Richteab

4 minutes ago, uktog said:

If you can manage your booking on line, there should be rebooking options offered below your booking so you can select them without having to call BA.

Yes, there should be but it’s not there!  I’ve already called Azamara so I’ll leave it to them.

Be aware that BA are already cancelling over 300 flights from LHR over Easter weekend due to strike action by security staff 😡

Several hours after the cancellation BA have still not yet sent emails to all customers notifying them of a cancellation. I've found out the hard way by looking on the BA Manage My Booking page and seeing our flight flagged as Cancelled.

if you booked flights directly with Azamara then they will try to reschedule you, but Azamara also seem not to have been updated by BA, so you need to be proactive and phone them.

Are these ever offered?

4 hours ago, tonyl1956 said:

Not sure whether this helps or adds to the issues surrounding debit cards, but it might be useful to someone:

 

When travelling, we use one of the multi-currency debit cards (Revolut in our case). I'd registered mine during the online check-in process and half-expected them to tell me that it would need to be replaced by a 'proper' credit card before we boarded in Auckland. No problem, though. I suspect these cards work as a credit card with a variable credit limit, rather than a pure debit card, in most places. The only times we ever have trouble with them seem to be 'pay at pump' fuel stations in France but (UK) cards of any sort seem to be declined on a random basis in France!

 

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I can't comment on the cruise aspect but I'd agree that using UK cards in France at fuel stations is hit and miss. I always carry a selection of cards - some work, some don't. but never the same ones!

I’m reluctant to buy a package as my wife doesn’t drink alcohol. So I can assess the ‘value’ of an occasional drink bought from the premium range can someone please tell me the size of the spirits measures - are they U.K. single/double equivalent or free pour?

3 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

I’m in Georgia right now visiting relatives for the holidays and we were just talking about this at dinner last night! Also used to soften an insult, such as “He’s a real S.O.B., bless his heart!”

Its a phrase used here in the UK to much the same effect. Also gets shortened to a simple "Bless".

15 minutes ago, Dr H said:

I've done "Strenuous" at the ripe old age of 72, and have been less than thrilled, but covid, time, and lack of exercise on my part contributed to the issues. Walking for me after a day or two of WALKING is no issue, stairs and hills are pushing the envelop. Even I have to admit that I'm not 25 any longer.  Moderate for me is no problem. There is a ship's tour in Mumbai to Elephanta involving A LOT of stair climbing. I would have killed my wife, and left me VERY unhappy and near death. It's labeled "strenuous", I opted out. Hope this helps.

I can do flat and cobbled surfaces like a Duracell bunny, but the stairs are a killer!

4 minutes ago, uktog said:

I have been on strenuous that were mildly active - think walking on relatively flat surfaces for a few miles and I have been on the lower level moderate that involved walking up extremely steep inclines for some distances.  So the "badging" can be a little hit or miss.

 

You might get a better response if you give us a couple of examples you are thinking of and people can chip in if they have been on them.  I certainly know strenuous and hike in Greece was indeed very strenuous, not that I did one, but a couple we met were gingerly walking around the ship one evening, they were fit people as well!

Good point. Specifically "Best Of Mykonos" and "Best Of Rhodes".

Reading the various excursion descriptions, it looks like "strenuous", which I would normally overlook, is normally do-able by a reasonably active 70 year old and not at all the sort of high adrenalin event that the tag might suggest.

I can understand the need for a warning and that, maybe, the average cruise guest is of "mature years" and everyone is different, but how realistic are the descriptions?

What are your experiences of this? 

32 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I know it's anecdotal and comes from social media, but the long wait times seem to be very much of now.  My own personal experience from three months ago was very long wait times. 

 

Phil 

My experience too - the waits are very long and the only saving grace is the high quality of the Customer Service staff when you do finally get through.

The Azamara U.K. web site gives a U.K. number that links to the US at a charge that is claimed to be no more than calling a domestic / geographical number, which should therefore be free of charge on most calling plans. 

