SunnyNy

An Update:  I phoned AZ yesterday for information on a Quest cruise in June.  The rep (who was yawning repeatedly) quoted a price that was about $2,000 over what I had seen online and kept referring to the ship as Onward.  I had to verify that we were looking at the same cruise,  and when I challenged her on the extra $2,000, she insisted that was for port fees and taxes!

I ended that call, called right back, and got a pleasant and knowledgeable rep who was able to put something on hold for me and answer any questions I had - just like the good old days!

 We spoke briefly about Azamara Air.  She apologized for having limited information on exactly how one would book through them.  Since she was otherwise so knowledgeable, I took this as a sign that the AZ air program is not yet up to speed.

7 hours ago, Dynacruiser said:

We have taken three cruises in the past year, and loved each one of them.   We encountered problems dealing with Azamara earlier, but everything improved in the past 3 months or so.  Our Travel Agent dealt with Azamara directly and saved us the headaches.

 

We go with a large company as a TA, I wish we could discuss names here as there must be many TAs to choose from and not all of them may be as good.  For us, the main advantage of having a good TA is cost.  We get the same price and OBC offers as in the Azamara website but then we get a nice refund of a few hundred USD when we come back from the cruise, in the form of a gift card to be used at a place where we shop all the time anyway.  The next advantage is that the TA does a lot of the heavy work, such as interacting with Azamara.  And if something ever goes bad, they are great advocates (we have had problems with some land-based tour operators).

If the TA offers you the same price as Azamara, or offers you a bottle of wine and a basket of cheese, you may want to keep looking at other TAs.

 

Our TA site allows us to see what rooms are available.

 

Using OBC for excursions used to be tricky, but we have been able to do that recently without a problem.   It's a bit more complicated because we usually book excursions during a previous cruise so we get a discount for future excursions, but that hasn't been as straight forward lately.  Still, everything has been resolved to our satisfaction.

 

Finally, we NEVER use a cruise's air program.  We usually book with points, or upgrade with points, or prefer to use our airline to maintain status.  We also like to select our own flights based on connections and time and day of arrival etc.  I realize that it may be less expensive to get the air from the cruise company, and if the cruise is cancelled or port changes, I may be stuck with an airline ticket (then again, my airline makes it easy to cancel and use the money to buy another flight).  This is just a personal decision, I know a lot of folks here like to use Azamara flights.

 

 

All good advice, Dynacruiser.  I think I can guess which TA you use and others have recommended them, but of course it's all down to which particular agent you are using.  Regarding utilizing cruise air programs, I've done it successfully in the past with Choice Air but I agree it can be risky business and I don't think I'll use the new Azamara Air with no data on it's success. Always best to work directly with airlines, lower priced options notwithstanding.

I haven't booked with Azamara in the past year, having read about the website and customer service issues, but I'm considering a cruise for next June and am hoping those things have improved.  This cruise comes with some OBC which I'd like to use to book shore excursions prior to departure.  Is that still possible?  Also, has anyone booked air with Azamara Air, which replaced Choice Air?

 I miss the opportunity to see which cabins are available online, but I can get past that and from what I read here, the onboard experience is still excellent.  

10 minutes ago, markeb said:

How long are you in Brussels and what do you plan on doing?

 

My last trip to Brussels is now well pre-pandemic. Just looked up a couple of places that appear to be closed at least for now. Across the Grand Place and about 10-12 minutes walking (lots of cobblestones in Brussels, so dragging a rolling bag can be fun) is the Marriott Grand Place. I've stayed there several times and it's a very nice hotel, close to but not in the Grand Place. There are a number of hotels close to the train station but I have never stayed in them. The Warwick has a nice location, but so does the Novatel. It's probably going to be hard to get first hand recommendations on this board; I don't really think of Brussels as a cruise destination.

I'll be arriving by train post-cruise from Rotterdam and staying 3 nights. I'm planning to go to Brugge by train one of those days, then taking the train directly to the airport on the last day.  And thank you for remininding me of the cobblestones. Always a treat!

