chipbutty

What ! Another third or fourth hand ship from a budget line to impress the clients on a so called premium line. Not impressed.

Downdie

Sorry to see the "put-down" responses you got to your post......it is a point of view which you are entitled to have...

...but unfortunately, as you can see, if someone shows the slightest negativity towards Azamara on this forum, the Azamara cheer-leaders will run you out of town!

While Azamara prevaricate over a third ship the ones to watch have to be Viking Oceans, they will have 4 ships by the end of the year with two more due by 2020 and two new orders placed for 2021 and 2022.

They are obviously aiming at the same market as Azamara but with modern fuel efficient all balcony ships.

 

 

.......and they seem to book up fairly fast!

Yes, per an earlier post from someone onboard now plus a photo of it sitting on the bed on the first evening (from Aaron Saunders' photo review), every stateroom gets one to keep! (y)

Many thanks for the prompt reply....:)

Do Seabourn supply a copy of "Alaska by Cruise Ship" by Anne Vipond to every stateroom?

We were going to purchase this book before sailing, so any confirmation would be appreciated.

Thanks, John

We also love Azamara but after 16 cruises with them havejust returned from our first sailing with Seabourn on their new ship Encorebecause the cost was LESS than the equivalent CC suite on AZ.

Very impressedwith Seabourn...beautiful new ship, larger suite (tub plus walk-in shower, twinwash basin), far superior complimentary wine selection ( in fact over 30, anyof which can be ordered) It includes champagne, many well known brand wines suchas Penfolds, Kendal Jackson, R Mondavi, Oyster Bay, all liquors and brandies).

The food, entertainment and crew were also outstanding.

We were so impressed we have just booked another cruise withSeabourn to Alaska, and again it's less than an AZ. equivalent.

So sorry Azamara, but there is a lot of choice in thissector of the cruise business, with some lovely modern ships, and we feel thatAzamara is charging a premium which does not work for us anymore when comparedto the competition. (Others may not agree and that's fine)

There maybe is some confusion regarding terminology here....

My understanding is that ...

Open Passage Certificates... are bought on-board with a deposit and qualify you to a discount equivalent to your LCV status on a future cruise.

Future Cruise Certificates... are given by Azamara, for example as compensation, and have a monetary value attached to them. They can be redeemed against a future booking.

Both have their own terms and conditions. (which appear to be equally confusing and open to interpretation)

John

And if you have exhausted all the excellent ideas already mentioned and have a couple of spare days left.....

....a visit by train to Sitges and Tarragona will reward you with two very interesting and walkable small towns, both with history and beaches.

Just back off the Quest during which we heard the good news.....

Spent many breakfasts, lunches and buffet dinners during the cruise in the knowledge that it was not going to change.....

You know.....It doesn't really get much better than sitting in Monaco harbour on a balmy evening, drinking wine, eating great food and enjoying that fabulous view!

John

Marmel,

A perennial problem but easily solved by using a USA agent and pay by debit/credit card Mastercard preferably for protection.

In addition to 90 days cancellation charges of only $50 vs a lot more in UK you will save money.Also email Azamara UK why you have done it.

With a WORLD wide web there can not be any REALLY valid reason for differential pricing but subject is as old as "sparkling wine in inclusive drinks"

Azamara has no intention of changing unless forced.

You could then also take advantage of the Best Price Guarantee ....

which is NOT available in the UK (for some reason!)

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/best-price-guarantee

John

Our azamazing evening in Venice on the 23 June cruise was terrible. It was just a lousy opera performance with not even water being available. There was also a lot of waiting. I wish I gave that evening a miss . It was azadisaster.

Contrary to this view... we thought it was an excellent evening in Venice...a truly unique chance for an exclusive visit to the historic theatre, Teatro La Fenice, with excellent orchestra and soloist.

We have really appreciated half a dozen Azamazing evenings and would definitely recommend them.......

For instance, when would you get the opportunity to visit the Peoples Park in Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar,.... closed exclusively for Azamara.... to be dined and entertained with the magnificent floodlight golden Shwedagon Pagoda as a backdrop...it was absolutely fantastic.

Also, when would you get the opportunity to get exclusive access to Codorniu winery near Barcelona....be wined, dined and entertained by flamenco dancers and get a tour of the winery...it was really brilliant.

We have also been entertained by a classical ensemble while overlooking the bay at Amalfi.......experienced the cultures and traditions of Kerala in India...... and watched Georgian State dancers in Batumi..... all were original, well organized and in our experience not to be missed.

John

You really can't lose by booking early. Azamara has a best price guarantee. . . . https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/best-price-guarantee

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this I believe only applies to United States and Canada.

The UK does not appear to have this feature in its booking terms.

Of course, in addition to the best price, you can also lock in your cabin location.The only drawbacks are the $25 per person nonrefundable deposit and locking up $1,100 (veranda cabin) deposit.

