Jarronwood

Hi Jarronwood,

Yes the ships do serve Strongbow Cider. But it is NOT part of the complimentary beverage program. It is only available for sale.

Thanks Bonnie, he will be very pleased to learn that there is strongbow cider on board albeit at a cost.

Hi everyone

I noticed Strongbow Cider is available on the room service menu for a charge, however I couldn't find it or any cider as part of the complimentary beverages or indeed for an extra cost. Can someone please advise if they do have cider and if so what kind and again whether its an additional price.

Thanks for your time.

The Kansai Bus from Tempozan, which is the shopping center area at the pier is 1550 yen pp one way. That is about 13.00 USD pp. The info can be found here:http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/e_time_table/e_usj_tt.html#from

 

My husband and I have taken the bus to/from both Kansai and Itami airports and it is comfy, clean and fast, they have staff on hand to load and unload your luggage, it is much cheaper then purchasing a transfer from the cruise lines. It takes a bit longer then a cab but not much

How easy is it to lug your luggage to the terminal from the cruise ship?

Jarronwood, I can only go by what happened when we did the same thing in Chennai when we overnighted at the end. There were a number of us who had a 3am flight. There were no formal arrangements as far as transfers on our cruise, but the concierge organised a few of us to travel to the airport together after dinner on the final night. It worked out cheaper than doing it ourselves. In the absence of a listed Azamara transfer I'd encourage you to speak to the concierge. There are bound to be others on your flight or needing to get to the airport at the same time. If it's Quest and Yasmine, she's excellent.

 

Phil

Many thanks Phil, will do - just that we wouldn't want to miss the plane and if Azamara arrange a coach for some of us to get there at 8 am it will be worth it for peace of mind. Yes we are on Quest so I will make a point of doing that at the beginning of our cruise. I have looked at the excursions offered by Az but none to suit the transfer to the airport.

I am sure I have read somewhere on the forum but I cannot find it so apologies for repeating a post that may have already been answered.

We are on the March 1 cruise from Bali to Kyoto and the ship spends 2 nights in Kyoto before the day of departure and I am presuming that we can come and go as we please once it docks?

Having said that and before I book our flights with Singapore Airlines - there are only two flights departing Kansai, one at 11am and the other just after 11 pm - we want to be on the 11am flight which would mean leaving the ship at about 6.30 in the morning or thereabouts - we intend getting a cab or it may be that Azamara lay on a coach to take those passengers to the airport (and any advice on this would be very much appreciated since we will need to get to the airport - we don't want to go by train since it means lugging all the cases etc) I have already posted a thread on this about cost of taxi and whether we just get off the ship to find a taxi rank together with approx. cost of the taxi but does anyone know where I can find whether Azamara will offer (at a charge) transfer to the airport. Should I ring them direct?

If Azamara don't do any transfer can we get off the ship at 6.30 am and is it wise to take our chances in hailing a cab. I have already e mailed a firm in Kyoto regarding transfer by car and received a response that it will cost $250 US. WHAT? Is this about right?

I am just a little concerned with timings and getting to the airport on time.

Many thanks for all your advice so far, its been very valuable.

Hi Josie, we'll be on the same cruise. We spent two weeks last spring in Japan and everyone there is trustable even taxi drivers. I don't know about Osaka airport but there is two airports close to the city, Itami or Kansai depends if you fly to Tokyo or overseas.But there is also the possibility to take transfers from the ship to the airport.On our last cruise, we booked the transfer from Azamara few days before to get out the ship. Lyse!

How much was the transfer to Kansas airport with the ship. I've been quoted Over $250 U.S. By a company and to my mind that's way over the top.

We are flying with Singapore Airlines and it is showing Kansai Airport. How long does it take from the cruise terminal to Kansai, do you know?

And what sort of cost is it with the cruise rather than a taxi?

HI everyone, now that we have booked and had confirmed our new cruise from the cancelled 2 April Singapore to Singapore to Bali to Osaka, Japan, I am busy planning tours etc.

I have been trying to find and for the life of me cannot find the information about hiring/booking a taxi from the cruise terminal in Osaka, Japan to take us to the Airport for our flight home to London. I haven't yet booked our flights because I want to make sure that I will have enough time to get to the airport for a 11 am departure.

