Host Jazzbeau

On 5/23/2024 at 7:24 PM, cruisingxpert said:

check the Deck Plans https://explorajourneys.com/ca/en/ships/deckplans

I don't understand all the confusion on this point.  These deck plans are very clear in labelling exactly which cabins have twin beds.

7 minutes ago, ghstudio said:

We always book on board and transfer to a TA for additional perks but we do it within 60 days.  I would be wary of any agent telling you that even after final payment, they can transfer your booking, keep all your perks, your cabin and still give you additional perks

I read OP's original post as meaning that they booked with full payment from the get-go, to take advantage of Azamara's pre-payment OBC offer.  This is very different from the 'usual' (usual in my experience) scenario of booking with a deposit and then FP later.  So we could still be within the window for transferring to a TA.

15 minutes ago, Whitby100 said:

Also be aware that if you cancel and rebook, the cabin you are currently assigned to is up for grabs during the process.  You will need to pick another cabin, book it and then switch rooms back.  We did this recently.  You can also ask your TA to swallow the $75 fee (but I guess the $900 is incentive enough).  

I have gotten fare reductions several times with Azamara, and my TA has always been able to conduct the rebooking without losing my cabin.  If I did it on the retail website your scenario would play out, but TAs have access to a different booking process.

Wow, both of you take a lot of adapters and cords.  DW and I only need three adapters between us:  my computer takes care of charging my phone and watch; her computer likewise; and the camera battery charger is an occasional third.  After reading Amazon reviews about any folding design and the USB conversions in those small plugs eventually failing, I buy Ceptics brand fixed adapters like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7VKNNU?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

No moving parts and the minimum of electronics built in, for long-term reliability.

They come in a box of three, which also helps me not leave them behind:  if the box isn't full, it doesn't get packed.  And the box is pretty obvious sitting on the desk!

On my NZ/Oz cruise several of the included tours filled up.  In some cases they added a later departure – I know because I monitored regularly and when that happened I switched to the later one (don't like early mornings!).  But I don't think that happened for all, and I don't know whether people were accommodated onboard.

3 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Oops - I reread your post and I see you're talking about the Blacklane transfers. Mea culpa. I guess I'm no better than Silversea when it comes to attention to detail!

That's why the OR nurses count the sponges in and out!  😅

One more thing about Santorini – there is a hike from Fira to Oia, with some lovely views across the caldera from changing viewpoints (like the Grand Canyon Rim Trail).  DO NOT DO IT.  It is much harder, and hotter, than the descriptions on the internet.

I believe that used to be the case, but Windstar’s descriptions say your tours will return to Athinios port and tender back from there to the ship. 

No problem.  This website is sometimes hard to figure out (even for me after all these years!).  Your post is in the right place now, and I hope some US posters will have experience to help you.  

Normally this would be an easy transfer, but the pay-in-full program is new so I'm not sure if you can still transfer to the TA.  The TA should be able to verify this.

Azamara was founded as a branch of Celebrity and until the recent split their website was run by the Royal Caribbean Group, as Celebrity's still is.  It worked better.  Now that Azamara is independent they had to get their own IT provider, and SeaWare seems to be the only game in town.  SeaWare has many cruise line clients that have well-functioning websites, but their new clients all seem to have major teething problems [look at the Explora forum for similar complaints – and they are owned by MSC who has a good IT department, but for some reason they chose to go with SeaWare].  

Azamara's IT changeover was even more difficult because Royal's database was corrupted [or more likely just inscrutable because of the many hacks over the years in an old COBOL system] and Royal had no reason to help Azamara cope with the data issues.  [I had the 'pleasure' of managing just such a database changeover shortly before my retirement, so I understand how this goes down...]

Add that to the differences between US, UK, EU and other countries' rules – and Azamara's website and customer service has been a train wreck.  But most of the problems have been solved, and the new CEO seems committed to getting it all fixed – just not in time for your booking.

As to your particular issues, as I said I don't have any words of wisdom.  I can't even offer my usual advice of being patient because Azamara will eventually sort it out – your problems are different to any that I recall seeing before, so I have no clue what's going on or how to get it fixed.  UK customers do seem to have more problems with Azamara than those of us in the US.  Sorry.  

But I can offer the hope that once you get on board you will find that the Azamara shipboard experience is very nice indeed.  Even with all the problems, there are many loyal UK customers who are sticking with Azamara because the cruises are so good.

Latest article on CruiseIndustryNews (more free publicity!):

Villa Vie Odyssey: Reduced Shifts and Refreshed Cabins for Crew

River ships have between 130 and 190 passengers.  The ocean ships we prefer (Noble Caledonia) have only 100 passengers, and their itineraries are very port-intensive.  So from my perspective I can look at river ships as 'large' 😉

4 hours ago, Daisi said:

@Canal archive I fully agree. We usually eat breakfast at about 7:00, then dinner at 4:30, no lunch. On the cruise, we do take lunch as 7:30 is a long way away. 

