After reading the wonderful reviews about this cruise that was from Istanbul to the Greek Islands (in Azamara booklet as 7 day Sultan's Palace to the Acropolis 16-june-2016) We booked and placed deposit in Nov.2014. At $2499pp for a Club Veranda it was a deal not to be missed. Accidentally while looking for information I found that the Cruise by March 16 2015 had been drastically changed. When we contacted our travel agent and she Azamara, their customer service said that they had contacted both ourselves, the travel agent and our travelling companions. Three separate email accounts with three separate contact phone numbers. None of us received this notification. We were now going to ITALY for 4/7 of this cuise and 3/7 to Greece (now called 7 day Amalfi Coast to Greece). As we already had been to all ports of call except those in Greece, we tried to change this cruse to a 10 day one that in Dec 2014 was advertised in their booklet for $3599pp (10 nights Acropolis to Venice). A simple change that would have honored Azamara original booklet, and given Azamara more money.
After six days of Azamara communication through our travel agent to us (March 26th to April 1st) Azamara replied that due to all the other guests that might possibly be upset by this change of theirs the best they could do would be $4242pp (verses THEIR OWN online offer of $3600pp) this made no sense. We would have gladly paid the additional money given Azamara original advertised special in their mailed booklet. But given "all the other people" that might see this scam they tried to (in my opinion) bait and switch this cruise with no notification to anyone. Only luck had us see it before the Feb 2016 no refund date.
FROM OUR TRAVEL AGENT TO US:
I sent the email below to the many people who did try to help with your request. The denial is coming from the TOP, a policy put in place because it would impact thousands of people on many sailings. I received a phone call, and it is my understanding this message is being conveyed to the people at the TOP. I will keep you posted: ............
...... I very much appreciate how hard everyone worked as individuals to help secure these clients the original pricing they would have received had they reserved the June 23rd 2016 sailing at the time they booked the June 16th, 2016 sailing. However, I am deeply disappointed that the Azamara brand has displayed such disregard for a reasonable request made by these clients, and am equally dismayed by the lack of support it has provided to a national account that generates so much revenue for it.
The fact remains that these four clients did book early enough to take advantage of the discounted rates, as advertised in a brochure they have in their hands. It is through no fault of their own that the itinerary changed, and it would have been a disaster had air been ticketed as the ports of call originate in different countries! Instead of creating goodwill by meeting their realistic request, we now have four clients who tell me they will never consider sailing Azamara again, and who are angry at me for the lack of communication about the change (I was never notified), and for also being unable to resolve the situation to their satisfaction. I am very upset that the cruise line has put me in this compromising position. How can I be expected to support the Azamara brand if the brand does not support its agents or its passengers?.......
....I don't get to speak directly with Revenue, so I don't have a name. If you are going to write about the issue, simply state the cruise line and department. If you want to write to the President of Azamara, or mention a name, the President and CEO is:
Larry Pimentel.
FROM AZAMARA TO US
Pleasure speaking to you.
As discussed, I truly apologize but we are not able to deviate from the
redeployment package and honor the rate.
The new rate for JR 06/23/16
First passenger including taxes is $5849.76 Second passenger $2974.76=
total for 2 $8824.52
This is a difference from the original booking of $3539.26
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
PS: A random search today 04-11-2015 puts this cruise price at $4122pp
Azamara lost FOUR guests and will never see us again after what we consider a lack of respect to their clients.
Azamara Cancelled/Changed Greek Cruise
in Azamara
Posted
After reading the wonderful reviews about this cruise that was from Istanbul to the Greek Islands (in Azamara booklet as 7 day Sultan's Palace to the Acropolis 16-june-2016) We booked and placed deposit in Nov.2014. At $2499pp for a Club Veranda it was a deal not to be missed. Accidentally while looking for information I found that the Cruise by March 16 2015 had been drastically changed. When we contacted our travel agent and she Azamara, their customer service said that they had contacted both ourselves, the travel agent and our travelling companions. Three separate email accounts with three separate contact phone numbers. None of us received this notification. We were now going to ITALY for 4/7 of this cuise and 3/7 to Greece (now called 7 day Amalfi Coast to Greece). As we already had been to all ports of call except those in Greece, we tried to change this cruse to a 10 day one that in Dec 2014 was advertised in their booklet for $3599pp (10 nights Acropolis to Venice). A simple change that would have honored Azamara original booklet, and given Azamara more money.
After six days of Azamara communication through our travel agent to us (March 26th to April 1st) Azamara replied that due to all the other guests that might possibly be upset by this change of theirs the best they could do would be $4242pp (verses THEIR OWN online offer of $3600pp) this made no sense. We would have gladly paid the additional money given Azamara original advertised special in their mailed booklet. But given "all the other people" that might see this scam they tried to (in my opinion) bait and switch this cruise with no notification to anyone. Only luck had us see it before the Feb 2016 no refund date.
FROM OUR TRAVEL AGENT TO US:
I sent the email below to the many people who did try to help with your request. The denial is coming from the TOP, a policy put in place because it would impact thousands of people on many sailings. I received a phone call, and it is my understanding this message is being conveyed to the people at the TOP. I will keep you posted: ............
...... I very much appreciate how hard everyone worked as individuals to help secure these clients the original pricing they would have received had they reserved the June 23rd 2016 sailing at the time they booked the June 16th, 2016 sailing. However, I am deeply disappointed that the Azamara brand has displayed such disregard for a reasonable request made by these clients, and am equally dismayed by the lack of support it has provided to a national account that generates so much revenue for it.
The fact remains that these four clients did book early enough to take advantage of the discounted rates, as advertised in a brochure they have in their hands. It is through no fault of their own that the itinerary changed, and it would have been a disaster had air been ticketed as the ports of call originate in different countries! Instead of creating goodwill by meeting their realistic request, we now have four clients who tell me they will never consider sailing Azamara again, and who are angry at me for the lack of communication about the change (I was never notified), and for also being unable to resolve the situation to their satisfaction. I am very upset that the cruise line has put me in this compromising position. How can I be expected to support the Azamara brand if the brand does not support its agents or its passengers?.......
....I don't get to speak directly with Revenue, so I don't have a name. If you are going to write about the issue, simply state the cruise line and department. If you want to write to the President of Azamara, or mention a name, the President and CEO is:
Larry Pimentel.
FROM AZAMARA TO US
Pleasure speaking to you.
As discussed, I truly apologize but we are not able to deviate from the
redeployment package and honor the rate.
The new rate for JR 06/23/16
First passenger including taxes is $5849.76 Second passenger $2974.76=
total for 2 $8824.52
This is a difference from the original booking of $3539.26
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
PS: A random search today 04-11-2015 puts this cruise price at $4122pp
Azamara lost FOUR guests and will never see us again after what we consider a lack of respect to their clients.