ChucktownSteve

I may be mistaken, but it was my understanding that charters are far more profitable (aka lucrative) than regular fared cruises. On charters, there are no perks, they don't have to discount and the whole ship is booked. Azamara doesn't have to worry about empty cabins loss of revenue. No free liquor or free gratuities but revenue generating.

What's the downside for Azamara other than a few upset passengers who are offered OBC and an opportunity to switch to a similar cruise?

Wouldn't it depend upon which country your friends are from and whether US visas are required for those countries? You didn't mention their nationality. If they need to have a visa, they can book prior to having the visa but better have it at boarding.

Thank you for a most comprehensive and thoughtful review. You had many excellent observations and points of interest.

We sailed Summit with Kapt. Kate last fall and thought she did a very good job then. We'll be on Summit in a couple of months but she'll be on vacation when we are.

I do have a question though. If you were offered a 30 or 50% discount at the specialty restaurant, would it have been worth it? We've never done one but were expecting to try it on our upcoming Summit cruise.

When we boarded the Constellation in February as an AQ passenger, we were offered a 50% specialty dining reservation the first night. We didn't take advantage of it because we had never been in Blu before. So if they offer it on this embarkation, would you feel it would be worth it to try?

Our cabin will be on Deck 11. Is the movie on deck 11 or on deck 12? Oceanview cafe & sunset bar/oceanview bar are on 10 right?

Got it Steve. I was looking at the 'brown' buildings of the visitor centre (old station?) and not the multi storey car park! Do you know if thats just a place to park 'through the day' or can you stop the night? I imagine its the former.

 

Thanks for the vote nbt...the natural bridge is on our provisional list!

 

Simon

Since you've given up the RV idea, you won't be very comfortable sleeping on the concrete paved parking garage. But at least you won't be restricted to the ground floor only. :D

We're going to be on the Summit again in two months. This time instead of an OV we'll be in AQ1. Never did a suite. But I doubt I would adopt their attitude even when things aren't exactly as expected.

I just re-read the OP after reading all the other comments, my immediate thought this time was a quote from "Alice in Wonderland".

"Off with their heads!"

You can upgrade your drinks package though once you get on board. :p That way if you drink enough, you won't mind being in the "cheap seats". Enjoy your cruise. Any day on the ship is better than a day at work or on land.

We do not have an OBC. My biggest question is regarding the currency the excursions are charged in, if purchased on the ship. If when you book an excursion onboard, the charge is forwarded to your OBC, then I guess my question is really what is the operating currency on the ship in general?

I've read on CC where some Canadians have pre-purchased OBC at a good exchange rate. I don't recall many of the details but that may be an option for you.

Hopefully a Canadian who's experienced with that will help you.

This really should't be a big deal. It's just like most insurances. You have your primary insurance and then everything else is secondary (dental, eye). First you submit to your primary (in this case it's your personal medical ins.) then to your secondary(in this case your trip insurance carrier). Whatever primary doesn't cover, your secondary should cover up to their coverage limits. If your primary doesn't cover the claim at all, the secondary will, again up to its limits, but they first require you to submit it to your primary to see what they will pay if anything.

 

We have to do this all the time with our dental. Even though we know our primary medical won't be paying for the services, we have to submit to them as primary as well as to our secondary dental insurance. It still gets covered by dental, it's just a process they require.

Since you're a young, attractive woman, Primary vs. Secondary may not be a problem. (Thought I would throw in the attractive part even though it has no bearing on a claim. :D ) However since many people who cruise are on Medicare and Medicare doesn't pay for out of country claims, having to submit to them even though you will be denied will greatly lengthen the claim process. On a small dental claim that's not a problem. Different story on a big medical bill internationally.

Also some travel insurance policies will assist getting you admitted to a foreign hospital for treatment without you having to shell out big bucks out of your pocket for initial care. I don't know of U.S. medical plans that do that.

