mare s.

I am glad our January cruise will still have live music before/after dinner. After a full day of touring, we love coming back and unwinding with a drink and interacting with the pianists/guitarists. We have another Azamara cruise in 2019 and I'm already looking at alternatives. Why bother to cruise at all if it's just a matter of being transported from one place to another with some food/drink thrown in. A land tour will do just as well (and in many cases at less cost.) I guess I'm old fashioned, but I love the ambience of an elegant cruise ship (I'm not talking now of the mega ships with their climbing walls and roller coasters) We've loved our several cruises on Azamara but I guess everything changes. We tried Oceania and there were many things to like about it and we're hearing good things about Viking and Crystal. So we have choices. I sincerely hope that Azamara management realizes that and still values their loyal customers...but it's not looking that way.

I agree, go or become more professional. Another case and point, he starts at 2230 on the dot. ABBA night is often the night of the cruise directors show so it’s 1050 on average before you get to the Living Room. Last cruise we got 3 ABBA songs when we asked for more we got a very very curt it started at 1030, where were you. They should reschedule the main disco for 11 ok have music from earlier. Or alternatively perhaps DJs could use initiative, be customer focussed, it can’t be too difficult to get a call from Deck 5 when the Cabaret lounge is clear

 

But I would agree I consider one Azamara DJ to be an absolute pro, one is ok and one is totally unprofessional- but we did include the feedback post cruise on that one.

 

I don’t think the Azamazing evening can be a pay or not, I can see too many issues booking venues etc so it has to be and all or nothing imho. If they drop it that would not drive me away from Azamara though I love the evenings, but the rumoured (accept it’s still rumoured) changes on either onboard bookings for LCV or removing piano players without an easy listening bar alternative are much much more likely to.

 

 

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I completely agree! Azamazing evenings are sometimes good and sometimes bad but certainly something I can do without. Muzak in place of live piano or guitar players would be a non starter for me. Ugh. After our January cruise we have one more booked and, to be honest, I am already looking for an alternative just in case.

As part of our continued efforts to provide you with the finest entertainment at sea, we’re currently reimagining our onboard programming based on feedback from our valued guests.

Rest assured, we’ll continue to offer evening showcases and live music before and after dinner.

We look forward to sharing these exciting new enhancements with you in early 2018.

Thank you Bonnie. We just hope the "live music" includes Ed and Max and not just an abbreviated version of the band. I like lively but not loud.

There are only six people in the shows now..how do you do a show with no dancers. How do you have dance classes.

 

Life without out Ed or MAx or Simon would be sad. Other ships have even more music.no one can. Live without music

The one thing we really enjoyed on Oceania was the music...the string quartet played before and after dinner...the piano man (although he lacked personality) played before dinner. There is nothing like having a pre-dinner drink while being entertained by (not loud bands) music. Ditto after dinner or after show. It is indeed one of the joys of cruising. I don't need bingo, or art auctions, or climbing walls, or massive stage productions. I do need music.

There are big changes to the Entertainment planned. This has been talked about for some time. I have heard that they are thinking of bringing on more speciality acts for one or two nights on each cruise and reducing the onboard permanent entertainment staff.

 

Max is on his way back to Journey imminently until about June I think, but it is not known about contracts for later in the year. The dancers are also affected with possibly no more contracts for them next year either.

 

I am all for updating the cabaret shows as I have seen them all many times now, but I would hate to loose Max and Ed and the brilliant dancers like Sasha and Dima and Alina and Alex. In my opinion this would be a huge mistake and I really hope Azamara will listen to us on this matter. Watching those amazing dancers and listening to Max or Ed on piano is one of the great pleasures of an Azamara cruise.

I totally agree! But they didn't listen to us about the harpist, so I doubt they will listen now.

I was on Quest in November . Heard about the shows. Finally a change. But not heard anything about music. Why would they bring on Simon to replace Max if this was true. Ed leaving soon for the holidays.

Is Max moving on? Or just on vacation. We love Max.

