uktog

Logistically better on board this one in my view. Appreciate others may not agree. Often tours from Florence struggled to get back in time to leave for the theatre. They have to allow so much time for transport to and from the theatre. Doing it on the ship will allow them to push the start time back quite a bit so more people can attend.

So long as the light is genuine and not “fake” or “bought off”. Been great reflections here no fake or bought off. I’m contrasting with some I’m reading elsewhere for the same cruise and am minded of the 1960s UK political scandal where a witness used the now well used phrase “well he would say that wouldn’t he” (although in the trial Mandy Rice Davis said “well he would wouldn’t he” )

Funny that’s what I thought. If the port authorities can only allow 7 ships a day surely economics based on per capita taxes will drive them to give space to 7 mega factory ships. Maybe it would have been better to keep the two venues ok cut capacity at the larger (but didn’t the authorities not recently heavily invest to extend it) and keep World Trade Centre with a requirement to stay overnight and to use ship to shore power. That would reduce the movement and docking fumes significantly. Although I do recognise, it currently doesn’t help Azamara to the fact they can’t do ship to shore power.

and you can upgrade for the remainder of the cruise at any point and only pay for the remaining days

I had already moved American Queen from a line I would always look at (based on previous cruise experience) to one to think carefully about before booking due to onboard experiences (large groups cared for by their onboard travel agent making the independent travellers feel "second class"). Based on what I read here re responding to customer communications and processing refunds they have moved to off the radar. A shame because the itineraries were good but everything else is not (in terms of what matters to me)

Having seen how absolutely awful the communication and paying customer service focus (or absolute lack of it) was at the time of the late cancellation of the inaugural I had hoped that was just pressure of the situation. When I highlighted elsewhere that the paying guests were second rate citizens whilst influencers and agents were being so looked after I got abuse. OK I already had a second booking, I assumed this was a one off so I try to look forward to a cruise next month. But reading this I start to have those horrible thoughts. It’s great to hear the food is good but poor onboard communication and issues like lots of things out of use is not something I would be happy about. I’m really hoping my cruise is influencer free and doesn’t have big events carried out at the expense of the paying guests. Thanks to those who have kept us updated and I look forward to hearing the experiences of those on the next cruise

Thanks. That’s our usual approach with butlers this one just didn’t/couldn’t get the message 😀

Thanks. The one time I was out there indeed there was a shuttle but it was an 8 euro charge which I believe is what other ships guests have to pay. Whether Azamara would be able to offer free shuttles I do not know. Like you walking over the bridge isn’t an option! I will miss the good old days of a nice stroll after dinner from World Trade Centre

Dont start me on our "one and done for now" experience on MSC Yacht Club. We quite liked going to "the dark side" to do the shows. Unfortunately first night we were led to believe that without the butler escort we could not go (it was just post pandemic so we believed this line" To our absolute embarrassment the escort involved the butler going ahead of us in the busy areas shouting "Make way please VIPs coming through" For the rest of the cruise we would try and sneak to any show we went to without him though again he reminded us one day he had to take us........... Good luck, like you I can go with someone getting me a coffee if I decide but thats about it. Rearranging how I lay things out in the room (a la Azamara butlers) really winds me up!!

You spotted the give away clue "I think it was"..... if I paid for it I would know it was..... Husband and I can go for a whole day with a Michelin star chef, get real hands on and a lovely 3 course lunch for that price so it is not amazing for a two hour session

I will be interested to know if the butler leaves you alone if that’s what you want or keeps trying to justify their existence. Lately I’ve found several of the Azamara “butlers” so annoying but I’m very much if I want I ask and if I don’t ask I don’t want person

Possibly When it was quiet yesterday an influencer was posting elsewhere all sorts about cooking classes so maybe they took over the kitchen with interesting effects

If the papers are to be believed the Azamara advantage in Barcelona has gone From the UK Daily Mail the heading is Barcelona BANS cruise ships from main port in bid to reduce pollution. It cites the World Trade Centre as the pier involved with the ban coming into play on 22 October. The larger port also is to be capacity limited to 7 vessels a day (it can take 10).

Indeed I suppose the spa is a little more flexible in terms of time but an excursion may be a once in a life time at a place so very time limited. I am going to have to rethink my strategy for one of my remaining cruises booked as it is a once in a lifetime cruise but with more OBC than I would ever be able to use onboard. The excursions are very important to me, I do not have time to scramble around once onboard to book with an independent if Azamara has no space left. No about of fabulous warm and fuzzy onboard feel would compensate for not getting on a bucket list excursion because it was full once I was able to get Guest Relations to sort out the issue - imagine the stress if the last space went to the person one ahead of you in line!!!

@woodlander1 that is a nightmare They need to go back to the drawing board on OBC and excursions. The old system was far superior. This just turns you off promotions with OBC and using ships excursions Are you booked on the excursion that needs an intervention at guest relations not or could you get there and find the trip is full

That would be a UK response because significant alterations do require more offers of alternatives.

Some UK agents are very very reluctant to work with Azamara these days. They’re confused by all the changes, don’t for whatever reason seem well versed/ trained in it and still are frustrated by longer wait times for call answering and inaccurate/inconsistent responses. All this leads to the agents actively dissuading you to book Azamara and extreme reticence in accepting any requests to book. So it’s easier to go direct. However, I do agree having them handling the pain, if indeed they do step up when there are issues, can be a good move.

Several cruise lines will be chasing after new ports. I would expect it is going to be a few days before a new plan emerges. Azamara is gong to have to negotiate access to ports in the Eastern Med and its probably harder now as a smaller company. But they will come up with something!

It wasn’t in my experience. It also was less because it hasn’t got all the lovely hardbacks one of the guests has delivered to the other three ships

Be aware the selection is much smaller

Phew

Dress for the climate not for how you look is always my motto

Just thinking is the naming on Friday 13th? hmmmm,

Does any 3 star chef do except by prior arrangements for severe allergy reasons ( and in our experience that’s 96 hours)

At least he is positive that he thinks it will change. But certainly the other six lines listed to avoid I would contend are not the company Azamara wants to keep.