ECCruise

Since we are boarding HAL Westerdam at Yokohama next week and Quest at Tokyo terminal in April, be aware that Yokohama is NOT where Azamara docks. The 2 terminals are 35k and 30 minutes apart without traffic.

Thanks for the updates. Since our already paid for monitored RAT test will be in the 3 day window and evidently of no value for the ship, we will use it as informational only. And get additional RAT tests in Tokyo the day before embarkation I guess since not sure of the self-administered, albeit that 2 in your group were allowed to use.

I can only tell you that the AzAmazing evenings we have booked and on our cruise personalizers are on the list.

Thanks @Drebay We are in the same pickle. Just minutes ago paid for monitored tests 72 hours before sailing since Azamara's site clearly says: All tests, including nucleic acid amplification test (PCR) and rapid antigen qualitative test (RAT), must be performed within 3 days of embarkation. So now they insist 24 hours for rapid? And self monitored may be accepted? Honestly, I can't imagine why self monitored would not be accepted since they are on Princess (which we used 2 months ago) and HAL (which we will use next week) and RCCL (which we need in August for a crossing).

Likely you will not know until you are on the ship for the first sailing. Having done many B2Bs, I don't think I ever recall an excursion posted prior to sailing. But honestly, if you want to do Rome, it is incredibly simple from Civitavecchia via the train to do it on your own.

Because they haven't. See my what I wrote 3 posts above. On our 7 sailings, we DO have Azamazing Evenings booked on about half of them. Like this: DAY 8 16-Dec-2023 Durban, South Africa AzAmazing Evening: Zulu Dance and Live Jazz 07:00 PM Total Cost: 0.00 USD

I agree. We've had some wonderful experiences with both the onboard and outside events. And, if an onboard event makes more logistic sense, completely support that rather than just saying "oh, we did an Azamazing evening off the ship" for what could be a sub-standard experience. As I said above, our upcoming sailings have a mix of both onboard and off-ship events, and I think that is the result of Azamara making the determination for what fits best for pax enjoyment.

With upcoming voyages, it seems to vary. Of our 7 booked sailings, some are the more typical "get on a bus and go to a venue" and some are onboard.

I wouldn't waste time asking here on Cruise Critic, frankly. Azamara is the only one that can make that decision, in coordination with any customs/immigration needs in South Africa. You will definitely need to arrange this in advance (we had a similar situation in Lisbon last year) and verify the details. Our departure was fully vetted until we tried to disembark and we needed "approval" again.

Unless we would have a bundle of non-refundable OBC, I really don't see any advantage of the "small group" tours other than to enhance revenue at X. If we book private tours (we frequently can book for just the 2 of us at prices similar or less than such "small group"). Even if we join others or they join us, we are in control of the numbers and thus never a surprise ("OMG, there are 29 on our small tour")

30+ crossings on ships from R-Class to mid-size (X S class, Royal Radiance class) to Royal Freedom class. Honestly, have never noticed a huge amount of difference based on size. When the seas are 5-6 meters or more, you are going to feel the motion in any size modern cruise vessel. As suggested above, if you have potential issues with motion, I would not park myself anywhere but mid-ship, as low as possible. We don't have major motion issues but every single one of our crossings has been in that general location. And we otherwise love aft cabins, but not on crossings.

I definitely think that there needs to be some distinction between "pre-Covid" and "after-Covid," mainly due to staffing levels I'm afraid. We did 5 sailings B2B n October/November on 3 different cruise lines, a total of 53 days. In the MDR on all, there was a decidedly different feel to MDR dining. Took longer than ever on our previous 100+ sailings. Often long waits, even with confirmed reservations. Very slow service, and that was dining at a 2-top, generally 2 courses. Can't even imagine timing at shared tables with people working their way through multiple courses. So you know what we did? More than on those 1000+ nights of dining combined, we made our way to the Lido (or other buffet venues) where we could be in control of our own timing. After always saying "WHY would you eat in a buffet when you can be served in the MDR?" we found that, at least in the current frequently understaffed scenario, it now made sense. Of course, YMMV.

We are the folder for each trip people. We have about 20 trips booked between now and mid-2025 (16 of which are cruises) so we would be lost unless we had folders with air reservations, hotels, excursions, etc., etc. all in one place.

