The Salties

19 hours ago, Brian111 said:

I Googled Aramara compensation The Times and the article came up without any paywall issues

 

Well, well, just read this, 20 minutes ago had a reply from David Molloy, I can say it was totally underwhelming. I had complained about the 2 trips, Cape Town -Gran Canaria-Lisbon on which we were both very poorly with gastric troubles. I had previously commented how good the B2B down from Barcelona had been before Christmas. Needless to say our 6 winter cruises for winter 24/25 will be on competitors. 

8 hours ago, ECCruise said:

 

That is correct and is required, even if you don't plan on going out. 

Just a quick one to confirm, on trip down all taken care of onboard and debited to your account whether going ashore or not. ONLY applies if your nationality requires a visa.

Just now, The Salties said:

Thanks for your reply and commiserations. Pleased to say all resolved, see my comments below. 

Sorry below should have been above. 

3 hours ago, cavaaller said:

 

@The Salties experience has me worried:

For half a year now, I have been asking for my loyalty status to be corrected.

"Don't worry, the team on the ship has the correct information"

 

Many passengers complain that the OBC information is misrepresented online

 "Don't worry, the team on the ship has the correct information, just take your documentation"

 

and now, with the correct documentation - they do not believe the customer? Really???

 

They obviously do not know what is what!

 

IMO it is not asked too much that a customer can be sure that the contractually agreed services will be adhered to!

 

I don't want to be on the burden of proof and argue with Guest Relations on my vacation.

 

The service team can be as magnificent as they might....at some point you have to be allowed to say that it stinks! 

 

the Salties, I am really sorry you have to go through this!

Thanks for your reply and commiserations. Pleased to say all resolved, see my comments below. 

Update! Had a good chat with manager, Adrian this morning. OBC for this cruise and next now corrected. We are going to sit quietly during our upcoming sea days and resolve cruise 3 and 4. I told him it's totally unfair that so much extra pressure is placed on them when so many of us are told by the call centre, it will be sorted out on board. I hope the new management deal with this and we can all return to an efficient system that reflects the wonderful experience on board. 

Hello Jazzbeau,l think you have the wrong end of the stick,  he was the one who needed to calm down. I am not complaining merely lamenting that so much hard work and friendliness by the people working on the front line is let down by incompetence. Perhaps with your wisdom you could advise how I should comment on some one refusing to accept printed evidence. Others on board have commented they would not have been as laid back as me.

See my post just now in precruise topic

Absolute disaster admin wise, been on board 5 days now and OBC still not sorted. Downstairs to guest relations again today and they refused to accept my travel agent invoice showing the OBC and a screenshot of the correct amount taken from my upcoming booking some months ago when I read about all the problems and some one recommended doing that. HE GOT AGITATED almost shouting that it didn't prove anything. Fortunately I asked to see the manager and he accepted my point and would chase it up. Don't hold your breath will update as it develops. They are really trying their hardest to make us book with the competition. 

7 minutes ago, tgg said:

The B2B OBC has disappeared from the updated invoice for our second cruise. When I called, I was told it would be put back. The new invoice shows nothing.

 

I anticipate a good bit of time will be spent with the Guest Relations folks when we board. I expect we'll have lots of company.

On board Pursuit and pleased to say everything as great as previous cruises. In addition Captain Antonio is in charge. We have had him before, he is an absolute gentleman with a great sense of humour,  DW says he is adorable. Admin side still below expected level. Cruise card showed both of us as Adventurer,  rectified on board after waiting in line for about 15 minutes. Expected OBC a bit less than we had been informed. Still ongoing enquiry, hope it is sorted before first week's cruise. They are unable to check the second cruise yet, for some reason, fingers crossed, that one is correct. For those of you reading this who are doing the trip to Cape Town they checked our yellow fever jab certificate, I will also put this on the Forum. 

Would assume it will be on deck, weather permitting, as it said, "under African skies". Funny enough, it shows how difficult  for Azamara to "please all the people, all the time". I prefer the idea of staying "onboard" as have experienced African dust/sand storms, and they suddenly appear and ruin what you are doing.

We were in that room for a wonderful, sunny, Christmas/New year cruise, no problems at all. DW is a light sleeper but no complaints from her perspective. Hope you have a great trip.

Thank you for your support paf225. As I stated Azamara really miss out as we do about 6 cruises a year. Since being (fined) I do not book Azamara until I think the fare is reasonable and if some thing crops up with another line, off we go. Had I had the opportunity for 1 rebooking I would have booked with Azamara and they would have had the booking for that cruise or another I felt was a reasonable price. Regarding the original question I think it is a little too expensive for that cruise even allowing for the fact I do not mind paying a bit extra for Azamara as we enjoy it more than the other lines.

