Transfer from Venice to Ravenna for Croatia cruise.

[mumcat]

I'm sure this question has been raised before but I can't find it. We are considering booking an October cruise to Croatia which departs from Ravenna. Our TA asked Azamara what arrangements they make to get guests from Venice airport to Ravenna and AZ  sail that they weren't doing anything although he hinted that there may be a future plan. However, I looked on the AZ website and saw this below. What if anything have booked passengers been told by Azamara . We will have to make our own flight arrangements as AZ don't do this from France.

Guests who have booked their flights with Azamara will automatically be re-accommodated to receive complimentary transfers to and from Venice International Airport Marco Polo (VCE); these guests will not need to act on anything on their end.

If you made your own travel arrangements, we will arrange complimentary transfers and will be in touch soon with more information on your transfers.

[uktog]

The information on the website was for those guests who had booked the cruise before embarkation changed from Venice to Ravenna.   I am looking at October and have been told as well I will have to make my own arrangements unless I buy the flights through Azamara (which they do not offer from my airport in the UK either)

We are going to research independent operators to do the transfers

[Scots Caz]

Agree that is for those that booked before the change. I am travelling Saturday to Onward, booked before the change so flying to Venice and not being charged extra for the longer transfer. 

the other thing to consider if you are making your own flight arrangements is to look at Bologna if an option as closer to Ravenna

[mumcat]

I have re-read the Azamara blurb and it does not say it only applies to cruises booked before the change although I am open to being proven wrong!. It makes no sense - if they are organising transfers why not offer it to all passengers. I have researched the cost of independent transfers and it is astronomical to the extent, I will not book the cruise.

[mumcat]

25 minutes ago, Scots Caz said:

Agree that is for those that booked before the change. I am travelling Saturday to Onward, booked before the change so flying to Venice and not being charged extra for the longer transfer. 

the other thing to consider if you are making your own flight arrangements is to look at Bologna if an option as closer to Ravenna

Unfortunately Bologna is not a great option for us primarily because of dates. It's a shame as I would be happy to spend time in Bologna.

[mumcat]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

The information on the website was for those guests who had booked the cruise before embarkation changed from Venice to Ravenna.   I am looking at October and have been told as well I will have to make my own arrangements unless I buy the flights through Azamara (which they do not offer from my airport in the UK either)

We are going to research independent operators to do the transfers

Please let me know if you find a reasonable deal as the ones I found are eye-wateringly expensive!

[Beamafar]

1 hour ago, mumcat said:

I have re-read the Azamara blurb and it does not say it only applies to cruises booked before the change although I am open to being proven wrong!. It makes no sense - if they are organising transfers why not offer it to all passengers. I have researched the cost of independent transfers and it is astronomical to the extent, I will not book the cruise.

We came up against the same with Azamara for our August cruise.  Because Ravenna had become the disembarkation port before we booked, Azamara’s position is that we would have been aware of this so it would be our own responsibility to make our own arrangements.  As our flights have been arranged as a package Az are charging us for the transfer from Ravenna to Marco Polo airport, Venice.  For some reason, they’re only charging what it would have cost to go from Venice port to the airport - €55 pp. 

[mumcat]

AZ can't arrange our flights but I would be happy to pay 55euros for the transfer.

[Beamafar]

Just now, mumcat said:

AZ can't arrange our flights but I would be happy to pay 55euros for the transfer.

You should contact Az directly and enquire about a transfer as they will certainly have to provide them for those already booked before the change. 

[mumcat]

Well, I have just now booked a cruise from Ravenna through my TA who confirmed that AZ are offering transfers from Venice and/or Bologna at a nominal fee so, that's good news.

 

[barneyboy]

8 hours ago, mumcat said:

Well, I have just now booked a cruise from Ravenna through my TA who confirmed that AZ are offering transfers from Venice and/or Bologna at a nominal fee so, that's good news.

 

It was $139 each to Venice in May which I wouldn’t consider a nominal fee. Luckily we had booked prior to the change so our transfer was free. 

[ChucktownSteve]

We're sailing from "Venice" in May 2023. We booked August 2021. I presume that is prior to the chance so we would be given the free transportation to Ravenna. Is that an accurate presumption or does someone know differently? Is there an official port change date? 

[Host Jazzbeau]

34 minutes ago, ChucktownSteve said:

We're sailing from "Venice" in May 2023. We booked August 2021. I presume that is prior to the chance so we would be given the free transportation to Ravenna. Is that an accurate presumption or does someone know differently? Is there an official port change date? 

I believe that at this point Azamara still hopes it will be possible to embark somewhere in 'Venice' – i.e. Marghera – in 2023.