cpgrneyes

I'll keep comparison shopping, but I've yet to see those prices. Even if the Seabourn price was less, the SE Asia cruise in 2019 had an itinerary that was a deal breaker for me!

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I've looked at Seabourn, Viking and Oceania when I'm considering a cruise.

I'm currently looking at Southeast Asia for 2019. Azamara's lowest veranda prices out at under $745 per day, while Seabourn's lowest priced cabin is $1,070 per day. The itinerary on Seabourn is one day shorter, has no overnight in Bangkok or Halong Bay, and no late nights in port, so it would be a deal breaker for us before we even priced it. Oceania's lowest category veranda is $990 per day with only one overnight in Bangkok, and is on an R ship.

While I have seen comparable prices on O in the past, Azamara always has a sale or an LCV discount that wins. I'm open to trying other lines, but so far, nothing has been competitive, and as Discoverer, I get other perks that factor in my decision. So far, I'm continuing to look forward to being welcomed home!

You can still enter your LCV number if you click on "Book Now." I don't know if previously there was another way to find out the LCV discounts, though, as that's how I've always done it. I looked at the list in the newsletter, too, but I'm interested in finding out if those discounts continue--we were lucky that the cruise we wanted next year was eligible.

Ah, it was already loaded in the "Guests" tab. I was trying to check the price for our 2018 cruise, and it kept coming up $1.00 different from the original NON-LCV special price. Turns out the cruise has simply increased $1,000 more than when we booked. Pays to book early!

I think listing the Captain is nice and reflects the personal nature of cruising with Azamara, but agree that embarkation and debarkation ports are necessary.

Another thing I notice is there is no longer an option to include an LCV number to get a price that may reflect any quarterly savings. Will those savings be going away?

Dave, I'm sorry you have had such an unsatisfactory experience with the cancelled 2018 cruise, and can appreciate your frustration.

I am looking forward to my sixth Azamara cruise next month, and I think I speak for most past passengers in saying your experience is not typical. Granted, we have never had a cruise cancelled, but I am confident I am in the vast majority with that. We have a cruise booked next year and when they changed the London embarkation port earlier this month, we were notified promptly with an explanation of the reason.

Making statements like Azamara is going bankrupt, there is no intelligent life at the home office, or they are all bozos does not help future cruisers. Again, I'm sorry your cruise was cancelled and that you and you TA have been so frustrated. We all look forward to our vacations, and fortunately, since yours is over a year away, you have ample time to find a replacement and again have an exciting trip to plan for and dream about. My best to you.

Cheryl

How far in advance of your sail date did you get that call asking if youd like to upgrade to the CO for $1500?

Our upgrade to the OS was offered four weeks before our sail date.

We did get an email from Azamara about the embarkation change from London Bridge to Greenwich for our June 17, 2018 sailing two weeks ago. It's a little disappointing to us as the experience would have been nice, but still a much better option than Southampton!

I never get any mail from Azamara either, unless it's confirming my CC Social registration or Upgrade Requests. I wonder if there is some magical sign up page other than the ones I've found and used!

Cheryl

It's not 1,000 per person, it's per stateroom

 

Our upgrade to the OS was $1,000 per person, not per stateroom.

Info was shared for full disclosure, and there were no CC suite available at the time I received the offer and no verandas either. As I said in my OP, I guessed the offer was made to satisfy GTY verandas.

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It was the LCV upgrade. I submitted the form when I booked my V2 veranda a year ago. FYI, I have Discoverer status.

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Lucky you, cpgrneyes! Maybe it was your green eyes that got you the upgrade?? Enjoy the Best of the Best special dinner; it will be superb. And enjoy all that extra space indoors and out. You may never leave your suite! We recently looked to book an AZ re-positioning crossing, but since there were no OS cabins left, we nixed it. I guess we are completely spoiled. But what a way to go!

I couldn't believe it! We did have to pay $1,000 pp, but with the great deal we got, our total is still thousands below what the V2's were going for several months ago. You nailed my concern - we'll be completely spoiled when we go back to Verandas, but I'll enjoy every minute. Since we have a busy week of traveling when we disembark the ship, we'll enjoy luxurious relaxing in the cabin. It's been years since we enjoyed a room service dinner!

BTW, will we know the date of the Best of the Best dinner when we board?

You can go to the thread and then search the forum to sort for a particular cabin. I did, and this is the only post:

Stayed in 4020 (oceanview room) on Journey in October 2008

Great room, no noise. Opposite medical facility but never heard a thing. Would choose again.

