Does Anyone Know what happened to the December 19, 2019 Panama Canal on Quest

On the exclusive preview of the 2019 cruses there was a 17 night Quest sailing listed on Dec 19, 2019 from Miami to LA named the Panama Canal Holiday. I wanted to book it but I can't find it on the Azamara web site. When my TA called the AZ rep said there was no cruise listed. Where'd it go? They took my cheese. :loudcry:

Correction: It was actually on the Journey not the Quest. The web site stops at the nine night Dec 10, 2019 Caribbean cruise that ends in Miami.

I have no idea. Since this voyage overlaps into the next year, perhaps they are rethinking 2020?

My contact in the Itinerary area is traveling. I've sent an email asking. If I hear something I'll let you know.

I have no idea. Since this voyage overlaps into the next year, perhaps they are rethinking 2020?

 

My contact in the Itinerary area is traveling. I've sent an email asking. If I hear something I'll let you know.

Thankx so much Bonnie. My accountant the other day, while working on my taxes, asked me why I was saving my money so I thought that cruise would be a great way to spend it. :D

Or if you can find out when that sailing might be released, I would appreciate it.

I have no idea. Since this voyage overlaps into the next year, perhaps they are rethinking 2020?

 

My contact in the Itinerary area is traveling. I've sent an email asking. If I hear something I'll let you know.

Thanks for looking into this, Bonnie. I was really excited to book the Quest cruise at the end of 2019, which is not appearing either. Let us know if you hear back =)

Michael

I don't need the info any more. I stumbled across an Oceania Panama Canal cruise that visits Cuba. The identical aft cabin in 2018 was $1,000 pp less, includes RT air and four specialty restaurant nights not to mention the other perks in concierge class instead of VX. Thankx anyway for checking.

I don't need the info any more. I stumbled across an Oceania Panama Canal cruise that visits Cuba. The identical aft cabin in 2018 was $1,000 pp less, includes RT air and four specialty restaurant nights not to mention the other perks in concierge class instead of VX. Thankx anyway for checking.

I hesitate to dip my toe in these waters, but in my experience there is a world of difference between Oceania and Azamara. I will be happy to elaborate further, at the risk of making everybody angry, but do be sure that the differences between the two lines are not important to you before booking.

I hesitate to dip my toe in these waters, but in my experience there is a world of difference between Oceania and Azamara. I will be happy to elaborate further, at the risk of making everybody angry, but do be sure that the differences between the two lines are not important to you before booking.

Thanks for your comment. I sailed Oceania two years ago in the Med so I know what that was like. I'm sailing Azamara this August to the Baltics so I'll find out then. The next three cruises we're booked on are R class, so that's similar. They include only ports we've never visited before.

I know both lines are very good in their own way. These itineraries are different and times in port differ. I'm looking forward to the White Nght and Azamazing evening in Gdansk Poland.

I don't want you getting in hot water but if you feel like sharing your info directly you can use my handle at outlook dot com

OK , I'll dive into the shallow end here.

As background, Radisson / Regent used to include wine with dinner with generous setups in their cabins. All other drinks, even a beer with lunch, were charged for. When they went to all-inclusive drinks, the head of the company said that the overall alcohol consumption on the ships didn't change very much. But from my own and others' observations, the social ambience on the ships changed a lot, for the better in my opinion. The bars and lounges were much more populated, which for me made for a much better experience.

Azamara includes most drinks, and I think that may relate to the very friendly and active social ambience. Their AZAmazing evening, White Night, and a policy of having the crew around and about and mingling with the passengers is also part of that story.

Oceania charges for drinks, and many people tend to bring refreshments on board and consume them in the cabin. We often would go into a beautiful lounge with good musicians and hardly anybody was there. One exception was the one hour every day when drinks were half price, during which if you don't get to the bar early you won't be able to get a seat. Another exception is the night of the captain's reception, when drinks are free and it is impossible to find a seat anywhere on the ship.

Don't mis-understand: Oceania is not really deserted and there are people around. Just not in the same way as Azamara, which is more like Regent in this regard.

A very rough analogy might be that Azamara is more like being in the downtown of a major city, with lots of people around at all hours going to shows, restaurants, bars, etc. In these downtowns people tend to socialise in these places, not in their homes. This can be compared to a suburb where people tend to socialise at home either by themselves or with friends.

As with my analogy, there is not a right or wrong between Oceania and Azamara: different strokes for different folks. I have friends who really like Oceania (some of whom I met on Riviera), and friends who really like Azamara. I live in the heart of downtown Toronto, so my preference is clear.

Finally after this too-long post (!) the food on Azamara is really good, but the food on Oceania is usually a cut above. And Riviera is the most beautiful ship I've ever been on, although the dear departed Diamond runs a fairly close second.

Yup that pretty much goes along with what I've experienced and read on CC. We have a lot of OBC thus I'll be upgrading the package on both lines so I don't have to worry about running for a free drink or 1/2 price happy hour.

I suspect we'll enjoy both cruise line experiences.

I suspect we'll enjoy both cruise line experiences.

Indeed, why some folks on these boards feel the need to defend cruise line XXX as THE ONE TRUE LINE, and all others are too awful to even consider continues to be a mystery. Although all other things being equal I prefer Azamara to Oceania, if somebody wants to comp me an Oceania cruise I will happily accept.

These two lines in particular are in active competition with each other.