Tips for Azamara Newbies

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 8/28/2022 at 8:44 PM, Celebrating Friends said:

On Croatia Intensive Oct. 4, 2023.  Port Questions...

Even though it states in and out of Venice, the port is Ravenna. 

Has anyone been yet?  Tips for 1st timer.  Thinking of flying into Milan for a few days, any advice?  Venice seems like a hassle and very time consuming.  Has anyone flown in and out of Bologna?  Typically book flights with miles instead of the cruise line.  Heard that Ravenna is not ready for cruise lines.  No available public taxis or private driver options.  

Anyone been on Croatia Intensive and have experience booking small group private excursions instead of ship excursions?  Company name and information would be appreciated. (no roll call set up yet for this sailing, and I didn't want to begin one)

Thank you in advance...

beore COVID the celebrity Silhouettes first stop from Venice was Ravenna.  We did a San Marino trip, but there are other things to see in Ravenna.

 

LAST May we had a cruise that was over to Ravenna so they cruise line bussed us to Ravenna.  We returned to the airport to connect with the busses.  The scenery is fairly bland.  
 

i have friends currently on a cruise out of Ravenna.  They flew to Bologna and were going to take the train to Ravenna.  Their very early morning flight was delayed and then cancelled.  They were rebook to leave about 11 hours later which meant they couldn’t do the train.  The hotel told them a taxi was €150.  They did find a taxi but lost a day of sight seeing.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 8/29/2022 at 5:17 AM, lisiamc said:

I wouldn’t worry too much yet. There is a lot of investment on-going in the facilities at Ravenna. By October 2023, a lot more will have been completed. Our experience in May was that the facilities were already adequate for what we wanted them for. There were shuttles to take us into Ravenna itself, a public bus system that could take us from the shuttle stop to the train station, and a few taxis about, but not many. There was a shuttle to take us to the airport in Venice at the end of the cruise. There will be a charge for this now, and I’m not sure how much. Ours was included because of the late change from Venice to Ravenna. There will probably be a few more taxis in a year, or some private car services, depending on how many local people want to go into that line of work. For those who like the beach, there are a couple of good ones within walking distance from where the ship docks.

 

If I were making plans to embark or disembark at Ravenna again, I’d fly to or from Bologna, but we’ve been to Venice many times. If you want a few days in Venice before or after, then a flight to or from Venice could make more sense. Your plan to fly into Milan could work pretty well. I think they will have sorted out what to offer the passengers arriving by train by then.

 

In May several people who’d done their own pre cruise, and had free bus shuttle opted to form groupS  to share a taxi ride.  They wanted the convenience etc.  i think maybe dropping off luggage and back to the town.  They started building those groups a couple of days before they needed the transfer because they were worried there were too few such taxis, but had no trouble finding at least 2.  And the passengers to fill them.  I think they put 8 in 15 passenger cars just so there was extra room.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 10/16/2022 at 11:36 AM, Dudeljo said:

Question about the Guest Special Needs Form

We printed out our check-in forms. We'll be on board on Friday October 21. It's quite a big package of paper. Among those papers is a Guest Special Needs Form. One of the things you can fill out is bringing a CPAP or BIPAP machine for sleep apnea. My husband travels with such a machine. We like to let Azamara know, but how? 

Do we fill out the form on paper and hand it over when we embark? Or do we have to mail it to Azamara? Or do we just tell our butler so he/she can provide an extension cord and distilled water?

Anyone with experiences?

Greetings, Jo

 

i know I’m late but yes fill out the special needs form.  And ask for distilled water.  You may want a plug adapter to European too as the plugs by our bed were 220, something most CPAPs have no trouble with.  The brick in the power line normally says 110-240.  
 

i always file the paper early, but I also have a wheelchair.  Filing early can help with the distilled water but Azamara has always been able to accommodate that request —- I assume you found that out! 

Edited November 2, 2022 by Benthayer Gonbak

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 10/16/2022 at 6:20 PM, marinaro44 said:

Ran into the distilled water issue in Istanbul back when I still needed CPAP.  Local tour guide took me to a medical supply place and they only sold it in something like 5 or 10 gallon containers.  No, thanks.  Then I remembered distilled water was used in car batteries so we went to a service station and bought enough in small bottles.  This was back in the day on the Renaissance R5.

