends. Since we are staying an extra night in San Jose, Costa Rica, we chose to book the Espiritu Santo Coffee Tour and Airport Transfer ($139/pp). We figured that we can get a taxi from the airport which is only 10-15 minutes from our hotel.
Guests disembark Quest in Puerta Caldera
The tour we selected is primarily designed for guests with late flights (after 3:30pm), but also works for those with post-cruise plans. The tour does not require that we disembark until 8:45am, so we have plenty of time to enjoy the buffet breakfast at Windows Cafe. We were issued Green #11 disembarkation luggage tags and stickers. Be advised, however, that Azamara does not make announcements over the PA system regarding disembarkation. We show up at the gangway on Deck 4 and the process of getting off the ship could not have been easier. Our room key card was swiped one last time and we said goodbye to Phillip Herbert, the Hotel Director, who was bidding farewell to guests as they stepped off the gangway.
We boarded the motor coach for our tour after making sure our luggage was securely loaded underneath.
Soon, we are welcomed by Maria, our local guide for the day. As we drive toward the coffee plantation, up the narrow highways, and into the mountains, Maria provides us with lots of information about the local area and customs.
It takes about 90 minutes to get to the Espiritu Santo plantation and, after a brief bathroom break, we are introduced to Ed, our guide for the coffee tour.
Espiritu Santo Guide, Ed
Ed shows us how the coffee "cherries" grow on the plants and how they are hand-picked only after they have turned red.
Red coffee cherry
Squeezing the coffee cherry will release a small amount of sweet juice and two beans.
Coffee bean
These beans must be washed and dried before they can be roasted. We can see some beans are spread out on concrete in the sun for drying.
Beans drying in the sun
Once they are dry, the beans can be roasted. Some beans are roasted light, others medium and of course, some dark. Interestingly, the darker the roasting, the lower the caffeine levels. Therefore, light roast has more caffeine than a dark roast. Ed walked us through the various stages of the process and we got to watch beans being roasted and packaged.
Roasting machine
We were surprised that even for a small factory, some of the beans were being packaged by hand.
Ed brewed a pot of coffee, which he made by simply adding hot water to a pot with coffee grounds. He let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then filtered it through a sock-like filter directly into the cup. It was quite good.
After the demonstration, we were all invited into the shop where we could purchase coffee, candies or other coffee-related products.
Rickee tries some coffee flavored liquor at the shop
With purchases in hand, we re-boarded the bus for a short drive to Sarchi, a small town famous for the artistically decorated ox carts. Ox carts were the traditional form of transportation back "in the day." In the middle of Sarchi town, there is a huge, oversized ox cart that was hand painted by the local artisans, a photo-op for sure!
World's largest ox cart
We were not allowed to get off the bus in Sarchi, most likely because the bus had to get folks to the airport for their flights. An unexpected traffic jam, due to construction, delayed our arrival at the airport by about 10 minutes. Nevertheless, I don't suspect anyone missed a flight as a result. As soon as we got off the coach, we began searching for transportation to our hotel, Costa Rica Marriott San Jose. Another Azamara guest on the bus was staying at the same hotel, so we all three shared a taxi van. The total was $13 + tip, split 3 ways.
When we arrived at the Marriott, a bellman greeted us and welcomed us "home" (we seem to be hearing that phrase a lot lately). They retrieved out luggage from the taxi and directed us to the check-in counter. This hotel is an older property, but has a ton of character. The decor accurately reflects the Costa Rican culture and the surrounding grounds are immaculately manicured.
Costa Rica Marriott San Jose
Check in was very smooth and easy, however, our room was not quite ready. Check-in time is 4pm, but Kattie, the young lady checking us in, said our room should be ready by 3pm. That would give us just enough time for a late lunch at Hacienda Kitchen, one of the hotel’s restaurants. The beautiful cafe patio overlooks a driving range and mountains in the distance.
The view from Hacienda Kitchen patio
I ordered Chifrijo, a traditional dish consisting of a bowl of rice and beans topped with salsa, roasted pork, chicharron (fried pork skin) and avocado, all served with tortilla chips. Rickee ordered a ham sandwich on French bread with avacado, pickles and mayo. My appetizer was large enough to be a main course and was very good. I would definitely order this dish again.
We also enjoyed a couple of Costa Rican beers (Imperial) as we looked out over the incredible scenery. As promised, our room (326) was ready by 3pm and we wasted no time getting settled into the Deluxe Room which overlooked what can best be described as a garden area near the pool. When the bellman brought our luggage, I asked about getting a bucket of ice for some champagne we had brought with us. He said he would take care of it and within a few minutes, room service arrived with a champagne bucket and two glasses!
We will post a more detailed review of the hotel and room separately, but suffice to say, we enjoyed our stay and would not hesitate to stay here again. We took our champagne down to a table in the garden area and toasted to another wonderful travel experience.
Chris Dikmen and Rickee Richardson are travel journalists from Dallas, Texas
Tomorrow, we will fly back to Dallas. This will be our first time to fly international on Southwest Airlines. Our next adventure will be a 7-night Tahiti cruise on Paul Gauguin Cruises.
Day 11 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Rickee touches a crocodile, we have lunch at a 5-star resort, we see monkeys go crazy and have an amazing dinner at Prime C.
This morning, Quest is docked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The last time we were here (2014), we only walked from the ship to the beach at the end of the pier, did some souvenir shopping, and headed back to the ship.
Azamara Quest docked in Puntarenas
Today, we have decided to do something a little more adventurous. We pre-booked a "7-in-1" tour with Arenas Travel through their website a few weeks earlier. We disembarked Quest at 8:00 am and our local guide for the day, Geovanna, was waiting for us at the bottom of the gangway with a sign bearing my name.
Geovanna, local guide with Arenas Travel
After introducing herself, and welcoming us to Puntarenas, Geovanna led us down the long pier to where a new Toyota van was waiting for us. We were introduced to Alex, our driver for the day, and off we went. Our first stop was Esparza, purported to be the oldest town in Costa Rica, where we toured a unique Catholic church. Next, we drove to the Tarcoles River where we boarded a small open tour boat to hunt for crocodiles. We saw tons of interesting birds, iguana, lizards and yes, crocodiles. Not only did we see a croc, but Rickee actually got to touch one! And, this was no baby croc, this was "Tornado", one of the two largest crocs in the area at around 15 feet long!
