wjfan417

39 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

Interesting, how does one get complimentary bags?  Is that a TA perk or a loyalty club benefit?

We’ve received ours as a loyalty perk.

The Azamara site is showing really low fares right now so that might be part of it too.

I've used United Health Care's SafeTrip annual plan in the past.  I had priced in last October for a trip we took to Italy last October, but since I'm turning 70 in April and have 4 trips booked this year, I decided to purchase a one-time policy for that trip and wait until before my birthday (after verifying that the coverage amounts would be effective for the 12 month period and wouldn't decrease until my next renewal).  I checked into it today and they are no longer offering annual policies!

My husband and I are in our late 60’s-we’ve been taking Azamara cruises for 10 years. We took our son and daughter on Azamara when they were 31 and 36-both of them really enjoyed it.

23 hours ago, manc said:

The only trips I can find appears to disembark in Dublin and the next cruise is from Southampton. Have I misunderstood ? 

We’re doing a B2B2B on the Quest from Amsterdam to Dublin (Scotland Intensive) August 8, then Dublin to Southampton (Ireland Intensive) August 20, and then Southampton to Lisbon August 30.

I recently posted a comment in a Roll Call and it was added 3 times. I can’t figure out how to delete the extra ones!

On 11/13/2021 at 2:34 PM, LT Hambone said:

 

Ha!

 

Here's Micia, she was a neighborhood kitty who visited us at our hotel in Trastevere. Enjoy!

 

 

If you're wondering how she visited us, our hotel was a former convent, all of the rooms faced a courtyard filled with orange trees. Micia would wander the courtyard, greeting all of the guests!

 

We stay at the same hotel in Trastevere-we were just there in early November.

I called SeaDream yesterday to see if we can leave the ship on our own (round trip Barbados cruise). First the agent said yes, but then he checked and said they had an update and ship tours had to be taken in Bequia, Mayreau and Nevis.

1 hour ago, Mike in AR said:

We have just cancelled today our reservations on this voyage. We were scheduled to fly to Barbados on the 3rd of December. However, as we reviewed the most up date travel requirements in and out of Barbados, we decided not to chance it. I'm not suggesting others should do that, we just decided to postpone to a future trip when things are "more normal".

 

Best regards,

 

Mike

I emailed the US Tourist Board for Barbados since the website wasn't clear about the protocols for people boarding a cruise there and this was the response:

Regarding travel protocols to Barbados presently, to enter the country you have to take a PCR test three days prior to arrival here. Then when you reach Barbados you will be given a Rapid test and the result will be known by the time you leave the airport. If you do take a PCR test instead of the Rapid test,  the results are known within 48 hours.

If you decide to change your flight to be safe and worried-free, please try to be in Barbados at least one full day before sailing. The times are fluid in face of covid and December is only three months away.  Check out these links for further information : www.visitbarbados.org and

Just a few days away from final payment and debating whether to cancel. We’re booked to fly in 2 days prior to cruise but it looks like Barbados is currently requiring a COVID test upon arrival, with 2-3 days of quarantine required until a negative result is available. On top of that, American just had a schedule change giving us only 40 minutes to connect in Miami, so there’s a good chance we’ll be stuck in Miami until 1 day prior. How far in advance are those of you taking the cruises out of Barbados flying into Barbados?
 

Diana

We just booked the December 4 cruise from Barbados. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations close to the port?
 

Diana

8 hours ago, avw said:

My TA sent me an invoice for final payment for my Sept 9 Quest cruise, Intensive France (from Southampton). I assume that this means that they expect to be cruising at that time. 

I would ask your TA to request an extension for your final payment for at least a week.

We’re currently booked on the 8/16 Iceland cruise which sails round trip from Dublin. Dublin currently has a 14 day quarantine for travelers from US so unless there are special provisions for cruises that’s not going to work.

 I noticed that the person who said the 8/4 cruise was a go is from Scotland so maybe it’s a go for UK residents only.

7 hours ago, Mrs Miggins said:

Viking now have 6 "England's Scenic Shores"  starting in May.  3 additional sailings added because the first 3 sold out so quickly. These only available to UK cruisers.  They also have several Iceland's Natural Beauty starting in July.  Strangely I cannot find these cruises on the UK website so perhaps only available to those from the US.  One of our US Viking cruise friends has booked, and I think they are extremely popular.   They also have Bermuda cruises, again probably only for those from the US.