If they are really eliminating pianist and guitarist (and I can't believe they are) this will definitely be a deal breaker for us....no casino and no live music in the evenings? No no no.

What?????? No pianist or guitarist? That cannot possibly be happening. Bonnie...can you verify?

A couple of times, we've gone to the main dining room for dinner and then gone up to the White Night party for dessert...crepes suzette! Oh so yummy. Don't know if they are still making those at the White Night (been a couple of years) but the party itself is loads of fun...music and dancing and the deck is beautifully decorated for the occasion. Nice to wear white, but really, lots of people don't.

Told flat out by a staff member it was going

Guessing in the next redo

Not a deal buster for us, but we do like to hit the casino after the show...not much else to do in the evening. But if there is more in the way of live music (not loud bands, but piano, guitar, or even a string quartet like Oceania or even...please, please, please, a harpist) we will be happy. And as long as DH can watch American football or baseball (depending on the season) in the stateroom, we will be okay. I remember what fun we had when we were on board during Super Bowl a few years ago...Azamara decorated the Cabaret Lounge, there was a large screen t.v., and a special buffet. Unfortunately t.v. reception wasn't good, but everyone enjoyed the party.

mare

And our Japan intensive in 2019 now shows Captain Jose! Very happy. (and we still get to sail again with Captain Carl in January before he leaves for Pursuit)

So who will be the master on Quest? Captain Jose? I guess Captain Carl won’t be on Quest for the Japan cruises in 2019 after all.

Our friends, with whom we usually cruise on Azamara, are taking their first Viking Ocean cruise next month and we will be very interested to hear their reaction.

I know what a "happy ship" is and what an "unhappy ship" is. We've been on cruises (not Azamara) where crew is unhappy...we've seen arguments in the dining room between waiters, sour expressions, and even complaints from crew to us about how they are short staffed, unappreciated, etc. Makes for an unpleasant experience. I think many cruise lines have realized that the on board experience is important and that the crew is a major component, and when they are hiring "friendlier" people or providing a better work environment for staff (pay and benefits-wise) guests are also happier. We were concerned that our experience on Oceania wouldn't be as good as we've come to love on Azamara, but we were pleasantly surprised...perhaps we didn't have the level of interaction we have on Azamara, but crew was uniformly friendly and helpful and all seemed happy (with just one exception.)

mare

I appreciate that you've made official what some of the phone representatives have been telling us. But the unanswered question is "when is the website going to have the functionality of being able to book excursions with OBC directly, so that we don't have to pre-pay, hassle with standing in line on-board, and end up likely paying more for the excursions?" It's too late for me...I have booked all private tours for my upcoming January cruise and I guess we'll just use our OBC for additional drinking/dining, spa, and shops. But I am very disappointed with Azamara for promising something (way back months ago) and not delivering. Sorry Bonnie...don't mean to take it out on you...you're just the messenger. It's just infuriating that something that is being offered on other, less premium lines, cannot be offered on Azamara.

Based on recommendations here, we have arranged for Odyssey Tours for several excursions (including transport to and from our ship) in January. Alvaro responds to emails promptly and has been very helpful. Will post a review when we return, but I suspect it will be very positive.

We recently returned from our first Oceania cruise on Insignia (sister ship to Azamara's ships) and found the crew to be extremely friendly and the cabin attendants among the best we've ever had. The itinerary (Iceland and Greenland) was interesting and we took advantage of Oceania's pre-cruise land tour which was very well done. That being said, we thought the food was hit or miss (although the freshly grilled lobster tails and shrimp every night in the buffet were delicious), the entertainment poor (other than their string quartet), and the piano man boring (Robin and Lottie are so right) Didn't think the beds were any better than those on Azamara and we missed the friendly and informative Azamara Captains, the White Night party, and the Azamazing evening. Counting down the days until our next time on Quest!