The ship stays in the port for two nights before we get off the third day - will we be able to get off the ship at about 7 am in the morning to get to the airport for the 11 am flight?

How long is it to the airport from the cruise terminal by taxi and finally, does anyone have or know a reputable taxi driver/firm who can take us and also the approx. cost?

Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated.

HI Again

Don't suppose you know how we would get from the ship in Kyoto to the airport, which I presume is Osaka? Is this a main international airport? Just that I was hoping to book the 11 am flight to London which changes at Singapore but it seems from my reading on the web that most people take a train rather than a taxi/transfer bus because of the cost?

Any help you can give on this part of our trip would be great.

You're quite right it probably wouldn't be:p there are 2 lovely pools and you're never too far away from them.

Any help on whichever hotel you decide on regarding what's around there don't hesitate to ask:)

Hi Again

Im looking at a hotel called San Pacific - partly because it is on a golf course and we would love to play a round of golf on one of our 3 days pre cruise. I know its not anywhere near any restaurants etc but my husband and I thought that we arrive mid afternoon/evening from Singapore and would want to check in, have something to eat and then relax and then the next day have breakfast and chill for a few hours and then go and play some golf about 2-3 pm. The following day we are being picked up by a driver who will show us the island and then on the return to the hotel we will chill and have some dinner. Then the next day we board the ship - the ship doesn't depart until the next day at 2 pm so thought we could get off after breakfast and just browse the shops presuming they are nearby.

Do you think all of this is feasible? The reviews of the hotel seem pretty good and I think it just might suit our needs.

I am just about to book our flights with Singapore Air from London to Bali and then from Kyoto back to London.

I am right that it will be Denpensar Airport in Bali and then Osaka Airport in Japan? Just that there are two airports for Bali on the Singapore web site and 3 for Kyoto so before I press the submit and pay button I just want to make doubly sure I have the rights airports.

Very many thanks for these suggestions - Ill have a look at these tonight after work - having a pool access room sounds wonderful but a little more than I had intended paying. Just wondering whether it would be worth it in view of the fact that we arrive on Saturday about 6 pm, SUnday will be a free day for us and on Monday we have arranged a driver to show us the island and then we board the ship on the Tuesday.

:confused::)

We intend having 3 nights in Bali pre cruise but knowing where to stay is a mine field.

Spending time now looking at hotels in Bali - question is which area will be better for us.

We want a hotel that will be quiet but somewhere we can just step out of the hotel to find ourselves in a melee of shops and restaurants.

We have organised a tour with a reputable company on one of our days leaving the other 2 days pretty much to ourselves.

Any suggestions on where we must go would be really helpful.

If I bring a couple of bottle of champers on board, will the fridge in the room be large enough to chill it? I am in a normal balcony cabin.

We are booked for a cruise in March which starts in Bali and ends at Osaka (Kyoto) and I am trying to arrange flights myself rather than via the cruise consultant.

I have made a dummy run with Singapore Airlines from London to Bali (changing at Singapore) and then from Kyoto back to London, again changing at Singapore. The price for the two of us is very reasonable.

However, is there a better way to get home to London from Osaka with maybe another airline. I have tried other airlines and one way or the other they will all stop somewhere en route and it maybe that it is best to stop at Singapore again.

Going from London to Singapore is a 3.5 hour stopover - the way back is a bit more (in fact there are several options of both journeys on length of stop over but my question is once you change at Singapore do you

(a) have to pick up your bags and check in again?

(b) will the bags just get transferred to the other plan to Bali?

AND

with the stop over whether one hour of 6 hours can you actually exit the airport or do you have to stay in the airport?

And finally, if you do have to stay "portside" is there anywhere that my husband can have a cigarette.

I would very much appreciate some help with this - I could ask my cruise consultant but think it a bit cheeky when we are probably going to arrange our own flights.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

As most of you know, the April 2 cruise Singapore to Singapore was cancelled and Azamara have given us a choice of options. We have chosen to do the Bali Cruise to Japan in March and we are now booked on the Quest, but my travel consultant will sort out the flights etc on Monday when she returns from holiday.

I have done a dummy run i.e. looked at arranging flights myself and also maybe a couple of nights pre cruise in a hotel and I was wondering whether there are any pros and cons with arranging your own flights, transfers and hotel accommodation apart from the fact that it seems a lot cheaper than the travel consultant's price.

