DS

Thanks

Which cruise? Athens to Dubai? Can you post / copy/paste the email? I got changes for the follow on Dubai-Dubai ( cancelled) and Dubai- Singapore ( changed to Port Louis, Mauritius to Singapore) and posted them on respective roll calls...

Aliaschief… Let me join others in thanking you for the very enjoyable trip you have taken us all on. It truly was (hopefully!) a trip of a lifetime! We were with you on legs1-3 (FLL to Auckland), and would have liked the opportunity to rejoin for the “detour.” I’m sure Azamara made some kind of business calculation about # of continuing passengers and reducing the crew, vs allowing others to join. Not sure we would have done it, but would have liked the chance to consider it! From your and other’s reports, Azamara sure made some sweet lemonade from this sour situation! As others have discussed here, and on other boards, there has been concern in the past about the ONWARD crew and their ability to project the Azamara “spirit” that we all know and love from other ships. Indeed, our previous cruises on the ONWARD left this impression: nothing was done wrong, just something undefinable was missing. Some of that was still there on legs 1-3. But I sense that something has changed. Just as you the passengers had a unique experience, so too did the crew. Their efforts, which you documented, on new activities, new dining options, new entertainment (although some with “old” personalities, which we would have enjoyed), and other things, show some evidence of the crew coming together and projecting spirit like they haven’t before. Here’s hoping that it continues and transfers to regular cruises with a full ship. Kudos to Elizabeth the HD (the only constant in the senior ranks, I think??), who I suspect, had a big hand in this effort. P.S. Where in Florida?

I asked Azamara if there was a port shuttle... not an unreasonable question, since there was no "on your own" listed, which often are in this situation on Azamara. My main point was that the AZ answer was... not an answer

I asked the question because usually in situations like this ( far from the port to the "real" city) Azamara offered a "XXXX (read Athens) on your own" excursion which was basically a shuttle bus that one paid for to take you to the city center. However, this was not listed as an excursion option.... hence the question.... which was NOT answered...

Azamara's catch phrase is "destination immersion." So, ignoring Mexican, Egyptian, Indian, Greenland, whatever, wines, one would think that cruises to New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, France, Italy, etc. could focus on those wines. We have been on multiple cruises over the past two years, Before that, they had the "two reds, two whites" plan, with wines from all over. Then they move to the Azamara label wines from a no-name bottler in France ( for the most part)... some of which were ok, some of which were... "nearly undrinkable." Then they moved to a French "bottled for Azamara" brand -- Chateau Beauvotte -- which was marginally better.... but googling the brand only showed the Azamara wines, nothing else... I think they should have destination specific wines... and indeed would gladly buy a destination specific package if it had quality wines-- especially since the existing packages provide virtually nothing for the wine drinkers...

Without providing any light, but adding confusion to the issue... I asked Azamara customer support "Will there be a shuttle from Piraeus port to Athens city on 30 August? There does not seem to be a shore excursion “Athens on your own” that day, which leads one to believe that there will be a shuttle. " Realizing that Athens is a bit away from Piraeus, we were not hopeful... But the response we got is ... unfathomable? "We can't guarantee there will be free shuttles at the Ports to take you into town. The only way to know is if if you are part of an excursion that says you are being shuttled. Well, that was basically unhelpful...

We received an email today that said the Azamazing Evening for Journey 10 August sailing would now be held onboard, instead of at an onshore venue in THESSALONIKA. Still the Opera, but on board. I think the great thing about real Azamazing Evenings is three-fold: one is the location/venue, often a magnificent concert hall or venue, a 12th century church, or a natural venue like Wadi Rum; the second is the performance itself; the third is the "special treat" for the passengers, usually food or drink of the location, prepared and served by locals. By doing these onboard, the first and third are eliminated. We do get a performance, perhaps the same as previously planned, but the spectacular location and the local "treat" are eliminated-- get dinner in the dining room instead! Azamara often brings local talent onboard for special shows to emphasize their support of local culture. Turning Azamazing Evenings into on onboard event diminishes them to the status of the usual "bring the locals aboard." WE are disappointed...

Thanks!

so... what was the link ???

Totally agree. The Personal Info ( birth date) they have, for legal and other official reasons, should NOT be utilized for their own profit... and "ask your friends and family" to contribute to Azamara is over the top !!! Is there a legal issue here?

What ???

So,,, nothing about the Red Sea ??

This cancellation is a mystery. This Israel/Egypt cruise was the last one listed for the Journey. It (Journey) was not included in the recent release of winter 25 / spring 26 trips: The Onward to the Caribbean before its World Journey. The Quest to the Caribbean before doing South America. The Pursuit thru the Red Sea to the middle east, India, Asia and Australia. Based on past experience, one would expect the Journey, therefore, to be doing South Africa during the Northern winter. So... was the trip cancelled for a charter? For a different winter schedule ( that starts a bit sooner than before)? If it were the "Red Sea" why was not the Pursuit passage ( 10 days before this!) also cancelled? I guess we'll find out when the future Journey schedule is published. Did you get something in writing from Azamara? Can you post it? You're absolutely right... cancelling a cruise a year and a half in advance for a "political" situation is absurd... especially when the Pursuit is scheduled to go thru the Red Sea a week before!

