uktog

As I understand it food hygiene regulations do not allow the use of dymo labels. I agree with Phil they need jugs that are exclusively for either hot water or coffee and as some lines offer dedicated decaf jugs which is even better. The Azamara jugs are so old and got years of “ingrained flavour”. I also much preferred in the cafe on Viking they bring and leave a vacuum flask (and I mean proper vacuum) to your table at breakfast and leave it with you. That way I got the amount of coffee I wanted pipping hot at the time I chose not when the server stopped by. Tea drinkers had similar service with hot water Whatever they do, they need to replace their jugs then they need to train the staff because staff are not good for example with the difference between Stillwater and sparkling water so it shows some are so “automaton” they struggle. Maybe these days as they’re less demanding on language skills given recruitment challenges more needs to be clearly colour-coded rather than named to help. (Although I accept the water is and it’s still an issue!)

Perhaps the word is accepted- now the UK ASA are onto this “naming” issue all the cruise lines will need to look very carefully at what the advertise - Rome, Glasgow and Inverness come to mind. There are probably more. I agree Chioggia sounds a great place to stay and cruise from. I’m so over Venus crowds.

Agreed but the ASAs radar is twitching

Interesting Royal Caribbean have just been fined by the UK Advertising Standard Agency for advertising cruises as departing from Venice when it was leaving from Ravenna

I will need to speak again with ours but she’s rather busy these days. Seems silly to have to have three way conversations to do something as basic as dinner reservations

Companies in the UK do not retain card records on file - a basic security protection!!

I am glad some folks can check in for December. I have had another email exchange with an Ambassador today who reconfirms the issue has been referred to the IT department but suggests I transfer all my information to the travel agent so they can do the check in - em - given the check in info required - card numbers etc not an option, there is no secure way to do this - and in any event they can't get the system to work I asked for information on the excursions as we cannot access information on them. We have received a beautiful brochure - but no prices despite asking for them. I get the sense with Explora you aren't supposed to worry about prices! And they were unable to give me any information on how to make reservations for the speciality restaurants

You need to go through your travel agent. Azamara will not discuss anything to do with pricing with you I’m afraid

As you say a funny roundabout way for what used to be a simple process but at least the discount is still there - thanks for telling us

Isn't is funny - our preferences are European so by the time we arrive it looks like the American switch has been flicked. We might as the Sommelier to find some "old stock" if the selection is too heavy for us

Do you realise tomorrow night is the 7th anniversary of Car 2 my FB memories remind me Apologies to others this will mean nothing! Will be interested to learn about your table experience

I would be in a similar situation though it’s on a single voyage most if not all would be credit card not obc. Are you saying the refund is as obc? That’s not so good the price used to be reduced and you paid a lower amount

I get it, at least we have not lost our reservation but we are now 25 days since first highlighting the issue.... The app will not let any photos be uploaded so cannot complete anything on line that way though we are able to enter the check in process (I have scanned in my passport no problem) so that is getting further than the website The Customer Service agent I think got quite sharp when I emailed querying what was happening last week (that was after my gobbledegook name email) saying they were personally in charge of the issue and would update me when there was news - in other words dont ask us we will tell you..... (if we remember). Maybe its me, I prefer regular touch base updates even if its we are still working on this

And Lisbon authorities have had issues and worked to rule and itineraries had to be changed due to port strikes in recent years. We saw it the reverse way relating to embarkation. They refused to come on shift last year until 1400 to process guests even though guests had 1300 boarding slots and some had arrived even earlier. The terminal was full to capacity and beyond and the port agent and hotel director tried to get them to start. Eventually they came out of the room they were sitting in and I’d say deliberately took ages to set up their systems and it was nearer 1430 before the first guests embarked. People need to realise it’s not what the ship wants their hands are tied, even if you’ve been in a country for several days you need both immigration (border) agents AND customs- two separate agencies in many countries to be involved at the port before guests can disembark. It’s tough if it’s your turn to be in the location with the less good flight times, we all get them somewhere in the world and just have to make arrangements for an extra day etc.

I think very many Azamara cruisers do not fly home on disembarkation day unless it is a close to hand flight (eg UK guests might go back from Lisbon but if it was from say Miami they might not). Azamara's hands are tied by the customs (not immigration agents) as to when they are available to check items and no one can disembark without their say so

Except our ta cannot get a fix either. There have been IT tickets raised, the usual rubbish response of “clear your cache” which was irrelevant another ticket raised suggested try a different machine TA involved as the different machine - no joy! Everyone alleges IT is looking at it. It’s heartening to see others are getting the same message and back office response. Remember I was very badly treated over the late cancellation of the inaugural we already had this second cruise booked and paid for otherwise given how we were treated we’d have walked away from Explora. However seeing objectively written reports from cruisers we know and trust is telling us hang on if you ever get onboard it’s going to be worth it.

Yes that’s one thing I will be looking at as we are over a possible holiday period

Thanks, very helpful (the well travelled Ikea long handled boot horn - all 3 ft of it at a cost of £1 will add to its many avois) 🙂

Random (yes very random) question for those onboard In these lovely well equipped suites is there a long handled shoehorn? And is so approx how long is the handle? Hope everyone is staying safe and not having to overdose on the ginger 😀

I suspect this is an example of point 2 in my post as you’ve got a “bundled booking” the agents are back because they’ve been given a great price out of which they can create a package holiday which has a good margin for them as the base price Azamara is charging them is quite low. For Dr H that’s another reason UK guests work with agents. If you do cruise only booking direct you do not have the same level of packaged travel protections. For those additional packaged protections there have to be at least two elements in the booking. The second element doesn’t have to be the flight. With my agent, they set up an airport transfer or hotel with the flight to create the package. Why is a package protection important- well if the cruise is substantially altered eg no Israel, there are much greater cancel without penalty protection if you have a package covered by the regulations. You do create a package booking direct if you do flight plus cruise but that can have big disadvantages given the lack of control. However sometimes lack of control and a direct booking has advantages not least you don’t pay for flights until final payment of

I’m going to try Explora soon. Reading good things about the food onboard. Have also done many Azamara but I’d say Viking is above them now. I’m looking for under 1000 guests good food some but not too much evening entertainment and choices. Choices where to eat, sit daytime and sit evening. Viking ticks these boxes at a nice price point for us

It is extremely rare for a travel agency price in the UK to be the same as booking direct with Azamara in the UK. Always lower. Two reasons 1. To get business agents factor in a commission rebate in the fare they charge so my travel agent invoice will show the original Azamara price as advertised on line and then have a discount line 2. From time to time Azamara sells a block of cabins to agencies. This often happens nearer the sale date and effectively hands the marketing of unsold cabins to a third party and avoids published price drops that might mean having issues with existing guests. The agencies must pay for the block or a significant portion of the fee whether they sell them or not. To maximise revenue they sell them at very keen prices. If you look at the websites of the typical discounters they never advertise these prices. They say for prices call. For anyone looking for a cruise about 2-3 months out it can be a very productive call!!! You have to ask why would people in the UK book direct - major reason control! Many UK agencies aren’t very good at servicing bookings.

What a fabulous way to spend the later evening

I have not worked with chefs but I do work in an environment where I have to communicate with people at all levels and with all language skills across a wide range of languages. I’ve no problem someone asking a supervisor as you say they have a lot to keep up to speed with. In terms of communication some accents and some colloquialism hits issues so I find slow, distinct and simple words like more and less when discussing food works well in any environment. Hope you get dishes to your liking today

You may find your case is delayed on delivery if the kettle is picked up by the embarkation scanners. You would eventually be asked to go to the “naughty room” and you’d probably find they will keep it until disembarkation