Anyone used Azamara's Paris-Rouen transport and/or help Bill Leiber!

[luvtravel]

Four of us have prepaid for a transfer by bus through Azamara from Paris to Rouen for the May 6th cruise on the Journey. We were not issued vouchers - apparently our name will be on a list the driver has. The unfortunate part is that so far (and we've been trying for many weeks to find out) no one can tell us exactly where to catch the bus. The only information is the general area of Porte Maillot in Paris which is a very large, high traffic area where many, many buses and taxis come and go from..and are parked all over, including using side streets. Initially I asked Azamara for more details and the CSR would not speak to me about it..had to go through our t.a., who reluctantly called and was told the only address is the general area Porte M. and won't search further. At present a very nice and helpful CSR is trying to get more info for us, after initially not finding anything at his disposal. He even googled to see what he could find...but we had already done that...nothing helpful except to show how very large and busy the area is. On Monday he is scheduled to call me back to see if he has found out anything more. I'm not optimistic, plus we're leaving Wednesday a.m. so we'll have a few days in Paris before the cruise. No one on our roll call has responded that they've purchased this transfer. We are concerned that we'll get there and won't be able to find the bus ... miss it and then have to make our way to the train station and ultimately get no refund for the prepaid tickets. Thinking about it...don't know why they can't just add us to the transportation taking the 'precruise hotel guests' ... in the package they were offering. Sure would have been alot easier and precise. Anyway, wondered if anyone is signed up for this transport, or has taken it on another Azamara cruise leaving out of Rouen. Even if you've been to that area...did they have any signeage for location of buses? I'm hoping too (it was suggested by another cruiser on the rollcall) that perhaps Bill Leiber can help. So Mr. Leiber, if you have the opportunity, sure would appreciate if you could see if there is more info on this transport...even perhaps the bus company's name...that could narrow things down perhaps. Thanks to anyone for reading to the end of this...and who might be able to help!

[Bill Leiber]

Hello Luvtravel -

I'm sorry for the difficulty you've experienced in obtaining an answer to a specific location within the general area of Porte Maillot in which to board your bus to Rouen to be welcomed aboard the Azamara Journey on May 6, 2012.

Actually, this is the first-time I've heard about this "bus option" and I will look into it on Monday with the reservations team, and then get back to you with the information you need.

Please stay tuned.

Best regards,

Bill Leiber
_____________________
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

[luvtravel]

Originally Posted by Bill Leiber

Hello Luvtravel -

I'm sorry for the difficulty you've experienced in obtaining an answer to a specific location within the general area of Porte Maillot in which to board your bus to Rouen to be welcomed aboard the Azamara Journey on May 6, 2012.

Actually, this is the first-time I've heard about this "bus option" and I will look into it on Monday with the reservations team, and then get back to you with the information you need.

Please stay tuned.

Best regards,

Bill Leiber
_____________________
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

Thank you Bill...you are the best!

[Bill Leiber]

Hello Luvtravel -

Here it is: the pick-up point is the Parking Pershing located in front of the Convention Center (Palais des Congress de Paris). Address - Porta Maillot Paris 17 EME. The street address of the convention center is 2 Place de la Porte Maillot - 75017 Paris, France.

I've been advised that for specific information on pick-up of our transfer guests, that each guest should have provided us with their air information. There will then be a ground agent in the arrival area at the airport who can direct him. ("Luvtravel," did you provide your detailed air information?)

Further, I just learned that our website features general information about our transfers and GroundLink and here is a summary: Home › Plan Your Voyage › Air & Transfers. Below is the information included:

Transfers
Azamara Club Cruises® transfers are convenient and easy. Expect to be greeted by an Azamara representative warmly welcoming you as you anticipate your exceptional voyage experience.

Transfer Program when booking ChoiceAir
If you book your air through Azamara's ChoiceAir program, transfers are not included. Transfers are available for purchase on ChoiceAir.com, and are available on embarkation day from the airport to the ship, and on debarkation day from the ship to the airport.

Making Your Own Air Travel Arrangements?
If you choose to make your own air arrangements, you may wish to purchase ground transportation to the ship. Transfers are available for purchase from the arrival airport to the pier on day of sailing and from the pier to the departure airport on debarkation day only. When reserving this service, please remember we need your flight arrival information to meet you.
To purchase your Azamara Club Cruises Guest Transfer or for additional information, contact your travel professional, or our Reservations Department at 877-999-9553 .