Videos from Vikings owner explaining the protocols onboard, including a laboratory onboard for daily testing of both crew and passengers, have been very reassuring.  As ever Viking seem to be ahead of the game.  With their lovely new uncrowded ships they are in a very good position to restart especially as the first cruises will sail with only 500 passengers apparently.

Still love Azamara and have B2B booked for April 2022 but I do really think they have missed the ball this time, especially with 3 ships in Scotland.

 

I looked at Viking’s Iceland cruises since I’m not sure our Azamara August one will happen, and they are sold out. Maybe that’s why they’re not showing up on the UK website?

My picture shows us sailing out of Venice on the Quest in 2012. Loved sailing out of there.

Diana

If you book with a TA that is a member of Virtuoso there is sometimes an additional onboard credit available, or if it is a “hosted” voyage there is an option for a special shore excursion. Also, a TA may have more leverage to get extensions on payments.

43 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Does anyone know if Azamara will continue with ChoiceAir? It’s still on their website with the ability to book, but don’t know if this is in error. Wish we had an active Blogging Officer!

Betsey

I booked it yesterday.

6 hours ago, marinaro44 said:

Before the new ship was announced, the senior officers schedule showed Heike on Pursuit and Johannes on Quest.  Ryszard is also now on Quest.

Our next several  “tentative” cruises are on Quest (which all of our previous minus one were), I’m so glad that Ryszard will be back on Quest!

2 hours ago, ECCruise said:

Each state makes their own rules and even then, vaccination sites either follow them or not.  In our 4 trips for vaccinations here in NC, saw lots of FL and SC tags and yesterday, as far away as OH.  Some may own property here but they are not residents. 

Not sure why Ohio residents are going there for vaccines. It took some time but both of us were able to schedule appointments the day we became eligible for the following week about 1/2 hour from our home. 40 and under are eligible starting tomorrow.

9 hours ago, shedridt said:

Two weeks ago here in Greenville DE we were clawing to get an appt for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, & I stayed up 'til midnight in the hope that appts would open up then, which they did. I understand that it's now fairly easy to get an appt in DE. Friends in the distant Philadelphia suburbs were able to get an appt but only for center city Philadelphia.

 

Question for UK posters - what do you think the odds are of the Aug 4 Amsterdam to Dublin cruise going? I know that the Scots have different rules from England & probably Ireland as well. At this point we have not booked air, as it has seemed unlikely the cruise would go.

 

Best wishes to everyone! Today (still!) is the day to believe in pots of gold at the end of rainbows, & a world in which people don't wear masks.

We’re also on the 8/4 cruise and the following one. I think I will probably rebook Scotland for next year before final payment. We booked air through Azamara since we could cancel without penalty until final payment. We will hold on to the Iceland cruise for now since there’s nothing similar scheduled next year. I can tolerate having to take ship’s excursions for one cruise if necessary but not two!

5 hours ago, cruzluvers said:

Just got an email from Azamara announcing the "exciting" news about Tony's new dual responsibilities as Relief Food & Beverage Manager and Hotel Director on Azamara Journey.  Sounds like some cost cutting going on.   Who will replace Tony as Cruise Director or will he be doing that too???  Stay tuned.

I just saw on Facebook that Amanda Paulson will be the Cruise Director.

Not “out of town” but we did an evening rooftop visit at one of the Gaudi houses (Casa Battlo Magic Nights) which was very enjoyable.

9 hours ago, Rabo said:

I’m really not thrilled with any of the three name choices. Back on January 25, I suggested Azamara Passage. I’m sticking with that.

I’m not either, but since I’m still not getting correspondence from Azamara despite contacting them a few times, I can’t vote anyhow!

I saw it on the US site also when trying to think about where I might want to go next year.

On 2/26/2021 at 5:42 PM, mdpa said:

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I will say the more I read about the Spain intensive itinerary the more interesting it seems. I’m trying to contrast that against the loss of seeing Rome.

 

The Western Med is over Thanksgiving which is nice from a timing perspective, but the weather will be cooler. Is lift and shift the safest option?

We did a Barcelona to Lisbon cruise in November 2019. We loved the itinerary and would consider doing it again. We joined a lot of tours that others had organized-mostly through Spain Day Tours but a couple smaller winery visits.