uktog

Agree but the trick every business has to achieve is the transition. Not a switch off which is their biggest danger exacerbated by their IT and back office service issues.

So how come Viking Saturn made its first call in the US and was inspected and christened in New York with various dignatories in June with no inconvenience to guests who were on the arriving or departing cruise?

Aren’t passengers guests with hosts if I’m to believe the blogger? I am sure all the New York based ones will be back onboard for the party (oh dear some whinging payers had to go uptown) although some are a little more silent these days - probably moved on to tell people how special another line makes them 😜

Luckily my schedule means I can’t watch so I’ll be interested to hear from others. Doesn’t sound like it will be anything other than sugar coated fluff. Well that’s what Loose Women is - watched a few times- hated it- and has a reputation for now being so wokey woman chattering not well balanced journalism. Azamara needs to get well balanced content aimed at their current customer base out there that recognises the current experience for many otherwise they will be solely relying on the more flighty next generation for their viability.

Anyone in the UK affected should get their travel agent to check the ABTA requirements in this situation as the “act of God” get out clause does not apply. I can’t see the answer why do you have to get off the ship? Other lines have christened vessels with paying guests onboard

Good move by Azamara running the Dover Sole as a special

Personally having paid a cruise in full that was cancelled in early July a week before sailing and still not finalised all the refund and voucher recompense my answer is no

Good luck with your calls! My unfortunate experience to date when they mess you around is you will get nowhere. I SO hope I am wrong

You have to make way for the influencers........ Seriously so near departure that is beyond belief. #Oceanstateoflunacy

It is perfectly acceptable on Azamara for only one person to buy the package Also the package can be bought mid cruise and you only pay for the remainder of the cruise

I have searched but cannot find an answer to this question. On other lines, there has been the option to stay onboard, albeit having checked out of your suite, until lunchtime or just after. Our final day we have a 1700 flight (so 1400 at the airport). There is no "tour and airport drop off" option offered in the excursions. I have tried several taxi firms to no avail, everyone wants to take us to a resort with a full day pass and no one seems able to confirm how secure our luggage would be. As this is Barbados, I want to be cautious. Does anyone know if Explora are offering late disembarkation (no problem it being at a fee) or have any other suggestions

I loved Greenland and could have spent far longer there, it was beautiful

If you look at the link provided in post #44 there is no need to consider it as a special request or wish to be special, it is part of the regular menu on Aqualina.

This is information from the Viking board posted by Heidi13 in relation to a similar question. He is an ex bridge officer on another line as I understand and very knowledgeable on these sort of matters This is not information that Viking publish, to the best of my knowledge. The first Special Survey/Drydocking is required after 5 years. Best way to find drydockings is to find the date the ship was handed to owners and look for a short break in the itinerary just under 5 years later. Until the ships reach 15 yrs, the drydocks are every 5-years, then they change to 2 in 5 yrs.

The pricing in the UK per day when you factor it down to like for like is not that different. I do my calculations on a per day basis and they are within £40 of each other. Viking prices here look higher until you take account of the fact they already include economy airfare and they seem to have access to good prices for business. I also factor in a "value" for the included tours which this time (and next) will fully meet our needs for where we are going. I think the difference also is we never get great travel agent discounts like guests in the US get so whereas Azamara US attracts travel agent discounts and benefits, often substantial (Viking only gets controlled sums if any) so will look cheaper, we here are always working with very little discounts so it brings them closer anyway.

Yes Aqualina - covered here https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2896696-aqualina-menu/

Strange, we did it this month on Saturn in Iceland with lots of sea days. We did have to track down someone who knew bout to book them though

We loved the Californian menu and also enjoyed an onboard cookery class where we worked with one of the chefs to recreate the starter and main (well chop the ingredients and stir under supervision some of the parts). We then sat down to a lunch of the starter main and dessert - it was a great experience and I have already been able to recreate some of it at home. The bits that were really great to learn was a tomato salsa and a fennel salad - simple I know but what a difference they make knowing the right combinations

I cannot understand re Dover Sole why it’s not on the menu for everyone in Aqualina. It was such a favourite of everyone It’s one of the dishes I so enjoyed but I can’t bring myself to ask for it as a special request. The very public filleting just rubs me up as I feel for others who did not know to ask for it and I’d feel awkward (maybe I’m too sensitive) I’ve not been on an Azamara cruise for years where Americans were in the majority. Funny they were on our Viking cruise but there we saw absolutely no off menu ordering. Maybe it’s a policy maybe it was just given the wider choice people were happy.

True so long as the replacement is happening outside your currently advertised cruises AND the ship does not reach either the mechanical or visual stage that people can say "well that is because the dry dock did not happen" I am thinking financially a dry dock in 2024 would have been cheaper than one in 2025 assuming its doing the same work given how inflation is playing so this would point to financial constraints not being the reason

As I understand it, the issue is the timings for the chefs on the galley are allocated to what they cook/finish from each restaurant so if for example they are expecting to finish 6 dishes in a period for one restaurant in a set period and that is increased to say 8 with two off menus from another it puts their whole timings out. Its ok if they are under capacity but with the tighter staff numbers thats less common. Its also harder for the chef who is working on say Aqualinas dishes to tie up with the one working for Prime C if its a mixed order across the two. They do cover for each other but at peak service they focus on their own sections

Thank you for saying what bugs me. Same with asking for non menu items. I know from experience it can really mess up other guests experience on the night because the wait staff or galley have to come off their set routine for these non standard requests. It’s also a bit harsh on guests sitting around who stuck to the menu offered to then possibly be left with a less cared for feeling on their “special night” in one of the restaurants to then see the next table be served what was not available to them. I would never ask a restaurant in town I went to once or twice a year to cook me something different or serve me a dish from their other restaurant (say they were a hotel) so why ask on a ship. Maybe though it’s my upbringing-“eat what’s put in front of you or not at all”. At least I always have a choice from WITHIN the published menu as to what is put in front of me. Let’s help all the staff get consistent service to all guests. We have never ordered off menu (and DH has gone without courses when his allergy presented remaining choices he didn’t fancy). Azamara should either advertise this option for mixed menus/off menu choices or politely decline all requests except for dietary reasons

I cannot understand why you wouldn’t have your camera as hand luggage anyway, when I use a DSLR it’s always round my neck ready for something. I’ve been surprised how quickly I managed to adapt to do all IT activities on my phone when I was forced to travel without my laptop and I’ve never gone back to taking it. As I understand the cruise director has no meaningful clout over excursions so better to have any discussions with those who do pre cruise and accept whatever is happening and move on. Between this and your panic about BA your going to have to or your whole cruise will be affected

That is probably the real reason!

Its not rubbish and is pretty standard across all European flights. I dont know why people get obsessed about pitch on these short flights. I have a spinal disability so am very sensitive to seat comfort and I have absolutely no issue with European flights especially BA.