5 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

I've stayed at the Novotel Brussels off Grand Place and believe that will meet all your needs at a decent price.

Thank you, this will be on my "short list".

Can someone suggest a nice hotel, within a 10 minute or so walk from the train station?  The Warwick was suggested in an earlier post, but I'd like to check out a couple of other options.  Thanks!

I was thinking of a guided tour, but I'll give this a try.  Thanks.

3 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

Or if it might be new to you, consider a  side trip to Syracuse, a town  we really enjoyed.

 

In many port towns and cities we have had great success in finding walking tours which we can do independently, by simply googling something like "self guided walking tour of "X"

Thanks, Edinburgh  I did try googling for the walking tour and only came up with one.  Since they haven't responded to my email, I'm looking for a backup.  I've been to Syracuse several times, including the Archeological Park and Noto.  It's a very beautiful area,  but I'm hoping to explore Catania this time.

My cruise will call on Catania for one day in early November and would like to spend my day in port, since I have been to Taormina and Mt. Etna areas several times. I was hoping to see a daytime puppet theater performance and take a short walking tour while there. I would appreciate any recommendations for these, or any other ideas.   Thanks.

50 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Here is a handy Schiphol Airport Map showing where to pick up a taxi. 

 

We’ve used the HAL airport transfer when our flight has been another day.  You don’t have to make up a workaround.  Just put your regular details in and they’ll put you on a coach which leaves later than the early ones.

Thank you, this is helpful

58 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

What exactly are you trying to accomplish and for how many people?  It may be more efficient and cost effective to book a car service directly from Rotterdam cruise terminal.

58 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

What exactly are you trying to accomplish and for how many people?  It may be more efficient and cost effective to book a car service directly from Rotterdam cruise terminal.

I'm traveling solo.  Of course, booking a private car from the port to my hotel in Amsterdam would be ideal butt I'm finding it to be very expensive without sharing the cost.  This is a solution that I'm comfortable with and is flexible.  I plan to post on my roll call closer to my April departure to see of anyone's interested in sharing a private car.

Thanks, everyone,  HAL will want flight details to assign transfer time, but I think I can find a workaround for that 🙂

Terrydtx, do you have a particular transport company you'd recommend? 

Is it possible to take the ship transfer from Rotterdam port to Schipol without actually having a flight?  And for anyone familiar with Schipol, are there taxi stands at Departures as well as Arrivals?

 Thanks

After disembarking a HAL cruise in Rotterdam, I'd like to spend a few days post-cruise in Amsterdam.  I'm traveling solo and am concerned about managing my luggage on the train - one checked bag, one carryon.  Hiring a car transfer would be very pricey, since I'm covering the total cost.

I can post on my roll call about sharing transportation closer to departure (April), but would like a backup plan before booking airfare.  I thought of taking the ship airport transfer, then a taxi to my Amsterdam hotel for much less.  I'd also eliminate some steps - getting from port to Rotterdam train station then from Amsterdam train station to hotel.

Has anyone taken a ship to airport transfer without actually having a flight? Any other suggestions are welcomed.  Thanks.

23 hours ago, Strenz said:

Catania: Docking in the old port area, close to town center and a fantastic outdoor market. Catania is a lovely old town. The town square it beautiful with the cathedral, great art, Bellini, the opera composer crypt is there with the notes from his most famous aria from the opera Norma, Casta Diva. We have always had a driver there through Sicily Life, wonderful people and our guide Luca we have had twice. We fell in love with him. They listen to your interests. We are interested in art, ruins, food, opera all things Italian. We did Catania with him and Siracusa and the Greek/ Roman ruins. Two different cruises with WS.

Trapani: We have been there twice once on our own and once on Sicilian Splendors. We took a cab to the funicular to go up to Erice exceptional vistas, then you can cab it up to Erice or walk. Madame Gramatica's pastry shop is up there a must. Made famous by the book Bitter Almonds by Mary Taylor Simeti, fabulous book and story. Trapani has a very pretty port to walk around as well. 