True, up to a point, but BT and other calling plans are only free up to 60 minutes and time on hold to Azamara is typically well over an hour, so the call is chargeable not just for the excess over 60 minutes but for the total time.

The customer service staff are great, but the call system sucks.

1 hour ago, barneyboy said:

We arrived in Italy yesterday on Onward and nobody asked for a PLF

Italian gov web site updated but Azamara’s isn’t!

2 minutes ago, Ilovemygarden said:

Can you seasoned Azamara cruisers tell me if you book direct with Azamara or go with a travel agent?   What are the pros and cons?

I’m not really the best person to answer that one. We are first time cruisers and have been cancelled 3 times because of Covid. Now have 2 cruises booked for next year, both of them directly with Azamara and their customer service has been great, other than a delay in getting a Credit after the last cancellation. As to agents, I guess they vary in quality just as with any other service.

18 hours ago, Richteab said:

I called to make a balance payment and find the office is closed on Saturday & Sunday. There is no online payment facility.

 

I will not be happy if I call tomorrow and find they have cancelled me for non payment! I would not expect anyone to be open 24/7 but would expect a holiday operator to be open 7 days a week during the day.

 

Has anyone hit this problem?

Phoned this morning - no issues with being a day late. All sorted and I'm ready to sail!

4 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I haven't, but I call in the week. I see you are from the UK. I agree with you. You should be able to contact them at the weekend, albeit on reduced hours. Especially if your payment date falls at the weekend. I've made a mental note!

 

Phil 

Just a voicemail saying (in effect) "office closed, call again during normal business hours"

I called to make a balance payment and find the office is closed on Saturday & Sunday. There is no online payment facility.

I will not be happy if I call tomorrow and find they have cancelled me for non payment! I would not expect anyone to be open 24/7 but would expect a holiday operator to be open 7 days a week during the day.

Has anyone hit this problem?

Mine has now come through, thanks to a very proactive Customer Services agent

2 hours ago, JsMom2 said:

Sometimes they are created but not sent out.  Give them a call, they can either give you the info over the phone, or expedite the creation.  If you already have another cruise booked they can apply the FCC for you in the same call. 

It was a direct booking and I’ve now spoken to Customer Services who have escalated this to a supervisor and then upwards. I hope.

I was due to receive a 125% FCC “by email by 6th August”.  Nothing received yet - have others experienced a delay?

I have never used one of these before - can they be applied to the total cost - cruise, excursions, add-ons etc or just to the base cost?

16 minutes ago, uktog said:

They are in the fridge and topped up daily. Your room attendant will discuss with you if you want more or less of a given mixer each day at the outset and will keep you topped up accordingly. We want no sprite but extra dry ginger and low sugar Pepsi not full fat and they give us that daily 

Great, thanks for the info.

How about mixers? I assume they are incusive but are they in the room or do they have to be requested at a bar?

Just heard the same news by email. Thwarted again, for the second time! 
 

We will be looking at Far East for 2022 but looking carefully at the cancellation options Azamara are offering.

My refund has finally come though, in full. About 8 items, not just a lump, but actually made it easier to check that all element were refunded in full.

2 hours ago, Beasty Bee said:

We are also on this cruise and in need of rapid decision!!!
So request x 2.

Make that x3 please !

6 minutes ago, AJCM said:

Countries’ governmental departments and large business organisations would (or should have) disaster plans for the inevitable pandemic situation that the world has reluctantly accepted it has to deal with. Let’s hope those plans are well designed and prove to be effective in minimising the spread of the pandemic. Part of Royal Caribbean’s plan seems to be to proceed with cruises as long as possible before being forced to change policy i.e. force customers to cancel so as to not refund. This policy also includes for customers to have to risk flying to the point of embarkation to then be assessed and possibly rejected. If the cruise line rejects the customer, where on earth do they go? Strange approach, if a business has regard to customer loyalty and goodwill, when ultimately they’ll inevitably have to revise their policy or screw all their customers. I still believe sanity will prevail. Let’s hope the sanity takes over by Monday.

I fear it won't happen - the lunatics have taken over the asylum.