The two ship fleet forces me to another line :=(

I am a self-confessed Azamara cheerleader and, other than trips where we take our family on Celebrity, the only line we want to sail. I do check other lines (Oceania, Seabourne, now Viking Oceans) and have never found a cruise that has the value and itineraries that beat AZ.

Next year is, sadly to me, different. We want to travel in May or early June, or mid-September through October, and at least have the majority of the ports be new to us. Both AZ and O have itineraries from Lisbon to Barcelona that are appealing, but for the first time, AZ just doesn't provide the best itinerary OR value. In fact, the net cost to us is $500 more on AZ for one less day, and that has NEVER been the case when I've looked previously. If the itinerary was compelling, it might make a difference, but that's not the case, and O has 3 late nights on this sailing.

So, I'll try out one of the newer O ships for the first time, enjoy unlimited wi-if and four free specialty restaurants and no doubt be missing the warmth of the Azamara family.

I've read and totally understand Larry's and RCL's position on new builds, but couldn't AZ have been the company to buy the Princess R-ship rather than O to give more options? Two ships just can't provide enough itineraries to keep loyal guests interested in the long term. With the costs of European trips dropping due to all that's happening there (and this before Nice and the Turkey coup), I wonder how they will continue to successfully compete?

The next few years will be interesting...

I am a self-confessed Azamara cheerleader and, other than trips where we take our family on Celebrity, the only line we want to sail. I do check other lines (Oceania, Seabourne, now Viking Oceans) and have never found a cruise that has the value and itineraries that beat AZ.

 

Next year is, sadly to me, different. We want to travel in May or early June, or mid-September through October, and at least have the majority of the ports be new to us. Both AZ and O have itineraries from Lisbon to Barcelona that are appealing, but for the first time, AZ just doesn't provide the best itinerary OR value. In fact, the net cost to us is $500 more on AZ for one less day, and that has NEVER been the case when I've looked previously. If the itinerary was compelling, it might make a difference, but that's not the case, and O has 3 late nights on this sailing.

 

So, I'll try out one of the newer O ships for the first time, enjoy unlimited wi-if and four free specialty restaurants and no doubt be missing the warmth of the Azamara family.

 

I've read and totally understand Larry's and RCL's position on new builds, but couldn't AZ have been the company to buy the Princess R-ship rather than O to give more options? Two ships just can't provide enough itineraries to keep loyal guests interested in the long term. With the costs of European trips dropping due to all that's happening there (and this before Nice and the Turkey coup), I wonder how they will continue to successfully compete?

 

The next few years will be interesting...

It'll be interesting, too, as these two ships age. Yes, they were fully renovated and look great, but it's hard to compete with new builds with all the bells & whistles. We, too, look to Azamara first but rarely book with them. We find the Caribbean and Mediterranean port options really lackluster. Azamara offers the Med next year, as usual, but all the predictable ports, so we went with Silversea that has an incredible selection of ports with their new ship.

We had Azamara booked for last month, but cancelled when we saw Regent's Iceland and Greenland itinerary (one that would be great for the Azamara ships). We LOVED the ports, but were very disappointed with the ship.

We've learned that we'll just have to mix it up a bit with cruise lines....Azamara might be able to capture new cruisers, but don't know how long they can retain them unless their port offerings become more innovative - I mean Livorno and Civitavecchia on every Med itinerary?

Michael

Everyone is different and we all have individual priorities, but I never quite get "we have been there before". I can go to the same place three or four times and still see something I haven't seen before. Of course value and pricing is a totally different thing, but I am lucky because I can be flexible and choose the time and cruise I go on.

Phil

Everyone is different and we all have individual priorities, but I never quite get "we have been there before". I can go to the same place three or four times and still see something I haven't seen before. Of course value and pricing is a totally different thing, but I am lucky because I can be flexible and choose the time and cruise I go on.