Cruisetour-only Guests
Transfers are included in your Cruisetour package.

Pre and Post Hotel Stays
If booking an Azamara pre or post-hotel stay, transfers are included from the hotel to the ship on the pre-voyage stay, and from the ship to the hotel on a post-voyage stay. Transfers to/from airport and hotel are not included. If you book our ChoiceAir flights, as well as a pre- or post-hotel stay, the following applies:
 Pre-voyage stay: Transfers from the airport to the hotel, and hotel to the ship are included. Transfer from the ship to the airport at the end of the voyage is available for purchase.
 Post-voyage stay: Transfers are included from the ship to the hotel, and then again from the hotel to the airport for post-voyage stay. Transfer from the airport to the ship as you join the ship is available for purchase.

What is included in Ground Transfers
To ensure efficient, stress-free connections, we recommend that you purchase ground transfers between the airport and pier (or hotel, in some cases). Our ground transfer service includes meeting you outside of the customs-clearing or baggage area, directing you to a designated vehicle or bus, and handling transfer of your luggage to and from the vehicle.
We regret that ground transfers are not available in all port cities. Please consult your travel professional or contact us for suggestions on the best transportation to use when transfers are not available.

My best wishes for a smooth Transatlantic flight to Paris and transfer process to Rouen. Once you've been welcomed aboard the Azamara Journey on May 6, 2012 the best is yet to come.

Happy Sailing!

Bill Leiber
_____________________
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

[luvtravel]

Bill..thank you for finding more specific info for meeting the transfer bus. I know that parking area is still pretty big, but we will arrive early enough to scout it out. We decided to use this transport as we thought it would be easier than taking our bags on/off trains. Yes, Azamara has our air details as we booked thru Air Choice....but as we are arriving in Paris a few days early it isn't an issue. Once again, thanks for your help!

[Bill Leiber]

Originally Posted by luvtravel

Bill..thank you for finding more specific info for meeting the transfer bus. I know that parking area is still pretty big, but we will arrive early enough to scout it out. We decided to use this transport as we thought it would be easier than taking our bags on/off trains. Yes, Azamara has our air details as we booked thru Air Choice....but as we are arriving in Paris a few days early it isn't an issue. Once again, thanks for your help!

Hello Luvtravel and other readers -

Our Azamara Call Center pointed out that we only offer this "city center to pier transfer" option in Paris and Rome. We do not require any flight/hotel information from guests to book these transfers; however, we do require flight information when we book an airport-pier transfer.

Also, here is the address for the terminal in Rouen:

TERMINAL CROISIERES
BOULEVARD EMILE DUCHEMIN (next to the maritime museum)
RIVE DROITE
76000 ROUEN

Best regards,

Bill Leiber
_____________________
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

[ikelmay]

While it is useful to have an 'inside contact' here for Azamara, most cruise lines aren't as cooperative. In most cases I would far rather arrange my own transportation and be able to remain in full control of what is happening.

On our recent transatlantic departing from Civitavecchia, we arranged a minibus transfer direct from Rome Airport (FCO) to our hotel at the port. The Roll Calls and Ports of Call boards are a great resource for this, and we ended up sharing the minibus with a great couple that posted. This option also of course ends up being way cheaper than anything offered by the cruise lines - we were very impressed with the service offered and their frequent communication beforehand.

[Keefy]

We took the Azamara Bus from Rouen to CDG April 29th. He dropped us off at Terminal 2E and refused to take the many guests going to other terminals. There was no Azamara rep on the bus and the driver lost his ability to speak English, apparent earlier. We had to struggle on various shuttle buses and a lot of walking to get to the right terminal.
Once again Ship Good- Shoreside terrible.

Originally Posted by ikelmay

While it is useful to have an 'inside contact' here for Azamara, most cruise lines aren't as cooperative. In most cases I would far rather arrange my own transportation and be able to remain in full control of what is happening.

On our recent transatlantic departing from Civitavecchia, we arranged a minibus transfer direct from Rome Airport (FCO) to our hotel at the port. The Roll Calls and Ports of Call boards are a great resource for this, and we ended up sharing the minibus with a great couple that posted. This option also of course ends up being way cheaper than anything offered by the cruise lines - we were very impressed with the service offered and their frequent communication beforehand.