This has been going on now for much longer than it should. As soon as the workaround was announced for cruises this summer, those of us with cruises in the early part of 2018 asked about the website "fix." Obviously it is a low priority for Azamara. They very quickly revamped the website to include a new ship and new itineraries (and I thought they'd be able to include the OBC fix at the same time.) So we know it can't be because their IT folks can't manage. I was also told a month or two ago by an Azamara phone representative that we could use the workaround for January 2018 and it is apparent that that's what they'd like us all to do. I trusted what the rep said but decided we'd take private excursions instead. I just didn't like the idea of paying up front and then having to hassle with canceling on board and then re-booking at what might be a higher price. And for cruisers outside of the U.S., they have a double whammy of fluctuating currency. I do love Azamara and hope the on board experience is as good as I remember (we haven't been on board for a couple of years) but this issue has certainly soured a lot of people.

mare

This whole argument (currency exchange, etc.) could be made moot if Azamara would just get the website functionality instituted to buy shore excursions in advance with OBC. It's been months now. Oh, and the current website (I looked a few days ago) still says, in the FAQ section, that a workaround for OBC is prohibited. We lucky ones on Cruise Critic are aware that it can be done, but what about everyone else? I love Azamara but this type of thing is so off-putting.

mare

I wonder if the website upgrade delay has something to do with Pursuit? If itineraries are going to be added and information on the new ship included, I would think that Azamara would do everything at once (including the new OBC for shore excursion functionality) That would make the most sense.

In the meantime, I am not waiting for the temporary "fix." I have booked private excursions and will try to use the OBC for things like better beverages and the Chef's table. I'm a bit disappointed, but somehow or other we will spend the extra money.

mare

I just spoke to an Azamara rep because I was having some difficulty reserving the Azamazing evening on our upcoming January 2018 cruise (the website kept telling me my credit card on file was not valid but there is no obvious option to change it...even though the Azamazing evening is free!)

He very helpfully checked it all out and sent me an email confirmation (while commenting that he didn't understand why the website demanded a credit card.) So I asked him if he knew anything about using OBC for shore excursions and the website fix. He basically told me what Bonnie has been saying....they are going to get it done (and he said it will be a complete website overhaul) but no idea when. He said they had been told August but obviously that didn't happen. However, he said (and this is what I find interesting) that they are allowing the workaround for everyone...we can book the shore ex then on board cancel and re-book with OBC. I remarked that their website FAQ's still specifically forbade this, but he said they were allowing this as a benefit to their cruisers. So...I'm hoping this is correct info.

I'm sorry, mare, I haven't heard recently about the timing for the permanent fix.

Well, I can live without the permanent fix (although it's a bit inconvenient) but will we be allowed the same workaround as those cruises in 2017? It would certainly be unfair if we weren't.

mare

Our offices are open again. Everyone is safe and from what I'm hearing they are happy to be in air conditioning again. [it is a rough time of year to have no electricity at home!]

 

But I digress! I'm posting this to ask those who posted questions, and I asked to hold-off until this week when our offices reopened, to resend me the questions and I'll see about getting you answers.

Glad all in Miami are ok. Must have been an awful experience.

Wasn't sure if you wanted us to post new threads, but I'll ask here first. My question was whether those of us on cruises in the new year (January and February 2018) are going to be allowed the workaround in booking our shore excursions with our OBC or if the permanent fix is coming soon. A couple of the excursions I was interested in are already full.

Thanks!

mare

my prayers are with you and for everyone in Irma's path (and those who have already been affected) And also for the people of Mexico who are suffering the aftermath of a tremendous earthquake. Mother Nature is pretty angry right now.

I have not heard yet, and as promised earlier, I will let you know as soon as I hear something.

P.S. until Hurricane Irma has safely gone to sea I am postponing asking questions of the staff in Florida. I'm sure you understand.

absolutely! thank you.

Well, it is September and no announcement about a permanent website fix to allow OBC to be used for shore excursions. So, Bonnie, what is the status? Our cruise is in early January and I'd really like to finalize things (and hope that the couple of shorex's I want are still available!)

So will the workaround be extended?

Thanks.

mare

how dreadful for you and everyone in Irma's path. Please stay safe, and if that means evacuation, do so...Meanwhile here on the West Coast, everything is burning! Ugh.

mare