 

That “trick” we were taught in Toyko!  2019.   In Peru they sent medical grade water which was truly expensive.    In Scotland slight cheaper but 1L bottles.  

[Chot50s]

6 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

 

Royal is a courtesy status match and it has a cap of Discover.

 

My points for my December sailings, on Azamara will be reflected on Celebrity, after the merger that stops.  

I have Discoverer status due to my points with Royal Caribbean plus a few Azamara Circle points points from Celebrity—but not enough for the Discoverer status level. I called Azamara Circle’s desk and specifically asked if I would retain my Discoverer status if I complete an Azamara voyage prior to February 1, 2023. The person at Azamara said yes (after checking with someone else). 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

8 hours ago, Chot50s said:

I have Discoverer status due to my points with Royal Caribbean plus a few Azamara Circle points points from Celebrity—but not enough for the Discoverer status level. I called Azamara Circle’s desk and specifically asked if I would retain my Discoverer status if I complete an Azamara voyage prior to February 1, 2023. The person at Azamara said yes (after checking with someone else). 

Interesting!  I did it the other way around, with Royal being the courtesy level.  Of course because my points are Celebrity too I’d still get the Diamond on Royal, even with an Elite plus.  My Diamond status has been overcome by events now though. 
 

im not sure how much benefit the status gives you on Azamara, although I remember needing/wanting the internet and laundry.  That perk is certainly better on Azamara than even celebrity was.  Internet is still measured in minutes too, yea! And, it seems, that more and more sailings are coming with unlimited internet which nullifies the status benefit.  My first Azamara only had beer and wine and only at meals,  now that it’s pretty much all day status doesn’t help much.  Since we didn’t have laundry we used the one on the ship, early morning as the cruise was about 41 days long.  It was nice to do your own sorting and I’m thinking to stop some labeling damage I will return to the self serve for my blouses.  
 

I’ll be interested in hearing what actually happens to you after sailing on Azamara no longer gives you Celebrity points, and vice versa.  I’d hope the courtesy status remains for at least a year if it’s not permanent.  

[JM0115]

Question on Veranda Plus: can you replace the included bottles of liquors with bottles of wine? Also, what liquors can you choose from?

[Dudeljo]

On 11/2/2022 at 6:54 AM, Benthayer Gonbak said:

 

i know I’m late but yes fill out the special needs form.  And ask for distilled water.  You may want a plug adapter to European too as the plugs by our bed were 220, something most CPAPs have no trouble with.  The brick in the power line normally says 110-240.  
 

i always file the paper early, but I also have a wheelchair.  Filing early can help with the distilled water but Azamara has always been able to accommodate that request —- I assume you found that out! 

Hi, thank you for your advice. We were quite late. We sent an e-mail to Azamara Special Needs about a week before departure but never got an answer. (we're home now for about a week). Once onboard there was no distilled water and no extension cord. We brought one ourselves and bottled mineral water also works so we managed but no help from Azamara.

[Chot50s]

On 11/2/2022 at 3:25 PM, Benthayer Gonbak said:

Interesting!  I did it the other way around, with Royal being the courtesy level.  Of course because my points are Celebrity too I’d still get the Diamond on Royal, even with an Elite plus.  My Diamond status has been overcome by events now though. 
 

im not sure how much benefit the status gives you on Azamara, although I remember needing/wanting the internet and laundry.  That perk is certainly better on Azamara than even celebrity was.  Internet is still measured in minutes too, yea! And, it seems, that more and more sailings are coming with unlimited internet which nullifies the status benefit.  My first Azamara only had beer and wine and only at meals,  now that it’s pretty much all day status doesn’t help much.  Since we didn’t have laundry we used the one on the ship, early morning as the cruise was about 41 days long.  It was nice to do your own sorting and I’m thinking to stop some labeling damage I will return to the self serve for my blouses.  
 