Tornado hanging out next to our boat
The crocodile river tour took a little over an hour, after which Alex and Geovanna drove us to an incredible hotel on top of a mountain for lunch. Villa Caletas has to be one of the most magical places we have ever visited.
The view from the restaurant at Villa Caletas
The property is perched overlooking the ocean and the mountains. It was breathtaking. We were seated at a table for two and served a beautiful meal. We were offered our choice of chicken or fish, and we both chose chicken. It was a meal and a place we will not soon forget. And, should we have the opportunity to return to Costa Rica, a stay at Villa Caletas will be on our itinerary.
After lunch, we drove to a local market where we had the opportunity to shop for souvenirs. It was one of the largest and nicest souvenir shops we have ever visited. Afterwards, we drove a few minutes to a fruit stand where we enjoyed a sample of locally grown fruits. When we mentioned how much we loved the mango, the proprietor brought us a plate of sliced mango to take with us!
Our next stop: monkeys! Just a few more miles down the highway, we pull off on an unmarked gravel road (you would have to know where this place is) to what could best be described as a clearing in the forest with a small structure/building. As soon as we come to a stop, Geovanna and Alex start blowing loud whistles. We have no idea what is going on. We don't see a monkey anywhere, other than a stuffed toy monkey hanging from a tree in the yard. Geovanna keeps yelling in Spanish what translates to "Monkey come, Monkeys come" and blowing the whistle. Suddenly, there is a rustling in the surrounding trees and dozens of Capuchin monkeys are running all over the place, hanging from branches, chasing each other, and eventually, one climbs onto Rickee!
Mr. Monkey tries to steal Rickee's sunglasses
The little monkeys are very curious and friendly and a blast to watch. This was the highlight of the tour for us. We will be posting a full review of Arenas Travel's 7-in-1 tour on CruiseReport.com soon, so keep an eye out for it. We will also have a short video of our day's activities. For more information, visit their website at ArenasTravelCR.com.
After a brief tour of the downtown Puntarenas area, Geovanna and Alex returned us to Azamara Quest right at 4pm, as promised. We had plenty of time to get ready for our 6pm reservation at Prime C steakhouse. Prime C is one of the two specialty restaurants on board Azamara Quest ($30pp). While the decor at Prime C may be a little dated (can you say 1980s steakhouse?), the menu is modern and offers a lot of variety. I ordered the chicken lollipop starter, and it has been improved over what we had a few years ago on Journey.
Chicken lollipops with three dipping sauces
There are two different types of lollipops, each with a different batter. The three dipping sauces were all delicious, but the Thai sweet chili is my personal favorite. Rickee had the cheese and onion soup, reminiscent of a French Onion soup. For my main, I had the NY Strip and Rickee had the 5oz. Filet. Both steaks were cooked perfectly to order. My creamed spinach side was also perfectly seasoned and delicious. We declined offers for a souffle and opted for the signature cinnamon-sugar donuts. The little donut holes are served warm and fresh with caramel, chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. These are to DIE FOR.
Cinnamon sugar donuts with dipping sauces
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Prime C and look forward to dining there again on our next Azamara cruise.
Tomorrow, we disembark Azamara Quest in Caldera, Costa Rica
Day 10 - Quepos, Costa Rica
We visit a national park, have lunch in a botanical garden, see crocodiles and toucans, and enjoy an Indonesian Rijsttafel.
This morning, Azamara Quest is anchored off the coast of Costa Rica near the little town of Quepos. We have booked the Carara National Park and Pura Vida Gardens tour ($199/pp) through Azamara's Land Discoveries desk.
As instructed on the tickets, we met in the Cabaret Lounge at 7:15am where we were assigned numbered stickers to place on our shirts. We were in Group 1 and soon we were heading down to Deck 3 to board the tender for the ride to shore.
Early morning (for us) departure to Quepos. Photo taken from tender.
The tender ride was smooth and only took about 10 minutes. After disembarking the tender, we met our local guide for the day, Ailene, who was holding a lollipop sign indicating our group number.
Ailene greets Group 1
Ailene directed us to the vehicle that would be taking us to the national park. The bus also had a sign in the windshield indicating our tour name and group number. This makes it virtually impossible for someone to end up with the wrong guide, or on the wrong bus.
Tour bus identifies tour and group number
The vehicle to which we were assigned was like a large minivan that could hold 15 guests plus a driver and guide. It was modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. The windows were clean, making it easy to see the scenery along the way. The drive to the Carara National Park took about 90 minutes. As soon as we arrived, everyone made a beeline for the public restrooms, of course.
Carara National Park
Ailene gathered our group of 15 at the beginning of a trail path to explain what we would see during our short hike through the park.
Ailene explains a little about the park and what we can expect to see
Ailene reminds us that flash photography is not allowed and that we are not to touch any of the plants or flowers. The hike took place on a well laid- out gravel trail. The park appears to be well maintained. Our guide stops periodically throughout the hike to explain the flora and fauna surrounding us. The only thing that takes away from the "jungle-like" experience is the noisy traffic from the nearby highway.
Rickee asks our guide a question along the hike
Our guide was very responsive to questions and willing to assist the guests in any way necessary. We spent the better part of an hour on our hike through the park. The tour could have been better with the use of Audio Vox portable sound systems. We would occasionally lag behind the group to take a closer look at something and could not hear what the guide was talking about from where we were. After the hike, we all re-boarded the bus for a short drive to a bridge spanning the Tarcoles River. Roberto, our driver, let us out on one side of the bridge so that we could walk along the bridge. Now why, you may ask, would we want to walk along a bridge on a busy highway? The answer: crocodiles!
Crocodiles in the Tarcoles River
On one bank of the river, there was a group of around 30 crocodiles, just hanging out. And, some of them were huge! The large one in the photo above was probably 13 feet long. We watched them, and photographed them, for about 15 minutes before getting back on the bus for a drive to the Pura Vida Botanical Gardens. The drive up the mountain road to the gardens was pretty rough gravel, so be prepared for a rough ride. Once we arrived, the place is a tropical paradise!
