floridafolks

2 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

It's possible. Stanley is a port where EVERYBODY wants to be on the first tender to shore. Priority goes to those on ship tours and also Elite and above Captains Club members. If not on a ship tour, you have to get tender tickets. People line up well before the tickets begin to be handed out. You need to get up early.

Did Elite and above actually get priority? Others reporting it was totally first come first served- no priority for CC status

1 hour ago, Kos123 said:

Totally. I just don’t get why we are being told to collect tickets at certain time when it clearly doesn’t work when people camp those lines before the announced time. A lottery of random numbers a day ahead would make more sense than camping the line 2 hours before the announcement time. 

 

4 hours and still waiting. We missed our private tour hopefully we will be able to taxi to gipsy cove and get a refund. 

How about cabins that come with benefit of priority tendering- was this done or were they not given that benefit?

3 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said:

My March points have now magically appeared too!!

Glad your March points appeared- our 3  April cruises also just appeared. Now if they will just credit our Feb cruise, we will be caught up.  They originally credited everyone on Feb 12 cruise with 0 points- said this was necessary to keep us from getting unwarranted points on Celebrity for Feb cruises. They said they would go back and hand credit everyone correct points after the IT break off, but so far nada. 

37 minutes ago, JYDCruise said:

This is one of my (few) remaining concerns as we get ready to sail next week. I was actually able to speak to someone at Azamara (!!!) who helped us to buy the package we wanted, and book most of the excursions. However, they could not see our TA OBC and we could wind up in a situation like yours - every day that passes onboard with the OBC in limbo, it turns more and more into a pumpkin.

 

For example, say on cruise day 5 we take an excursion for $200, paid for out of pocket since we've already used all the Azamara OBC. If on day 6 they are able to fix the TA OBC (call it $200), what are the odds that in such a case Azamara would allow us to retroactively use that OBC and refund the out of pocket excursion cost?

That too was our only “issue” onboard-  it seemed that quite a few did not have their TA OBC credited upon boarding. Our Azamara OBC was all there upon boarding. After showing proof of the little $200 TA OBC- they kept saying it would be credited the next day. Well not- halfway through cruise, I decided this aggravation was not worth it and told them so. The guest relations agent went behind the wall and came back and said it was now credited. Only problem was our TA OBC has always been refundable  but they made it non refundable so it needed to be spent. 
Good Luck

7 minutes ago, terry&mike said:

I'm thinking that the air has not been actually cancelled, but it could end up that way if I don't get this sorted out soon. 

 

The client added air on the reservation back in January, for himself at $889.54, and his wife at $1224.65 (they have different air itineraries due to work commitments after the cruise). This equals a total of $2114.19. A few weeks after the data migration, I was able to post their final payment online, and the total showing due was correct. I was aware their OBC was incorrect, but had submitted forms to get this corrected.  After I posted the payment, I electronically requested updated confirmations (both Agent and Guest) showing the booking to be paid in full, which was sent to me via email. Immediately, I noticed at the top that the booking stated "Cruise Only" at the Departure City area of the invoice. In looking at the money breakdown area, there was now a line item showing $2114.19 under the husband's name, and then nothing under the wife's name. The commission was also showing $0, rather than the proper amount. 

 

I have been chasing a correction in this ever since. In the past week, the booking has changed to have a line item of $33.00 appear under the wife's name, while $2114.19 remained under the husband's name. Then a line item of -$2114.19 was deducted from the booking, and the booking was showing an overpayment. Now the line item under the husband's name is $2097.69, and the line item under the wife's name is $16.50, but the line item of -$2114.19 has been removed, and the booking is showing an amount due of $2114.19, although it still states Cruise Only. The commission has been replaced. 

 

When I pull up the air on the airline websites using the Record Locators, I can see their air is still booked, but not paid for yet, so I'm hoping I can get the internal accounting sorted out and the air does not get cancelled.

 

This booking also had a $450 OBC on it ($300 husband, $150 wife), which went to $0. My first submission got it "corrected" to $300, my second submission got it "corrected" to $400, but as of today, it is now back to $0. 

 

This is just one booking that I am dealing with errors on. Every booking I have has at least one error. I feel like daily I am slogging through an exercise in patience. 

It is no wonder that people are reporting Travel Agents steering clients away from Azamara!

