takemewithyou

1 hour ago, emerald6273 said:

Feeling very stressed. I booked an Azamara cruise in October 2023 for September 2024, via a well known large US cruise agency. I paid a $1100 deposit. Received the 5% Azamara offer incentive to pay balance in full. I contacted cruise agent to make final payment. Now Azamara are saying there was a price glitch, are refusing to honour price on my invoice. They want $7k more or have offered full refund of my deposit. I’ve paid non refundable flights, hotels, airport parking etc for my trip. Dog sitter deposit paid etc. I’m absolutely gutted. I was so looking forward to my trip. How can Azamara do this to a customer who has already sailed with them 5 times?

I would think your travel agent needs to work through this with Azamara and go to bat for you.  Your travel agent can go above the head of person on the phone to a Manager at Azamara.

57 minutes ago, Hulagirl said:

Actually it says early savings not booking bonus. So it has nothing to do with a deposit.

 

Also wondering if this is aimed at certain cabin categories.  Veranda and lower, not the suite categories.

My booking is a CC suite.

18 minutes ago, Hulagirl said:

I find this interesting as we have a cruise in July but never received the e-mail.  I'm curious if this is targeted to certain stateroom categories. 

 

We booked this cruise in Sept. 2022 and received a good sized early booking discount on the fare.  I'm wondering if this would negate us from receiving the e-mail offer.

 

 

Read the terms listed on the original post.……..says combinable with onboard booking savings, BUT NOT combinable if you received a reduced deposit with the onboard booking.

1 hour ago, laurieb said:

I haven't seen either of these promotions in the US market

I just received the email a couple of days ago regarding receiving OBC for paying cruise in full now.

3 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Onward arrived in Cozumel this morning and will be here until 10 PM then two sea days headed to Panama.

Tonight is Amazing Evening for this segment. All of Amazing Evenings are brand new on this cruise.

Food has been great, service wonderful.

Last night we had Captain Carls welcome. He’s the most excited person on ship as he’s been waiting for years to do a World. He’s also a hoot! After toast  we were treated to a great show from four tenors from UK.

Received 2 back packs with water canister and umbrella inside all with World Cruise logos

Life is good on beautiful Onward.

Great to hear from you!  Enjoy the World cruise!  Keep those reports coming as you are able.  

Really appreciate all the trip reports from the Onward Christmas Cruise!   It’s been fun reading them.  Tonight will be your New Years Eve White Night Party!  can’t wait to hear all about that.  
Have fun everyone!  

On 12/28/2023 at 8:24 AM, PAtravelbug said:

We watched the first few seasons of death in paradise and are looking forward to seeing the locations!   It’s been a stunning approach to the island.  

How was Guadeloupe? 

1 hour ago, PAtravelbug said:

We are approaching Guadeloupe now. New for me!   It beautiful outside today.  
 

azamazing evening was last night in st Maartin.   We watched 4 other big ships leave leaving us behind.  Getting off the ship was very organized and we were greeted by the officers, stilt walkers who were kids and , a high school drum group.  Just off the pier we were greeted with water and rum punch and island treats on tables- With a woman in the middle with the tablecloth looking like her skirt - hard to explain.  Conch fritters, swordfish fitters, guava tart.  All nice.  There was a steel drum band playing for the first 40 minutes or so   then the high school drummers came up front and did a bit. Then the captain spoke and the CEO of the port (10 year anniversary of azamazing evenings). The main act was not at all as described.  It was much better! In my opinion.   Female lead singer.  French. Amazing guitarist and a saxophone player. They did some familiar tunes , some French, a song in Papiamento- a gorgeous La Vie en Rose.  Some young dancers appeared from time to time well choreographed and organized.   It was well done and entertaining.   Back to the ship with champagne and juice on the pier, the band and then snacks in windows.  American junk foods , sushi, fruit, sandwiches and dessert.  We made a quiet exit from. St Maartin with a full moon (one day past) over head. 

It looks like they changed up the show a bit from last year.  I loved the St Maarten Azamazing evening last year for the convenience of just walking off the ship and walking right to the show….no buses.  The food is a new addition from last year……the lady with her dress had rum punches on her table- skirt.  Were they offering any cocktails this year?  

The Azamazing evening at St Maarten in 2021 was also good. We had three ladies singing Motown and they were brought onboard due to Covid precautions….we were still all wearing masks onboard.

1 minute ago, tgg said:

Brunch today from 10:00 - 12:30 with many choices. There have been carols and cookies. Christmas Eve dinner last night very crowded and loud. Food was mediocre. We're opting for Prime C tonight.

This all would have been more fun if you were here.

The best part of this cruise and the last is that there are fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries every morning to go with my yogurt or cottage cheese.

Maybe join us next year on Journey?! Would love to see you! 

58 minutes ago, tgg said:

Very Christmassy. Captain Carl's four kids along with the others on board (not too many) got their presents this morning. Santa and elves made an appearance for photos. Lots of silly shirts and colorful outfits.

We are living vicariously between you and @PAtravelbug!!

Wish we were there.

We will be on our first Christmas and New Years cruise next year on Azamara.

57 minutes ago, tgg said:

Very Christmassy. Captain Carl's four kids along with the others on board (not too many) got their presents this morning. Santa and elves made an appearance for photos. Lots of silly shirts and colorful outfits.

Merry Christmas to you and DH!
Is there a brunch on Christmas Day?

I am sure you must have had the Christmas carols and cookies! 

4 hours ago, PAtravelbug said:

I have been watching for you too!   

