uktog

5 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

You are welcome to read (stalk, as you say) –  but if you're not booked on the cruise you aren't supposed to post on the Roll Call.

Thanks - when did this guideline start as I can’t see it anywhere?

I can see the reason on one hand but there are so many good reasons not to have this restriction. For example people booked on a similar itinerary in the past sharing specific information or future bookers looking for it for the future; people on the previous or next cruise sharing or seeking information; local experts answering queries re transport and docking positions etc. Some things are very specific and in any event many people I meet at Meet and Mingle events only follow the roll calls. 

Can you clarify what is or isn’t permitted? I was about to help someone on a roll call asking for information about a port near here. I won’t post for now to avoid falling foul of what I didn’t know! 

You can unsubscribe from emails so you should be able to get figures from Perry Golf and then say “opt out of marketing” 

Sometimes surveys are also used to confirm the status quo is the right way to continue to operate 

I would rebook now to the later flight. Athens can be a slow disembark usually starts about 7.30 or later. You are 45 minutes to the airport 

49 minutes ago, AJCM said:

The many options of what should be included/excluded at different price points was immediately irrelevant to me. We’re not going on a 7 night Med cruise from Australia- especially when the bare bones price is AUD7,500 per person. No way are we paying $15,000 a couple for a 7 night cruise on Azamara in a veranda cabin. This is luxury level pricing.

 

At over $2,000 per night, we wouldn’t hesitate to go to Regent, Silversea or Seabourn and not have to worry about tips being included, access to laundries, which alcoholic or caffeine drink to consume and a clingy shower screen (because we’d be in a larger, more comfortable suite). Oh, and 2 of those 3 include gratis shore excursions. 

 

I’m afraid someone has lost the plot at Azamara.

 

 

But you had the option to say none of the above. The UK prices in the examples wasn’t far off what is charged. 

I thought it was an excellent well constructed survey unlike the amateur survey monkeys of the past. The way it presented over a series of questions what combinations you wanted and also looked to find your dealbreakers will give them very good data for analytical purposes. 
I certainly saw this as being a much more professional piece of research than in the past 

13 minutes ago, kool kruiser said:

Same here. It irks that on other social media groups there seem to be a number of  TAs who simply permanently gush...

I agree - I think your judgement will always be different if you have paid "full whack" for your cruise and thats the people I want to hear from.  Secondly the "gushers" want to stay in the pocket of the cruise line to get the best deals for their clients.  They are often also running facebook pages in tandem with travel agencies so you see comments like "I will have some good offers coming soon".  So of course we can only talk about the wonderful and post photos beside key players etc.  

On one Facebook site I was removed for answering perfectly valid questions of clarification pre cruise and another, when I had issues with my first reservation I got accused of being a troll and got vicious messages from someone who continues to gush to this day.  

I know here has a disadvantages in some eyes about not being able to message posters but I would say thats a huge plus.

5 hours ago, DS said:

I asked Azamara if there was a port shuttle... not an unreasonable question, since there was no "on your own" listed, which often are in this situation on Azamara.   My main point was that the AZ answer was... not an answer

Ask the question again to Azamara you’ll probably get a different answer 😃

When we were on onward they did the event on the port side of the living room at the back where the long table is. It doesn’t really work well there. You can’t circulate round the table if others are sitting down and it’s very hard to work out who was part of the roll call and who wasn’t. Group conversation is impossible. This is the curse of doing away with the library for another bar. 

I think there’s an issue with “Seaware” out of the box which leads to a less than ideal experience however once cruise lines pay for customisation as Azamara seems to be doing - hence changes coming on stream in the summer and further releases beyond then based on the CEO webinar- it will start to fit better for the guest. 
It’s got all the advantages of an integrated system so the very important management functionality filters down to be a guest benefit in time (such as better knowledge about each guest’s preferences, improved inventory control, less inventory wastage etc etc)

Seaware was a change for us all, our baptism with Azamara was very poor, they know that, however it’s going to be the future for many lines (Veronix also have hotel management systems and other leisure related packages) so we need to accept it and move on. 
At least Seaware brings combined intelligence to the software developers from many cruise lines and guests aren’t  at the mercy of home build patch and bridge systems Azamara struggled so much to migrate away from. 

