uktog

Thanks. Particularly frustrating are the turncoat haters who used to sail on Viking and regularly pop up to emphasise why they no longer cruise with Viking and run down the product. Move on, stay away from the Viking board and let’s focus on the current and balanced reviews like @CRF has given us.

Excellent balanced review- thank you!

I discussed this with the Head Office senior manager responsible and it is due to issues with the configuration of Seaware software and accounting for the costs and the discount. It is something they are trying to have resolved in a future software release.

If you look at the upgrade thread there is an issue. Back to back cruisers cannot apply for upgrades. Even if you get the email bids get cancelled

They are shockers! Excellent advice Alternatively photograph the driver and plate before getting in. The genuine ones don’t mind. The bandits either behave or rant and shout so you don’t get in that car and as everyone else in line has seen it the bandit has to drive off

They certainly get the lower cancellation charges but lose all the protections and take the currency hit if the exchange rate moves as Jazzbeau highlights so its swings and roundabouts

Oops meant to say a lock I wasn’t suggesting running around during a single lock though you can do that. We would typically start a down flight at the front, see one chamber, maybe then do a side then do the final chamber at the back.

Deck 5 for an open deck is a great place to see at least one lock. We’ve done 4 transits now and our advice would be try and see every lock from a different spot. So front, back, high, low etc At least with Azamara moving from port to starboard whenever you want only takes you 30 seconds

If they have done more than just what is expected of them by the cruise line yes. If they just do their job effectively and not above and beyond I transfer what I would have given them to the general donation. I come with a budget based on the number of days the cruise and use it all but the vast proportion is to the general fund

You can use refundable obc

It’s about expectation levels about the “culture” on Azamara not about tipping. If you’ve cruised predominantly on lines where tips are add ons and some guests avoid what they should rightly be giving crew then maybe you come to Azamara with the view of the poster that money talks and the butler is the route to something special. It’s not. @dynacruiser captured it so well talking about the “how” with staff (smiles etc) not the “what” (extra tips, expecting personal introduction). Azamara guests do tip in addition to the included gratuity but not as an upfront bribe and usually for something above and beyond the high service levels seen. @denverbri69 might like to consider looking after all staff that make his butler look good (those favours that may happen aren’t solely the butler’s efforts) by contributing to the Crew Fund rather than solely focusing on individuals. That fund pays for crew parties celebrating national days etc - and that’s probably one every cruise - excursions, buys prizes for the very popular crew bingo etc and is managed by the crew not head office. The Azamara model works for crew far better than for mass lines (which from the profiles it appears the poster is used to) The evidence is it is a line where probably as many don’t tip extra as do, in an industry where there are opportunities on every line, but Azamaras staff retention and re- sign on rate one of the highest in the industry

Do it yourself on the first night. Your butler will not have time to do that on embarkation day. They look after up to 12 suites each

I would agree. It is a line where behaviours driven by tipping will not get you anywhere. It’s a gratuity included line and the staff focus on treating everyone regardless of their room category as equal. That’s what makes Azamara such a relaxing line to be on. As you say if you are someone who wants to be treated as special over everyone else Azamara is not for you

On Azamara what you describe is not within the power of your butler. It’s also not the expected staff culture to highlight one employee over another. All guests in the Speciality restaurants are treated equally vs a vs the chef. The butler has no pull on even getting you bookings never mind getting you a particular server. The form would be to work out what server works for you based on an early cruise experience then ask the Restaurant Manager (not the butler) if you can be seated in that person’s section again. They will try and place you there but it will depend on table size, whether the waiter is allocated to other duties such as Captain hosting/Best of the Best events etc. Regardless of a tip or not - again the usual is end of cruise not up front bribes- I doubt anyone who has cruised with Azamara thinks they’ve had a mediocre experience because they didn’t bung someone enough

We must be the only people who want to see those two shows! Everyone talked so much about them but when we were on our first cruise it was during Covid restrictions and both nights we tried to get into the theatre, it was at capacity and so for understandable safety reasons we are not allowed to join to watch the show. On our second Cruise there were technical issues so we didn’t see them. We are looking forward to third and it sounds like we have missed the boat if you pardon the pun. We are just too fond of 60s and 70s sounds to move to some of the modern stuff just yet but we will be willing to give it a go if required

I did indeed so pure

Isafjordur was one of our favourite ports - we also enjoyed the Viking included excursion which took us to these beautiful places. Some ports are small and it’s a good idea to take the included trip to highlight what you might explore in your own later

Oh you have so hit the nail on the head. I hate also being challenged about my choice of drink aka you had X yesterday don’t you want that? Err no I flip and choose it’s the fun of the holiday. I really enjoyed the vibe of service on EJ. It was exactly the balance I like and am looking forward to enjoying it again. I also loved that drinks were properly mixed. Sadly on Azamara they often confuse giving good service with being heavy handed with the spirits bottles

I think the category we booked in is sold out other than rooms above the smoking area. Anyway we will work around it. We may hardly be in the room

I know from experience it was virtually impossible to find a bra, swimwear or underwear in the time available in two Spanish ports in my size - and that was after the cruise line asked the port agent for help. So it’s unfair to assert it’s easy and just ask I pinned my hopes on Gibraltar M and S only to find they focus on sizes up to UK 18. Luckily for smarter tops I found a shop on the Main Street Jades Fashions - basic but helpful. Others may have more luck in M and S Gibraltar I’ve never seen a T-shirt I’ve been prepared to wear in the evening in my size in a port store. But then port time is excursion time for me and I still wanted my planned excursions so wasn’t actively shopping. For me though, I focus on meeting the dress code myself, I carry one smart top and some little scarves in my carry on. Worst case the trousers I travel in may be seen a lot and yes they are coloured denim. However I do not care if those around me are meeting the requested dress code or not. My evening is impacted on by the quality of food and Service and the “behaviour and chat” of companions - nothing else

We too were booked above most annoying by the onboard agent who assured us it was an excellent room. We were booking the day before disembarking so did not get a chance to check. It was also before the issue was reported onboard. I tried recently to get a change and was told as it was an onboard special offer the answer was no. We will just see how we get along. There are enough other places to sit out onboard but as we are b2b if it’s bad, we will see if we can swap mid holiday

Never had the burning problem even in the fierce Middle East sun. However I did notice last cruise there was virtually no space between any chairs. I need to get onto a chair from the side and that was an issue.

You will be sailing the Bay of Biscay unfortunately an unpredictable area of sea that can both pitch and roll or be as smooth as glass. Buying a guarantee room is always a risk. Fingers crossed you have the Biscay glass

Despite the issues in the earlier cruises which were entirely their fault due to cancellations, they issued future cruise vouchers and not full refunds to us. We enjoyed the onboard experience last year so decided rather than push to have the vouchers changed to cash based on new information we had about our rights under UK consumer law, we would use the vouchers for a cruise after all. However dates, prices etc required us to actually take two cruises hence the current arrangements. At present I cannot see any more cruises being booked with Explora before 2026 - maybe they will settle down by then but they have to sort out this Seaware software nonsense. Maybe overseas travel agents are happy to do all the leg work on shore excursions for guests and handle all the payments and changes, that is certainly not what UK agents expect to do. However my persevering agent has managed to take payment for the excursions though they now have to send a separate payment to Explora which is hassle for them. Dear Explora please let ALL guests book and pay for excursions direct preferably through an online portal!!!

It does say WiFi plus there 😀