cpgrneyes

Thanks for the commentary and the photos, Ann! I've read so many positive comments about the Fjords cruise, but it didn't really hit my radar until seeing how beautiful it truly is. Perhaps 2020 will be the year we go!

Beware, you have the Azamara fever now, and there is no cure! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience.

As for the two ships, our first cruise with Azamara was on Journey, and we loved it. However, itineraries led us to Quest for the next six weeks onboard, and because we got to know the crew (Russ is everywhere!), it became our favorite, but we're back on Journey this year and next.

This is wonderful. So, I need to call to do this? It isn't online yet?

Also on the September 16 sailing.

You can sign up for an excursion online and pay for it with your credit card. Once onboard, you go to the Land Discoveries desk, cancel the original booking and rebook at the current price using your OBC. Not an efficient long term solution, but a great workaround for those of us sailing before the fix is in place. Look forward to meeting you onboard!

Cheryl

Beautiful photos! Glad you enjoyed your trip. On our first Azamara cruise, we docked right in Bordeaux overnight and absolutely loved it.

Bonnie, you are the BEST! Thank you so much for advocating for us. Goody, now I can dive deep into the Land Discoveries brochure. This is much appreciated news, and kudos to you and Azamara for the always wonderful service.

One question, if I booked a tour BEFORE today, does that qualify, or do I need to cancel that, rebook, then cancel and rebook onboard? Sorry if you've already answered this.

Cheryl

So, as things currently stand, for September we will not have the new system in place and the "work around" will have expired. A lose/lose situation that is far from satisfactory.

I completely agree, and hope Bonnie will keep us posted of any progress with the new system or an extension of the workaround.

Terry, could you share contact information for your guide, Jose? Thanks for the great pictures, it's helping me get even more excited!

Thanks for the photos, Terry! We'll be there for four nights before we board our cruise in September, so I'll be watching this thread. Which hotel are you staying in?

Cheryl

I'm happy to hear it's working out for you, and you now have a recent reminder of just how much you have to celebrate with 30 years with a great husband!

The problem may be that Azamara has changed their final payment policies.

When I booked our September cruise in August of last year, the final payment date was 6/18/17, and I dutifully made a note on my calendar. I was quite surprised when I got a note from my TA saying that AZ had changed their final payment date to 120 days, and our money was now due 5/17/17.

While it doesn't change your situation, I find it easier to wrap my arms around a problem when There is some rational reason why it might have happened! Enjoy the trip.

Thanks for checking, Bonnie! I'll share your optimism!

I do have one excursion booked to Carcasson which cost about 2/3 of my LD OBC, so if there is some last minute workaround, I can take advantage of it.

We sail September 16th, and there are some new excursions posted that I would like to book using our Land Discoveries OBC. I understand the temporary work around is only for May to August cruises.

Bonnie, any update on AZ extending that policy for September or later departures? If the fix isn't rolled out until early September (and that date is already six months later than it was originally anticipated), we'll be stuck in the void between temporary and permanent fixes.

Thanks for any answers you can provide!

We were there in 2010, and walked to the Tower of Hercules in the morning (a nice workout going up!), then wandered around town for the rest of the day. I don't recall a HoHo bus, but we definitely didn't need one to have a lovely day. Enjoy!

Since we sail in early September, this won't help us. I did pay for the one excursion I don't want to sail without, the one to Carcassone, but it would be wonderful if I could use the OBC for it.

The last time I asked the ETA was the end of September 2017.

That is extremely disappointing. We said September 16 and have a lot of OBC to use. As this was being discussed over a year ago, it is unfathomable to me that it will take that long for "technology" issues. So passengers will still have credit they cannot use for excursions that are likely to be cancelled due to not meeting a minimum number of people because they couldn't book online ahead of time. Silly business model, and since it's clear AZ knows it's an issue, I'm surprised they aren't making it a priority.

Lottie and Laurie, sorry AZ couldn't have planned the port better for your cruise. It's going to be a long bus ride for us IF the excursion isn't cancelled, but I feel fortunate to have the option.