Would welcome people's views on going alone or via the travel agency.

Hi Triona

Have you heard from your travel consultant yet? I have tried to contact mine - in fact she promised to call me yesterday but I didnt hear and now today she is out of the office. Its one of the UKs largest cruise agents and I cant even get through on the telephone today to speak to someone else.

They just dont seem to care - when I was looking to book they were keen to get back to me with options and then once I paid my money that efficiency has gone down the tubes. I bet that when it comes to paying the balance they would soon be on the phone!

You might also look at Celebrity cruises. They have a lot of ships in the Europe/Asia market and you might find the perfect cruise. Also, since they are part of the parent company RCCL, you'll probably have an easier time moving your cruise to them. Celebrity's ships are beautiful and even though they hold more passengers, I have never really felt crowded on them.

 

Garry

We have cruised with Celebrity (Panama Canal) and enjoyed the ship very much, however we chose the Azamara one because of the product they offer. The ship itself ticked all the right boxes for us. It is just such a shame because we trawled lots and lots of cruises and ships until we narrowed it down to the April 2 one Far East. I have been looking at similar cruises to the Far East and have come up with one but it is more expensive and really out of our budget.

We had an Azamara cruise to The Canary Islands cancelled in 2013....again due to an extended dry dock. We were offered to rebook any cruise at the same preferential rate.....which worked out VERY well for us because we had a longer cruise with a much better itinerary and they gave us $1000 OBC. :)

 

We went to The Spa, enjoyed lots of nice wine, went to the Speciality restaurants and I bought a new camera and some jewellery. It was definitely a win - win situation for us.

Hi Lottie

What is meant by the same preferential rate? Just that I have been looking for a comparable cruise to the Far East and come up with one but it is an extra 3 days which is fine but also more money that our Singapore one. Did you have to pay any extra money for your longer cruise? And did you still receive the same time of cabin as previously booked?

I also look forward to hearing from out TA. We are not too pleased with Azamara at this moment, to say the least. Triona

HI Triona

No not too pleased at all. Still waiting for my travel consultant to get back to me - she said she would contact Azamara and let me know but having read the post above, and if we can book any cruise with Azamara at the same price plus get OBC we could be persuaded to look for something else with Azamara. Problem is time off from work.

Keep in touch though as it would be interesting to see what each of our own travel consultants have to say to us......

Watch this space.

I have had a very quick glance at Oceania web site and am considering going over to them but will trawl the net tonight for cruises and reviews.

I am waiting for my travel consultant to get back to me after she has spoken with Azamara to see what else they can offer me at a reduced price or a comparable price.

Am I right in thinking that Azamara will not necessarily compensate the passengers for this cancelled cruise but will reduce their price on another cruise as well as give OBCs, or am I wrong in thinking this?

Having learnt via these broads that our cruise has been cancelled I duly contacted my cruise consultant on what happens now. You would have thought that they would have by now contacted me to discuss but no. They were keen to make this booking and take a £600 deposit.

To say how disappointed I am is an understatement - but life goes on and its back to the drawing board. Problem is work schedules for both my husband and I is going to be so difficult to arrange as most people have booked their 2016 holidays and empty slots are few and far between.

Does anyone know if Azamara will offer anything to their disgruntled passengers.

Do I try and find another cruise with Azamara or can anyone else recommend another cruise line which is comparable to Azamara.

I have been told it is NOT a charter but I have not heard whether the voyage is missing because it is sold out, or some other reason.

I will let you know when I hear definitively.

Thank you Bonnie, my travel consultant spoke to Azamara who said it was not a charter but that it had been sold out. SO long as its not a swingers boat or nudist we will be fine.

Do they do that then, when its full?

I have just spoken to a very nice lady at Azamara. She was very helpful and said that the system is not allowing her or anyone to make any bookings because it could be that it has been chartered. What does this mean? Chartered by who? Will the ship be therefore overrun with one company? I know I read on a forum that this happened and the reviews of the cruise from the individual passengers were not complimentary because of the "company who chartered it".

She did however confirm that my booking is still there and "safe" but she did say that cabins are showing as being available but these could be the guarantee cabins, her system does not allow her to see.

Bonnie, any light you can throw on this would be very much appreciated.