Is this normal?

We have booked the 2018 world cruise and as first time cruisers on Azamara we had a few questions concerning things like OBC's, turn around ports etc. I sent these questions on January 1st to the leclubvoyage email address. On January 19th we got our response. The answers caused me to have a few follow up questions (sent on the 19th). It is now February 9th and no answer. In both cases I got immediate auto responses that my questions had been received. It seems inconsistent with what we have read and heard about Azamara to go 2-3 weeks with no replies. Just wondering if this is normal. The cruise is a long way off so it's not like we need answers immediately but it is concerning about service level expectations.

We have booked the 2018 world cruise and as first time cruisers on Azamara we had a few questions concerning things like OBC's, turn around ports etc. I sent these questions on January 1st to the leclubvoyage email address. On January 19th we got our response. The answers caused me to have a few follow up questions (sent on the 19th). It is now February 9th and no answer. In both cases I got immediate auto responses that my questions had been received. It seems inconsistent with what we have read and heard about Azamara to go 2-3 weeks with no replies. Just wondering if this is normal. The cruise is a long way off so it's not like we need answers immediately but it is concerning about service level expectations.

Usually LCV is very prompt, what you are experiencing is very common though elsewhere in Azamara if you are using the Miami mailboxes. It may of course be as your cruise is a long way off and they do not have the answers.

I certainly have found most queries about Land Discoveries have gone unanswered for a very long time.

Try posting your questions on a thread on here. Bonnie may answer and people who have cruised with Azamara before may also have answers!

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Try posting your questions on a thread on here. Bonnie may answer and people who have cruised with Azamara before may also have answers!

 

 

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Unfortunately these are specific questions to the world cruise and since AZ has never done one I am not sure how that would work but here goes:

The WC is eight segments (don't get me started on why you can't book the whole thing as one cruise). My TA has given us OBC that are applied to each segment. AZ gives all full world cruisers OBC as well. My first question is do I have to use my TA's OBC by segment or can I accumulate it and basically use it when ever I want. Same with the AZ credit, can I use that whenever I want or does so much have to be used in each segment. When I got no answer from AZ to this question, I had my TA call AZ and they were told it has to be used by segment. Well then shortly later AZ did respond to my email and said the exact opposite. So I am trying to get clarity as to which answer is right.

Question 2 relates to turnaround ports or segment ending ports. While this is our first AZ cruise, we have extensive experience on B2B cruise as well as knowledge of how other lines world cruises handle this. Generally it is just like any other port day, you get off and do what you want and return when you want and just reboard. I had read somewhere that on AZ B2B they may make you get off and actually go back through the checkin process which in essence wastes the day. All I have been told is that we have to get off the ship in turnaround ports. My follow up question is "and do what'. Can we go off and enjoy our day or are we required to do something else like recheck-in.

So those are my two outstanding items.

For question 1, based on my experience, OBC will be treated segment-by-segment. If you have 8 bookings, each one will be treated individually as they have to "close the books" at the end of a defined cruise. Admittedly, that is a "semi-informed" opinion based on normal b2b and not a world cruise (as you pointed out).

For question 2, it will vary by port. Again, since the segments are stand-alone, you will have to "check out" and "check in". On our last b2b on Azamara, our turnaround port was Dubai. We did NOT have to get off to do the check out/check in process. Again, based on non-world cruise b2b's, you will probably have some options to go ashore with some kind of transit pass that will help you get back on without the full check-in procedure in the port (you may even already have your new seapass card and just show that).

This is obviously not an official answer but the sad reality is that you might get conflicting official answers from Azamara if you ask more than once.

For question 1, based on my experience, OBC will be treated segment-by-segment. If you have 8 bookings, each one will be treated individually as they have to "close the books" at the end of a defined cruise. Admittedly, that is a "semi-informed" opinion based on normal b2b and not a world cruise (as you pointed out).

 

For question 2, it will vary by port. Again, since the segments are stand-alone, you will have to "check out" and "check in". On our last b2b on Azamara, our turnaround port was Dubai. We did NOT have to get off to do the check out/check in process. Again, based on non-world cruise b2b's, you will probably have some options to go ashore with some kind of transit pass that will help you get back on without the full check-in procedure in the port (you may even already have your new seapass card and just show that).

 

This is obviously not an official answer but the sad reality is that you might get conflicting official answers from Azamara if you ask more than once.

Thanks for the response. Understand on the multiple answers from diff sources. I am afraid you might be right which will be somewhat irritating, particularly the turnaround days. Every other cruise line I am aware of that offers world cruises would handle this differently. The difficulty from not being able to book just one segment for the whole cruise continues. At times in this process I have wondered if AZ has thought through the nuances of offering a WC.

Anyway, thanks again.

Last July, we took a cruise on Oceania that was one segment of the world cruise on Insignia. I know that they sell it in several ways:

• World cruise
  
• "Super" Cruise (by some other name) that included 2 or 3 segments (I think there were 2 or 3 of those)
  
• Individual segments (I think there were about 10-11 of those)
  

Since we were on just one segment, we weren't privy to the details, but I think everyone had to clear customs/immigration at each turnaround stop. I recall some threads on Cruise Critic where people complained about that plus having the same entertainment as if Oceania would bring on new shows every few weeks.

My wife and I are in no way Azamara experts as we have one TA and one b2b,but we know enough of what we like to have 5 more booked (one b2b2b and one b2b). I am confident that they will do whatever is within their power on board to make everything go as smoothly as possible.