We mainly use crossings for transportation between US and Europe (we generally spend a month or so either before or after a crossing so that is a prime motivation/enjoyment). We are fine with the sea days, although some may not be. We've had as many as 9 consecutive days at sea because of port cancellations (which are fairly frequent) and been fine with that because we fall into a routine of gym a couple times a day, lots of reading, attending lectures if available and generally relaxing. The only thing we dislike is that crossings sometimes attract people who really shouldn't be doing one, become antsy or bored after a few days and take it out on the crew. Crew members generally despise crossings, in our experience, for just that reason.

Have done over 30 crossings, the majority westbound in the fall. As others have noted (and you know already) the weather cannot be predicted in any way. We've had smooth and warm sailings (including last month) and horrible, cold and very rocky sailings where we virtually never went on the balcony, let alone use Retreat decks, outside pools or hot tubs. Prepare to not utilize those venues at all. If you can, look at it as a bonus. Then there is no way you will be disappointed. Or, of course, don't add a crossing to your repertoire.

Happens all the time. We've had exactly that situation on cruises at least a half dozen times this year alone. Not a big deal at all and keeps you on time.

Yes. The message is similar and says "your plan does NOT include Cellular at Sea so be very careful since charges can add up quickly." And yes, at $2.00 a meg that is $2000.00 a gig or $20,000.00 for the typical 10 gigs we use in a month's time it would add up quickly. Our T-Mobile phone goes to airplane mode the minute land is no longer clearly on the horizon.

Except that it was the states who continuously rebelled against REAL ID and caused the first extensions, going back to 2017.

Good advice. Our annual policy has a wide range of coverages. Unfortunately, cancellation is not one of them. Our Credit Card policy, however, does have such coverage, up to $10,000. So the OP should explore all potential avenues.

After 30+ sailings on =X= we stopped booking them when they started heavily pushing the "All Included" ploy. With our Elite+ benefits, a lot of the value of the inclusions just wasn't there. In addition, we have no desire to sail E class, so that further limited our choices. Instead, we started sailing much more with Azamara because of itinerary, the onboard feel and prices not that far above =X= with a much higher perceived value. On a lark yesterday, looked at Millennium in Asia early in 2025 and the prices were for us, reasonable so we booked 24 days, B2B Singapore to Mumbai. Caveat is that we booked at our TA's prices which were $1100-1300 less for each sailing than exactly the same inclusions direct with the cruise line. The morale is that IF you book early and have a TA with good pricing, you can find your way around the higher pricing.

As others have mentioned, all of the 2024 Europe sailings have been up for some time. 2025 Europe is available, in fact. Prima, Viva, Breakaway, Epic are some that I've seen.

Depends on your definition of "vacation." I've been using internet on ships since 1999. For years, ran 3 businesses (which honestly didn't need heavy internet use but still required say an hour or so a day) but that allowed us to cruise 4 to 8 weeks every year. So yeah, I would define it both as "work" and "vacation."

Just got off a month on the Dawn. It is a somewhat different experience from the -Away class ships. There is no comedy club other than what may be scheduled in the main theater. Much of the musical offerings every night take place in the atrium, which means that the music can be enjoyed a number of different places, including O'Sheehans. There are also music and other events (the cruise staff show, tribute shows, e.g.) in Bliss. We were never close to being bored in 30 days. We much prefer the smaller ships--have sailed Dawn, Gem, Star, Jade, Sun, Spirit and others and that is our preference. Sailed Epic once (never again) and Getaway for 28 days B2B (also never again). The big ships are just not our preference at all.

For any long-time NCL cruisers, the NCL Dream and Wind arrived at the Alang, India scrapyard this week. Both had been laid up when Star Cruises, where they went after leaving NCL, when parent Genting went belly-up earlier this year. Had many wonderful days on both ships. We did our first crossing on Dream in our first balcony in 2001. But time marches on....

I would say smart move. 25+ sailings on =X= and 25+ sailings on NCL, the majority of both in Europe (including 3 on NCL in the Northern Europe/Med. in the last month or so). Love the NCL itinerary and since itinerary weighs much heavier than cruise line choice for us.