Hubby and I are cruising for the first time ever and we are booked on Celebrity Silhouette April 9-16th/17. I am from Canada. I have been looking at potential excursions on the Celebrity website. They are priced in Canadian dollars. I am assuming, that once on board, the price of tours then will then be priced in American dollars. Just wanted to confirm one way or the other, as the Canadian dollar is very low at the moment, so if thats the case it would be worth my while to purchase excursions before going.:):)

It depends upon if you have any On Board Credit that you may want to use for the excursions. If you pre-book, you pay cash. If you book on board you can use OBC to pay for the excursions. However if it's a very popular tour, it may be sold out before you board the ship. In that case, if you really want that tour, pre-book it for cash.

RallyDave,

Your point about the U.S. government is well taken. However I found the following on the U.S. Department of State web site:

United States Condemns Terrorist Attack in Istanbul, Turkey

Press StatementJohn Kirby

Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

March 19, 2016

The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack today on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and our hopes for a quick recovery for those wounded. We will remain in close touch with Turkish authorities during the investigation.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/03/254850.htm

Maybe he didn't get the "memo" when using the word terrorist? :rolleyes:

Thanks for the info Steve. Had a quick look on Google Earth at the Visitor Centre. Do you know how you get into the RV park? The only bit that looks accessible is a long building which is apparently for buses.

 

Simon

The RV entrance at the parking garage is the same one the cars use on Mary Street. It's half way between Meeting Street and King Street. If you're looking at Google Maps, it's the double wide building. The entrance is just to the right of the bus icon.

The parking is as you first enter on the right side, ground floor. As you leave, you just pull around the U to the exit booth. It's basically a U turn in inside the building before the open part which is for pedestrians and the elevator.

The bus shed at the Visitors center is for guided tour vans and large coach buses while they purchase their touring passes and their riders go inside the visitors center. This building is between Ann and John Streets.

The CARTA DASH stop for all downtown routes is at the end of the Visitors Center on John Street across from the Hampton Inn.

1 1/2 years ago we had to cancel because I needed emergency back surgery and had purchased a policy through Insure My Trip with TravelSafe. Dealing with TravelSafe was worse than the surgery and recovery combined. It took over 4 months and over 100+ pages faxed (some of it multiple times) to finally get my money.

 

With TravelSafe you are NEVER able to speak to the agent handling your claim. It was the worst customer no-service I have ever experienced.

 

Since then I have purchased through the Trip Insurance Store and find Steve knowledgeable and helpful. If needed, he becomes your advocate for any claim you file - unlike Insure My Trip where they only sell the policy and then you are on your own.

 

JMO

I second what you said about TravelSafe and their claims company TripMate. They are the worst. I will never buy any policy administered by TripMate again.

A simple cancelled flight that resulted in a no show at the embarkation took THREE months and countless follow-ups. It took two months just for them to confirm the flight was cancelled. Then it took another month for them to confirm with TravelSafe that I did indeed purchase their policy even though I submitted the insurance policy receipt and the credit card bill with appropriate charge.

After that I went to Steve at the TripInsuranceStore like you did. Steve recommended that I pay a little more and make the travel policy primary. Glad he suggested it. I have purchased three policies so far and referred my sister to him. She had a small claim that he helped her with. She thanked me for referring her to him.

I didn't book any travel insurance with my cruise is there some basic coverage included in all travel?

It may not be too late for you to buy travel insurance. It would depend upon where you live, the trip and existing conditions. I suggest you visit the Cruise Critic Insurance forum to see if you might get help there.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=635

Just checked my trip insurance policy. My Travel Insured policy is pretty straight forward on the terrorist issue.

Under reasons listed for cancellation: "a Terrorist Incident that occurs within 30 days of Your Scheduled Departure Date in a city listed on the itinerary of Your Trip;"

Their definition: “Terrorist Incident” means an act of violence, that is deemed terrorism by the United States Government other than civil disorder or riot (that is not an act of war, declared or undeclared) that results in loss of life or major damage to property, by any person acting alone or in association with other persons on behalf of or in connection with any organization which is generally recognized as having the intent to overthrow or influence the control of any other government.

