travelberlin

I did not know that Azamara charged a transfer fee. I was told onboard by the cruise sales representative that the fee is charged when you cancel. Ivi

On Azamara ships there are laundry rooms with washers and dryers if you need one. Convenient for long voyages. Ivi

I am sorry to hear about your change of embarkation port. The issue with Venice was out of control from Azamara because Venice is not accepting cruise ships anymore. At least this is my understanding. But what is the reason for changing Genoa and taking Nice instead? I have not heard of this happening before. I recommend you contact Azamara and request compensation. Ivi

The visibility of the HD sometimes depends of the personality. In December 2019 before COVID our hotel director on the, then “new” Azamara Pursuit, a lady who was fairly new to Azamara, was not very approachable and/or visible. I think her name was Elizabeth. Ivi

Unfortunately there are inconsistencies on the information that Azamara provides pre cruise in several issues. Get the answer they have given you per written. My travel agent has answered to my question per written indicating that she has talked to Azamara and they have told her that it is for shore excursions only. Due to this answer, I have not changed my booking to add the US 1000 OBC. I remain with my precious booking, where the OBC as usual, does not have any restrictions and can be used for any products or services onboard. Having a written answer, either direct from Azamara oder on Azamara’s behalf from the travel agent is all we can do. Ivi

I have seen taxis in Giardini Naxos offering trips to Taormina for Euro 25 per car. The Taxi stand is near the place where the tender boats from Azamara arrive. Ivi

My travel agent found from Azamara that the excursions onboard credit is to be used in excursions only. Ivi

Zabaione 😎

Noggins, a member of cruise critic, who was on Onward recently has provided a live thread and a summary of his experience. Have a look at that thread in order to get additional information on Onward. Ivi

I have eaten every evening on the Windows restaurant. The weather was very nice and you could seat on the Sunset veranda, which is the extension of the Windows restaurant open air. I do not have the menus but they are specials every night. It is a la carte, which I have liked because I do not like food being wasted or people touching the food. They display examples of the food for you to get an idea. An then you receive a menu and order a la carte. Imo a very good concept. I did not like the food offered on the night with American theme. I would have preferred other items such as pork ribs , fried chicken, corn bread… But that is just subjective. Otherwise I was fine. Ivi

Welcome on board! How do you like your suite? Ivi

The answer to this question I am also trying to find out. I suggest you consult your travel agent and get something on paper. This is what I am trying to do. Ivi

Nasal

Have a safe flight Joyride. I will be looking to following your experiences on your cruise. Ivi

Thanks a lot for your blog and for your summary Adrian. I have enjoyed reading your posts. I am glad you and your party have had a good cruise. Keep well and safe travels. Ivi

Thank you 🙏. I have carried my own luggage on the day of debarkation. No problem at all. Ivi

You do not need to take yours. You can take the towels from Azamara to the beach. Enjoy your cruise 🚢 Ivi

But for US 59 instead of the Euro 7 I have paid at a pharmacy…

I have boarded in Athens. Arrived at the pier at 13.00 hours. My test was done the day before in Athens at 9.30. There was no problem with that. Ivi

Sorry to hear about the cancellation of your cruise. Which cruise is that? How long in advance was the cancellation before the cruise? Ivi

In my cruise was: vacate cabin by 8.00 and disembark by 9.30. Ivi

I understand that the third vaccine does not have an expiration date and that people are not required to get a 4th vaccine. Is that correct? Ivi