Yes, we're retired and are flexible that way, but we live in Palm Sorings and have active social lives here in winter and spring, and a lake cabin that we love in the summer, so the shoulder periods are ideal for us.

I can always see something new in every port as well, but we've done land trips in Europe in 2014 and 2016 to see more of the world than we can see by ship, and there are still a lot of port areas that we can discover when we do get back on my happy place, the sea!

Everyone is different and we all have individual priorities, but I never quite get "we have been there before". I can go to the same place three or four times and still see something I haven't seen before. Of course value and pricing is a totally different thing, but I am lucky because I can be flexible and choose the time and cruise I go on.

 

Phil

I've been to many of these places 20+ times. Azamara needs to get a handle on the fact that their "destination immersion" needs to include new places.

Michael

I've been to many of these places 20+ times. Azamara needs to get a handle on the fact that their "destination immersion" needs to include new places.

 

 

Michael

Azamara recruited a new destination planner recently. Hopefully he will come up with new port options for us all.

I've been to many of these places 20+ times. Azamara needs to get a handle on the fact that their "destination immersion" needs to include new places.

 

 

Michael

Good for you. You are very lucky. If you've been to many of these places 20+ times then you do indeed need to diversify your cruise lines. No one company is going to satisfy, destination immersion or not.

Phil

Everyone is different and we all have individual priorities, but I never quite get "we have been there before". I can go to the same place three or four times and still see something I haven't seen before. Of course value and pricing is a totally different thing, but I am lucky because I can be flexible and choose the time and cruise I go on.

 

 

 

Phil

Yes, I can visit ports multiple times and see different things. However, I would rather have choice and the two ship fleet is definitely limiting that. I have cruises booked on Seabourn and Crystal that I would have booked on Azamara had they offered similar itineraries.

Given that Azamara's brand is based on destination immersion, this is in my opinion their biggest flaw. If Azamara wants to attract a clientele that cruises for the destination, if they want repeat business, they need to offer variety and new destinations. Otherwise they'll end up having to attract new customers all the time while losing their regulars - except perhaps for those who keep coming back simply because they like socializing with Captain This and Hotel Director That.

For me the tag line Destination Immersion is about longer times in the ports Azamara does visit with overnights, it is not about lots of new ports.

To date, every cruise I have done with Azamara involves new ports. Ten more booked, all with some new destinations.

So for me I have no issue with a two cruise line and yes, I have been to Mykonos seven times and every time I have done or seen something new.

Azamara recruited a new destination planner recently. Hopefully he will come up with new port options for us all.

I like us to go from LA to Sydney-but maybe to many other ships do.. there are many carribbean ports i never seen and med but i got to many repeats. .found a great baltic one but could they not put all three baltic states on one cruise. i am hoping we do CA coast again or S America.

Yes, I can visit ports multiple times and see different things. However, I would rather have choice and the two ship fleet is definitely limiting that. I have cruises booked on Seabourn and Crystal that I would have booked on Azamara had they offered similar itineraries.

 

Given that Azamara's brand is based on destination immersion, this is in my opinion their biggest flaw. If Azamara wants to attract a clientele that cruises for the destination, if they want repeat business, they need to offer variety and new destinations. Otherwise they'll end up having to attract new customers all the time while losing their regulars - except perhaps for those who keep coming back simply because they like socializing with Captain This and Hotel Director That.

I like staying late in [port- most cruise lines do not just s othe shops etc can make money.. but I agree we need new ports. like Micheal and you i am trying lines i have not been on in years to see new ports.. yet, I have many more cruises booked with AZ.

Othertewise they'll end up having to attract new customers all the time while losing their regulars - except perhaps for those who keep coming back simply because they like socializing with Captain This and Hotel Director That.