I don't remember if it was a Celebrity or Azamara thread I was reading where someone posted that they had trouble believing the shore-side folks worked for the same company as the sea-side crews. It applies to both (and probably most) lines.

If you have had an email from Azamara saying you can carry over unspent OBC from one segment to the next, I would print that off and take it with me. I'd then take it to the customer relations desk on the first day or two. If they say no, I'd ask to speak to someone senior!

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Hi,

I have fought my jealously ( it was very hard) at your planned voyage to welcome you to Azamara. We were first timers last year and booked again straight away.

My experience has been that LCV are very prompt. I had a lot of questions last year.

There could be two reasons why you haven't heard.

1. I had an invitation to meet Nichole( not sure of the spelling) at the London cruise show next week. Perhaps she is taking the oppounity to look around before hand as I think she is based in Miami.

Unfortunately we can't attend or I would have asked for you.

2. Perhaps nobody knows re onboard credit yet and LCV are awaiting an answer.

If it's any help, OBC comes in two forms. The first non refundable from Azamara. The second refundable. Ours from our TA was refundable. We had a letter on our first day informing us which OBC was which. Perhaps you can ' cash it' back on to a credit card and use the same card to pay your onboard account.

Hopefully Bonnie will chip in.

Azamara really do their best on back to backs to minimise the inconvenience, however, it is totally out of their hands, it is down to the port authorities. What is good is that they will meet with you shortly before the end of each cruise to discuss what is happening and what arrangements for the day you have made. If it is at all within their powers they will do what is needed so you can enjoy your arrangements.

Unfortunately nothing is certain, even if they have pre agreements with the port authorities. It makes no difference if you are in the developed world or the less developed world. As an example, recently in Australia we were advised what as b2bs the plans would be and then the night before they had to call us all and tell us the port authorities had changed the plan (we had actually docked the day before) and if we wanted to do our own thing we either had to go off at 7 am or 9.30 am they could get no other flexibility from them. So its not just India which everyone will cite as being the nightmares.

I am sure you will be able to make good use of your b2b days - I would hope as this is being marketed as a world consecutive cruise that Land Discoveries might work on some turn around day excursions. I appreciate there are big limitations relating to the excursions Azamara run but at least on turn around day, you would then be transferring any timing hassles over to the cruiseline which might be a wise thing to do.

As regards your OBC I have certainly not been able to transfer any between portions of B2Bs (either cruise line non refundable or agent refundable). The reason given is that each cruise is a separate accounting system. Now it may be that they can also run a combined accounting system - its a couple of years off so who knows they might have a new system. In the case of the non refundable you lose it, refundable it goes back to your credit card. It was not even possible to pre buy dining packages for the next cruise however we did come to an arrangement with the lovely Pierre and bought some wine which we took back to our room on change over then brought it back the next day

Hope this helps - I think its going to be hard to get your answers in total for quite a while and some may not come until you are actually onboard

Thanks for the responses.

At the end of the day, we will be fine and enjoy the cruise. Our TA OBC's are refundable so that makes it easier to deal with. I don't understand why AZ needs to do all this by segment (HAL, our most commonly cruised line has somehow mastered this. The only activity required there on B2B cruises is closing out your casino acct.). Also we have never had to do anything special on turnaround days (I do believe there are some ports that HAL would require it but they don't in Europe).

It's funny as you experience different lines and see the way they handle things. I am very impressed that AZ has someone like Bonnie monitoring and participating on this board. That is something that to me is fraught with danger as the autonomous nature of a forum can lead anywhere. My dealings with AZ "central " has been less impressive, we also had an issue where they apparently misquoted the price of the WC to me and my TA which we accepted. They later came back and said they had made a mistake and would not honor it. Lucky my TA ( a very large one), records all conversations. When presented with the evidence, they eventually did the right thing. So experienceing that and then what seems to be a lack of responsiveness to my emails, I do have concerns. But we have also experienced inconsistent behavior on HAL and other lines so we generally roll with the punches. We have friends who love AZ and it is obvious on this forum that many feel likewise. So at the end of the day, all will be good and I am sure we will have a great experience once onboard.

We all share your pain dealing with many of the Central teams. We are lucky in the UK to have an excellent managing director who personally sorts out so much you could argue he should not have to.

All their IT systems are notorious, I suspect it is one of these areas that there has been under investment in and for Azamara as they are only the user not the owner (RC is ) they are probably banging their heads round the back about it as well.

We will be on one leg of your trip - hope you worlders will let us one trippers in - but personally we also have the added pleasure of getting on when you disembark for another bit of fun

Hi KirkNC,

Our LCV Ambassador Nicole is looking for your emailed inquiries now. She says she doesn't know how it was missed but is sorry.

Here's the skinny on World Voyage OBC...

It is different from all other OBCs. You can use it any time you want. Whatever is left of the OBC at the end of each segment will be rolled over to the next segment.

As far as the 2nd question, I am told you will have the full day at your disposal. In the morning of a turn-around port, just have to go to the front desk for a new set of keys, and to re-register your credit card. It should just a few minutes, and the rest of the day is yours to explore the destination either on a tour or on your own.

Bonnie,

Thanks so much for your response. You are truly an asset to be this board. Both your answers are music to my ears.

Thanks again!

The process is even simpler than Bonnie describes. You will receive an envelop in your room several days before the end of the cruise that contains instructions as well as your new key cards. There will be a meeting held of all B2B pasengers to review the process and answer any questions. On the morning of disembarkation you will be required to gather, usually in the Discoveries Lounge, where Security will run your old key card and take your picture for the new one. After that you are free to roam the ship, or exit assuming the ship has cleared.