I was expecting you to call it from a house phone using the number in your room information and taking a note of it - that’s what I’d have done in the situation you had.

I suppose working abroad as a solo female in crazy places I’ve become very creative and adaptable in hotel/travel situations

Yes we had bars closed but never had an issue - you must have been unlucky. 
Are you going to give Explora another chance or seek a deal elsewhere in the future? 

We had a large number of influencers and agents on the ship so rooms were used for their presentations day and early evening. We never had a problem finding somewhere to sit/drink. We also had the annoyance of the models wanting us not to sit on sofas as it impacted on photos but we managed. They did alter the dynamics and what was available to us but I’d still call it a niggle. Like the lack of doorbell would be a niggle to me and I’d dismiss it as a situation that arose because of how you unfortunately had to use the room more than anything else. And for coffee before 7 I accept you can’t instantly get it outside your room I’m not sure why calling for room service to deliver to an agreed place is such an issue. Much more hygienic than open machines touched by many. 
 

My niggle was the lack of reasonable entertainment offering in the evening exacerbated by an over excited self focussed cruise director (who has fortunately moved on) - but again we moved on. 
 

For us we are thankful we’ve even been able to get away so I suppose niggles don’t get any real attention from us. 

I would only bother if others issues were significant (eg relating to food quality entertainment etc). I see the items stated on the post not as issues more as niggles - I agree to a point about evening coffee though I have had beautiful coffees up sitting beside the whisky bar when I was onboard. For me, no ship 100% meets my “peculiarities”. I adapt wherever I go or learn to live with the tiny things. I could certainly do that easily on Explora 

I should have added our first Explora experience was surrounded by influencers and people on freebies but we were able to see beyond that to be happy to book again.  It is an issue and something I would be aware of when choosing itinerary - shorter trips starting on ending in Miami may be more at risk

We have many cruises on Azamara and have had one cruise in MSC Yacht Club and two on Viking.  We prefer quiet, relaxed with good attentive service but not over the top fawning.  On Azamara we usually go for a Club Continent.  We hate big ship. loud entertainment or loads of upcharge all around the ship.  We prefer fewer children (but do not need child free) and have no need for onboard shopping.  Good food matters to us as does some "piano bar" entertainment.  

With that background we can say we tried Explora when it was still settling in last Autumn but liked it so much we have booked two more cruises.  Compared to Azamara the food is far better and more to our tastes and even the base level suites are far better than a club continent.    There is much more guest space than Azamara - it is more on a par with Viking.  However in terms of pools and outside space the order of preference is 1.  Explora 2. Viking 3.  Azamara.  In terms of entertainment our preference is 1. Viking 2. Azamara 3. Explora

I am glad we have found Explora - we were not enjoying Azamara as much as we used to, though weve since had a better experience on them - and would encourage others to try it with an open mind

There was an amazing pianist on board from Ukraine in November- Natalia. You really saw her skills when she did a four hander with a guest entertainer in the Journey lounge one evening. It was a shame many nights after dinner she played to no audience in the lobby bar - on one occasion she was scheduled to come on after the bar shut. The general manager came past saw that and told the bar staff they had to stay open until Natalia finished- good move as the bar filled up with listeners. I’m not sure the bar team were so impressed! 

My guess is you were part of the interface that is actually B2B and not B2C - in other words you were in the business to business portal and at that end it will be possible due to negotiations between Azamara and travel agents for transfers to be added free of charge.  This probably happens when flights are also added in a bundle by the travel agent as part of a product package. 
Anyway, as you say you are going down another route, my guess is you were never supposed to pick up a free transfer because you were using a route into Azamara that wasn’t fully set up and  tested for customers, you were in the travel agent area. 
It would initially issue invoices and then during a routine exception report the issue would be identified and corrected 

6 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I’d be interested to hear if anyone else uses the Android Seaware app - it sound useful.

I’m wondering though if it’s fully set up to integrate with Azamara passengers side of things yet. Might explain why a free transfer booked on it turned out not to be free? 

