mdpa

1 hour ago, excitedofharpenden said:

For me at least it's definitely not worth a £500+ bid in for a balcony plus cabin.  Most likely an allocation of a P2 or P3 directly below the public deck.  You might strike lucky with a P1, but they can keep the standard size balcony stateroom with extra amenities that take up valuable space in the cabin and a potentially noisy location.

 

Phil    

I’m not sure you are looking at this correctly. The 500+ bid was from a non balcony room. The spread between his two choices was only 200. If you don’t have much status, the free specialty dinner, free bag of laundry, and 25% off internet make this justifiable IMHO.

I don’t think you need to wear a mask at all. I plan to leave our mask at home.

1 hour ago, emerald6273 said:

I just clarified accepted Covid testing procedures with Azamara. In relation to a medically supervised Antigen Covid test by skype/video call prior to cruise, this method is not accepted by Azamara. Both customer service agent and supervisor told me that proctored video test unacceptable as swabbing was not physically completed by a medical professional. Azamara deem them to be self tests. Pretty disappointing. 

This is not what most people have shared, plus this type of test is also acceptable for flying back into the USA. I’m not worried about it…unless I get something from Azamara in writing this is what I am using….already purchased.

Jeep61,

One benefit of the space these take up, is we will have a minimum of 12” x 12” x 6” of space for souvenirs. 😉 

I haven’t used mine, but I placed an order for (6) BinaxNow tests after seeing them recommended on “The Points Guy” and the “United Airline” site. Cost $170 with express shipping, received the next day. Technically the tests are $25 each but my insurer (Cigna) let me submit the form for reimbursement, so my cost will be $0.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/at-home-covid-testing-travel/

I like the idea that I am in complete control, and will manage everything from our hotel room. If something doesn’t work, we still can get tested in a traditional manner.

On 5/24/2022 at 6:30 PM, LoriLoriLori said:

Thank you.  I am hoping they do away with it.

I agree, eliminating the testing requirements will remove expenses, hassles, and anxiety for everyone trying to travel.

Tip for people in USA:

I ordered a 6-test pack from eMed, which will cover all my needs from the comfort of the hotel. Upfront cost was $25 each, but my insurance reimbursed 100% of the cost. This was the same test United recommended for my return flight.

Hard to beat the cost of free!

https://thepointsguy.com/news/at-home-covid-testing-travel/

For USA travelers, I recommend ordering the online proctored test from eMed. 100% of my cost was reimbursed through insurance and now I can do the tests at my convenience.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/at-home-covid-testing-travel/

I have no issue tipping well for normal to great service when it is expected. I don’t tip when gratuity is included.

I also share other people’s views that excess tipping can be detrimental:

- essentially a bribe, with the only other purpose making the tipper feel good about how generous they are

- tipping ignores back of house staff, cashiers, warehouse workers, etc.

6 hours ago, les37b said:

 

We are on the same sailing and the details for us are the same as you describe. We also never got the email you mentioned.

 

It's now T-24 days. Can't check in and no documents are visible as yet.

 

No overly impressed at the whole process since booking.

 

 

 

I’m 29 days out, and now have my boarding documents but check-in isn’t available. For me, it is not that big of a deal unless it is down to the final week.

My way of thinking…could be two legitimate reasons for a delay to be a benefit.

- Making sure your documents are updated with the latest requirements. Ex. If they relax things starting June 1st, then I am happy to get documents that reflect that 10 days ahead of the cruise.

- They think an upgrade might be offered, or some other change, and would rather get it right the first time. 

I’ll wait…

7 minutes ago, Harrietq said:

Negative? Maybe. In a mad rush to get us disembarked after a positive COVID test for my DH, Azamara shunted my husband and me into a cab (DH had tested positive, I was negative) with two complete strangers from our cruise and the man was positive!

 

AZ allegedly was sending us to a Barcelona hotel for isolation. A hotel that had no record of our arrival. Five days after being in separate hotel room from my husband, I tested positive for COVID. Was it the cab ride? Did I get it from my husband? From the coughing stranger in the cab? I can’t say yes or no, but let’s just say my odds were pretty good in the cab. (To their credit, AZ put us in separate cabins after my DH’s test, but again, likely undone in the cab.)
 

You could say this has soured me on Azamara. The fact I cannot even get a live guest relations person on the phone is just another slap in my face.

Were you wearing a mask in the cab? Did you not share a cabin with your husband on the ship prior to the positive test? 

I agree, seems like everything is starting to come back if the price the hotels are starting to charge is an indication. I also so flights are now back to 2019 levels. There is always going to be some adjustments as things start to fill up. The current booked cruises are probably the best deal we are going to get in the near future.