Yes, this. I'm not looking to go on a cruise to be fawned over by the crew and be best friends with the officers....I want some good itinieraries and Crystal and Silversea, for example, have a lot more maiden calls and innovative port options. Azamara is great for people who want to go to the same port 20 times, just so they can feel like their best friend in the world is a staff member. I have loved my experiences with AZ and can't wait to see what the 2019 deployment will look like, but I've had to take a three year hiatus from them for better choices.

Michael

It'll be interesting, too, as these two ships age. Yes, they were fully renovated and look great, but it's hard to compete with new builds with all the bells & whistles. We, too, look to Azamara first but rarely book with them. We find the Caribbean and Mediterranean port options really lackluster. Azamara offers the Med next year, as usual, but all the predictable ports, so we went with Silversea that has an incredible selection of ports with their new ship.

 

We had Azamara booked for last month, but cancelled when we saw Regent's Iceland and Greenland itinerary (one that would be great for the Azamara ships). We LOVED the ports, but were very disappointed with the ship.

 

We've learned that we'll just have to mix it up a bit with cruise lines....Azamara might be able to capture new cruisers, but don't know how long they can retain them unless their port offerings become more innovative - I mean Livorno and Civitavecchia on every Med itinerary?

 

 

 

Michael

I agree. With minor exceptions, there is too much of the world that I have not seen to go back to places that I have been to. Yes, I know that you can always find something that you have not done on a revisit but I want to see new places. I just can not understand the people who are doing their 20th Caribbean cruise. Makes no sense to me.

Also, if I find a place that a feel I must return to, a cruise is not the way to do it. Fly there and spend a week or more in the places that you really love.

In the end, different strokes for different folks.

DON

I agree. With minor exceptions, there is too much of the world that I have not seen to go back to places that I have been to. Yes, I know that you can always find something that you have not done on a revisit but I want to see new places. I just can not understand the people who are doing their 20th Caribbean cruise. Makes no sense to me.

 

Also, if I find a place that a feel I must return to, a cruise is not the way to do it. Fly there and spend a week or more in the places that you really love.

 

In the end, different strokes for different folks.

 

DON

Agree!

I just can not understand the people who are doing their 20th Caribbean cruise. Makes no sense to me.

DON

Perhaps some people love to cruise, still work, just want to relax on vacation, and have neither the time nor the resources to do otherwise.

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

When you still work and get a week or two off each year as an American the best option is a Carribbean cruise as that other week is spent seeing family.

This winter I am doing the Caribbean for the first time in four years but later in winter will be in Tahiti. Another winter S America due to easy flights each way.

I love to travel but the flights are killers. I would go back to the Med again but I need more new ports to make the B2B cruises more exciting to me.

I do like knowing the crew and officers as they all know how you like things but I go for the ports.

Yes, this. I'm not looking to go on a cruise to be fawned over by the crew and be best friends with the officers....

 

Michael

I have never met anyone on board or on these boards that cruise for that reason. And I doubt if folks like that do exist that they would influence the itineraries.

Currently and in the foreseeable future there are only two ships. Therefore Azamara have to cut their cloth to fit that. The majority of cruisers are not serial cruisers so from a business perspective they need to focus on what appeals to the majority.

Of course I would like to see more ships, Pacific itineraries etc but in the meantime, I'm happy to go with the majority if it's Azamara or look elsewhere. That's life, I shop in more than one supermarket, buy clothes in several shops, fly with different airlines, it's the same thing with cruising.

I have never met anyone on board or on these boards that cruise for that reason. And I doubt if folks like that do exist that they would influence the itineraries.

 

Currently and in the foreseeable future there are only two ships. Therefore Azamara have to cut their cloth to fit that. The majority of cruisers are not serial cruisers so from a business perspective they need to focus on what appeals to the majority.

 

Of course I would like to see more ships, Pacific itineraries etc but in the meantime, I'm happy to go with the majority if it's Azamara or look elsewhere. That's life, I shop in more than one supermarket, buy clothes in several shops, fly with different airlines, it's the same thing with cruising.