I’ll be interested in hearing what actually happens to you after sailing on Azamara no longer gives you Celebrity points, and vice versa.  I’d hope the courtesy status remains for at least a year if it’s not permanent.  

@Benthayer Gonbak, I’ll make a point of posting what happens in February after we have our first Azamara cruise and the IT separation between RCL and Azamara is completed.

 

I definitely plan to use my Discoverer status for the internet 50% discount, a free bag of laundry, beverage package upgrade discount, and potentially the discount on voyages booked onboard.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Chot50s

[Benthayer Gonbak]

7 hours ago, Chot50s said:

@Benthayer Gonbak, I’ll make a point of posting what happens in February after we have our first Azamara cruise and the IT separation between RCL and Azamara is completed.

 

I definitely plan to use my Discoverer status for the internet 50% discount, a free bag of laundry, beverage package upgrade discount, and potentially the discount on voyages booked onboard.

 

Its worth noting that the internet time you get with your loyalty status is measured in minutes.  Seems like it’s 120 minutes per person for Discoverer.  The book onboard reduced deposit and extra OBC never seemed to be different by status.  But some spa treatments are certainly discounted.  The bag for laundry is quite small but if you roll you clothes you’d be amazed how much you can get in it as it’s cloth!  
 

Hope it works out for you, where are you headed?  Or which ship? 
 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

@ Dudejo

Wow! Sorry to hear that. We didn’t know to tell anyone on our first cruise and we got distilled water and the extension cord.  On our last Azamara cruise, b4b, we pre asked for an extension cord but then didn’t need it because we had at least 1 plug near the bed in that room.  We carry a short power strip, that runs on 220 and has the requisite European plug, so we can have multiple plugs since we both have CPAPs!   We always ask for permission to use it, but because it isn’t ground faulted and is in good condition it passes.  To date no one has seen that one in the luggage, although I had a curling iron questioned for some unknown reason! 
 

Hope you enjoyed your cruise.  And yes, all the distilled water does is keep your chamber a bit cleaner, so bottled water works.  We had one case where the water chamber turned quite cloudy with supposed distilled water, but that wasn’t Azamara. 

[excitedofharpenden]

1 hour ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

 

Its worth noting that the internet time you get with your loyalty status is measured in minutes.  Seems like it’s 120 minutes per person for Discoverer.  The book onboard reduced deposit and extra OBC never seemed to be different by status.  But some spa treatments are certainly discounted.  The bag for laundry is quite small but if you roll you clothes you’d be amazed how much you can get in it as it’s cloth!  
 

Hope it works out for you, where are you headed?  Or which ship? 
 

 

Yes, everyone gets the same reduced deposit and OBC. It's the dicount for booking onboard that is tiered (from 5-10%). The internet discounts are IMHO hugely over-complcated now and vary according to cabin type and offer free minutes as well as %age off a full voyage unlimited package. Coupled with the fact that there are also promos from time to time for free internet when you book. 
 

Azamara Circle discounts on spa treatments are for the signature treatments only (hot stone massage etc). Just to be clear. 

 

Phil 

[aliaschief]

We just learned that our June Intensive Spain cruise on Journey will also be a Perry Golf cruise. Will this have any impact on us that are onboard and not part of golf. We have been on some cruises with private groups that block off area of ships for private meeting, lectures, dining etc.

What should we expect? Thanks.

[durante]

The future cruise sales person on Onward told us  being on a Perry Golf cruise did not impact any non golfers. Apparently the golfers go off the ship to play their golf during the day, then get back onboard at the end of their golf session. 

[uktog]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

We just learned that our June Intensive Spain cruise on Journey will also be a Perry Golf cruise. Will this have any impact on us that are onboard and not part of golf. We have been on some cruises with private groups that block off area of ships for private meeting, lectures, dining etc.

What should we expect? Thanks.