We have an 8 hour land discoveries available but given it is a tender port and the time to and from Carcassone its not really going to be worth it. I think we will just head to Perpignan

We are booked on the ship's excursion to Carcassonne. After reading this thread and others where LD's were cancelled late, I decided to show some interest to the powers that be in Miami and get at least two of us on the trip. It doesn't address the OBC for LD's that I would prefer to use, but I'll worry about that as it gets closer. I don't see a land trip to that part of the world in my future, so this may be our only chance to see Carcassonne.

At least if the tour gets cancelled, I have a Plan B for Perpignan or Collioure.

Uktog, look forward to meeting you!

Cheryl

Terry, I can offer a suggestion of a fabulous private tour in St. Peter's POrt on Guernsey. This was an unexpected highlight of our two week cruise in the British Isles last summer. We joined a group from CC on a tour with Annette Henry - https://annettehenrytours.gg/. We walked through the beautiful city, then went to the museum. The island was occupied by the ****es during WW2, and after they left, a boy started to collect things they left behind and he now runs the Museum. It is truly a must do on your cruise. Enjoy!

Cheryl

Wow, thanks for all the detailed information! I think I'll need several pots of coffee on a very ambitious day!

I have same question for next year. We previously spent a full day that we thoroughly enjoyed in Gibraltar, but don't know what we'll do from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. DH would LOVE to hit Morocco that day, but the logistics sound like it just wouldn't be worth it. Am I wrong?

My husband and I sailed on the Open Golf cruise last year through Ireland and the U.K. While I do golf, I did not join in the golf package, but my husband loved it. He still raves about what a fantastic job Perry Golf does in coordinating the arrangements and logistics, and we wouldn't hesitate to do another one. The only downside, which is obvious, is that he didn't see the ports during the golf days (7 on that particular cruise), but he still talks about the amazing courses he played and the great people he played with.

Cheryl

Andy, there's not much I can add to what has already been said.

You've always been so reasonable and helpful, even when it's been clear you've been disappointed with something relating to Azamara. I can't recall a single post of yours that didn't add to the discussion, add to the excitement, or cool an argumentative thread.

Thanks for all you've given, and I join in the crowd awaiting the big news.

Cheryl

As the OP here, I'm very happy to report that we're back to Azamara. They had to recent combinable promotions for a good itinerary that made the cost more more competitive. When I put together a spreadsheet comparing the AZ and O trips, we looked at them and both felt we liked the cost savings, but even more, we wanted to be back onboard with the fabulous team at AZ.

It's hard to put a value on things such as White Nights, Azamazing Evenings, smiling at the Captain as you regularly see him onboard - even the welcome homes from the security team.

The two promotions are likely due to the uncertainties people feel traveling to Europe, and I'll be closely watching prices to see if they drop further. I believe that more and more people will travel closer to home in the foreseeable future.

Agreed and not every vacation needs to be on a cruise ship either.

Totally agree! We just did a three week land vacation in Italy and Paris which was fabulous, but not nearly as relaxing as a cruise.

I do love Azamara and love being on the sea, but FOR ME there's a whole world still to see with less time to do it every year. All of us are so fortunate to have options AND the desire to travel. I didn't think I'd be "jumping ship," but the itinerary and value combined makes better sense for us in 2017. That said, with all the craziness in the world, who knows?

Happy travels!

Everyone is different and we all have individual priorities, but I never quite get "we have been there before". I can go to the same place three or four times and still see something I haven't seen before. Of course value and pricing is a totally different thing, but I am lucky because I can be flexible and choose the time and cruise I go on.

Yes, we're retired and are flexible that way, but we live in Palm Sorings and have active social lives here in winter and spring, and a lake cabin that we love in the summer, so the shoulder periods are ideal for us.

I can always see something new in every port as well, but we've done land trips in Europe in 2014 and 2016 to see more of the world than we can see by ship, and there are still a lot of port areas that we can discover when we do get back on my happy place, the sea!