9 minutes ago, terry&mike said:

Well just when I think the website cannot get anymore messed up- I looked into my account(to see if there has been any movement in getting missing loyalty points from a February cruise(not) and I see what has to be one of the strangest errors.

After 11 Azamara cruises since the covid restart, we decided no more until the mess is cleaned up. Up until yesterday, my account correctly reflected no upcoming cruises.

Well today it lists One upcoming cruise- the April 29, 2023 cruise I already completed. And to make it even more ridiculous- when it lists how many days until it sails- it lists Negative 15 days. - so I have an upcoming cruise in negative (-15) days!  So crazy- could not make this stuff up.  Just had to laugh!
 

5 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

A reasonable question by @floridafolks to a cruiser who will dock before @floridafolks cruise commences if they have ever been on a cruise where the advertised docking area has changed.

 

It has happened to us on two occasions, one in Barcelona, where we were inexplicably not docked where we expected to be at WTC and one in Valletta, where we were docked without prior notice on the opposite side of the Grand Harbour and the Hotel Director had to arrange at extremely short notice, ferry transfer to the side we expected to be, below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where all the shore excursions departed!

Thank you baynonno1- that is exactly why I asked. Within the past year, Azamara was scheduled to dock at WTC in Barcelona and was told without much notice that they had to go across the bridge at Moll Adossat. Azamara was not happy about it, but nothing they could do.
I see now that the OP has confirmed WTC today. (We just arrived at our hotel in Barcelona minutes ago- anxious to board tomorrow. )

Your blog makes us even more excited to board the Onward again on the 15th. 
 

When you dock in Barcelona on the 14th, would you mention in your blog whether you are docked at World Trade Center or way across the bridge at Moll Adossat. There is some confusion which place we are suppose to board on the 15th- that would really help us. 
 

Keep enjoying the cruise!

6 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I logged in to my account, then clicked on the icon at the top & clicked on Upcoming Cruises. Next clicked on Manage my Reservation, then scrolled down to Excursions and clicked on the paper/pencil icon. That gave me a scrollable list of excursions available. All of them had a Details button that gave information - on some of them there was no information (but our cruise isn’t until November). So it’s all there but not in a printable format.

Note that I could only get the pencil/paper icon using Chrome, it wasn’t there on Safari.

Thank you for the suggestion to use Chrome instead of Safari. Unfortunately when I click on the paper/pencil icon I only see the shore excursions that I previously booked before the migration! ( and saying I owe for two excursions I had paid for!  So frustrating- I am giving up and just hope they honor all my confirmations.  - I have 3 cruises booked this month(April) so I am triple frustrated. Phone keeps saying no more calls for the day even when I call shortly after opening. 
The only difference in info on Chrome vs Safari for me was my loyalty point total. I have 435 fewer points on Chrome than on Safari- neither of which is correct. Why is is different from one browser to another is a mystery.

Before migration, I had planned to book 2 fall Azamara  cruises while onboard this month- no longer- found two Celebrity cruises during that time period- seems like a lot less pre-cruise frustration. 

3 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I can’t see any way to download and/or print a shore excursions list/brochure either for a booked or non-booked cruise. You can see the excursions for a booked cruise, but not in a way that would be easy to print, and I can’t find a full list of excursions for a non-booked cruise.

Has anyone else found a way to do this for either booked or non-booked cruises?

What do you do to see excursions for a booked cruise?  
We have 3 cruises in April and all I can see are shorex that I booked pre- migration using OBC. ( Some of them still say I owe money on them even though I have receipt from Azamara as fully paid)-  There are a couple more excursions I wanted to book pre-cruise, but I cannot even  see the excursion lists. Of course my remaining OBC has all disappeared so I guess that is not available. I wonder if I called- can they see my correct OBC and purchase shorex by phone?  I have tried calling several times to be told that they are not taking anymore calls that day, so I do not want to waste more time if they cannot accomplish what I need. 

4 minutes ago, Riocca said:

I think you need to disconnect what’s showing on your online account, we’re onboard Onward and despite being in transition the information on the ships system was completely correct.

I am glad that was true for you- it did not sound like that was the case onboard for nonrev1.  

Are you saying that your online account said you owed money, but onboard ship’s system said all was ok? ( online says I owe money for shorex I already paid)

Was all your correct OBC available  when you boarded? ( I was planning on purchasing Experience More package with OBC which could not be done pre-cruise and nothing is there)  

If that is your experience then that would give me hope as we will be on Onward as well. If I have my correct shorex tickets  waiting in the envelope in my cabin not owing money and the correct OBC available, I will be a happy camper - all else can happen when it happens! 
 