I can’t believe you and @tgg haven’t seen each other yet!  It’s a small ship!

Merry Christmas to all!

How was Christmas Eve and Christmas morning meals and activities?!

We just stayed at Avenida Palace Hotel in Nov.  We loved it also.  It does have quire an area around it that is flat and walkable.  quite a few shops and restaurants around it.  they also offer nightly entertainment which we enjoyed.

24 minutes ago, tgg said:

Azamara is no longer supporting CC meet & greets. Our roll call get together wasn't listed in the Insider. It spoke to Eric, our Cruise Director, shortly after boarding and he was kind enough to make an announcement about the time and place. Those who came had a good time getting to meet fellow posters and we've been happy to spent time with many of them during the past few days.

 

Very different from last year in so many ways.

So sorry to hear that.  So it seems they are not even bothering to list it in the Insider now?!  I wonder if that is across the fleet?  It may be new policy as it was listed on Pursuit in June or just not consistent amongst all the ships.

Sorry about the rough ride, @tgg.  So different from last year!

We did a transatlantic recently and the sea was so flat and calm!

You just never know!

How did your CC meet and greet go?

22 minutes ago, PAtravelbug said:

I found last year aboard the Onward that a beach towel folded up helped on those balcony chairs a lot.   I love to sit out there.  

Hope your trip is as good as last year!  
Keep us posted!

1 hour ago, woodards said:

Day Four - St Thomas

 

This was a day of two halves. 
 

We went to Windows for breakfast. We were a little late for us, 09:00, but still an hour before the end of breakfast. It was terrible. Tables weren’t cleared. And there was no fruit. I’m not exaggerating.  Mrs W was told it would be 10 minutes. She went back 15 minutes later and was told another 5 as someone was stuck in the elevator with the fruit! Another 5 minutes passed and Mrs W was then told that all the fruit had finished apart from watermelon and no one was stuck in the elevator?!  It was like a scene out of Faulty Towers! Then breakfast was closed. We didn’t expect it to take an hour and not get what we wanted. Oh well it’s just fruit!!!

Mrs W spoke to the executive chef and she wasn’t impressed. He apologised and asked if he could cut up some fruit for her. He just missed the point of there being no fruit for all guests. She took the opportunity to ask about the destination taste choices, but didn’t get an answer, other than a shrug. She still didn’t get her fruit! 🙄
 

St Thomas was wonderful. We walked into town which was a pleasant 30 minutes on a promenade path. We wondered around town and then got an open air taxi truck to Meagans Bay.  It was relaxing and not too crowded. Taxis were easy to get back to ship. 
 

We had a late lunch in the Patio and demolished a very good burger. It took a little time, but service was excellent. 
 

Our Prime C dinner and service was one of the best we’ve experienced. It was excellent. Although it appears Mrs W’s concerns have been raised as the manager of Windows came to our table to apologise. 
 

We were too late for the show, but the band East Pearl are very very good and kept to entertained after dinnner. 

 

 

 

Thanks for your continuing review which I interpret as honest and balanced.

On 12/3/2023 at 4:57 AM, ECCruise said:

Price, probably. 

Quality?  Not so. 

And way more interesting. 

We can agree to disagree.

5 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

We're currently on Journey & have been delighted with the food. No carvery at lunchtime, instead a range of curries, noodle dishes, kebabs etc.

That seems to be a reduction in quality to me.  
Noodles and pastas are cheaper to supply than roasts and better cuts of meat.

They are carving all kinds of roasts on Oceania lunch and dinner.  Turkey, stuffed veal roasts, lamb loin, leg of lamb, steamship rounds of beef, pork roasts, beef tenderloin.

Interestingly we are just finishing a 13 day Transatlantic cruise on Oceania where the food quality has been excellent.  Much better than what we have experienced on Azamara as recently as June and  last Dec.  Chateaubriand in Main dining room tonight.  Last night was Beef Wellington.  Will say the lamb is better on Azamara.  Fish has been excellent.  Had the best halibut of my life the other night in main dining room! 

And the price of the TA was not more than comparable accommodations on Azamara…actually less.  
 

These reports of further reduction in food quality on Azamara have me a bit concerned! 

I assume the Onward CC suites still has the same hard plastic balcony chairs on the balcony?  Can you confirm if this is still the case? 

1 hour ago, ECCruise said:

With these comments on the lack of a "carvery" we are on day 17 of our 37 on Pursuit and happy not to see the repetitive carvery options. Every day of the 17 a different local food offering where a boring roast used to sit.

 

Spanish specials, West African dishes and other creative uses of that space, all prepared largely on the spot.  Looking forward to Namibian and South African specials going forward. 

 

Also a local breakfast dish every morning. 

To my knowledge there is always a “destination food offering” i.e.  local food offering in windows and some kind of carvery on every sailing we have done.

Just watched the Onward sail into Lisbon.  We are here in Portugal for a different cruise.

11 minutes ago, Ithikan said:

Except, when it doesn't.

Per "what you said" I click Roll Calls; click Journey; click January.  Which produces a list of 4 sailings not including the one I'm looking for.

But, I know now to drill down, and I'll take Grandma Cruising's note to heart about continuing to post.

Thanks to all for your feedback.  

Sorry it didn’t work for you.  It seems like, for some people, it still works as usual and for others, there is a problem.  Maybe it depends on browser used? 

It works the same for me as it always did.  
 

Click find your roll call- select ship- select month- then drop down menu appears with all roll calls in that month.