15 minutes ago, floridafolks said:

Another vote for King George. 
I had to chuckle at the “ringside view of demonstrators”-  we had that on embarkation day- taxis could not get to the hotel- head bellman arranged to meet a taxi 2 blocks away toting all our luggage for us- very grateful!  

( We will be staying there again for October cruise)

Great location, we stayed at Grande Bretagne and I believe they are connected. Grande Bretagne has a great spa, bar area, and rooftop breakfast.

3 hours ago, marinaro44 said:

Thanks for writing this, Grandma.  I have had four vaccinations and have no underlying conditions, but am battling Covid now.  We have had one person here who has poo-pood Covid in some bizarre desire to have cruise lines cease taking precautions to minimize Covid being brought on board.

 

I would not want to be onboard a ship right now, and am glad to be at home.  I would also not want to pass this on to someone sitting next to me in the theater or in a dining room.  Ruining someone else's cruise would be utterly irresponsible and selfish.

No one can ruin anyone else's trip, this is ridiculous. If you are fully masked and taking necessary precautions, then you are safe. Reminds me of the former First Lady attending a Gala this past week while forcing people around her to mask up and fix her dress. If she wants to be protected, she can wear a mask. Very elitist attitude...but what do I know, I treat everyone the same.

I'm glad you are staying home to help keep us safe.

Good to know. I'll be in Seville a month later so hopefully will be OK. During the Corpus Christi festival. Has anyone been in Seville during this time of year?

54 minutes ago, les37b said:

 

So why are they insisting on something that isn't required? This an azamara requirement only. On my cruise in a month, no country is insisting on a test, no airline is insisting on a test, just the azamara clinic.

 

And if they insist, it shouldn't be with an extortionate markup. In the UK now, you don't even need to isolate if you are positive and are fine to continue work. The vaccines and evolution means it's a mild cold now. Can flu and colds kill? Yep, just like they always have and without this nonsense as it stands now.

 

The insistance on this test for me personally is a real pain as even with a 72 hour window, it's nigh impossible. London will be in chaos on the weekend I need to get sorted because of the Jubilee..... And because testing is nigh history, there are just not many places open. Plus the cheapest PCR I can find, adds another £140 to the cost.

 

 

We are in complete agreement, but I believe cruise lines have been pressured by government and certain travelers to ensure safety beyond what is reasonable today. Hoping this nonsense drops by June.

That said, show me another major cruise line that isn't requiring pre-testing and I'll start joining in the lobbying effort. Heck, just a few weeks ago people considered it unsafe for others to not wear a mask within their vicinity...especially the help. Seems very elitist to me.

Get rid of testing and allow employees to be treated humanely. We are all vaccinated.

35 minutes ago, Mrs Miggins said:

I am not usually a 'cheerleader' however we had an excellent B2B on Quest from 16th April.  It was great to see some old faces amongst waiters and bartenders.  The welcome home was as genuine as ever I think. The new Captain was really good and very much fitted into the Azamara mould. (until he contracted Covid)  The Associate Cruise Director Darren, shortly moving to Journey, was excellent.  Great band in the Living Room.

My only complaints, which did not spoil my cruise, were:

Limited menu in Prime C and Aqualina.  Who chose the sides ?  I do not eat fish so I accept I am difficult.  Had some great steaks, the lamb was good.  No chicken ?

Cabaret lounge entertainment was uninspiring.  First week too many dancers, not enough good singers.  Second week worse.  CD was going through the motions, understandably because she was about to leave the ship to go home to marry the Shore Excursions Manager.

Didnt get the dock in Kotor, Weather said to impact in Dubrovnik, so in the cruise port rather than tendering into old town.

Change from Venice Marghera, to Ravenna, did have an impact.  Ravenna was lovely but now I have seen it and would not return - Would go back to Venice time and time again.

 

First week we had 276 guests, second week 419.  Not sure whether they will cope with a full ship. Large contingent from the UK (174) US (181).

 

I see that Pursuit actually had an off the ship Azamazing evening, unlike us.  We had the Sopranos in Livorno and 2 tenors and a soprano in Amalfi.  Very good but no substitute for the off ship events we have previously enjoyed.

 

Made the decision to book a 14 day Spain intensive June 2023 despite me being certain that I would book no more cruises until we complete our Scenic river cruise and Viking Med in Sept.

All in all they did a good job - not up to pre Covid standard - but we met such great fellow cruisers and hope to do so again.

Appreciate the update and it sounds like a few non-Azamara related issues conspired against you. Sorry to hear about your port changes…our related cruise originated in Venice and stopped in Kotor, so would not be happy with those changes.

