travlinjustintime

Good news - We finally received the remainder of our refund on our March 28 to April 14, 2020 Azamara Quest cruise from Dubai to Athens on May 27, 2020. I do understand this whole situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic is unprecedented. I am grateful we received our refund but I question how RCL has managed the refund process.

I do NOT understand why some people get refunds processed immediately - others are getting small amounts refunded over time and there is great discrepancy regarding when refund request is made, date of sailing and when refunds are actually processed. 

I am greatly peeved that Azamara has had MY hard earned money to utilize INTEREST FREE - deposit of ~$3000 since August 2019 & the Balance of the cruise since November 2019. The March 28 - April 14,2020 cruise was cancelled March 13, 2020.

Our Travel Agent requested our refund (as directed by us) for that cruise on March 17,2020.

On April 21 we received 45% of our refund

On April 27 we received further 5%

On April 28 we received 2 more amounts providing ~20%

On May 27 we received the final 30% - the major portion being our Choice Air fare.

Perhaps.... rather than having some of the unfortunate passengers provide interest free loans to Azamara, they could reach out to Cruiseline executives? Perhaps, Lawrence Pimentel , former President & CEO of Azamara Club Cruises who sold $1.9 million USD value of RCL shares on February 6, 2020. You can follow further trading activity for President Pimentel up to February 13,2020 @ fintel.io/n/pimentel-lawrence-r    President Pimentel chose to resign as President of Azamara on April 16, 2020.  Is it not bad form for a CEO/President to "jump a sinking ship"?

Quote from Luxury Travel Advisor website April 17, 2020 "Pimentel determined it was the right time to step down from the brand amid discussions regarding how to best help the cruise line bear the brunt of cutbacks, RCL Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said in a company memo and reported by Seatrade Cruise News."

The majority of our cruises have been with Celebrity Cruise Lines - of the RCL family.  After monitoring the manner in which the various cruise lines have managed these tumultuous times, I have been very disappointed with RCL and would be more likely to book any future cruise with Carnival ( specifically Princess or Holland America) or Viking.

@BBMacLaird Would you be so kind as to get an explanation of why there is such discrepancy in the manner in which refunds are being processed. I DO understand this has been an unprecedented event and the number of refunds has been overwhelming. I do NOT understand though - as is evidenced by reviewing the boards - the discrepancy in refund processing. Some people have refunds processed quickly and in a lump or 2 amounts. Others have multiple amounts being refunded over time. The date of the cruise and the date of refund request do not appear to correlate to the actual date of processing.

Time to STEP UP Azamara!!

Did you hear that the World Health Organization has now issued a PANDEMIC!!

What is a pandemic?

Declaring a pandemic has nothing to do with changes to the characteristics of a disease, but is instead associated with concerns over its geographic spread. According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.

Soooo.... Do you REALLY THINK that the March 28 to April 14 cruise from DUBAI to ATHENS is possible???

Do YOU Azamara want to be responsible for welcoming passengers aboard and risking the health of Passengers and Crew to go on a voyage.  THIS voyage is going through an area where the Itinerary countries have taken responsibility – PRIOR TO PANDEMIC ANNOUNCEMENT - to close their Ports to Disembarkation of foreigners. 

It would be wise to review Princess Cruises and Viking Cruise Line for guidance.