Dynacruiser

I agree with @uktog, this is one of my favorite suites and would stay here again. Location is great, and no chair dragging above us. I completely understand the comment about some kind of humming noise outside of the suite. I also wondered what this was, but noise did NOT bother me once we were inside our suite. I was in Pursuit, though.

After reading the different opinions here, I decided that paying for an upcoming cruise a couple of months ahead of time was a low risk financial move, so I took advantage of the 10% OBC offer. TA confirmed that this offer does not change the original cancellation conditions. I can still cancel in accordance with the original deadlines. I received 10% of the total amount including deposit, minus the taxes and fees. TA had to call Azamara, took about 45 min. I am aware from others that special-offer OBC doesn't make it into their system right away, it can be frustrating. Tomorrow April 10 is the deadline if you want to use this promotion. Of course, next week we'll get an even better promotion and I'll regret having used this one.

Dear @commodoredave I appreciate your desire to help us Azamara customers, I read the thread you started back in September, and had the same thought that @laurieb and others expressed here. Your article is based on third party experiences. In addition to the experience of a Toronto couple, you refer to mostly anonymous posters here on Cruisecritic. But you have never cruised with Azamara. This felt like someone writing a strong critique about a restaurant based solely on online reviews, but not having eaten there. In my personal opinion, this greatly reduced the seriousness of your article. I also tried to write these comments on your blog a couple of times in the past few months, but for some reason, my comments didn't get published on your site. This further diminished the credibility of your site, at least in my opinion. However, I believe you can help consumers and that appears to be one of your motives. I believe you can guide folks on how to resolve an issue (or at least try). Or you can continue to share valuable info. For example, I learned from you that Apollo, a private equity group, had taken over Regent and Oceania years ago. I don't follow the industry closely, so this made me search for more info. I became less apprehensive when I learned that Apollo apparently made a good profit selling those lines and didn't have to bankrupt them. I hope Sycamore Partners makes Azamara a successful company, as I have enjoyed every one of my many cruises and I have reserved several future ones. Unfortunately, Private Equity companies are not as transparent as public companies, so it is hard to know what Sycamore is up to. Finally, I do not think Azamara can be described as mediocre, and I have sailed with them around 200 days over the past years. The title of your article felt like clickbait. I hope I am not proven wrong in the future.

I think we have to be able to read through all the noise. The main points are (according to my recollection, won't reread every post): The OP reported that Azamara had sold them a cruise at a low price, OP paid in full. Months later, Azamara informed OP that there was an error and OP would have to pay more or cancel their cruise (but they have bought tickets and hotel already). A couple of folks contributed stating that they had experienced the same problem. At least one different person here said they were able to negotiate with Azamara and retain the original price. While my nosiness would like to have more details, the above info has been clear from reading this thread. For example, I still arrive to the same conclusion regardless of price paid. If OP paid $1 for their cruise, or $10,000, the issue remains the same: Azamara posted an erroneous price, took payment, found the error months later, so Azamara should own up to it and not cancel their cruise. It is reasonable to expect a company like Azamara to adhere to certain ethical behaviors and business practices.

Wow, this thread is full of surprises. How did you find out? We were just becoming comfortable with better customer service, I hope this doesn't affect their performance. I know every company needs to be profitable and the cruise industry struggled for several years, but this is not the time to reduce staff. They already have too many people complaining, they can't afford to lose repeat customers or scare new ones away.

