paremata2

I am assuming the head offices have done calculations such as the Spirits area brings in x revenue (do most cruisers purchase an upgraded booze or get one included?), future cruises in old location brings in y, and they project future cruises will bring in z in an area with higher foot traffic. I never sit in Spirits but would cut through and I am guessing that I am a customer they want to attract.

 

The unknowable factor is will this actually increase sales or decrease in the areas that are impacted? I noticed that when I sat and lingered in Mosaic I was more likely to pop in the shop afterwards. If there are fewer seats available, I may just take my coffee with me. Same Mosaic transaction but the shop just lost a sale. (Plus I would rather stick pins in my eyes than look at the crap art.)

 

Human behavior studies is a big part of marketing. I am sure that this is not done on a whim. Azamara will tweak the ship plans until it hits the sweet spot for revenue per square foot.

 

However they will never be able to quantify the customer's emotional response to being more blatantly pushed a sale at every corner. One thing I liked about Azamara was the feeling like once I was on board, I could forget about money and budgets and didn't feel like there was a goal to get even more out of my pocket. The amount of shilling for sales was so much less than Holland America. Part of what I am paying the higher Azamara prices for is to be free from sales pitches.

Very well said. I agree 100%.

You will never find us in one of the four new ocean view rooms on the 4th floor.

I couldn’t bear having our door open out on to that space with so many people around.

Personally I should be glad to see the slot machines removed from all 3 ships. It can be difficult to have a conversation at Spirits bar with awful amusement arcade sounds blaring out behind you.

Agree.

I have often wondered about Azamara phoning about an upgrade when one lives in a completely different time zone!

I hope that it doesn’t disadvantage us for our Baltic cruise in August where we have applied for an upgrade.

What is the experience of Australians and New Zealanders in this regard?

The NZ part of the itinerary is the most important in my opinion. Check out the Azamara cruise 22 February. You will spend much more time in port with these guys and visit places the bigger ships can’t get too.

Great news! I would love to see some East coast Canada and New England sailings as well as more Med ones....

 

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So would I. Great to have a third ship and a whole lot more destinations to choose from.

Of late it's been hard to find a Azamara cruise to somewhere, that we haven't already done with them, over the last seven years.

Having said that we are doing the Baltic on Journey next August, and we can't wait.

Well done Azamara, although I must admit, I thought that it was never going to happen!

I like to buy the odd bottle or two of quality wine in exotic places such Montenegro and bring them on board just to try them. Limoncello too when anchored just off Sorrento and Amalfi.

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We did a B to B on Connie in August and saw maybe two people wearing Tuxedos!

I certainly would not consider wearing one in the future, as for Celebrity they are a thing of the past, in my opinion.

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We go back and back to Azamara just for the quality of service and the White Night Party.

Having said that we were on a B to B on Celebrity Constellation in August and their service and food was wonderful too, nearly up to the Azamara standard but no White Night Party!

Also whilst we love the smaller ships of Azamara we didn't feel overwhelmed at all on the bigger ship. Even when tendered there was no delay in getting off and on.

We thought that Connie offered incredible value for money with the gratuities and drinks packages thrown in, hence we could afford the B to B rather than just the one cruise.

It's not a glitzy ship, more geared towards quality and tradition.

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Andy, thank you. You have been a huge help to all members, Azamara and Celebrity too; my two favourite cruise lines. Sail away well. Darryl

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HAL unfortunately does allow smoking on balconies.

Oh well, I guess that is a point of difference for some people.

Thank you for such a quick response.

I have only cruised on Azamara and Celebrity too and are looking at cruises from Montreal to New York. From what I can see Holland America seem to dominate in the area and someone has told me that Holland America allow smoking on the balconies. Can someone who travels regularly on the line, please confirm whether that is correct or incorrect.

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Besides all the wonderful things already mentioned, we also loved the Joan Miro Museum / Art Gallery.

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I have not received one and I have 3 cruises booked on Azamara and am a past cruiser and Le Club Voyage member. :confused:

We have cruised 5 times with Azamara so we too are wondering if we will receive a copy!

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

That says it all, or put another way, the reason that we all fought so hard to retain what we all agree is the best place on the Azamara ships.

We were on the Quest seven days ago and had a chance to check out the stateroom on deck six which has already been done with the new upgrade.

Overall it looked excellent, however the carpet, because of the shaded patten looked worn-out already.

Immediately inside the door was one of the much darker shaded bits that gave the impression of that part of the carpet having been stepped on thousands of times, i.e. the heavy traffic look.

