How many cancelled ports?

What's Azamara's track record like on cancelling ports? Celebrity acted pretty quickly on cancelling Isreal this past fall even though other lines still stopped there...what's Azamara like? I get the impression they don't jump the gun unless it's truly not safe. We're looking at a cruise in 2017 with Safaga and Petra on the itinerary and I just can't imagine paying that much money for the trip of a lifetime to have ports cancelled. Don't get me wrong, if there is true danger, I get they won't stop there but some lines totally act prematurely, I just don't get the impression that Azamara is one of them.

What's Azamara's track record like on cancelling ports? Celebrity acted pretty quickly on cancelling Isreal this past fall even though other lines still stopped there...what's Azamara like? I get the impression they don't jump the gun unless it's truly not safe. We're looking at a cruise in 2017 with Safaga and Petra on the itinerary and I just can't imagine paying that much money for the trip of a lifetime to have ports cancelled. Don't get me wrong, if there is true danger, I get they won't stop there but some lines totally act prematurely, I just don't get the impression that Azamara is one of them.

Hi

I had booked this cruise not long after the Arab uprising started and the troubles in India, but ended up cancelling a few months before sail date as Azamara were constantly changing their minds which stops were being dropped. Petra etc were very important for me at the time and I simply got fed up with the changes and thought I would go some other time when it had settled down there. Ultimately, just one port was cancelled - Egypt - so I could have gone after all. I have now booked this cruise again for this year and have decided to do it regardless of any cancellations that may occur as the pefect time may never arise again in my lifetime. So far, in the past two years, there have been no alterations to the itinerary and I look at it as any chance of making those ports is better than no chance if I cancel again. I've now made final payment so what will be will be now and look forward to wherever I end up.

Adrian

As far as I am aware Azamara follow the same travel advice guidance given to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity as corporate policy. Of course Azamara only have two ships and therefore it may seem like they are more discerning as to if and when they cancel ports because decisions don't have to be made so often. They don't go to the Black Sea at the moment and have changed many of the eastern Mediterranean this year that included Istanbul to a more western Mediterranean focus. We were due in Safaga last year and it was substituted a month or two before the cruise for Eilat. We still went to Aqaba as planned which is right next door.

Overall I'd say in this ever active world be prepared for a change if it is deemed necessary.

Phil

Our port of Lesvos was unsurprisingly cancelled in October. We were notified when we embarked.

If Safaga and Petra are crucial to your itinerary, then I would suggest undertaking a land tour of your own design. Thus you can decide your level of comfort with contemporary events in those areas and avoid potential frustration.

I think Phil's point above is correct. There probably is a corporate as opposed to a purely Azamara policy.

Due to the political situation in this times, every port in this region can be cancelled. If you try to book a hotelvacation in Egypt right now, you will get it, but for such a cheap price, maybe half or less of the normal price, because many people in Europe cancelled Egypt, Tunesia, Israel.

We made a repositioning cruise with the Journey a few years ago from Rhodes to Mumbai, coming along the pirates region. We were escorted by warships and as soon as the ships left, when we thought it will be safe now and we can use the open decks also in the evening (which were closed every day at 5pm), we were attacked by 3 boats with 3 armed people inside each boat.

Thank god, at the entrace of the Suezcanal a group of 5 tough security guys came onboard and later a lot of weapons, and we had not only the muster drill but also a special drill for a pirat attack. And than it happenend, when we were just watching the coast of the Oman, where its normally safe. It was in the early afternoon, we both and many others were taking a nap in the cabin and we heard the special word for an attack and everybody had to leave cabins and outside parts of the ship and had to sit down in the hallways.

But the security guys were armed and crew members used fire hoses on deck 4 and after a while the pirates disappeared.

But we did not mention before we booked the tour, that every day starting at 5pm all open decks were closed, all curtains had to be closed, every window without curtain was covered, all balconies were forbidden to use, all lights were off, all doors to the promenade deck were blocked.

I don´t know if your cruise will get you along this lets say sensitive coast, but if so, be prepare for this situtation which will limit your time outside.

my goodness that was quite an adventure by the sounds. glad to know all survived.