The view from Pura Vida Gardens
The first order of business was lunch. The owner of the gardens, who happens to be from Texas, has prepared a beautiful buffet lunch for our group (and several other tour groups). We are the first to arrive, so we get to attack the buffet first. There was rice and beans (a Costa Rican staple), chicken, fried fish, veggies and salads. We were offered a glass or wine or local beer, or soft drinks were also available. It was delicious and the view from the patio was spectacular.
After lunch, our guide led us down a path to view more flora and fauna. The plants, flowers and wildlife here were much more interesting than those we saw in the national park. The place was really beautiful and well manicured.
We even saw toucans in the trees. They are very hard to photograph because of all of the tree branches in the way. You really need a good, long lens and a tripod to get a shot of these birds. Auto-focus just doesn't cut it. But, I was able to catch a usable shot with Rickee's pocket camera.
We spent about 90 minutes walking through the botanical gardens, admiring the beautiful grounds, learning about the various plant and bird life. I think everyone agreed that this was the highlight of the tour. It was hot and humid, and after 90 minutes everyone was ready to take refuge back in the air conditioned bus for the 90-minute drive back to Quepos. The sun was just beginning to set when we boarded the tender back to Quest, casting a nice glow on the ship in the distance.
Azamara Quest
From end-to-end, the tour took about eight hours. We felt like the national park was a bit of a miss, but the lunch and visit to the botanical gardens was a hit. No complaints at all with our tour guide, so Land Discoveries gets an overall A- on this tour!
As soon as we are back to our stateroom, we waste no time in getting ready for our 7pm Indonesian Rijsttafel dinner. This special meal is only available one evening and is at an extra cost of $25 per person. Rijsttafle (or "rice table") has become a traditional Indonesian meal and is commonly found at restaurants in Amsterdam, where there is a large Indonesian population.
The table is set for 20 guests in The Patio on Deck 9. A menu explains the 20+ items that will be served at this feast. First, we are served a spicy salad followed by vegetable spring rolls. Then the platters and bowls of food started coming fast and furious. The table was soon filled with a variety of rice, noodles, chicken, lamb, beef, vegetables, pork... you name it!
There was enough food for 40 people! It truly was a feast. We all left feeling stuffed. This is a dining experience that you should definitely try. Space is very limited, and they only do it once per cruise, so book early!
Tomorrow, we will be in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Day 9 - Golfito, Costa Rica
We ride horses in the rain forest, get rained on, then have dinner with the Hotel Director.
This morning, Azamara Quest is still docked in Golfito, Costa Rica. While most guests book tours through the Land Discoveries desk on board, we have gone rogue and booked our own excursion directly with a local tour company: Golfito Monkey Tours.
Disembarking Azamara Quest in Golfito
After a quick lunch in The Patio, we disembarked Quest around 1:45pm, in time to meet up with our guide at 2pm as instructed. Our guide for the day, Hariel, was waiting for us just outside the gates to the port, as was the owner of Golfito Monkey Tours, Adriana, and another GMT guide.
Our guide, Hariel, waiting for us at the pier
We all piled into a minivan, with Adriana driving, and headed off to the nearby rain forest. The drive to the horseback tour location took about 30 minutes. When we arrived, we were given helmets and soon mounted up for the ride.
Rickee gets familiar with her horse
Another local guide, probably the gentlemen who owns the horses, was the lead guide on the tour. He did not speak English, so having Hariel along to translate really helped. Along the way, he would point out flora and fauna as we passed them.
After about 30 minutes of riding, we soon learned why this is referred to as a "rain forest". It began raining, then it began pouring rain. This is something we had not prepared for. Rickee and I were soaked by the end of the ride! So, it is a good idea to pack a portable, disposable poncho just to be safe. Lesson learned. Adriana also pointed out later that most people do the tour in the morning when rain is less likely. The ride ended with a short hike to a beautiful waterfall. Our initial plan was to swim under the waterfall, but we were already so soaked from the rain, we decided to forego the experience. As my primary camera was not waterproof, we had to use the GoPro to take photos at the waterfall, and the quality is not that good.
We will be posting a complete review of Golfito Monkey Tours Horseback Riding tour on CruiseReport.com soon, so watch for more photos, video (from my GoPro) and detailed information. Adriana drove us back down the mountain to the pier and got us "home" at 5:30pm, as promised. Along the way, Adriana mentioned that their company also does dolphin tours, whale-watching (in season), mangrove tours, and much more. Check out their website for more details.
We had only about an hour to get ready for our dinner this evening in Discoveries Restaurant. We have accepted an invitation from Phillip, the ship's Hotel Director, to dine at his table. Our invitation requests that we meet in Mosaic Cafe at 6:45pm. When we got back to our stateroom, we were hanging wet clothes any place we could find so they could dry. Some went out on the balcony. We hoped none would blow away when the ship set sail!
Table setting for Hotel Director's table
We somehow made it to Mosaic by 6:45, where we met Phillip and six other guests for before-dinner drinks. We had met Phillip on our last cruise with Azamara in 2014. I am pretty sure we were the only Americans at the table. Most were from Great Britain and Australia. At 7pm, we all headed to the large, round table in the center of the dining room for dinner. A special multi-course menu has been prepared just for our table. I had the scallops with Thai Risotto (I know, it sounds weird) which was quite spicy, but delicious. The Cream of Mushroom soup was as good as I have ever had, and the main course, Surf & Turf (tenderloin and lobster) was quite good.
Surf and Turf
The meal ended with an unusual dessert resembling a lemon panna cotta with a brulée floating in an orange butter sauce. It was very good! But, the best part of the meal was making new friends and swapping stories. We all regaled each other with tales of past travels and Azamara adventures. A great time was had by all. Thank you to our host, Phillip, for including us.
Tomorrow is an early day. Quest will be in Quepos, Costa Rica, and we have a tour scheduled for 7:15 in the morning. Yikes! The blog may be delayed a bit.
Day 8 - Another Day at Sea
Q&A with the Captain, an Officers' BBQ and dinner at Aqualina on our first evening in Costa Rica.