P.S. The room was occupied during the cruise but we were able to see it after it had been made-up on the changeover day as the guests departed before us.

Don't forget the White Night Party on the Pool Deck, which is held one night per cruise, weather permitting.

The food there is outstanding.

The way it's done, it is much superior to Windows even though I think Windows with a different theme every night is excellent.

For what it's worth, "White Night" is our most looked forward to night of the cruise.

Avoiding the auctions is easy. They are held in the Cabaret lounge and, unless you attend, you won't be bothered by any annoying noise.

Avoiding the "art" is not quite so easy as it is displayed on the walls around Mosaic and on easels in Looking Glass.

In my view it is "rubbish art" that they are trying to sell. If you don't agree, compare it with the art on the wall of the ship and you will see what I mean.

If they make a lot of money for Azamara selling it, I am amazed, and if so,why aren't Azamara buying and hanging some of it?

For heavens sake, Azamara please do not take my suggestion seriously,by doing that during the refit, or I will cry!

Whilst we were among the minority on these boards who looked forward to the inclusion of a new Specialty Asian Restaurant, we are quite relaxed to hear it is now not going ahead. We also loved the evenings on Windows back deck and will look forward to drinks and dinner there when weather permits.

 

For the size of the Azamara ships, there are already multiple great dining options, and the introduction of Tapas in the Looking Glass Lounge adds further exciting variety.

 

 

 

The pool deck bistro was badly in need of an upgrade and I believe the changes there will add a further great dining experience.

 

 

 

In our view, the food on Azamara is a major plus, along with the fantastic officers and crew. These elements more than compensate for the age of the fleet and the smaller standards cabins. The upcoming refurb will certainly be another plus.

 

 

 

What really amazes me is the ability of Senior Management in Corporate Head Office to accept guest feedback and make changes where they can. I saw it with the Loyalty program changes which were so negative for Azamara for some time until they listened and accepted their guest views. It must not and cannot reach a situation where every little decision or change is challenged or argued as it is impossible to please everyone.

 

 

 

Quite refreshing to see the bond between Larry and his senior team and their valued guests.

 

 

 

I must also pass on our thanks to Bonnie and her role as she provides the perfect conduit between Head Office and the guests.

 

 

 

Well done Azamara.

I concur 100%. You have said it all; for me too.

Fantastic news. We are but two days since leaving the Quest and even though the weather let us down much of the time, we still used the Sunset Bar at every opportunity.

Once again Azamara will be our first choice if everything else stacks up.

With the loss of the Sunset Bar we were certainly going to be looking elsewhere. Not now. Thank you for listening to us.

Darryl

P.S. The staff were still fantastic but one or two other things seemed to gave slipped just a little. I commented on them to Phillip (in writing) and he certainly showed real interest in following up.

Sorry I didn't ever come back to you on this, we found out on our express pass.

Hi Kobecat, as you know we did the same as you and had as good a cruise as we have ever had with Azamara.

Our next cruise with them is on the Quest leaving Southhampton 25 Aug so the countdown has really begun,although I haven't checked in or printed anything yet.

I am so looking forward to catching up with Russ again and all of the crew still onboard who have been there previously.

It's the "welcome home" that we so enjoy.

It's going to be, spot the familiar face again and reconnect with great people, both crew and passengers that I so much enjoy. Darryl

That is an interesting angle. In effect, placing the new speciality restaurant in the aft open area means that area is no longer free, both in the sense that that it is no longer freely available and that it is no longer free in monetary terms.

That's they way I see it too. Obviously 80% are of a similar opinion. At least that's the way it looks to me, by the voting!

Phil, I went to one of the art auctions once. I can't remember whether it was the last cruise or the one before. It was a sea day or I wouldn't have been there!! I stayed for about half of it and all I saw was someone buy a nice but over priced print. Actually I whispered to my wife, would you like to have a wine at the Sunset Bar? and she was off like a robbers dog with me in tow.

Simply get rid of the art auction. I am sure that it's not wanted by the majority, nor does it fit with "destination emersion". Surely Larry and the executive understand that. All they have to do is admit that. It has had its time, move on. Darryl

I say reduce the size of the bar and add a few more seats. I really enjoy my late afternoon beer or wine there, when I get back from a full days excursion.

Then when I have showed etc I love to wander back there and have a long leisurely casual dinner with the team from our private excursion.

Putting in a must pay for Asian Restaurant will destroy all of that.