Port Power

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!

As did my husband. And I hope Hunter followed his own advice and skidded broadside in a cloud of smoke into his grave.

The total amount of the air credit will vary depending on where the flight is to and from. It is not the same amount for every cruise.

It is the total air allowance.

What did you end up doing? The extra $700 is a crock! What a story! I wouldn’t spend $700 on board a ship anyway, not even when there were two of us would we spend that much! Also, don’t buy travel insurance from this type of TA without getting quotes elsewhere, or checking your credit card insurance if eligible.

I disagree about a shuttle from the airport to the ship. I always use Jim’s Shuttle from the airport to either hotel or OPT. Never had a problem with Jim’s with numerous transfers over the years. (Do not use the awful company with a desk by the baggage carousels!) I text a day or two before to book, and text when ready for pick up. If arriving at Sydney International Terminal, Rydge’s Hotel is just a walk across the driveway. However, if you arrive early in the day, it might be easier to take the shuttle into a city hotel (I love Amora Hotel Jamison) and stroll down to the ship the next day. Leave your luggage at the hotel after check out and walk down to see the area first.

Some of your question can only be answered depending in which city you are boarding. You can drop your luggage off very early most place; we often do, and then go walkabout for a few hours. However, if you arrive half an hour early, you can usually still check in eventually but will have to wait around for quite a bit.