I think it's worth striking early and risk losing the $50 per couple, especially the online travel agent I use for this line is running good on board credit enhancers.

Also, as has been mentioned many times before, the $25pp cancellation fee also only applies to United States and Canada.

We in the UK are stuck with loosing $750 (£500) per couple if we cancel or try to change!

John

Oh No!... have I missed it......

Is Chocolate Lava Cake to be no more ?????

Oh No No No !!!!

Don't think of ourselves as particularly affluent, but we get by and have three Azamara cruises a year, balcony or above, and other holidays without starving but are becoming more and more confused and concerned about the direction of Azamara which I have to say does not relate to the average passenger we have met and kept in contact over the last four years where affluence is irrelevant and good company and good service is paramount and up until now has been provided by Azamara. Time Azamara realised they are good, but not that good, and if they want to push loyal passengers towards more inclusive, premium bar, no pay restaurants competitors they are going the right way, particularly with some of the ambitious pricing and "special offers" they continuously revolve. The changing of the hugely popular outdoors area at the rear of windows to make it into a "speciality" and pay restaurant illustrates that perfectly, as does the plan to

upgrade the pool grill where people can dine to live music or a movie. Come on, that's for Royal Caribbean where most of Azamara passengers have developed from, via Celebrity. In plain speak, the main attraction to Azamara is the fantastic personnel onboard who also become good friends and give great service with becoming obsequious or false.

Totally agree.......

Having come through the Royal Caribbean then Celebrity route ourselves, Azamara was a breath of fresh air when we first found them. Not having to put up with continuous loud music at every venue, or large video screen over the pool 24hrs a day, or trying to sell us something at every turn... was the Azamara differentiator and why we cruise with them.(at present!)

I hope this doesn't change.

John

It costs more to operate specialty restaurants than the revenue they bring in. They add these restaurants to help market the cruise line and keep customers happy. Somehow, "outside space for buffet dinners" isn't quite a draw for attracting new customers.

I doubt that!... remember customers have already paid for their meals in the fare costs....so speciality restaurants are revenue over and above that.

There is no way that cruise lines do this just for marketing.... anyway why would dining alfresco not attract new customers...it is very appealing to most of the posters on this forum!

John

 

I do think it's a mistake to use the Sunset Bar for this new venue. We love this area for lunch and dinner in the Med sunshine and would be very sad to lose it. Could not one side of the Windows cafe be used at nighttime for Kibo? This concept happens on lots of ships.

This is a great idea, to use half Windows Café for Kibo....The other half and outside area could be used for the evening buffet.....RCI do this successfully in other ships like the Italian in the Windjammer.

John

The Cruise Critic article (which, although I may be prejudiced is the best of the articles I have seen to far) includes this statement: "the line is expanding its pool grill to include a new outdoor dining room with new lighting, new canvases and a new beverage station that will be open for dinner." Also, for indoor bar lovers: the Looking Glass lounge will include "a new wine and tapas bar. The tapas, served buffet style, will be complimentary; in addition to complimentary wines that Azamara offers, the bar will offer a new selection of international wines by the glass. 'It's going to be reminiscent of a large, elegant living room,' Pimentel said. 'This will be a great place to go for wine lovers.'"

 

It sounds to me like they are planning to replace the functions of the Sunset Bar with these two new venues. This won't satisfy those who want to sip their drink while watching the wake, but maybe the Sunset Bar area will be available during the day. Also it's good to see that the tapas will be complimentary, unlike Celebrity's decision to charge for the food in their new GastroPub.

The Pool Grill area is not fully outside and is no way similar to the Sunset Bar area.

It is enclosed on 3 sides, is roofed and is a busy through route into the Windows Cafe.

Also, by definition it is next to the pool which certainly does not provide the same ambience as the Sunset Bar.

I, like many others are concerned with the new use of the Sunset Bar and the possibly of it not being available to enjoy an outdoors breakfast, lunch, evening buffet, afternoon tea or pre-dinner drinks. The ships have no other similar outdoor space.

Maybe Azamara would like to clarify.

Also looks like the dreaded shower curtains are still a "feature" of the standard cabins.

Coming from a customer service background, one of the key issues in customer satisfaction is excellent communication with your customers. No matter how good the product is (and Azamara's product is great), poor communication (and Azamara's communication is poor) will have a detrimental effect on customers attitude to that product/company.

For instance when I have tried to contact Azamara by email, I don't know whether to send it to Aramara UK/Azamara com/LCV UK/LCV com.

And who is actually receiving these emails.... are they going to the UK, are they going to Guatemala, are they going to Miami or are they all going to the same place. I just don't know who I'm communicating with.

I also have registered to receive emails but do not receive them.

I enter my email address during online check-in, but still no contact.

I am 3 weeks back from an excellent Black Sea cruise on Quest and have not received our Customer Feedback Questionnaire, which is a shame as it would have been a great endorsement of a quality experience on-board.

I'm sure I can't be the only one!