Port Power

I just returned from Europe and do not have COVID. I tested a couple of times onboard and twice last weekend after returning home. (Just to be sure, and also because I have heaps of RAT kits!) I absolutely agree that testing to board a ship in Australian ports is senseless. People can still contract COVID between testing and boarding, and many do. While most people will report when unwell, there are always some who don’t want to isolate for 5 days when they have paid to cruise. Oh…….now I realise why ports want passengers to test prior to leaving the ship on stopovers! But still not why the need to test before boarding?

That’s a good system. On my recent river cruise there were quite a lot of drinks charged ($0) to my room that I don’t even drink! Probably the bar staff knew my easy room number #111 but didn’t remember that of the person ordering rather than any skulduggery. I didn’t query the listing with the purser of course, but a displayed photo will stop any expensive mistakes.

I am amazed that Californian Domain Chandon is actually more expensive that Moët & Chandon! I really like Domain Chandon from the Yarra Valley (Victoria, Australia) but wouldn’t rate it better that Moët. It will be interesting to see if Quest sources locally when in Australia this year. I bought the Ultimate Package particularly for the Champagne, secondly for cocktails.

In Australian ports, Azamara still requires passengers to have either a PCR or proctored self administered test prior to boarding. I understand this is required by the ports, not the ship. However, I have first hand experience of passengers testing positive a day or two after said test. It is so easy to catch the disease within the 24 hours between testing and boarding! But no vaccination certificate needs to be seen. As others have stated, I am fully vaccinated and will take appropriate measures to ensure as much as possible that I stay well.

That surprises me. Currently Azamara acknowledges your Celebrity level only, not your Royal level. Once you complete your next AZ cruise, those points will be added on to your Celebrity points and you will retain that level in the future. There has already been about a year of reciprocal status by the new AZ owners. They have now set a final date for passengers to take an Azamara cruise to retain that status. I can’t see another extension being given.

No, the WC starts only in Miami. It ends in both San Francisco and Miami.

Hi, Becki I started a roll call for this World Cruise on the Mariner Roll Call thread. I am actually wondering if this discussion thread has become a roll call instead? It will be very hard to find in two years’ time though, whereas a real roll call is easily located. Like you, the itinerary works for me. The pre-cruise hotel night is definitely included for full World Cruise passengers. It is confirmed in writing on my booking paperwork. I presume the dinner/gala will go ahead too. Carol

I wouldn’t like P2P to vanish. My next SS cruise is D2D, and with no single supplement. I hear you, @jollyjones! So my son is coming with me. The rest of my future bookings are P2P. My Virtuoso TA has no problem getting the full credit applied but transfers from home are still included. The single supplements were then only calculated on the cruise fare. What would happen if you book two cruises on different ships with a week on land in between? You are not flying home and back again.

I’ve just been reading some reviews of Jeddah on the Viking World Cruise thread. There might be some useful information there as well, although SS visits Jeddah more than others. Also the “Ports” thread.

That’s why I sit at the bar end of the pool deck, away from the speakers. Unless dancing, of course! Many people do eat inside and join the party later though.

As @Host Jazzbeau implied, you will commence the cruise as Discover Plus and receive status perks for the whole cruise. However, on completion you will just have the points from this cruise now on your Azamara Circle profile.

And that is why we cruise: so we don't have to cook!

Azamara arranged docking access in good faith with Qatar for these dates. It is Qatar that has let you down by rescinding port privileges. Whatever transport Azamara can arrange is sure to come at a price, too. Have you looked into flights from Abu Dhabi to Doha yourself?

I received my documents yesterday and there are no times stated in them. I don't think times can be confirmed in advance. In particular, the ship might have to wait an extra hour or two at a lock which will slow it down. There is often a line up if your ship isn't first into the lock! However, going by the excursion times listed should give you a good idea.

This thread is about the charter flight to Puerto Williams from Santiago. You say you are flying a regular airline to Buenos Aires, so I am unsure why you have posted here? Nevertheless , if you fly economy and take an extra bag, you are usually charged for it unless you have status or the whole ticket is sold as business class. Ask the airline you are flying with.

Rhine, Main and Danube through to Bucharest.

I wonder if it’s because you live in a colder climate that you want heating when the room temperature is 17C? I would hate to have heating on at that temperature. Currently it is cooler here in the mornings, about 14C, but I don’t turn the heat lamps on. Definitely I do at <12C though! Today was a lovely, sunny spring day, warmer than average at 29C. I appreciate your reports and insights, and am looking forward to being on the rivers in a couple of weeks.

I just realised! Of course I can leave my extra suitcase from Silver Dawn in the hotel in Santiago while on the Antarctic cruise.

When are you going on the charter? I would really appreciate hearing about your experience. Obviously with the heavy clothing required on an Antarctic cruise, I am more likely to have two suitcases weighing more than 23kg combined. Actually, as I will be following on from a 30-night transatlantic cruise (with a few days in FLL in between), I will definitely have two suitcases!

True. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

I have Discoverer level.

Last week I received a bid email for my December 21 17-night cruise on Quest. I have a V2 club veranda suite on deck 7 and was offered Club Continent for AU$610pp. As far as I can tell, the cruise is just about full except for the top suites, so a couple of current CC occupants will need to bid for World Suites before Club Continent suites become available anyway. I do not think our loyalty level has anything to do with it, noted many years ago. Anyway, as a solo cruiser I cannot see the value of paying AU$1220 even for the shower, a bottle of gin and specialty restaurants. Nor can a fellow couple on our roll call. I am tempted to bid just to see what happens! (But it would be a waste of money.) I do acknowledge that is a really good offer, though.

That is so extremely disappointing for you. However, don't blame Azamara: they did not mis-sell the cruise to you. It is Doha that has cancelled permission to dock or tender! Let's hope Azamara can come to some arrangement, although having to drive from Abu Dhabi is not really a good option. You might be able to cancel without penalty, although again, it is not Azamara's fault. Qatar really should have compromised, but they obviously have enough income from all those people being housed on floating hotels to bother about a handful of passengers on AZ! Azamara delaying the announcement of Doha's port closure is very wrong though. They obviously knew earlier in order to make Abu Dhabi arrangements. Very poor!

It was posted at least a month ago on a thread here somewhere that excursions for any cruise could be booked immediately. I booked all of my excursions for September’s Silver Muse cruises and November’s Dawn cruises back then. I don’t remember now who gave us the heads up, but thank you. Being able to book excursions immediately after paying your deposit is now a welcome benefit for booking early.

This is where a TA is useful. If there is an emergency at home, they contact your TA who will then contact you. But as stated above, all that contact information will come to you in your documentation. After all, you don't need to be contacted through the ship before you board!