We got such a good deal initially, it's worth the one time experience for us for the 9 nights.

We are confirmed! I've stayed in the Club Continent suite several times, but never in a big suite. I'm thrilled. Congrats to you trk_koa!

We sail September 16. The verandas are sold out, so they must have had a GTY they needed to open up.

Thanks for the order to grab it, Phil ;)

The upgrade fairy just gave me a wonderful visit! I would have been happy to move to a Club Continent suite, but never dreamed it might be to an Owner's Suite. I promise never to complain about life not being fair again.

Thanks, Cheryl

I was surprised to discover today the price has actually increased since last week by about $275 PP for an OV cabin. There still appear to be plenty of cabins so I don't think the price is due to increased sales. Anyway, I just thought it strange that the price would change mid-promotion.

 

Also glad we booked while onboard Journey, as that gave us not only the $200 OBC, but apparently a bit more of a discount than the internet LCV price.

We booked for June 2018 during the promotion with the LCV discount, and I've been checking the price in the last few months and it hasn't changed. I had planned to cancel and rebook while I'm onboard Journey next month, and, like you, was surprised to find an increase of almost $275 per person for a V2. I'll keep checking, but it appears the LCV level book onboard 5% discount has just been wiped out.

Goes to show that booking early is nearly always better. I booked our 2017 voyage over a year ago, and the current price is DOUBLE what I paid.

The one advantage Celebrity has over Azamara for Southeast Asia is the choice of dates. Our Hong Kong to Singapore 15-day is in October of 2019, but there are only one or two of these every year because the Quest will do a different itinerary from Singapore after our cruise. We were lucky that Azamara happened to be doing the itinerary we wanted at a great time for us (I can't travel in January through mid-April because of work). Good luck.

I am going to be booking the same October 2019 cruise while we're onboard Journey next month. The timing works great for us as well, not because of work, but our Palm Springs area is PERFECT Jan-April and we don't want to miss any of it! I'll see you on the roll call.

And I agree, Azamara is the way to go in SE Asia. I've heard it can take 2+ hours each way to get from the port where larger ships must doc into Bangkok.

Cheryl

I echo all the kudos and thanks to you, Steve. We've been on a number of Azamara cruises, but did a land trip last year. You've revved up my excitement for our cruise back on AZ next month. I think a lot of us who followed your wonderful and balanced reporting are almost as sad your cruise is over as you and you wife must be!

Cheryl

What a treat! Enjoy the special event.

I am not so sure that Azamara and small ship cruising is for everyone. In fact, I am about to pull the trigger on an Azamara cruise to Southeast Asia and question whether I would be better off doing a similar itinerary on a Celebrity M Class ship. It is for 2019 and the week after our 25th anniversary and I thought doing an Azamara cruise would be a great way for my wife and I to celebrate, but I am a bit nervous and it just like the OP is. It has nothing to do with bad reviews by first time cruisers and more to do with going on a cruise ship with only 700 passengers. We loved 2,000 and have enjoyed the larger ships as well.

As you may know, one big plus for Azamara is the small ship ability to dock right in a city or nearby. In Southeast Asia, for example, Azamara docks right in Bangkok, while the larger ships are 1-1/2 to 2 hours away depending on traffic. It is the deal maker for us!

Just continuing on the subject of food and if you like Asian I'd highly recommend the Indonesian Rijsttafel. It's not always well advertised so ask the question of one if the Maitre d's. It's a lovely evening and really good, pretty authentic food. Depending upon the number interested will determine whether they do it and also the venue. Last cruise they closed a portion of the Sunset Veranda and we had two large tables there. Very nice. Have a wonderful cruise regardless.

This sounds wonderful, and I've never heard of it on our previous AZ sailings. We'll ask early in our September cruise on Journey. Thanks for the tip.

Ok, starting today we WILL allow those booked on one of our SEPTEMBER 2017 voyages to now use the 'OBC work-around' to pre-book tours!

 

I'm also told the permanent fix is on track...but I made the case for you that our Fall guests are anxious to set up their tours. There is no word on voyages beyond September. When/if I hear something, I'll let you know.

Impala, Bonnie posted the above on 6/26 earlier in this thread, so Azamara IS listening!

Bonnie, thanks so much for your persistence and clear communication! This is very good news for us and makes me even more excited about our upcoming trip (if that is even possible ;)).

My husband ordered it and I only had a taste because I ordered lobster. I'm going to have it in Sept. :D

I'm going to try it in September too! Hope to meet you at the Meet & Mingle!