We did the Amazon on the Quest in Nov 2023 (Bridgetown to Buenos Aires--we actually started in Lisbon). We had had the cruise scheduled at least twice before and had it cancelled by Covid ( on both Azamara and Oceania). So, finally made it last fall! As some above have noted, it is a bucket list cruise for many (for us!). It is also not a cruise on the Mediterranean Rivera in the sense that the ports you visit have not been tourist traps for hundreds of years -- so, as expected, there was not the level of tourist infrastructure that one might be used to on other cruises. But, in some ways, that's the point! One port (Boca Da Valeria) was a simple village of about 100 people, with a single dock for the tender and a dirt path. To be sure, the villagers had become used to cruise ship stops and "hammed it up" a bit, but again, a once in a lifetime visit. Manaus on the other hand, is a city of more than 2 million, in the middle of nowhere, with a magnificent opera house (see below) where the Azamazing evening was held. Sure the water was muddy-- but it ALWAYS is in the river. We had no bug problem (and DW attracts them when they are around...), but we did have low water problems that caused one port to be skipped in the river. We also had engine problems that limited our speed to about 3/4 normal that compounded the issues. BUT, such adversity showed off some of Azamara's best features. Captain Johannes kept us up-to-date with constant communications on the engine issues, the effect of the low water ( again requiring slower speeds), etc. every single day ( and sometimes more often if new info was available). The line was also very generous with compensation on the missed port in the river and two more outside. So, we are very glad to have done it. Its not something we'll probably do again and again, but as a place that very few of us ever get to experience, it was worth it to us!

That sounds like a "traditional' Azamazaming Evening. As noted in (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2990719-azamara-seem-to-be-scaling-back-azamazing-evenings/page/3/#comment-67194925) I think three things are needed: Destination, Passenger involvemnt; performance. This seemed to have all three!

Based on past history, one would expect the Journey to do South Africa during the northern winter of 2025/26, the dates of the latest news-- you know, the one with no Journey in them. The Quest is doing South America, Pursuit, Asia, Onward, its world voyage. I don't know of anything about this itinerary that might be a world-trouble? Is it the ship? Or the individuaal ports?

We did get the email today, touting our loyality: "Because of your loyalty, we wanted to give you an exclusive sneak peek of our thrilling new itineraries" I guess its not so exculsive, since JazzBeau reported them on the web site more than 12 hr before the email. In the past, loyalty members were given a 24 hr head start to book desirable cruises and cabins... not so this time. Nor were we impressed with the itineraries, while a few new ports, not really new itineraries. And wondered why no Journey itineraries ( normally our favorite ship...). Also noted the much increased prices ... Overall impression: underwhelmed ( and a bit disappointed...)

Source of this info ??

We have been on more than 30 Azamara cruises and have had the opportunity to attend many “Azamazing Evenings.” Some have been fantastic and fascinating, some, not so much… I’ve found that the good ones contain three ingredients. The first is the Destination. We have had classical and historical opera houses and concert halls, 12th century churches, natural sites like Wadi Rum. We have also had a pier side, folding chairs set up, with a minimal stage so only the first three rows could see the magician (comment: not so good…). Once, a court yard between two building of a shopping center…yuck. In short, the Destination is important. The second is the involvement of the passengers – US! The best ones have had something special for us, either activities or food or something. We’ve had great “fair like” experiences of local activities, and others that merge with the performance (see Wadi Rum). We’ve had many that provide local food, etc. (including the bad location of the shopping center…). If that something is “dinner in the main dining room before/after the performance,” well…not a positive grade. Neither does a “whatever-area-buffet” in Windows or on deck. The third is the actual performance. It should be over and above what is normally available. In many ports Azamara brings on “local entertainment,” often of a folkloric nature—local songs and/or dances. That is good and appreciated—but it is not “azamazing.” The Azamazing Evening performance should be something that cannot be accomplished any old night in the Cabaret Theater—it should be something Azamazing. So… I really appreciate traditional “Azamazing Evenings” (even though we may not attend every one for any of a variety of reasons). “Destination Celebrations,” a wholly acceptable product of the pandemic, is not a substitute for “real’ Azamazing Evenings.” These, and “Onboard Azamazing Evenings” tend to violate all three of our essential characteristics.

Which ship is the 3 May cruise on? Can you post the email?

Thanks to you both

Does anyone know the current senior officers on the Journey? We board in a week...

Pray tell... new Aqualina menu? have you a copy?

ONWARD... 3rd leg world voyage: Papeete to Auckland NZ Capt Gianmario Staff Capt Daniela Chief Engineer Stanko Raji (he may have gotten on at Easter Island??) Hotel Dir Elizabeth Vogel CD Martin Lawson A/CD Roy " broken wrist" Ryan F&B Iwan Pennings Exec Chief Srinath only changes from leg 1/2 are the Captain and the Chief Engineer, and CD/ACD new on leg two after Eric went home Captain G stays until Dubai, when Capt Carl will return. Eric returns in Kong Kong **** all current plans, subject to change at the will of King Neptune and others...***