My Travel Insured policy is pretty simple. Under reasons listed for cancellation:

"a Terrorist Incident that occurs within 30 days of Your Scheduled Departure Date in a city listed on the itinerary of Your Trip;"

In a Global Alert policy I have, it says this:

"If within 30 days of Your departure, a politically motivated Terrorist Attack occurs within a 50 mile radius of the territorial City limits of the City to be visited as shown in Your itinerary and the United States government issues a travel advisory indicating that Americans should not travel to a City named on the itinerary."

Fortunately I have the Travel Insured policy for our cruise embarking Istanbul next year. No State Department declaration needed.

Crowds. Istanbul is full of them, and I would not go there [been once, saw the sights, didn't like the pushy carpet salesmen who wouldn't take no for an answer, won't go back even if it is declared 'safe']. But Ephesus is clean, pretty, not in a town, full of Greco-Roman history, and our guide was a delightful Turkish woman. The point I keep stressing is that whenever there is an attack in Istanbul, it gets reported as "Turkey is unsafe." Istanbul is no more Turkey than New York City is the United States.

 

As to your cruise: if I were in your shoes I would seriously consider cancelling that cruise, or at least I would buy my airfare from the cruise line and fly in the day of the cruise and go straight from the airport to the ship. But if that cruise stops at Ephesus (Kusadasi), I would plan a private tour and enjoy it.

Thank you for your input. I am so looking forward to cruising Azamara thus I'm not eager to cancel. The only part of the cruise that I'm really very concerned about is the Istanbul embarkation. The remainder of the 14 night itinerary is fantastic.

The cruise is stopping in Kusadasi so I'll look for a private tour.

Using ChoiceAir to arrive the morning of the cruise and going straight to the ship sounds like the best option in a bad situation if AZ doesn't change the embarkation port from Istanbul like they did this year.

Maybe I should look on the bright side if they keep Istanbul and the ship has low occupancy, perhaps I'll get a suite upgrade. :-)

Sad for the people hurt in Istanbul, but we just had a lovely day in Ephesus. Our tour guide said they are really hurting from the loss of tourists, but we saw nothing here that would give us any safety worries.

Jazzbeau,

Yes very sad for the families & friends as well.

I'm curious, if you don't mind my asking, what would you see that would give you safety worries? Is there a way to predict a terrorist attack?

Our cruise next years is still scheduled to embark from Istanbul.

I believe the target was a police bus.

Yes with 4 civilians Killed and 36 injured in a Central Istanbul Neighborhood tourist area.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36466744

A car bomb attack targeting a police bus has killed seven officers and four civilians in central Istanbul.

The explosives were remotely detonated as the vehicle passed through the busy Vezneciler district at the morning rush hour, officials said.

No group has said it carried out the attack, but Kurdish militants have recently hit security targets.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will "fight the terrorists to the end".

The explosion happened near the city's historic Beyazit Square neighbourhood, a major tourist attraction, and an Istanbul university building.

Istanbul's governor, Vasip Sahin, said about 36 other people were injured.

Recent attacks in Turkey

March 2016: 35 people killed by Kurdish militants in Ankara; 4 dead in a suicide attack in Istanbul

February 2016: 28 killed in military convoy in Ankara

January 2016: 12 German tourists are killed in a suspected IS suicide bombing in Istanbul

October 2015: More than 100 people are killed in a double suicide bombing at a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara

Been doing lots of thinking and have a few more questions.

 

This one is especially for the Charlestonites (or are you Charlestonians?:rolleyes:). We are thinking about renting an RV from Atlanta airport area and then using this for the whole road trip up to Newark. We'd still like to 'do' Charleston, but is there anywhere we can park a 30' RV without being on the outskirts with no public transport to get us in and out?

 

Still heading for the Blue Ridge Parkway...I assume RV's are allowed on it (as trucks aren't). Any recommendations for RV parks on the route?