This morning, Azamara Quest is sailing toward the tiny village of Golfito, Costa Rica. We are not scheduled to arrive until 6pm this evening, so, in essence, we have another day at sea. And, a beautiful day it is, with calm waters and moderate temperatures. Our first stop this morning is at The Cabaret Lounge for a "Behind the Scenes" visit with Captain Jose Vilarinho. Captain Jose went through a slide show describing every department on the ship, explaining what goes on behind the scenes to make every cruise memorable for the guests. It was very enlightening, and shows that this Captain is involved with every department on the ship.
Captain Jose Vilarinho
After Captain Jose's talk, some of the senior staff came on stage to take questions from the audience. After the Q&A, I headed up to Deck 10 aft to Prime C for another cooking demonstration by Chef Joao. Today, he showed us how they prepare Mushroom Risotto. Even though I have prepared this dish many times, it is always good to learn new techniques from a professional chef.
Chef Joao prepares Mushroom Risotto
I learned that you can actually peel a Portabello mushroom! Who knew? At the conclusion of the demo, wait staff passed around samples of the delicious rice dish. After the cooking demo, it is time for the Officers' BBQ lunch on Deck 10. Once again, The Patio is converted into a large buffet serving line, and the crowd soon begins to line up for food that is being served by the ship's senior staff.
Hotel Manager, Phillip, serves up delicious tacos
The highlights, for me anyway, were the whole roasted pig and the BBQ pork ribs. Both were delicious. However, we had to show restraint because we have a very special dinner scheduled for later this evening.
Whole roasted suckling pig
Because of the Deck barbeque, we skipped Team Trivia today, yet our team apparently won the progressive point award! Someone showed up at our stateroom with a couple of Azamara logo t-shirts and a refrigerator magnet as our prize winnings. Pretty cool.
I also decided that today would be a good day to take advantage of the Free Bag of Laundry (available to Le Club Voyage members at Explorer level and above). This is another good benefit that loyal Azamara guests can enjoy.
Le Club Voyage Members can get a bag of laundry done free for every 7-day cruise
This afternoon, we stayed in our stateroom and I watched the Green Bay Packers get smoked by the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC Championship while RIckee enjoyed some time in the sun on our balcony. Before the end of the game, Quest was pulling up to the dock at Golfito, Costa Rica. And, by 5:00pm, a message came over the ship's PA system that guests would be required to meet with Costa Rica Immigration officials. Since we have an early dinner reservation at 6pm, we went to The Cabaret Lounge with the first group called.
Rickee gets her passport stamped by Immigration officers in Golfito
The Immigration process was very efficient and quick. Afterwards, we had enough time to visit The Living Room for a cocktail before our dinner reservation. We were the first to arrive at Aqualina on Deck 10 aft, right on time for our 6pm reservation. Aqualina is one of Azamara Quest's two specialty restaurants, the other being Prime C Steakhouse.
Table setting at Aqualina is a step above Discoveries restaurant
Aqualina is an Italian-themed restaurant, which is different from our last sailing aboard Quest in 2014. On our last cruise, Aqualina was described as "Contemporary American Cuisine with a Mediterranean flair." We had no idea what the heck that meant, and found the theme to be confusing. So, we did not dine there in 2014. But, we completely understand "Italian" and wasted no time in making a reservation on this voyage.
About to experience an incredible meal at Aqualina
Our waiter for the evening, Emmanuel, greeted us and explained the menu, which is very straightforward. After a Bruschetta amuse bouche, my antipasti (starter) soon arrived: three Proscuitto-wrapped Seared Scallops with a Garlic Cauliflower Purée and Balsamic drizzle. The scallops were small, but the preparation and presentation were excellent. They were delicious.
Seared Scallop Antipasti
Rickee ordered the Carpaccio of Beef as her starter, and loved it. For my Zuppa and Insalata course (soup and salad), I ordered the Lobster Bisque while Rickee went with the more interesting Tomato and Watermelon salad with Basil and Balsamic glaze. It was very different, and very good.
Tomato and Watermelon salad with balsamic glaze
For our Secondi (main course), we both ordered the Crispy Duck Confit with Mushroom Risotto. We primarily ordered it for the Risotto that we had sampled earlier in the day at the cooking demo. The mushroom Risotto was as creamy and delicious as we remembered and the duck was juicy and flavorful with a light, crispy skin.
Crispy Duck Confit with Mushroom Risotto
We were both way too stuffed by the end of the meal to enjoy the signature souffle dessert, so I had a scoop of gelato and Rickee, a scoop of lemon sorbet. It was the perfect end to a wonderful dining experience. So far, this has been our favorite meal of the entire cruise, and well-worth the $30/pp additional cost.
Tomorrow, Quest remains in Golfito where we will enjoy a horseback ride!
Day 7 - Fuerte Amador, Panama
We make our first visit to Panama City, ride a bus into the ocean and enjoy a Chef's Table dinner.
Azamara Quest was anchored overnight off the coast of Panama. Tender operations into Fuerte Amador began around 7:30am, mostly for those on tours booked through Azamara's Land Discoveries desk.
Azamara Quest anchored off the coast of Panama
We have pre-booked our own Aquabus tour through Panama Marine Adventures using that company's website. Our tour is scheduled to depart Flamenco Marina at 10:30. Flamenco Marina is where Quest's tenders drop guests off who are going ashore. We board our tender about 9:30 for the 10-minute ride over to Flamenco Marina.
Tender drops guests off at Flamenco Marina
Guests shopping for local souvenirs need look no further than Flamenco Marina. There is a small, modern mall here with lots of little souvenir shops and a huge Duty Free store that sells liquor, fragrances, candy, tobacco and even some electronics.
Duty Free shop at Flamenco Marina (opens at 10am)
If you wander around the marina area, you will likely be approached by several local taxi drivers who will offer to take you on a private tour of the area. One driver, Roberto, was persistent, but polite. He offered to show us all of the sights for $20 per hour. A good deal, I suppose. But, you would be wise to check Tripadvisor before booking a local taxi. As soon as we arrived at the marina, we searched for, and quickly found, the Panama Marine Adventures kiosk located in front of the Duty Free shop.
We approached the window and were greeted by Liliana, the PMA representative. She was gracious and welcoming, and told us where to meet the bus for the tour.