53 minutes ago, nonrev1 said:

On our way…… now we owe even more money, our missing loyalty points have been doubled ( I am thinking they added our two accounts together), and 3 tours I had previously canceled are now showing still booked.  The additional money owed cannot be from the tours added back in as those were paid by credit card and never refunded.  Thank goodness our first day is a sea day so we can sort this out.  

Appreciate the onboard update- We have 3 cruises this month(April) and they are all in a state of mess! I do not care that my points are messed up as long as my loyalty level and associated benefits are applied. I do not mind having to recheck- in at pier. But I do mind having to spend a day or so onboard trying to prove I do not owe them money and that I have a lot of OBC remaining after my shorex purchases pre-IT transition. At least I have documentation for all this, but I really do not think it is fair to have to give up time on a cruise to sort this out. That is where my patience ends! 

The onboard experience is why we keep cruising Azamara- I feel sorry for the guest relations onboard-  with “sorting out” needed for so many. I hope the Hotel Director is aware of how mixed up things are and handles this to minimize passenger inconvenience! 
 

Please post an update to let us know how things easily things are sorted out and what proof we might need.  TIA

5 hours ago, crzrr said:

My status is correct but my points are not.  Luckily I took screenshots of our points before the old website went down.  I see very little information about my OBC's and two of my excursions are listed as needing to be paid even though we used OBC to purchase them.  Luckily I have the paperwork for that if needed.  Hopefully within the next few days/weeks we will see this all settle out.  Some things on the new site are a definite improvement but other things seem rather clunky.

 

Same here regarding 2 excursions needed to be paid- even though they were paid with available OBC( have the receipt) - and no mention of the remaining OBC that had been available to use pre/ cruise! This is for April  sailings.

I am so grateful for this blog as I might worry something is wrong with my bookings, but Since others are experiencing same thing, I believe something is still wrong with their new system transition. 

3 hours ago, Riocca said:

Spanish, Italian etc VAT will be added throughout the cruise unless the itinerary includes a non EU port, this is one of the reasons Gibraltar and Montenegro feature on so many itineraries.

Do you know if VAT is added to Experience More packages(which include beverage packages) when purchased onboard?(no non-EU port)  That could add a good chunk of change.

49 minutes ago, Baynanno1 said:

Still waiting for points from our Quest Sydney to Perth that finished 3 weeks ago today.

 

Have written to several areas over the past week, but no response from any.

 

Keen to have the points visible prior to the IT change!

Those of us on Onward Lima to Miami that finished Feb 28 were awarded “0” points. A call to post- cruise satisfaction said we most likely will not see correct points awarded until after the IT changeover. 

I see the Regent Seven Seas Explorer still currently lists  Doha as port stop on Nov 22. I wonder if they are late to change itinerary or whether they are still permitted. 
(Azamara’s cancelled Doha stop was Nov 21-23)

5 hours ago, Desert Cruisers said:

I just spoke with Azamara rep.  No changes on Greece policy.  He said just show up at port and if test is still needed, we can provide.  Will continue to monitor situation as some cruise lines are more proactive in changing the rules on their websites.

When you sail on Oct 18, will you please post your experience as to the need for testing- TIA- we sail OCt 29 on Quest and more confirmation from experiences will help, if Azamara still does not have Athens testing updates on website.

52 minutes ago, ugsugs said:

Apologies, I commented on this earlier but maybe on a wrong thread. i don't get the view expressed by some that it is out of Azamara's control if you book a private tour (Football Match). The cruise was advertised as a World Cup event but they didn't provide tickets so what else are you supposed to do?  My reading of the Azamara notification is that they could dock but those without match tickets can't get go ashore. In my view that is too bad as it is the people who bought match tickets on a cruise that is badged "World Cup" that are being penalised.  My view is that as they will have to reimburse those that have non-football related excursions booked through Azamara (as they cant now get off the ship) it is a commercial decision as they can now sell excursions in Abu Dhabi. Really catch 22 as cant be sure we can't a refund and in the meantime alternatives are few and far between. 5 hour coach travel each way to Qatar from Abu Dhabi is a non-starter especially for those of us attending matches on consecutive days. 