Great selection. I can’t now remember our selection but I know we read two and enjoyed them. 

5 minutes ago, KJB416 said:

I’m so glad to hear it’s improving. Please continue to keep us updated.

 

On another note, I also can’t be in the sun for long periods of time, but husband loves it. In their marketing brochures they have covers on the beds on deck 5 around the pool like picture below. I’ve never asked about it bc both of my trips have been in cold weather and sun has not been too much of an issue.  Do you know if the shades in the picture below are available?  I’ve never seen them up while onboard and like I said never needed them to ask after them .  

I believe these shades were found to be no use in any breeze - a case of a hotel designer not understanding that the aft of the ship has a breeze, so the idea was scrapped 

7 hours ago, Sidney68 said:

I am sorry to say that the service has deteriorated significantly. I have tried to give leeway to accommodate the change in passenger numbers but it is so dramatic I need highlight. Lunchtime in emporium I waited 15 mins to get a glass  of water - in the end I had the go up to the maitre D and ask if there was any service down our end of the restaurant? In the end he himself had to serve us. Empty plates were not removed and the whole experience resembled a very bad all inclusive buffet concept. Tonight, the restaurant still managed a good level of service but go into Explorer lounge and Journey’s lounge before and after dinner oh dear, what a change. We ordered drinks in a nearly empty explorer lounge before dinner and had to chase after 15 mins as our drinks hadn’t arrived, I don’t think they had clean glasses… In journeys lounge they were more interested in collecting dirty glasses from the previous show than taking new drinks orders. How things change! I really am trying so hard to not find fault but the change is so dramatic it is hard not to . 

 

As reported by other posters previously the evening entertainment needs work. The two singers have great voices but hearing similar songs night after night is repetitive! Overlay that on a two week cycle so that we are now on repeat of our first week and boy I am ready to scream! 

Not good. Hope it picks up. I must admit I didn’t like the singers at all in November and was hoping for an improvement as we have realised our next 14 night cruise is 2x7 cruises (it was sold as a 14). I will be climbing the wall if it’s the same very average two in September. Only two singers is never going to work. They need to wise up on that one! 

9 hours ago, English Tim said:

What I particularly noticed today was the lack of consideration for other people, by getting the best vantage point and not worrying whether you are blocking someone else’s view, but there is so much space on the ship that is easy to go and find somewhere else to be.

 

The dealbreaker for me could be the brand of champagne when they advertise well-known brands and then deliver whatever they consider okay?

Packing a ship with ill mannered free loaders is what would put me off booking beyond our current commitments.
 

I can’t get excited about whether they serve brand x or y alcohol. I bet in blind tasting many cannot tell the difference so I won’t let label snobbery influence my decision. In all our bookings I cannot see the brand of champagne mentioned, I always take marketing blurb with a pinch of salt anyway, switches of brands happen on all lines from time to time. 

1 hour ago, carfla7 said:

Thanks for all these comments. The provision of a shuttle was a major plus for us. It just made visiting a port so much easier. Cost cutting I guess - but ill-advised if they want to maintain the “luxury” feel.

Or more active local taxi unions?

I understood in Tenerife the local taxi union had objected to the provision of shuttles. This is becoming more prevalent in ports since the pandemic as taxi drivers try and regain their markets. 
 

Azamara always links in with the port authority for the provision of shuttles where permitted. Sometimes this connection is more visible than others. Even if the port appears to be providing the shuttle its cost is wrapped up in the port fees. 

9 minutes ago, blag said:

In my case, I selected a no-cost option (add-on) direct with Azamara.

I booked the cruise whilst on board, transferred it to my TA. I subsequently booked the no-cost option myself, independently, and Azamara confirmed it (at zero cost) in their invoice, which was presented to me by my TA.

I fail to see how this was not 'set up by the guest'. 

 

You don’t have a packaged bundle which is what I was referring to. These can’t be booked onboard and an onboard booking can’t be transferred into a bundle. A bundle usually has flights, cruise, possibly some hotels, transfers or even one excursion arranged by the agent.