Dear OP, Azamara did something TERRIBLE to you. Their business practices are completely unacceptable. I have traveled with them almost 15-20 cruises, and have not had something like that happen to me yet. I don't have a lot to ideas to offer except to tell you that if I was in your place, I'd MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. I'd get on every relevant website, contact consumer advocates, email every person at Azamara (you can find some email addresses here and elsewhere), contact consumer protection groups, government agencies, trade associations, journalists, bloggers, influencers, call Azamara every day, etc, until you get a satisfactory solution. Or until you feel tired. Azamara may be legally protected, perhaps. I do not know, but likely their terms and conditions protect them. But they did something wrong. You may not get them to match the original price you paid, but they may throw in some OBC or some deal to soften the blow. If it's any satisfaction, folks like you will cause them to improve their business practices and be more careful next time. No need to tell you this, but next time, use a STRONG travel agent, one that will fight for you and has the muscle to convince Azamara. And if a deal is too good to be true, then be cautious. Don't pay in full. Try to book flights that you can cancel (some airlines allow that, it may cost you a couple hundred dollars more). Keep making noise, and good luck.

Here's a reason why I USUALLY like to have OBC to pay for "overpriced cruise excursions in crowded buses with bad tour guides" instead of "less expensive private tours traveling in limousines with local experts" https://www.yahoo.com/news/eight-passengers-stranded-african-island-153209876.html Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them ...group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line. ...the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria EDIT: I do feel bad for these folks. That could happen to any of us.☹️

When my room is not clean (it happens), I personally prefer to complain directly to the cleaning person. Their jobs are hard enough and I feel they could get in trouble if I talk to the hotel director. But I hope Azamara is a good employer and uses negative feedback from guests to better train their employees, rather than punish them.

Agree with others. Better to do it yourself. The times available are, to the best of my recollection: 6, 630, 8 and 830 pm. I hear from others here that you can negotiate different times, but I try to stick to the assigned time slots. Sometimes, one restaurant may be closed or booked solid one night, so you'll have to be flexible and go to the other restaurant at a different time that you prefer. If you ask your butler, butler will come back to your suite and say "I couldn't get you in at the time you requested, but I found you a table at midnight".

yup, new destinations.

@Mrs Miggins You are probably experience one of those times when Azamara land-based team is disorganized, and they may be given you and your TA incorrect information. It's also possible that Azamara is willing to negotiate on some cruises that they really want to sell? My suggestions: 1) Make sure you have a very strong TA, a company with enough muscle to negotiate on your behalf in case there is a misunderstanding. (search this forum, I remember reading somewhere that a somebody got a deal too-good-to-be true, and then Azamara reneged on it ?). 2) in general, I think it's better to book with a TA. You usually get additional perks, and somebody to do the heavy lifting for you, as well as give you advice. 3) If Azamara gives you the lowest price, then tell your TA the deal you are getting from Azamara, the name of the person from Azamara you are speaking to, and ask your TA to match it, and give it to you in writing and buy it. 4) If Azamara gives you the lowest price, but your TA dos not want to negotiate on your behalf and you must buy from Azamara, then document your conversations. Perhaps you could send Azamara an email stating: this is what I understand I will pay, and the OBC I will receive, and then buy it from Azamara. I believe you can transfer it to your TA then. Good luck.

Oops, @Host Jazzbeau comparison was Azamara to Silversea.

You both described two great reasons why I like Azamara: A sense of camaraderie, perhaps encouraged by the egalitarian nature described by @java spot, and no formal nights. I love the sense of casual ease on board, no need to show off wealth. It seems to relax attitudes, even if folks disembark, fly home, and get into their gucci clothes and expensive vehicles!

I apologize for misunderstanding your original comment of "Party on board". I have only traveled with Celebrity, and it was disappointing. I decided I'll stick to Azamara unless I see compelling reasons to try a different line (and I do read about other cruise lines). Luckily, a lot of people take time to post great comparisons of cruise lines here and elsewhere (for example @Host Jazzbeau's comparison of Azamara and Regency). Many reasons to stick to Azamara, but must mention that fellow passengers are fantastic. @java spot described very well the sense of equality in her post here. This really encourages a sense of camaraderie where passengers don't feel the need to show off their wealth.

We were there a month after Carnival had ended. I realize that not every cruise will have an Azamazing evening, but I hope that budget issues don't kill these celebrations. And to the person who posted the video online, thanks!