Unfortunately, Venice has been threatening the change in policy for quite a while. Back in 2017 we had the benefit of arriving by boat to our hotel from the airport, and then taking the same boat to our cruise ship. Great experience…

22 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I’m afraid I've been hearing some very negative reports from friends currently on Onward who are very experienced Azamara cruisers (and I'm talking a LOT of cruises and money spent) and they say the ship is not ready and shouldn't have sailed. The odd thing or two, but there are many. And the crew aren't adequately trained. It's very disheartening for me to hear this as a lover of Azamara. And the reports from Quest that I heard weren't at all stellar either. It all seems to have gone to hell in a handbasket just now, no matter how it's dressed up as "Covid". I think we just need to be honest. 

 

Phil 

Good point…not sure if other cruise lines are dealing with similar issues or not. Overall, customer service is way down here in the US. 2-years of low profits, higher employee costs, supply chain issues, increased food/fuel/non-food costs, and additional requirements in non-core areas are causing stresses almost everywhere.

We have a casual chain called Panera and you can’t even get a cup of coffee. They shut down their app whenever they are overwhelmed to prevent orders (seen this happen at 3 different locations).

6 minutes ago, john1970 said:

I am wondering if all the effort has been put into the launch of Onward and it has left them spread even thinner than normal. One thing is for sure, there is only so much time a company can keep using the 'due to covid' defence.  I know other cruise lines have similar service issues but that doesn't make it right. I love Azamara at sea but the website, back office and reservations sometimes make it hard to stay loyal.

John, I agree with you about wanting a similar experience as pre-covid. I also prefer not to hear excuses and would like some semblance of normal.

However, if the number of COVID related messages in this forum is indicative of the type of people actually going on the cruise, then there is a very “real” level of stress to the system related to COVID.

We just went out yesterday for Mother’s Day in the US at a Brazilian Steakhouse (Fogo De Chau), and it was great. No masks used by the servers or guests. Hard to make an all you can eat steak place COVID friendly. 

Hoping my June experience will be a fun and relaxed…

55 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

Thanks Uktog. Sometimes I get the feeling that some members (Trolls? Azamara defenders? Travel agents?) are posting without really contributing. Empty answers like “we have to live with Covid” or “Azamara is not a health clinic” make me wonder what is the intention behind 🧐. As a cruiser who really like the Azamara product (at least before the new owners), I am surprised about some posts. If the intention is to defend or justify the obvious mistakes from Azamara right now, I am afraid the purpose is not being achieved. On the contrary some of us, who are really looking for help and answers on this boards are rather annoyed with empty answers.
Ivi

I was one of the posters, you referred to and certainly not a troll. I’ve been on Silversea twice,  Celebrity twice, and Oceania once. I signed up for this upcoming cruise since I like small ship sizes, the price was good, and hope to receive a similar experience as Oceania.

Personally, I would “love” to know what the COVID related complaint was??? The cruise line can’t win. 

If they respond with “loosen up” and stop trying to bully us with your COVID fears then you will be “offended”, and if they follow some of the ideas expressed on this board, they might as well close shop now, because no one would want to be on your “ideal” cruise.

1 hour ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Two tests at €22  is less than one test at US$59.

 

Current exchange rate US$59 = €55.93.

If you can’t tell cruise lines are trying to get out of the medical business and back to cruising. How much they charge doesn’t matter, since most people should be doing this on their own. Probably the only way to speed up the move to eliminating the hassle (testing) is to have people actually pay for things they are receiving.

Also, in related news…from travel weekly, vaccination policies on cruises are being relaxed to allow more families to travel.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/CDC-relaxes-highly-vaccinated-cruise-threshold

I saw this new article on Travel Pulse this morning. Travel companies are asking the White House to eliminate COVID testing for return to US. This will certainly make traveling for a cruise easier…

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/more-than-260-travel-companies-pressure-white-house-to-end-pre-departure-testing.html

1 hour ago, travelberlin said:

The tests which cost Euro 10 are apparently tests made with qualified staff not self tests you can buy and do it yourself. They come with a certificate.

Ivi

Then this is being subsidized. I get paid above minimum wage and would require more than $10 just to deal with scheduling, let alone testing, documentation, certificate, and cost of test. This doesn’t even factor in burden rate (benefits, inefficiency, overhead, etc.)

2 hours ago, travelberlin said:

I have contacted my Hotel in Greece and they informed me that there are testing possibilities near the Hotel. The price Euro 10 for an antigen test. I wonder who is making the profit at the antigen tests offered for US 59 at the terminal 🧐

Ivi

How much would you charge to oversee a test? My guess is they need to pay a nurse to oversee and document the testing or people would be complaining they were using unqualified staff. They can’t win….labor is generally the biggest expense.

3 hours ago, harrodsfan said:

These days with no masks I would never eat at a buffet. In fact I am not a fan of buffets at any time.. 

I love buffets, did an Indian buffet last week and not a mask in site. Wonderful opportunity to enjoy new things!