Yes I agree it is very galling for us Brits that we cannot re-book at the cheaper price. In the past I have paid the £500 (fine) deposit to save £1500. I think it is very short-sighted of Azamara to not allow, one re-booking. As a result I do not book too early and wait to see if a cruise I am interested in, "drops in price". We really enjoy Azamara but there is always an alternative available these days. If Azamara allowed the "one change" they would get more bookings from me, early on. I would acceprt the loss of deposit if I cancelled totally. It should make no difference that it was not booked "on board".

If you can afford it "go for it". Nothing worse than, thinking "I wish I had" sometime in the future.

Hello Anna, well ,well as they say "it's a small world". I lived in a small village outside Farnham and went to school there in the 50's/60's. There are fish&chip shops in Cape Town but there is not one in the V&A. They normally do hake 'n chips rather than cod or haddock. Mitchells do it as do many other places, including a fish chain called Ocean Basket. Even here in England not every chip shop does it perfect but you should be ok in the V&A, if not have extra mushy peas to help the taste.

Your best bet in Camps Bay is to walk along the front and see what takes your fancy. It is a very short walk, over the years have eaten at many of them, some have changed ownership. Up to now never had a bad meal, and hope that continues for you. If you like fish there is a good choice available and of course the steaks and ribs are always a good standby, if fish is not your thing. We go down on Pursuit and are spending Christmas at Moullie Point a short walk from the V&A. We often eat at the Mozambik which is not one of the high end restaurants in the V&A but we have always enjoyed it as have friends we have taken. It is very popular and you normally need to book especially for dinner. If you like pub grub Mitchells brewery just along from the Big Wheel has always satisfied, be aware the portions are certainly not small. The City Lodge is fine for what you are doing, in fact, would be ok for 2or3 days, it is not high end but when I have used them, they have always been clean and comfortable.

Location wise this is much better for your first time in Cape Town. Check out my previous post re HOHO bus and lunch at Camps Bay and if you can fit it in the trip to the winelands all bookable within the V&A.

If you go on the roll call for the trip down in Nov. there are a lot of posts about it. I went onto the travel section but I am sure you will be ok after reading all those posts. If not come back to me and I will follow the chain I did last time. Poor old brain doesn't retain as much as it once did. Probably due to resting on too many holidays.

We should be sailing back as well on your cruise. Christmas in the sunshine is always nice. If you do need an exemption certificate go onto yellow fever web page and check out your nearest vaccine centre. Mine is a chemist 3 miles away and I spoke to him on the phone and will make an appointment nearer the time. I hope this helps.

Grandma cruising, I appreciate and agree with what you say. However if you go the South Africa web page as suggested by another post, their web page stipulates if your vaccination was more than 10 years ago they require an exemption certificate. I appreciate the WHO say the vaccine is for life but these countries are allowed to make their own rules. The chances are that they will not even check but you never know. If a border officer in any country is having "a bad day at the office" progress can be difficult. Also bear in mind this cruise is visiting countries within the "yellow fever corridor"

Exactly Terry and Mike got to say that also we do enjoy our stays in Florida, love to miss our damp dark winter. Going back to Cape Town there are numerous hotels in Cape Town although I would suggest you stay within the V&A area as everything is on your doorstep. If you want to do the winelands but do not want a lot of hassle book a coach tour to Franschhoek onto the wine train. You will be able to book at the booths near the big wheel in the V&A. The hop on hop off bus is also very good, if you do that arrange to be at Camps Bay about lunch time and eat in one of the restaurants and watch the street performers. The acrobats are brilliant. Remember you are in Africa and many schedules are "flexible". Do not worry though the licenced cabs are very safe, plentiful and reasonable cost. If you do go I hope you enjoy and any questions feel free to ask

We are going down on Pursuit and spending Chrismas in Cape Town. I would suggest that if you do decide to go that you spend a few days in Cape Town as although I am biased, I am sure you would "kick yourself" for flying so far and missing out on some of the delights The Cape offers. I appreciate "one man's meat is another man's poison" but I have been going there since the 80's for holidays

Sorry fat fingers pressed wrong buttons. Sailor Jack, on another post, the cruise down to Cape Town in November 23, a lot of people are very concerned about the situation concerning the yellow fever vaccine. I have had mine many years ago and am arranging an exemption certificate. Howevever I read on another post some others are cancelling as they are worried. Is it possible that you could re-assure them by explaining what happened about it on your cruise. Many thanks for your artcle about Africa have travelled there for many years, of course its old basic ways was much of its charm. I well remember with fondness and rose coloured glasses the old Cape Town waterfront with its old corrugated iron restaurants. However the new Waterfront is a thriving complex with lovely restaurants.

Could be a private charter,has happened before on a cruise following one we were on

When we booked an Early Booking cruise in March 2022 the $300 for OBC credit showed it as OBC not for excursions. The advert back then showed OBC, WIFI and drink package seperately, they did not call it Essential package. Do they now show it as Essential package for newer Early bird bookings?