Q&A with Richard Twynam, Managing Director U.K. & Ireland, Azamara Club Cruises Latest Topics

Shoreside Issues

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 11:17:14 +0000

Hi Richard

These boards are full of comments about wonderful cruises and great experiences on the ships, particularly about service and friendly and helpful crew and Officers. Rightly so and why you have so many loyal guests! However the board is often full of shoreside issues and IT/website problems which keep letting down a great product. The exception to this is of course your great team in the UK and Nicole and her team in Miami - you are all very responsive and must find this very frustrating! Can you give any reassurance that these shoreside problems are being addressed? Thank you.

Liz & Malcolm

Tonic water

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 19:26:39 +0000

Hi Richard,

It’s been a recurring topic on the Azamara board, is there any chance that the truly awful Royal Club tonic will be replaced with a decent one. Preferably Fever Tree but Schweppes would be an improvement.

I appreciate Gin is not that popular in the US but it’s a popular drink elsewhere and there’s no point in having a quality gin and adding Royal Club tonic.

If Coca Cola was replaced with Royal Club Cola there would be an outcry.

OBC and Shore Excursions

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 18:58:58 +0000

I think I read that Azamara were going to allow OBC to be used to purchase shore excursions, and although I was told that this was scheduled to be implemented in the third quarter of 2017, nothing has happened.
We have accumulated a considerable OBC for cruise in May 2018 - booked in February 2017!! - but have been unable to use any of this for the shore excursions. Instead we have paid for these advance, have to cancel them asap on embarkation, and simultaneously re-book using the OBC!!
Any news on this, and if so, anything we can do??
We also wanted to use a part of this OBC to enjoy one night at chef's table but this have proved impossible to do in advance. We are in a suite, so we don't need to purchase an upgrade to specialty dining. Can this be addressed?

Please note that I rang customer services.

Casino -- rather, no casino

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:46:16 +0000

We know when the Adonia is refurbished to become the Pursuit, Azamara will not be putting back the casino. The Adonia does not have one now (we sailed on her twice recently as a Fathom ship). But it did have one years ago when she sailed as the Royal Princess (we took her up the Amazon in '08). Pity, as my wife enjoys dabbling in the casino -- it's entertainment!

There's been some chatter on CruiseCritic that when the Journey and Quest next go in for refurbishment, that Azamara will be taking out the casinos on them, as well. At least the table games, if not everything (incl. slots). Can you comment on this?

[5 times on Azamara & booked on Quest's transatlantic in April]

Azamara Pursuit

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:28:16 +0000

Hi Richard,

Another Pursuit question, with the impending take over of the ship are there any plans to have a live blog of the transformation from Adonia to Pursuit. If not is there any chance one could be implemented.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

UK Telephone charges

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 08:50:12 +0000

Why do we have to pay to find out about our /your cruises or even pay to book them.

7p per minute.

Now that you have 50% more capacity to fill why not break ranks in UK and add a USP. (UNIQUE SELLING POINT)

Tag line

Ring Free for an AZAMAZING cruise.

OK perhaps not the AZAMAZING just Azamara

Ocean suites

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 10:24:38 +0000

1; What was the rationale for removing baths in all 10 suites on Pursuit and do you intend to alter Journey and Quest?

2: Since Azamara knew in October of these changes why does website not reflect that?

3:When will Guatemala know of these changes as incorrect information given this week.

4: Have you advised bookers and Travel agents of these changes?>

Guarantee stateroom

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 07:45:44 +0000

I believe that very recently someone who had booked a guarantee stateroom on a cruise from Melbourne was informed 2 days before the cruise that there was no room for them. They were at the airport at the time waiting to board their plane to Melbourne ready to embark.

I also understand that Azamara was eventually able to find a stateroom for them, and compensated them well for the stress etc.

I wondered how this could happen, especially at such a late stage, and how often it happens.

Pursuit Maiden

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 12:36:46 +0000

We are excited to have booked Pursuit’s revised maiden and have a couple of questions.

Is it planned for Pursuit to be in Southampton prior to the 1st August? If this is the case are there any pre cruise events planned, and if so will these be only for trade partners or will U.K. guests be included.

Will there be any special events for the maiden or will that be held until the cruise after the naming ceremony later in August.

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Entertainment

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 07:29:01 +0000

There has been an ongoing debate in the Azamara forum on Cruise Critic about the changes to the entertainment programmme. I’ve just been reading the announcement on your website and wondered if you could tell us more about how it will work. Will all 4 elements (54 Below, City Theatre, City Opera and Live Music Offerings) be part of the programme on every cruise?

Pursuit Mosaic Cafe

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 17:29:33 +0000

The amount of space available on Deck 5 on the Adonia is clearly too small for Mosaic in the same place as on Journey and Quest. Since there is no Casino on the Adonia, is it planned to position Mosaic in or near here when it becomes Pursuit?

Solo cruise deals

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 10:28:43 +0000

Hi Richard. Can you confirm the current supplement rate for singles when offered? Is it 25% or does it vary by cruise? I only ask because a recent booking I made seems to have a 50% single supplement.

Also can you confirm if solos can take advantage of the BOGOHO deals when available? If they can what does it mean in reality? That the overall cost to a single is 175% of normal? If it is available to singles, is it combinable with the reduced single supplement deal?

Many thanks.

Phil

LCV Discounts

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 10:33:16 +0000

Can you provide rationale for increasing discounts at lower levels and NOT for your most loyal customers Discovery Plus and Platinum.

Thanks

Payments

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 14:31:42 +0000

When I book a cruise online with Azamara I can make a payment (deposit) using a card without incurring any charges. Then to make the final payment I need to call the 0844 number for which I am charged 19p per minute. Why can final payments not be made online using a secure login or the 0844 number changed to a freephone number?

Final day for new questions!

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 14:11:56 +0000

We'll be closing the forum to new questions this afternoon, so hurry and post one for Azamara Club Cruises.

Thanks to all who participated. Richard will begin answering questions on Monday, so stay tuned!

Laura

Welcome

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 07:17:23 +0000

Hi Richard, welcome to Cruise Critic. It’s great to have you here. I’m sure our members will have some interesting questions for you.

Please Welcome: Richard Twynam

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 21:38:49 +0000

Richard Twynam is Azamara Club Cruises Managing Director, UK and Ireland, and he has held the position since January 2014. Bringing with him nearly 20 years of experience in the travel industry, he leads a new 10-strong team dedicated to the destination immersive travel brand and raising its profile in the UK.

Richard launched cruise into the Austravel programme in 2008, and then joined one of the UK’s largest cruise distributors, Virgin Holidays Cruises as Managing Director in October 2010, delivering record results. In 2013 Richard was approached by Kuoni to create and launch the Kuoni cruise programme, and in the Autumn of 2013, was asked to be Azamara Club Cruises first ever UK Managing Director. Richard has also worked as Head of Sales UK & Ireland for Air New Zealand and Leisure Sales Manager UK & Ireland for Cathay Pacific Airways.