Liliana, with Panama Marine Adventures
Our Aquabus tour departed at 10:30 as scheduled and within a few minutes we were driving into the ocean! For two hours, we "sailed" and drove around Fuerte Amador and Panama City. It was a unique experience, to say the least, with a few thrills thrown in just for fun. We will be posting a complete review of Aquabus in the near future, so keep an eye out for it on our blog.
The Aquabus
The Aquabus tour ended at Flamenco Marina where we took some time to browse through the shops there. We bought some souvenirs and postcards. Postage, however, was another story. One of the shopkeepers told us that there are so many counterfeit stamps in Panama that you are now required to go to the post office to mail items. So, we decided to take our postcards back on board and let the ship mail them for us.
We took one of the tenders back to the ship in time for lunch at Windows Cafe. We were careful to eat light as we have a big dinner planned for this evening. Tonight, we have booked the Chef's Table dinner. The Chef's Table is a special five-course dinner for up to 14 guests set up in Prime C steakhouse on Deck 10. There are three different themed dinners offered: Italian, French and Californian. Each meal is unique and each of the five courses are paired with a different wine. Our meal began with a welcome and explanation of each course by Executive Chef Monica Oritz.
Chef's Table on Azamara Quest
Our first course was a Lobster and Avacado Salad Rolled in Lebanese Cucumber and was paired with Domain Chandon sparkling wine. It was as delicious as it was beautiful, and a great opening to a spectacular meal.
Lobster and Avacado Salad Roll
Next, the soup course, a bowl of smooth, creamy Smoked Tomato Veloute paired with Viognier, Stags' Leap (Rickee's favorite wine of the evening). Next, a Surf and Turf featuring a giant sautéed prawn and braised beef short rib croquette topped with a creamy morel mushroom. Surf and Turf was paired with a Pinot Noir, Belle Glos.
Surf and Turf
After a Grapefruit Sorbet palette cleanser, it was time for the main course, a choice of New Potato Crusted California Sea Bass or Herb Roasted Prime Angus Center Cut Strip Sirloin. Rickee chose the fish and I, the beef. Of course, the beef was paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon while the Bass was paired with a Chardonnay.
Prime Angus Center Cut Strip Loin
Both main courses were excellent. My beef was close to fork tender and cooked to a perfect Medium Rare. Rickee loved the Sea Bass and both of our plates were clean when they were retrieved. A cheese course was to follow, paired with a Port Wine from Portugal. The dessert course was a Macadamia Nut Chocolate Mud Pie with White Chocolate Mousse paired with a glass of Sauternes, a French dessert wine.
Macadamia Nut Chocolate Mud Pie, White Chocolate Mousse
The meal lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours, so we were only able to catch the end of Russ Grieve's show, "For Once In My Life," in The Cabaret Lounge. Russ is a fantastic singer and puts on a great show.
Everyone at the table agreed that the meal was a memorable one. Hats off to our Sommellier, Jackson, for hosting us and explaining each wine pairing. The Chef's Table costs $95 per person and must be booked in advance. Space is very limited, so you should book early. We booked a special dining package called the Chef's Table +2 which included the Chef's Table, one dinner at Prime C Steakhouse and one dinner at Aqualina Italian Restaurant. Separately, these meals would cost $155 per person ($30 for Prime C and $30 for Aqualine + $95 for Chef's Table). However, the package deal was only $135/pp, a great value.
It has been another Azamazing Day aboard Azamara Quest!
Tomorrow, Azamara Quest will be in Golfito, Costa Rica.
Day 6 - Panama Canal Transit
We transit the Panama Canal, a new President is sworn into office and Azamara throws its signature White Night party.
This morning, Azamara Quest is waiting its turn to enter the Gatun locks at the north end of the Panama Canal. The fifty-mile long, man-made marvel was completed in 1914 to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Dozens of ships on the horizon, lined up to wait their turn to enter the canal
The canal transit is so smooth and painless for cruise ship guests that is is easy to ignore the monumental task of constructing the canal. The French tried first, and lost thousands of workers to malaria and other disease, only to finally give up. When America took over in 1904 and purchased the engineering rights from France, it only took ten years before the canal was open for business.
Transiting the canal requires ships to pass through three sets of locks, raising the vessels from sea level to the level of the man-made Gatun Lake, the largest man-made lake in the world.
Azamara Quest prepares to enter the first Gatun lock
We have a pretty good view of the action from our private balcony, and watch from there as Quest enters the Gatun locks. I was able to rig up my GoPro camera to the railing in an effort to create a time lapse of the transit into Gatun Lake.
Many guests go to the outer decks to watch the lock transit. However, Azamara's bridge cam allowed us to see the Captain's view of the locks from the bridge while remaining in our cabin.
Bridge cam is displayed on our stateroom television
Dr. Dave Roberts, the destination lecturer, also provided commentary over the ship's PA system and stateroom TV on points of interest and canal history. There are several news channels on the ship's satellite TV system, all of which were broadcasting the swearing-in ceremonies of the 45th President of the United States.
Donald Trump is sworn in as 45th President while we transit the Canal
So, from the comfort of our stateroom, we were able to watch from our balcony, go inside to see what the Captain sees, and periodically switch channels to watch the inauguration!
Enjoying the view of Gatun locks
After we entered Gatun Lake and began sailing toward the Pacific, we soon approached the first large bridge which spans the canal. We decided to head up to Deck 11 to get a good view.
Azamara Quest approaches the bridge
Soon, we were into the Pedro Miguel locks, followed by the Miraflores locks, after which Azamara Quest is in the Pacific Ocean! By the time Quest is anchoring off the coast of Panama City, it is time for the signature White Night Deck BBQ and Party. Guests are encouraged to dress in something white for the event and dine "under the stars" on the pool deck. The Patio (pool grill) has been converted into a large buffet area serving every food imaginable. Steaks and lobster tails are grilled over charcoal, and are delicious!
Steaks and lobster tails
There are tables filled with salads, desserts, vegetables, breads...you name it. A stir fry station is making stir fry to order. There is a huge salt-crusted baked Cod that Rickee really liked. The Oxtail stew was one of my favorites.
Desserts, desserts and more desserts!
Soon after the sun went down, Cruise Director, Russ Grieve, kicked off the evening’s entertainment by introducing a group of local musicians and dancers who entertained with local music and dance while wearing colorful costumes.