Valletta: We hired a guide through Tours by Locals, Michelle, very good. I wanted to be the first into the cathedral to see Caravaggio's The  Beheading of  St. Jerome, one of the most influential pieces of art in the Western World. She took us to the ancient town of Rabat and Medina fascinating, the waterfront of Valletta is beautiful. Need cabs or a driver there

Gozo: We took WS's 4x4 so much fun, beautiful, we had a dip/ swim there

Port Empedocle Cabs can easily get you to the Valley of the Kings ( Greek Temples ) the small museum is a jewel and a must. The port is very real and gritty.

We loved that trip, great itinerary very beautiful. We booked it 2020, 2021, had to cancel Covid went in September/ October 2022. Ask away we loved every second. 

 

Strenz, thanks so much.  I'm especially glad to hear about Catania, as I was hoping to spend some time in town.  In Gozo, did you take the ship excursion on the 4/4?  

2 hours ago, avalong said:

Valletta is totally walkable (to an elevator which takes you up to the city center, as I recall). At Porto Empedocle you'll want to take the excursion to the ruins -- that's what that stop is all about. Not sure about the others.

Thanks.  This is helpful.

This will be my first Windstar cruise and I'm deciding on plans for either ship excursions, DIY, or private tours.  I'd like to know how close Wind Surf docks to the various city centers at the ports of Catania, Valletta, Gozo, Porto Empedocle and Trapani.  I see some ship excursions are just a few hours, and I was hoping to spend the remaining time in the ports before boarding.  Any other advice or recommendations are welcomed!

8 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Probably just to the airport. Do you have a cruise booked and you looked at the excursions for the day you get off the ship?

CruiserBruce, the cruise is not until April, so no excursions are posted yet.  I know many HAL cruises terminate in Rotterdam, so I thought others might remember if this was offered.

Does HAL offer transfers on disembarkment day from Rotterdam to Amsterdam city center, or just to the airport?  TIA

In the past, we were able to view unsold cabins on a particular cruise before actually proceeding with a booking.  In the new site, I don't see a way to do that without entering lots of personal information, which I'm not willing to do at that stage.

Thank you both. I’ve decided to keep my original cabin. 

I am taking my first Wind Surf cruise in October and was just upgraded from cabin 147 to cabin 221. Should I accept the offer or stay put?

I had the same issue on Saturday and ended up booking with a rep over the phone.  Later, I found I was able to book an excursion using the app.

12 hours ago, mysparky said:

We did the all inclusive and found it well worth it.  One day had mimosas with breakfast, but we usually had pre and post-dinner cocktails.  I really liked not having to think about it, not caring if my drink wasn't great, etc. 

 

Beyond the drinks, I also liked the idea that wifi was included (I needed to check in back home a few times) as well as tips.  We still tipped extra (in cash) because service was that great, but I liked having the basic tip amount included. 

 

Bottom line, once we deducted what we'd pay for WiFi as well as tips, we calculated that we'd break even around 5 drinks/day.  That was close enough for us to purchase it ahead of time.  The convenience was well worth it (and we never had an issue getting drinks).

And when evaluating all inclusive vs. purchasing a la carte, am I correct that all Inclusive already includes 18% gratuity and possibly VAT, but with a la carte purchases it would be additional?

It's my fist time with HA. I have some OBC that I'd like to use to for shore excursions, but can't access it until I board.  I'm worried about certain excursions selling out before the sail date.

 Can I purchase them now with a credit card, then cancel and rebook if still available onboard to utilize the OBC?  The HA website indicated the cancelled funds would go to OBC, not the credit card,  but that they'd be returned if not spent.  This  sounds like refundable OBC (they don't use that term, though), which would be the same thing in the end.  Am I understanding this correctly? 

I did speak with a HA rep who flatly said this could not be done, but that's contrary to what's on the website.

Thanks.