uktog

I understand they have a cash figure they will reduce your cruise cost by that equates to a calculation they do based on the category of suite or cabin you used on each of the cruises that you took previously. So the % reduction works out higher on lower category rooms. It’s all done by revenue management. If you were allowed 3 or 6 nights in any category and the same % reduction say c25% on a 12 night cruise when you had 3 free nights (I’ll ignore the tax complications) that’s certainly not what happened to us when we were trying to use 6, 10 or 3 nights having previously stayed in V, CC, CO and CX and not the experience of others The calculations we were given (but it’s not transparent how it’s arrived at) were reductions of approx 25%, 15%, 8% and 3% using 3 nights on a 12 night cruise - and each resulted in a higher price than booking without using the three free nights. We were onboard it took 3 days to get them. I still say it’s a scheme that needs revision and certainly more transparency.

I appreciate people are disappointed we did this itinerary last year. We too lost two ports and had time cut in a third due to a storm. It was disappointing but we achieved the objective of the trip to see the lights. Was our entire cruise spoiled, did we blame anyone - No and no well except the weather gods. We had done our homework this cruise is not to a smooth sailing summer destination it’s to some of the most hostile seas in the world at this time of year. So we had appropriate insurance covering missed ports, delayed departure and delayed arrival. We claimed under the first and nearly had also to claim under the third. We had read the contract we knew Viking would provide “care” but not compensation. Those due on the 12 Feb sailing I’m sorry it’s not working out but you’ve either got to go and accept what is happening and also hope the lights appear or cancel and if you’re uninsured you lose. I’d not spit the dummy out, you’re not in as good a place as you could have been because of lack of full cancellation cover but why lose all your money? Im sure communication could be better but it is not a straightforward thing. I think this also shows this is an itinerary where you transfer all the flight risk to Viking!

My take on that is that their first appointment in that area snagging Heike Berdos from Azamara and have her working for them for many months pre sailing in the set up team gives me great comfort. I’m hoping soon they start drip feeding more communication about onboard life to further reassure everyone.

It shows up on your account onboard they always say within 24 hours. Sometimes it’s not there the first time I check but it’s always there by the next morning. In addition if it’s non refundable (ie from Azamara) they send you a letter to your room reminding you of the amount and what you can and cannot use it for.

We are on a May 2023 cruise that goes Toronto to Chicago, it is still showing Manitoulin Island and ending in Chicago. I wonder how that will shape out. I had not really researched all the stops so have no expectations other than Niagara!

Thats exactly what we do. We never use over door holders they can impinge on the rather narrow door openings. We do not use the bath robes, they are bulky so we have the attendant remove them Day 1 - frees up a lot of space. Also we never use extra hooks on walls as we hate how that clutters the room. We do use four magnet clips on which we clip tickets, invitations etc so they have not cluttering up the surfaces. We like to make it easy for the attendant - we feel sorry for them when we see some doors open and see what they have to work around!!!! We usually sail with three checked in cases and two cabin cases between us and have never had any need for extra hangers or hooks in a veranda cabin. We hang as much as we can and find we have plenty room for all our bits and pieces without any problem.

On one level funny on another not the response a waiter should give. A little less about the “I did” and a lot more of the “sorry let’s fix” would be more appropriate in my mind.

No there is often a gap, it’s two separate processes Everyone just ignore worrying about check in 1. Azamara are in the process of migrating their systems from RCI to their own, so you will get strange errors 2. You do not have to do online checkin. It can speed things up in the terminal but not by a lot 3. You do not need the luggage labels in the document, the pier agents can quickly and accurately tag bags And let’s be kind to the overworked phone agents, don’t phone to tell them you can’t check in, they can do nothing and you’ve just added to the call volumes Not everyone will agree but I’d say just chill it’s not normal times

Maybe in the US. UK agents aren’t so interested in finding you anything especially where free nights are involved you have to do all the leg work yourself and some don’t even want a booking where free nights are involved

Was about to post - that is exactly my experience, it is only when you get to the stratosphere of 10 nights that the free nights are really value. The lower increments can cost you if you are not careful. I am hoping this is an area that the updated post RCI Azamara circle scheme might address

That can be an issue if they book you on a group rate (not that they tell you!)

Did you book direct?

The email and or your location are red herrings - the issue is as Oddjob16 said in post 1053, you booked a Guarantee Cabin, even though you are now assigned a cabin on Deck 6 your booking is as a Guarantee (Y). The terms of the upgrade scheme is you are not eligible to bid if you are Booked as a Guarantee (Y). The only way you could be eligible is to have your booking changed from a Y to a V3 or whatever, pay the current price difference and then bid which is unlikely to be worth it.

I think the issue more is it is becoming increasingly unusual for cards not to have chip and pin as Banks have agreed that to be the minimum level of security. I realise that though I have used a debit card on Azamara (and I am sure I did on Pursuit) my card is enabled with chip and pin. Indeed chip and pin is now not the preferred process for many UK banks who have additionally moved to multi factor identification where you have to approve the transaction via second device or use authentication codes. I was in person at the travel agents recently, a larger transaction and it needed me to authorise it via the banking app on my phone before the agent could conclude the transaction. Its no big deal for me, I would rather that to keep my money safer Is it not possible to get a chip and pin card issued where your bank is based?

I also have done so with both visa and MasterCard though I usually use a credit card.

Depends if it was paid in full per the cruise line final payment date or paid in full per the agents final payment date which in some case can be anything up to six weeks earlier

Your invoice on the Azamara page only seems to cover your onboard expenses and appears post cruise. Currently online you cannot see your "cost of cruise" invoice onboard. In most cases thats because you have booked through a TA and they have it, however even direct bookings you cannot see it but should have had it emailed to you on booking. This is something that might change with their new system. who knows!

Back to a glorious day today. Here’s a picture I borrowed from yesterday the camels were frozen

Corfu, Kotor and Chania

We did three of these market tours and chef’s tables combined in September and October 2022. They were lovely as always

We are over in Lanzarote, usually should be around 24c - absolutely freak weather today - we had rain and thunder at lunch time the village beside us had a tornado and on the slopes of the volcano the camels were "doused" with a heavy fall of hail. There are videos on face book but cant post them here

Go to Azamara website Sign in to your account top right hand Screenshot both your bookings and past voyages pages (How you screenshot depends on your device) If you want a hard copy print your screenshot otherwise be green and just keep it on your pc

Agree that is a “cutback”. I think there is one less person looking after the deck towels etc. Too many people take a chair in the sun plus one in the shade.

In the UK I have been able to book all excursions on line except ones that involve flights or passport numbers being needed.

Yes most are but they often zigzag and change the order particularly between Lanzarote La Graciosa Fuertaventura and Tenerife