I have found on the web page this terms and conditions applied to this offer: it looks as if it is for shore excursions only Terms & Conditions The May Flash Offer applies to new bookings in all stateroom categories (guarantee staterooms excluded) made between 25th May 2022 to 10th June 2022 (“Offer Period”), (on selected voyages departing between 5th June 2022 to 18th April 2023 (“Eligible Bookings”). The May Flash Offer applies to new, individual, and non-contracted group bookings created between 25th May 2022 to 10th June 2022 (“Offer Period”), (on selected voyages departing between 5th June 2022 to 18th April 2023. Offer provides $500 USD Shore-Ex OBC per stateroom onboard credit (“OBC”). All guests must be named, and a full deposit must be made prior to the end of the Offer Period for May Flash Offer. This promotion does not apply to Travel Agent rates, Interline Rates, Nett Tour Op Rates, Gross Tour Op Rates, Closed User, or any form on non-Revenue price programmes, including but not restricted to: Seminars at Sea, Perishable Inventory, Complimentary prize winner staterooms, incentive or contracted groups, or 3rd guests and upwards in the stateroom, who must pay full fare at the time of booking. May Flash Offer is combinable with April to June Brand Offer ($500 Shore-Ex OBC) for an OBC total of $1,000 USD. May Flash Offer is also combinable with exclusive Travel Partner promotions, Back to Back Benefits, onboard booking savings and Azamara Circle Quarterly Savings. Unless stated otherwise, offer is not combinable with, Last Minute Voyages, Closed User Rates, Employee Rates, Interline Rates, Travel Agent Rates, and Net Rates. May Flash Offer is not applicable to 3rd and 4th guests in a stateroom. May Flash Offer is not applicable to incentive or contracted groups. After the Offer Period, the offer will be removed from the booking if the guest cancels and reinstates the booking, applies a fare change, or changes the ship or sail date of the booking; certain other changes to the booking may also result in removal of the offer. Offer is subject to availability and change without notice and may be withdrawn at any time. Single occupancy guests paying 200% cruise fare are eligible for the full amount of the offer; single occupancy guests paying less than 200% cruise fare are eligible for a prorated amount of the offer. Bookings created prior to this promotion that wish to access the new benefits will have to cancel existing booking & make a new booking. Bookings that are cancelled shall be subject to prevailing cancellation charges. Promoter reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify this promotion, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, a change in applicable law or any other factor beyond Promoter's reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of this promotion, as determined by Promoter in its sole discretion. Promoter's standard booking terms and conditions will apply and are available to view at https://www.azamara.co.uk/plan/booking-conditions. For general booking information, ATOL protection, eligible sailings, terms and conditions, inclusions, cancellation charges & other information please refer to the Azamara website or contact your travel agent. This promotion is sponsored by SP Cruises OpCo Limited (or its designee company as operator of the 'Azamara' brand, specifically, SP Cruises Ireland Limited). For more details see www.azamara.com/about-azamara.

Once again thank you for following my thread and for accompanying me during my cruise with the Azamara Pursuit from Athens to Barcelona. Now it is a cold but sunny day back here and it is also beautiful. Nice bright colors on this spring day. To end this thread, I would like to give you my thoughts on my cruise experience. Overall I had a very nice cruise and I was glad to be onboard an Azamara ship again. From my perspective there are some areas of improvement. Those areas are: a) the pre cruise experience and communication, b) the internet access, c) the spa price-value relation and d) the products availability, including price-value relation, in the shops. The first area is imo new to Azamara. Changing terms and conditions on a short notice and contradictory information have contributed to unnecessary anxiety before the cruise. It is important that Azamara quickly finds ways to improve the pre cruise communication specially because many first time cruisers are considering Azamara and confusing information does not speak well about the cruise line. The deficiencies in Internet as well as the price-value relation in the shops and spa are issues that have been there a long time, even before COVID. I guess Azamara has not much possibility to influence the products and prices in the spa and shops, however it should give the providers a feedback on it. Just to mention some examples, even with on board credit, it hurts to pay more than US 300 for a massage or US 140 for a manicure and pedicure or US 110 for a hair cut. It also hurts to pay almost US 100 for a shirt with the Azamara logo (US 75 plus country taxes). If we would not have onboard credit, I doubt it that many of us will be buying those products or using those services. At least in Europe those prices are not good value for money. A quick research on the offers from European cruise lines could give an idea of which prices those cruise lines charge. In relation to the Internet, I think it is time for Azamara to find a solution either upgrading their system, finding alternative ways for better connectivity and/or offering Internet for free. The price of US 20 per day seems not justifiable for such a low quality. Again, the competition, that is other cruise lines, is offering better quality internet at half of that price if not for free. Having said that, I was glad to see that the onboard experience was as good as always. Here I have to say that the onboard experience depends of our own situation. For example, I experience my cruises with Azamara as a solo traveler. My impressions are from this point of view. I find that Azamara is solo friendly. As a solo traveler, you can meet other people and socialize if you wish or you can just be on your own. I usually like to be on my own when I cruise solo. I have socialized less than usual this time onboard, because I was trying to avoid COVID. I did not go to all shows in the theater because only a few number of people were wearing masks. I have also not taken any ship excursions for the same reason. COVID is still a contagious virus and maybe there were asymptomatic people onboard. I did not want to risk getting infected because this would affect further plans my husband and I have, and more important because I did not want to be a risk for my husband’s health after returning home. I hope I have succeeded with that. As a solo traveler, I have not felt in any form neglected onboard. Crew and officers were friendly and attentive. I have felt very well while cruising with the Azamara Pursuit. As a consequence I have booked another cruise with Azamara for February next year. I would have booked one for August this year but all ships are leaving from ports where I would have to fly again. I prefer not to fly that often, because the flights are not reliable with all those cancellations taking place. I wish to thank the Crew and Officers of the Azamara Pursuit for contributing to making my cruise from Athens to Barcelona a very good one. I am glad you are back after two years of difficult years. It was good to see you again smiling with your eyes. Thank you! Ivi

Thanks Adrian. Next is a cruise my husband and I will do with MSC to the Fjords in Norway in two weeks from now. Ivi