It will have an impact but in my experience that will be a hugely positive impact. There will only be one evening when either part of the Patio or Windows will be reserved for their dinner. At all other times you will be surrounded by delightful golfers and their non playing partners. They socialise in the bars and mix with everyone. Perry Golf is a class outfit and take a lot of care not to adversely impact on others enjoyment onboard 

[aliaschief]

9 minutes ago, uktog said:

It will have an impact but in my experience that will be a hugely positive impact. There will only be one evening when either part of the Patio or Windows will be reserved for their dinner. At all other times you will be surrounded by delightful golfers and their non playing partners. They socialise in the bars and mix with everyone. Perry Golf is a class outfit and take a lot of care not to adversely impact on others enjoyment onboard 

Thank you for your prompt and positive reply.

[excitedofharpenden]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

We just learned that our June Intensive Spain cruise on Journey will also be a Perry Golf cruise. Will this have any impact on us that are onboard and not part of golf. We have been on some cruises with private groups that block off area of ships for private meeting, lectures, dining etc.

What should we expect? Thanks.

This question has popped up before. Perry Golf are a class outfit with small groups and no impact. You'll be fine. 

 

Phil 

[JM0115]

I understand from reading this and other forums that Azamara does not have an onboard app.  How do you keep track of things and purchase shore excursions etc while on board? Go to Guest Services?  Most cruise lines have an app at this point.

[uktog]

2 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

I understand from reading this and other forums that Azamara does not have an onboard app.  How do you keep track of things and purchase shore excursions etc while on board? Go to Guest Services?  Most cruise lines have an app at this point.

No app as of now, who knows in the future.  You purchase shore excursions at the Land Discoveries desk on Deck 5.  

[JM0115]

15 minutes ago, uktog said:

No app as of now, who knows in the future.  You purchase shore excursions at the Land Discoveries desk on Deck 5.  

Thanks @uktog. We will probably have all of them before we go anyway.  We have a cruise in May and have started booking shore excursions. In your experience, do shore excursions book up quickly?

[uktog]

2 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

Thanks @uktog. We will probably have all of them before we go anyway.  We have a cruise in May and have started booking shore excursions. In your experience, do shore excursions book up quickly?

Some do, for example the tours with the ships chef or other "numbers limited" more specialised activities that involve a class or an experience whereas others do not.  It also depends on what the availability of guides is like in the location.  Certainly more of the "general tours" were selling our pre boarding in Europe this year as there is a lack of competent guides particularly bi and try lingual guides as many have left the industry during the pandemic and not returned

[Benthayer Gonbak]

8 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Yes, everyone gets the same reduced deposit and OBC. It's the dicount for booking onboard that is tiered (from 5-10%). The internet discounts are IMHO hugely over-complcated now and vary according to cabin type and offer free minutes as well as %age off a full voyage unlimited package. Coupled with the fact that there are also promos from time to time for free internet when you book. 
 

Azamara Circle discounts on spa treatments are for the signature treatments only (hot stone massage etc). Just to be clear. 

 

Phil 

 

Thanks, i should have been clearer about the spa, they indeed are on selected treatments. 
 

And yes, lately I’ve seen the free internet specials. 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

5 hours ago, uktog said:

No app as of now, who knows in the future.  You purchase shore excursions at the Land Discoveries desk on Deck 5.  

There are cruise lines that deliberately do not have apps!  They claim they want their passengers to be involved in the experience.

 

last night I noticed the app is being expanded first on the Pursuit.  It was unclear what it might include.  It came up with my next voyages though I don’t think I could explore much. 

[uktog]

50 minutes ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

There are cruise lines that deliberately do not have apps!  They claim they want their passengers to be involved in the experience.

 

last night I noticed the app is being expanded first on the Pursuit.  It was unclear what it might include.  It came up with my next voyages though I don’t think I could explore much. 

Actually the Pursuit app existed three years ago. It did not work, we tried to use it onboard it was a nightmare. It still comes up on some app searches but I understood they were going to start again once they had all the new tech in place 

[Dudeljo]

13 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

Its worth noting that the internet time you get with your loyalty status is measured in minutes.  Seems like it’s 120 minutes per person for Discoverer.

Hi, we were in a suite and we are Discoverer members (being Elite at Celebrity). For Discoverer members you get 50% off from a wifi package. For suite guests there is also a 50% discount for a wifi package. That makes 100% so wifi is free onboard for suite AND discoverer guests. No minute limits, free the whole cruise.