Local entertainers
After the local entertainment, the Quest Singers and Dancers took the stage, along with the ship's musicians, and began a dance party that got everyone up on their feet and dancing.
Guests dance to the music of the Quest Singers and Dancers
The party lasted late into the night and a great time was had by all. White Night is always something special on an Azamara cruise!
Tomorrow, we will tender into Fuerte Amador, Panama.
Day 5 - Another Day at Sea on Quest
After we tour the ship's galley and engine control room, we are invited to a special party.
Yes, it's another day at sea as Azamara Quest sails toward the entrance to the Panama Canal. To better understand what we are about to experience, we attend a morning lecture on "The Panama Canal: The American Effort," conducted by Dr. Dave Roberts. This lecture described how President Teddy Roosevelt imposed his will on Congress, and the world, to see to it that America completed the Panama Canal.
Dr. Dave Roberts
Immediately following Dr. Roberts' lecture, we remained in our seats to learn about Sea Turtles from WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) speaker Michael Osmond.
Michael Osmond
I departed a little early from the sea turtle lecture to get in on the action in Spirits lounge where a "Cruise Line Logo trivia" contest was being held. Finally, a trivia contest I should be able to win! But, alas, it was not to be. I guessed 18 out of 20 of the cruise line logos shown on the screen, missing only Orient Line and Fred Olson. Damn! Believe it or not, there was one team who got all 20 right.
Cruise Line Logo trivia in Spirits lounge
This afternoon, Rickee and I were invited to tour the ship's galley. One of the lead chefs led us on a thorough tour of the galley, which was quite a bit larger than I expected for a ship this size. Every inch of the galley was spotlessly clean and everything is very organized.
Huge stainless steel kettles are used for making soups
After our galley tour, we joined a group of guests for a tour of the ship's engine control room. Arguably, this is the "heart" of the ship. Azamara Quest's four diesel engines, or generators, are monitored and controlled from here. The generators create electricity for the ship's two huge electric motors that drive the propellers, thus moving the ship forward. The generators also create all of the electricity used throughout the ship. All of the ship's waste water disposal is controlled from here as well.
Engine control room
There were a few hardcore boaters in attendance who had lots of questions for the ship's engineers, so Rickee and I decided to bug out early so we could make it to the Le Club Voyage reception held in Cabaret Lounge. By the time we arrived, we were one of the last in line to meet and greet the Captain. Le Club Voyage is Azamara's loyalty program and this special cocktail reception is a way for Azamara to recognize their most loyal past passengers. Basically, it is what we in the industry refer to as a "repeaters’ party".
Rickee enjoys some of the hors d'oeuvres served at Le Club Voyage reception
Wait staff circulate throughout the lounge, their trays filled with glasses of champagne and wine. A variety of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres are also offered. Soon, the Captain takes the stage to greet everyone and thank them for their loyal support of Azamara Club Cruises. Of the 655 guests on board, more than 300 are in the lounge tonight. That is pretty impressive, to say the least. One couple was recognized as having sailed on 22 cruises with Azamara!
After the Le Club Voyage reception, we went back to our favorite spot on the ship, The Living Room, where we enjoyed one last cocktail before calling it a night.
Tomorrow, Azamara Quest will transit the Panama Canal.
Day 4 - Cartagena, Colombia
We explore the old city of Cartagena on two wheels and and enjoy an AzAmazing Evening.
This morning begins with a visit to the Windows Cafe to forage for pastries for Queen Rickee, who delights in having me bring her something sweet after I am finished with my blogging duties. There is a station at Windows Cafe where they make fresh pancakes and waffles and I noticed some very fresh, nice-looking cinnamon rolls. She was quite pleased with my choice.
Puerto Cartagena
Azamara Quest arrived in Cartagena, Colombia, at noon. We decided to have an early lunch at The Patio on Deck 9, since it opens at 11:30. As pool grills go, The Patio is one of the better ones. They have quite an extensive menu.
Menu at the Patio
I ordered a cheeseburger with onion rings and Rickee had a hot dog with everything (including chili). I also ordered a lamb brochette, just so I could write about it (yeah, right). They have guacamole on the salad bar, so I put a big scoop in a salad bowl and had the waiter bring us some tortilla chips for us to munch on while we waited for our food. Everything in The Patio is prepared a la minute, so food generally arrives hot and fresh. My burger was as good as the one yesterday and Rickee devoured her hot dog and fries. The lamb brochette was tender, juicy and quite good.
After retrieving my laptop from Jim (the Bridge lecturer), we wasted no time in disembarking the ship. We have no idea how to find the Segway place, so we want to make sure we have enough time to wander aimlessly through the Old City of Cartagena to locate it. By 1:00pm, we are off the ship and boarding one of the complimentary shuttle buses for a ride into the oldest part of the city.
Complimentary shuttle bus
Azamara always tries to provide guests with complimentary shuttle service into town when available. This is a huge convenience for those of us who like to explore on our own. It is a great added value to an Azamara cruise. The 20-minute ride from the port delivered us to the gates of the old walled city. We had a vague map that we printed off the Internet to go by, so we had to ask for directions from the tour guide on the shuttle.
Rickee asks for directions in Cartagena
If you ever find yourself in the Old City of Cartagena, don't expect to use street names or addresses as a guide. Streets tend to change their name every block or two, so we soon found ourselves wandering aimlessly through town. When walking through town, you will see a lot of street vendors with their wares displayed on the ground, a common site in many tourist destinations. For the most part, the vendors were polite and not aggressive at all.
Street vendors are everywhere in the Old City
For more than one hour, we wandered the streets of Cartagena, stopping to ask locals for directions, but to no avail. Finally, I went back to the original map I downloaded from the Internet and just ignored the street names and went by visual landmarks. Turns out, we were only a few blocks from the Segway place all along. We walked all around it! Once we found Cartegana Segway, we met a few other guests from our ship who had also booked the tour on their own. Soon, we were mounting our two-wheeled self-balancing wonder machines and tooling through the crowded streets of Cartagena.
Riding Segways through the streets of Cartagena's Old City
Notwithstanding the occasional traffic jam, the streets here are pretty good for Segway touring. Our tour guide, Cesar, would have us stop regularly, park the Segways and then he would brief us on local points of interest along the way. There were several opportunities for photos during the tour in front of historic buildings.