 

It seems any way I Google 'RV's in USA', although I might get different operators, they all seem to use Cruise America for rentals. Whilst the promo videos are brilliant (as you'd expect), a few reviews have said the RV's can be a bit iffy (Dirty, doors not locking, not a lot of hot water etc). Anyone any experience or advice? Are there any other companies to look at?

 

Thanks for your help and forebearance!

 

Simon

The city parking garage at the Charleston Visitors Center between Ann & Mary Streets has RV parking in the lower level. It's a one block walk to the CARTA Dash Free downtown trolley system. They have a maximum daily limit for long term parking. Check my May 18th post for the link to Carta.

The parking garage info is here. The Visitors Center is the second to last listing and it shows an RV icon.

In case you're interested there is a Hampton Inn on John Street (the other side of the Visitors Center. There's also another hotel up Meeting Street. It's a new Holiday Inn Historic District at Woolfe Street. Three blocks up from the parking garage.

If you're looking to stay at a Charleston area campground, check out the Charleston County Campground on James Island or Oak Plantation Campground on US 17 south of Charleston. You can stay there then drive to the garage for the day and back instead of a hotel. It's your call.

I can't help you regarding renting or traveling in an RV other than the parking and campgrounds I mentioned. Hopefully someone else can assist.

Oh and it's Charlestonian. :D

 

I have sailed out of Charleston three times and the lines and parking situation are horrible. Was only throwing out an idea/suggestion to address those issues. Thanks for your two cents too.

The Charleston port has been trying for years to get a new terminal plan approved further up the river that would fix all of the current problems of parking and passenger check in. The local elites and extreme environmentalists are opposing it saying they don't want any cruise ships.

In 2010 when the Celebrity Mercury was disembarking Charleston and they suffered several consecutive cruises of noro virus, they did try something as you suggested in reference to Orlando. Because embarkation was delayed several hours while the CDC checked the ship while it was cleaned, everyone was checked in at the Convention Center in North Charleston, then bused to the terminal after the all clear was issued.

That solution wouldn't work for normal operations because busing people from parking to North Charleston then back to the terminal is not practical.

As a side note, we were scheduled on that ship the following cruise. Fortunately the "code red" was lifted a couple of days into our cruise.

If I were you I would be checking with hotels in the North Charleston area

Any of them around Tanger outlet or Ashley Phosphate road area will have much larger parking lots compared to anything downtown...

 

I would imagine it would help if you where to be staying for atleast one night upon return from cruise...

That's a valid point. But I personally would not feel as comfortable leaving my vehicle for five nights in North Charleston than in Mt. Pleasant. Plus how much would that add to their Uber costs two directions and travel time?

We are sailing out of Charleston on August 15. We want to arrive in Charleston on Saturday the 13th. We are looking for an affordable hotel for us and our 2 children (ages 5 and 6). We do not want to do a cruise and park package because the rates for the hotel are raised for those packages. Does anyone know a hotel that will let you leave your car there for the 5 days with out paying for the package. I know the shuttle won't be included but we can always uber it or take a cab. Thank you in advance.

I would suggest you find a hotel you like in Mt Pleasant near the bridge. Then call and ask the hotel directly. That's better than people's speculation.

However I would suggest you consider parking at the port in a locked, secure facility for your five day cruise which is only $85. After using Uber in two directions plus waiting for the rides, how much are you really saving in convenience? Your vehicle also will not be as secure in an unprotected hotel parking lot that absolves themselves of any liability.

Have you looked at stay123.com? I just booked two hotels in FL for upcoming cruises.The price for the 14 days parking plus one night hotel stay were about the same as booking the room directly. I didn't check out Charleston though.

Does this not embarass management or do they not know or care what goes on .?

PROBABLY: No, yes, no.

Here's a link to the Celebrity web site page which addresses various types of special needs.

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/cruise-activities-special-needs?cS=Footer&ICID=Cel_10Q4_web_hp_ftr_accessibility