I agree with your thoughts, but I think there is more to the decision than changing itinerary so all could go ashore-  This is a Perry Golf cruise as well- They were to play on at least two courses in Qatar. As soon as we received the itinerary change email, I went to the Perry Golf website and they already had the new itinerary listed with new golf course offerings/schedules and new included shore excursions in the new port schedule. ( We still do not have new shorex offered or refunds for Qatar excursions, but Perry Golf folks have new golf events and included shore excursions already in place! ) This did not happen overnite-it took some time to organize those changes, so Azamara let those with World Cup tickets go through the frustrating effort to get the required Hayaa cards, knowing we were no longer docking in Doha!  The itinerary change email did not even mention that .
Disclaimer- I was not able to get 2 tickets to the match I wanted, but I still feel for those with tickets who jumped through so many hoops. - and I was really looking forward to FanFest!

24 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

You are quoting the Greek national government, which does not require Covid testing for cruise passengers.  But the Port of Piraeus government apparently does.  I'm not sure that this is published on any government website, but Viking has given a detailed explanation, as shown in this post by @Maria63 on the Celebrity forum:

 

 

It seems that the requirement is due to the Greek port authority, despite it being dropped from the official Greece travel site. Viking Cruises offers the following explanation, as per their guest instructions updated in mid September:

 

https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/14-PreCruiseRequirement-All-US_CAN_UK_AU_NZ.pdf

 

NOTE: The port authority in Greece requires pre-embarkation test results for travelers boarding a cruise ship, in accordance with EU cruise ship travel guidelines. The country of Greece does not list these requirements on their official travel site (listed below), as the pre-embarkation test requirement is separate from any requirements for entry to the country of Greece. Without proof of a laboratory-certified negative COVID-19 test, you may be unable to embark the ship and begin your journey.

 

 

The part that is most disconcerting to me- if port of Piraeus is requiring this- why do some cruise lines allow antigen test 48 hrs(Viking for example) or 2 days before embarkation and Azamara requires antigen within 1 day of embarkation. Shouldn’t the rule be the same as other cruise lines?

Since our day before embarkation is a National Holiday in Greece- availability is restricted.  We certainly will make due and appreciate having option to test at port if needed. 

1 hour ago, Riocca said:

Currently on Quest and in a CC suite this is the option now replacing the 4 half bottles of spirits.

 

 

And on the Ultimate Package this is the champagne offering in replacement for the NF.

 

 

Last Spring on Quest, when they did not have NF, replacement was Veuve Cliquot- happy camper here then! Looks like downgrade with new replacement.

2 hours ago, Beamafar said:

I’ve had similar responses before when posting this which is why I added it on this forum. 
 

I loved the Korean chicken in Prime C so much that I had a second helping as a mains one night when I couldn’t face a full main meat course. 

Oh my- the Prime C Korean Chicken- DH’s favorite!  He ordered it so often on our last B2B that I thought he would start “clucking” by the end of the cruise! 

28 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

You are correct. They used to be in the corner on Journey and Quest and they moved them when they were Denified. 

 

Phil 

I wish they were moved back near the fireplace- not only does it make conversation difficult, but it makes conducting business at the shore excursion desk impossible!  Either change hours of shore excursion desk to not coincide with loud piano music or move the piano back to fireplace area at other end of den away from shorex desk. 

On 4/16/2022 at 2:49 PM, nordski said:

At one time Antiche Figure in Venice was used by Azamara as a pre cruise/post cruise hotel. We have stayed their twice.

 

We also enjoyed the King George in Athens. You get a ringside view if demonstrators are  marching to the Parliament buildings.

 

 

Another vote for King George. 
I had to chuckle at the “ringside view of demonstrators”-  we had that on embarkation day- taxis could not get to the hotel- head bellman arranged to meet a taxi 2 blocks away toting all our luggage for us- very grateful!  

( We will be staying there again for October cruise)

3 hours ago, HalifaxYorksCruiser said:

Captain made an announcement on Quest yesterday early evening that testing had found 3 new cases on board including the Captain himself. 

We were on B2B2B on Quest in Mar/Apr- Captain Jonas  said he was continuing to wear mask out of respect for others as he was not concerned about getting covid himself since he already had it in January.  “Covid” seems to do as it pleases.

6 hours ago, B17 said:

Do they make a charge for the test to 

6 hours ago, B17 said:

Do they make a charge for the test to fly home?

It was complimentary on current Quest cruise and was given morning before disembarkation day.