Rickee and I stop for a photo
At the conclusion of the tour, we decided to spring for the optional transfer back to the ship which Cartagena Segway offers for $15 per couple. We will soon post a more detailed review of Cartagena Segway on CruiseReport.com, so watch for more details and photos to come. When we arrived back at the port (Puerto Cartagena), we were shocked to be greeted by peacocks, parrots, macaws, and flamingoes. They were just hanging around everywhere along the path to Quest, out in the open!
Beautiful birds greet us when we arrive back at the port
To get back to the ship, you have to walk through a gift shop — clever. The gift shop is very nice and items sold there seem to be reasonably priced. We were able to pick up a souvenir refrigerator magnet for $5.
Azamara Quest docked in Cartagena, Colombia
By the time we got back on board Quest, we had just enough time to take a shower and get dressed for the AzAmazing event this evening: Ivann at Teatro Adolfo Mejia. Once each cruise, Azamara guests are treated to an "AzAmazing Evening" of local entertainment. This evening, guests board coaches for the drive back into the Old City where we arrive at the beautiful Teatro Heredia.
Azamara guests arrive at Teatro Heredia
The theater itself is quite stunning, and Azamara has reserved the entire facility for this event. As we are seated, we are entertained by an excellent Flamenco classical guitarist. When Ivan Dario Arias (aka IVANN) takes the stage, he transforms the theater with his piano as he showcases a variety of musical styles, including techno, salsa, flamenco and pop. Dramatic lighting, dancers and fog effects make this much more than just a piano concert. This is a show you would expect to see in Las Vegas. Kudos to Azamara for putting on a truly AzAmazing event!
IVANN on the piano
The show lasted about an hour, after which we all boarded the coaches for the drive back to Quest. When we arrived, wait staff greeted us with glasses of champagne as we stepped off the coach. A substantial buffet of late-night snacks awaited guests in The Living Room on Deck 10. As if this were not enough, there was also a movie-under-the-stars offered by the pool! All-in-all, it was a truly AzAmazing evening in Cartagena aboard Azamara Quest!
Tomorrow is another day at sea as Quest sails for the Panama Canal.
Day 3 - Another Sea Day on Quest
The seas start to play rough on our second day at sea, but there's a lot to keep us busy.
We love days at sea...calm days at sea that is. Unfortunately, today the seas decided to play it rough. With 10-foot swells and high winds, Azamara Quest is getting its share of motion. In spite of the sea's attempt to keep everyone in their staterooms, guests shrugged off the motion and took part in the ship's myriad of scheduled activities. I stopped by the card room on Deck 10 to pick up my laptop (on loan to the Bridge lecturer) and was amazed to find a sizable crowd gathered to learn more about the card game.
Jim conducts two bridge lectures each day at sea
Rickee and I subjected ourselves to more humiliation at Team Trivia, even though I think we did a bit better today than yesterday. By the time we got to The Patio for lunch, the place was packed. I had my heart set on a cheeseburger, so after I placed my order, we found a table for two inside Windows Cafe and asked if they would deliver the burger there, which our waiter gladly did. The burger was as good as I remembered from our last cruise but, unfortunately, so were the onion rings. They could still use some improvement.
There are so many things going on that you need to plan your day. There are dance classes, wine tastings, lectures, bridge lectures, stretching classes, Mah-Jongg (whatever that is), a scavenger hunt, trivia, etc., etc. And of course, the most popular activity of all: just laying out in the sun by the pool. We enjoy Team Trivia and an occasional lecture. Today's lecture was "The Panama Canal: The First 500 Years" conducted by Dr. Dave Roberts. If the weather were better, RIckee would be out on our balcony reading.
Dr. Dave Roberts lectures on the Panama Canal
One of our favorite places to hang out is The Living Room on Deck 10. Even though there is more motion there on rough sea days because of its location high on the ship, you can't beat the view. And, at around 5pm each day, they set up a very nice tapas bar. Once the food comes out, the place begins to fill up quickly.
Tapas served each evening in The Living Room
After 6pm, Simon shows up to entertain Living Room guests with his guitar.
Simon entertains guests in The Living Room
We filled up on the excellent tapas in The Living Room and decided to skip dinner this evening. We have a lot of specialty dining scheduled for later in the cruise, so we are trying to save up some room for all the food to come. Before going to the evening show, we stopped by Spirits on Deck 5 (formerly Casino Bar). The bar waiter confirmed what we already suspected, that if you ask for it, you can enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, which we did.
Spirits Bar on Deck 5
This evening we enjoyed the 8:15 show in The Cabaret Lounge, "Who Wrote The Songs," performed by the Quest Singers and Dancers.
The show featured some great vocals and lively dance routines. The show lounge does not do justice to the entertainers. If you want a good view of the show, you really have to show up early and get a seat near the stage. This is an old-school show "lounge", not a theater like on many of the newer ships, so there is no tiered seating. Nevertheless, the quality of the entertainers and musicians makes up for the theater's shortcomings. We look forward to the next show.
Tomorrow, Azamara Quest will be docked in Cartagena, Colombia. We have arranged for a Segway Tour on our own and the ship has something special planned for tomorrow night, so stay tuned.
Day 2 - At Sea on Quest
Rough seas, a new dining concept and a comedy show highlight our first full day aboard Quest.
Our first day full day aboard Azamara Quest is a bit rocky, the seas are a little rough and we notice that sea sickness bags have been placed in the elevators and stairwells, just in case. We have certainly been in much rougher seas, so I think it would only adversely affect someone with extreme sensitivity to motion. Nevertheless, the winds are very strong and warning signs discourage guests from walking on the outer decks.
I found Windows Cafe to be the best place for early morning blogging and enjoying coffee. While working on the blog, a gentleman approached me with an interesting request. He is the Bridge lecturer on this cruise and he apparently forgot to pack his MacBook Air, which he uses for his presentations. I could tell he was desperate, so I offered to let him use my MacBook over the next few mornings for his lectures. Fortunately, all of his presentations were on USB thumb drives. Crisis averted.
Rickee and I made our traditional visit to the Casino to make our donation to the slot machines. Ten minutes and a negative $40 later, we decided we had given enough to the cause and walked over to Mosaic Cafe for a well-deserved treat. The coconut macaroons looked very inviting, and were delicious. Mosaic Cafe is open throughout the day and offers a variety of coffee drinks, snacks and sweets.