Yes it was really an adventure, but the crew and the officers were outstanding prepared for this.

One funny thing was the next day, the Captain made his round on the ship and came along Mosaic Cafe, where we had our Capuccino. He talked to several passengers about this adventure and one older lady asked him, totally seriously: did you kill them???

Nobody was killed, nobody was injured, the security only fired with some flares (at least that is what he told us). We could not hear, if they fired with real ammunition, because as I described, we were all sitting in the hallways in front of the cabins.

But as an effect of this attack, they did not open the decks in the evening when we arrived in Muscat, as they wanted to. They were closed until we reached our final destination in India. And that was the negative thing, sitting outside in the warm air in the evening/night, especially on the aft terrace behind the Buffetrestaurant, was not possible.

Yes it was really an adventure, but the crew and the officers were outstanding prepared for this.

 

One funny thing was the next day, the Captain made his round on the ship and came along Mosaic Cafe, where we had our Capuccino. He talked to several passengers about this adventure and one older lady asked him, totally seriously: did you kill them???

 

Nobody was killed, nobody was injured, the security only fired with some flares (at least that is what he told us). We could not hear, if they fired with real ammunition, because as I described, we were all sitting in the hallways in front of the cabins.

 

But as an effect of this attack, they did not open the decks in the evening when we arrived in Muscat, as they wanted to. They were closed until we reached our final destination in India. And that was the negative thing, sitting outside in the warm air in the evening/night, especially on the aft terrace behind the Buffetrestaurant, was not possible.

That situation has changed a little. Last year we did the Athens to Mumbai repositioning cruise. Similar procedures, such as cabin curtains to be closed at sunset and no lights on deck, but you could go onto the area around the pool after dark, and you could it on your balcony as long as you showed no lights. We did have armed security guys on- board. Once we got to Dubai, everything went back to normal. I have to say that none of this spoiled our enjoyment of the cruise - and this re-positioning cruise is very good value for money.

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That situation has changed a little. Last year we did the Athens to Mumbai repositioning cruise. Similar procedures, such as cabin curtains to be closed at sunset and no lights on deck, but you could go onto the area around the pool after dark, and you could it on your balcony as long as you showed no lights. We did have armed security guys on- board. Once we got to Dubai, everything went back to normal. I have to say that none of this spoiled our enjoyment of the cruise - and this re-positioning cruise is very good value for money.

We did Athens to Dubai this past October/November with similar precautions. Terrific cruise. White Night in Muscat, Oman. Suez very interesting. Rhodes and Cyprus ports great. No pirates. Attacks have all but stopped. Fingers crossed.

very glad the pirate incident ended well. many will recall the terrorist hijacking and tragic death of Leon Klinghoffer on a cruise ship in 1985. fortunately these incidents at sea are rare.

Thanks for all if the input everyone. Really appreciate it.

We did Athens to Dubai this past October/November with similar precautions. Terrific cruise. White Night in Muscat, Oman. Suez very interesting. Rhodes and Cyprus ports great. No pirates. Attacks have all but stopped. Fingers crossed.

Indeed things are much better in the area now with higher navy presence after the spate of pirate attacks and attempts. I've done the Suez trip three times and all of them habe been without incidents. Azamara's safety precautions are robust and we really enjoyed the cruises. The weather was very hot, especially for the November trips. Sea days with a temperature of 95 degrees F.

Phil

Did you book the cruise? We're strongly considering and would appreciate your evaluation. Also looking at the similar Windstar cruise.

We will be on this repositioning cruise October 2017 - for the third time! We love all the sea days - very relaxing.

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Appreciate all the helpful comments. We booked it!

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Did you book the cruise? We're strongly considering and would appreciate your evaluation. Also looking at the similar Windstar cruise.

I didn't book it on Azamara, I booked a similar route on Celebrity. Bargain!!!

Appreciate all the helpful comments. We booked it!

 

 

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Have you joined the roll call for the cruise. If it's the one starting 28 October, there are some good private tours being organised by roll call members.

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