The number of repeat cruisers I regularly see on Azamara would bear this out. It is what it is and for now I'm perfectly happy, socialised and fawned over or not as the case may be.

Phil

I've been to many of these places 20+ times. Azamara needs to get a handle on the fact that their "destination immersion" needs to include new places.

As others have said, "lucky you". I've been to Tahiti 5 times and I tend to think that's quite a lot. But I could go back once a year if I could. Which brings me to my next comment below...

... I just can not understand the people who are doing their 20th Caribbean cruise. Makes no sense to me.

...

It's probably just like going back to a favourite resort over and over. You can treat the ship as the destination, not worry too much about excursions, relax in luxury for a week. And it's warm and sunny in the midst of a perhaps harsh winter. Not surprising at all. I go to my cottage (summer home) every year--I don't get tired of it.

It's probably just like going back to a favourite resort over and over. You can treat the ship as the destination, not worry too much about excursions, relax in luxury for a week. And it's warm and sunny in the midst of a perhaps harsh winter. Not surprising at all. I go to my cottage (summer home) every year--I don't get tired of it.

I totally understand and appreciate that; to each his own. I can't match it though with a cruise line that has made "destination immersion" it's long term differentiation strategy. They would retain a lot more destination oriented repeat business by offering more variety.

I totally understand and appreciate that; to each his own. I can't match it though with a cruise line that has made "destination immersion" it's long term differentiation strategy. They would retain a lot more destination oriented repeat business by offering more variety.

I agree. Having not even sailed on Az yet, I do have high hopes for them. But I guess the Caribbean is a money-maker. One ship in the Caribbean, one in Asia, fair enough. Their Carib itins do seem more inventive at least.

As others have said, "lucky you". I've been to Tahiti 5 times and I tend to think that's quite a lot. But I could go back once a year if I could. Which brings me to my next comment below...

 

I am going back to Tahiti for the second time this winter by ship.. for me twice is enough I think. I never thougt i go back there or AU as so much to see but I am.

 

It's probably just like going back to a favourite resort over and over. You can treat the ship as the destination, not worry too much about excursions, relax in luxury for a week. And it's warm and sunny in the midst of a perhaps harsh winter. Not surprising at all. I go to my cottage (summer home) every year--I don't get tired of it.

as i said before for Americans it is easy to get to FL and you spend your holiday on the ship not flying there. Your cottage is your gt away for many a ship is just that.

For people in the UK flying to the Med is easy- many flights are nonstop or two short flights-same with Mia.

I do love Azamara and love being on the sea, but FOR ME there's a whole world still to see with less time to do it every year. All of us are so fortunate to have options AND the desire to travel. I didn't think I'd be "jumping ship," but the itinerary and value combined makes better sense for us in 2017. That said, with all the craziness in the world, who knows?

Happy travels!

A great itinerary is The Black Sea. We did this a few years ago & loved it. It is rather undiscovered by most Americans. We found it beautiful & oh, so interesting. Azamara, think about adding this at least once or twice a year.

We will be on our first Azamara TA in Sept. From London to Montreal. ⚓️[emoji568][emoji715]

I do love Azamara and love being on the sea, but FOR ME there's a whole world still to see with less time to do it every year. All of us are so fortunate to have options AND the desire to travel. I didn't think I'd be "jumping ship," but the itinerary and value combined makes better sense for us in 2017. That said, with all the craziness in the world, who knows?

 

Happy travels!

Agreed and not every vacation needs to be on a cruise ship either.

A great itinerary is The Black Sea. We did this a few years ago & loved it. It is rather undiscovered by most Americans. We found it beautiful & oh, so interesting. Azamara, think about adding this at least once or twice a year.

We will be on our first Azamara TA in Sept. From London to Montreal. ⚓️[emoji568][emoji715]

You are right the Black Sea is a beautiful part of the world. However because of the unstable situation between Russia and Ukraine think it impossible for Azamara to return to this region any time soon