I too usually only eat two meals a day – but on cruises I get so much more exercise that even with three meals and a huge amount of wine the weight gain is minimal (and the enjoyment is 'priceless' 😅)

4 hours ago, pontac said:

Just goes to show, you can't believe all you read on this forum! As you haven't been on a Viking River Cruise and I have been on fifteen, I can confirm there is seating for all if they want to sit. 

Not just this forum.  Douglas Ward's River Cruising guide (current 2021 edition) says:  "Although the lounge seating includes large armchairs and sofa seating, it unfortunately doesn't quite accommodate everyone at once (for talks, for example) when the vessel is full"  [p. 110]  

General:  I suggest you get Rick Steves Greece book to research all the ports on your cruise.  It will show you the high points that you may want to visit, as well as helping with logistics and timing.

Mykonos Old Town is pretty but will be very crowded.  The main option is the ferry to Delos, a very interesting archeological site.  In 2016 we took the 10 am ferry and it was already hot on Delos.  We took the 1:30 return ferry to Mykonos and had plenty of time to explore the famous church, 'little Venice' neighborhood and the famous windmills.

Santorini is tightly controlled by the local ship unions.  Only ship excursions are allowed to tender to the port of Athinios, the only one where tour buses can meet the tender.  [Taxis could too, theoretically, but independent passengers are not allowed to take these tenders.]  

Independent guests must tender to the port of Skala, where you have only five options:  (1) take the cable car to Fira, from which you can take a taxi or bus to Oia; (2) ride a mule up the hill to Fira, etc; (3) climb the stairs to Fira (stepping on mule dung), etc; (4) stay in Skala – which is like saying you visited Rome after walking around Civitavecchia...; (5) take the earliest tender in order to get on the local boat to Oia – this is my preferred choice because the included bus gets you up the hill to Oia before the vast horde of tourists.

You are lucky that Windstar stays in port later than the mega ships, so on your return from Fira to the tender port the line for the cable car will have dwindled.  [But sunset isn't until half past 8, so even with your late 9 pm sail time you can't stay in Oia for that magical display.]

Santorini is really wonderful – especially Oia – and you should do whatever you must to explore it.  I was going to suggest that you take a ship tour to avoid the transfer hassles, but I see that they are all listed to start at 8:15 am.  😱  

For a leisurely day (I sympathize as I am also a late riser), take a later tender to Skala port, the line for the cable car up should be fairly short, explore Fira, take a taxi or the local bus to Oia and enjoy a leisurely lunch in a beautiful place, taxi/bus back to Fira, and if the mega ships have departed the line for the cable car down should be short.

2 hours ago, Mahogany said:

Evrima is Greek for "discovery". Why Greek reference? Who knows?

I thought they had one of those 'magic decoder rings' from the back pages of comic books back in the day, and it is 'Martian' for Amirve...  🤣

2025 prices are higher than 2024 prices on every cruise line I have looked at.

I have stayed out of this discussion because I am aware that UK laws regarding travel protections are unique, so none of my experience is relevant.  I suggest others leave this to the UK posters, who have the relevant experience and knowledge.

9 hours ago, royallondon said:

With the new CEO stating events will be shoreside when they are not, the reason why should be communicated to manage potential frustrations.

The tenses give some explanation.  They will be – that takes time.

9 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Tis true. So glad we elected to stay on for the detour. As we start our second sea day the Med is smooth and it’s a little hazy out there. Tonight another dinner outside at pool deck. The Onward has been getting a facelift. Newly varnished rails, lot’s of general painting. Dry dock will take care of hull which needs a touch up.

Here on deck 8 our cabin has not had one issue. All has worked as advertised. Of course there are those verandha chairs!

Even my folding beach chairs would be more comfortable – but they don't fold small enough to fit in my luggage!  But it is so good to hear that everything on Onward is working smoothly for you, after so many reviews about it being the problem child.  😁

AmaReina is part of the class that includes AmaCerto, AmaPrima, AmaReina, AmaSerena, AmaSonata, & AmaVenita.  Any reviews or mentions of any of those ships would apply equally to the AmaReina ship, although the crews will vary.

I don't understand how Gibraltar is on the way from Belfast to Florida.  Did they want more sea trials before setting out across the ocean?

On 1/14/2024 at 3:33 PM, CPT Trips said:

 

… I just discovered that I spelled dagnabbit wrong.

Thank you for the linguistic explanation in the post above.  Since I first heard it from the 'lips' of Yosemite Sam, I always assumed it was another Warner Bros. Cartoon misspelling designed to relate to their cartoon characters' names [in this case, Bugs Bunny] – similar to the cartoon title Duck Amuck.