Mosaic Cafe is a popular spot on Azamara Quest
While Rickee attended a lecture on Humpback Whales, I decided to check out the Indian Cooking Demonstration in Prime C, Azamara Quest's steakhouse. This morning, we learned how to prepare Curry Chicken with a Masala gravy, a very traditional Indian dish. Chef Joao explained all of the spices and techniques used to prepare the dish. At the end of the demo, we all enjoyed a sample of the fragrant, spicy chicken.
Chef Joao shows us how to prepare Curry Chicken
After the cooking demo, and whale lecture, we joined other guests in the Cabaret Lounge for Progressive Team Trivia with Cruise Director, Russ Greive, and Activity Manager, Lee. We sailed with Russ back in 2014 and remember him to be very energetic and a lot of fun. The trivia questions were not particularly difficult, but my contributions were limited. I was certain of one of my answers only to learn I was incorrect. Maybe I will do better tomorrow?
Lee and Russ conduct Team Trivia
For lunch today, Rickee and I decide to give Discoveries Restaurant a try. We were seated at a table for two and quickly noticed that Discoveries appears to be another venue left untouched by the recent renovation efforts. I enjoyed a delicious Thai Chicken soup followed by a Penne Pasta in curry cream sauce with Lamb Kofta. All dishes were very good.
Penne Pasta with Lamb Kofta
This evening, we again visited The Living Room on Deck 10 forward for a cocktail. Formerly The Looking Glass, The Living Room is the ship's observation lounge and offers an expansive view of the ocean. It would appear that this space has undergone a complete renovation with a bright new bar, new furnishings and carpet, and a small buffet service with a selection of tapas each evening.
The Living Room Bar
After enjoying our cocktail and a beautiful Caribbean sunset, we decided to try The Patio for dinner. During the day, The Patio is the ship's pool grill, but in the evening, it is now transformed into a casual bistro with a small, but interesting menu. Our waiter brought us each a glass of the day's complimentary wine, red for me and white for Rickee. Rickee was not too hungry so opted only for a visit to the salad bar and a baked potato. I ordered the lamb medallions with sauteed mushrooms. My lamb was cooked perfectly. The Patio is a new concept, and apparently, a popular one. By the time we left, the tables were beginning to fill.
Sunset on Azamara Quest
After dinner, we made our way back to Cabaret Lounge for the evening show. Due to some technical difficulties, the planned show had to be postponed. Fortunately, comedian Rich Shidner was able to help out by making us all laugh with his comedy routine.
Comedian, Rich Shidner
Tomorrow, we will enjoy another day at sea as Azamara Quest heads towards Cartegena, Columbia.
Day 1 - Quest Embarkation
We board Azamara Quest in Miami and watch our Cowboys lose to Green Bay.
Today, we flew to Miami to board Azamara Quest. We landed in Miami about an hour late … American Airlines...enough said. When we arrived at baggage claim, we sought out the Azamara representative, as instructed, for our transfer to the ship. Unfortunately, there must have been a mix up in communication, because our names were not on the transfer list. After debating with the rep for a couple of minutes, and even showing her an email stating that we had a transfer, it was clear that, if our names were not on her list, we were not getting a transfer. She offered to sell us a transfer for $29 pp, but we decided to call Mr. Uber instead. Within three minutes of submitting a request to Uber, our Toyota Prius showed up, and we were on our way to the Port of Miami! Have I said lately how much I love Uber?
Our Uber driver had a little challenge finding Pier J at the Port of Miami. It is the one that is across the street from where the big ships dock, sort of behind Royal Caribbean's offices. But, with a little help from us, he was able to navigate through the port and drop us off at the correct location. We dropped our two checked bags with the porter and proceeded inside to the check-in desk. It was about 2:30 when we arrived at check-in and there was no line. We walked right up to the desk and within five minutes, we were stepping on board Quest where we were greeted with a friendly "Welcome Home" and a cold glass of sparkling wine.
Welcome Home Greeting
We were informed that our stateroom was ready, so we proceeded up the stairs to Deck 6 and forward to our Veranda Stateroom (6016). We were not inside the stateroom for two minutes before Edwin, our room steward, showed up to greet us and welcome us "home". Edwin assured us that he and his assistant would take good care of us and asked if there was anything else we needed. Rickee inquired about more clothes hangers, and within a few minutes, Edwin returned with a handful.
Stateroom 6016
Evidence of the ship's dry dock experience was found throughout the stateroom. While the "attached" furnishings appear to be original, the carpeting, wall coverings, bedding, and furnishings have a fresh, new and more modern appearance. The bathroom is still small, but has been fitted with new faux wood vinyl flooring and new wall coverings.
Bathroom Amenities
We did not have a lot of time to spend exploring the ship before the mandatory muster drill. Our muster station was the Cabaret Lounge which, by the way, appears to be untouched by the recent refurbishment. Fortunately, Azamara has dropped the requirement for guests to bring their life vests to the muster drill. Basically, it is a demonstration by crew members of how to put on the vest along with safety announcements. During the announcement from the Bridge, Captain Vilhrino reminded us that, in an effort to prevent the potential spread of germs (like Norovirus), crew members do not shake hands with guests. Instead, they use the Azamara Fist Bump as a greeting. Good idea.
After the drill, we wasted no time in trying find out if the ship was going to be offering the NFL Divisional Playoff game between Dallas and Green Bay on the ship's television system. Unfortunately, they were not. This was an opportunity for me to try out our new Dish Network Dish Anywhere™ technology. Basically, I was able to use my cell phone to connect to the ship's WiFi, then the Dish Anywhere app allowed me to view LIVE TV coming from my Dish receiver at home. Amazing! We spent most of the evening in The Living Room on Deck 10 watching our Cowboys sadly lose to the Packers. We will talk more about The Living Room in a future blog post.
After the disappointing Cowboy loss, we decided to make it an early night. We stopped by Windows Cafe for their Italian Buffet and enjoyed a quiet meal before heading back to our stateroom.
Tomorrow is our first day at sea as Azamara Quest sails towards Cartegena, Columbia.