manc

Not often cruised. High demand e.g. golfing in Scotland and Ireland. As a player or part of the crowd watching. Unusual itinerary

We have done private tours, ship excursions and explored alone hiring a xar or just wandering. Our main objection to the ship excursions are the long visits to souvenir shops eg in Israel, Egypt, and elsewhere. Being locked in a shop while trying to be persuaded to purchase items we wouldn't want or carpets we should never get home is a complete waste if time when you are supposed to be sightseeing

We went through the Kiel Canal on Azamara before covid and there were problems with a lock and some frustration. Many years before I had done the same trip with friends from Hamburg in their own boat and it took the same time. I don't recall the transit through the Suez with Azamara being anything other than serene and slow. I think the captain and crew are anxious at not being in control.of their own ship.

I guess more officers may jump ship between now and then as more opportunities arise in cruising fir professionals.

We were advised we can transfer the deposit to a cruise sailing before 30 April 2023. No charges

We were due to go to the Black Sea but cancelled just before final payment. Greek Islands which we had already visited at a premium price was not acceptable. Might have considered if a price drop but business class flights to Istanbul are high and then revisiting islands ans Ephesus seemed pointless.

We have just cancelled our September 2022 cruise as it has become a Greek Island cruise starting in Istanbul. Odessa and Sochi had been cancelled and now Romania and 2 ports in Budapest. This is the 5th time our Black Sea Cruise has been cancelled the first being when Crimea was invaded. We know that Azamara want to keep their cruisers, staff and ships safe and so accept that the Black Sea is back on the bucket list! It is too early for Azamara to predict which ports they may visit and if you want certainty than cancel. Safety is the important issue and who can guess Mr Putin's next actions.