This is for Andy

[factor30]

Being in the UK, it would seem from various threads that US clients of Azamara are able to access more information from them than us on the other side of the pond. Here, it seems almost non-existent. I spoke to Captains Club today asking why Azamara US are offered benefits (for early booking) such as Spa credits, and was told they it was only for the American market and not UK. She is going to query it for me and get back to me on Monday.

Andy, I wonder, with your influence...particulary when you take the 2-day Quest trip, you could speak to someone from Azamara asking them why we are the poor relation in the UK. We will be on the Quest 24 Nov. Marketing is non-existent, although when I read threads, it doesn't seem to be much better in the States.

If anyone else can inform, it would be appreciated.

[Andy]

Being in the UK, it would seem from various threads that US clients of Azamara are able to access more information from them than us on the other side of the pond. Here, it seems almost non-existent. I spoke to Captains Club today asking why Azamara US are offered benefits (for early booking) such as Spa credits, and was told they it was only for the American market and not UK. She is going to query it for me and get back to me on Monday.

Andy, I wonder, with your influence...particulary when you take the 2-day Quest trip, you could speak to someone from Azamara asking them why we are the poor relation in the UK. We will be on the Quest 24 Nov. Marketing is non-existent, although when I read threads, it doesn't seem to be much better in the States.

If anyone else can inform, it would be appreciated.

 

 

Hi Factor !

 

I certainly understand your frustrations. For what it's worth, the marketing is not much better here in the US. I have repeatedly asked for a brochure, and have been told they arent available yet. Some other posters have reported they will be available in a few weeks, others have said after the first of the year. Either way, it is taking Azamara far too long to have these materials available.

 

I suppose much of these types of problems are due to Celebrity's last minute decision to spin off Azamara into a separate line. When Azamara was launched, many of us questioned if this move was planned in advance or at the last moment. Now that it is several months later, and we have the luxury of hindsight, it is pretty clear (IMHO) this was a last minute decision.

 

As for why some offers are made to US residents only, it is an excellent question. There may be laws in certain countries that make it impossible for Azamara to offer the same deals outside of the US. While I could be wrong about that, it is my best guess. If I can find a better answer, I will post it here.

 

As for asking your question on the ship ? I will be more than happy to give it a try. However, I will only do it, if I am fortunate enough to meet Azamara Management, such as Mr Hanrahan (whom I would love to meet) or other Azamara executives. Those are the folks who will have the answers. I highly doubt that Officers of the ship would know anything about that.

 

I hope I was of some assistance. I was supposed to be on the 11/24 Quest sailing, but I had to change to the 10/24 and 10/26 sailings. Hopefully we will meet on a future sailing !

[seawise]

Hi factor30,

 

I am sailing on the 13th October and am a UK TA .

 

There are offers in the UK, namely over 55 discounts on certain cruises. to Bermuda and if there is any other info you require I would be pleased to help, and we have booked fellow Brits on the same cruise as us.

 

I will be adding my opinion on the cruise upon my return.

 

Kind Regards

 

Chris

[ocngypz]

Every cruiseline has separate tariffs for North America and the UK.... and other parts of the globe as well.

 

It's the way they conduct their business to achieve sufficient market penetration.

[factor30]

Andy

Thanks for your prompt response. We look forward to your report and any other information you are able to prise out of Senior Management following your trip on Quest next month. Hope you have a good time. We're sorry you can't make the Nov.24 sailing but hope to meet you some time in the future.

Rita

[owl61]

Ever since the US Sup Ct decision in Spector v Norwegian 545 US 119 (2005) I have been waiting for the second shoe to drop, to wit, a lawsuit attacking the cruise line practice of differential pricing based upon country of residence.

In Spector the court held that foreign flagged cruise ships sailing in US waters are subject to the provisions of the US American With Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination based upon physical impairment. In so holding the court said that although the ADA didn't specifically mention cruise ships there was no doubt that the NCL ships in question were places of public accomodation and transport falling within the purview of the Act. If cruise ships were places of public accomodation for purposes of the ADA, then clearly they are also such for purposes of other anti-discrimination statutes, specifically the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of which prohibits discrimination against persons in places of public accomodations based upon religion, race, color and NATIONAL ORIGIN. The definition of the term "persons" in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is not limited to US nationals and one would expect US law to apply to all cruise lines subject to US jurisdiction. That would include most lines.

Cruise lines do maintain differential pricing based upon national residence. It seems to me this could be considered unlawful discrimination based upon national origin.

Moreover, even if the distinction between national origin and nation of residence is sufficiently disparate to defeat discrimination claims based upon the Civil Rights Act, the cruiselines' practice of requiring citizens of a country to book only with a travel agent from that country bumps up against the antitrust laws. The Clayton Act prohibits business practices that may harm competition under certain circumstances. How can a UK agent compete with a US based agent when the latter gets a better price from the cruiseline? He can't. That's why some cruiselines' contracts expressly prohibit cross border selling. The US Dept of Justice publishes a primer on antitrust law to educate and solicit the help of citizens in enforcement. WIth respect to market allocation agreements it provides:

[illegal] Market division or allocation schemes are agreements in which competitors divide markets among themselves. In such schemes... competitors agree to sell only to customers in certain geographic areas and refuse to sell to, or quote intentionally high prices to, customers in geographic areas allocated to conspirator companies.( see http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/guidelines/211578.htm)

I love cruising, but the industry is under regulated. It engages in questionable practices not just with respect to major issues like market allocation pricing and end runs around labor laws, but smaller ones like immunity from liabilty for actions that seem unfair, e.g. blame that lost suit case on our concessionaire or cancelling a cruise at the last minute with virtual impunity in order to use the ship for a more profitable private party. They seem to have avoided the kind of regulation vis a vis passengers to which the airline industy is subject. This may be because the cruise industry maintains an effective lobby coupled with the absence of any organization willing to seek necessary change. Unfortunately, the main catalyst for change seems to be a small coterie of Florida based legal specialists and the courts. Not an effective way to go.

[factor30]

Hi Owl61

What more can I say. It would seem that certain people have got us 'over a barrel'.

 

Celebrity UK confirmed to me that for e.g. the Spa Credits, were only available to US customers and that UK customers had other benefits. I expressed surprise and asked her to explain as I wasn't aware of any perks from this side of the pond. No answer! I rest my case.

[Jancruz]

Every cruiseline has separate tariffs for North America and the UK.... and other parts of the globe as well.

 

It's the way they conduct their business to achieve sufficient market penetration.

 

Oceania does not allow US agents to book anyone in GB, Australia and many other places.I personally think that is ridiculouse with the internet today...

Jan

*****

[profzed]

Being in the UK, it would seem from various threads that US clients of Azamara are able to access more information from them than us on the other side of the pond. Here, it seems almost non-existent. I spoke to Captains Club today asking why Azamara US are offered benefits (for early booking) such as Spa credits, and was told they it was only for the American market and not UK. She is going to query it for me and get back to me on Monday.

 

Andy, I wonder, with your influence...particulary when you take the 2-day Quest trip, you could speak to someone from Azamara asking them why we are the poor relation in the UK. We will be on the Quest 24 Nov. Marketing is non-existent, although when I read threads, it doesn't seem to be much better in the States.

 

If anyone else can inform, it would be appreciated.

we are also from the UK, we returned on sat off the journey, we have always had to pay heck of a lot more than US clients in the past, i know we are not supposed to knock Ta's on this board, don't know if this applies to UK Ta's, but i did it all myself this trip and all the US passengers we talked to were amazed how cheap we got it, compared to them, and with the dollar being so low it made it even better for us Brits :)

i do agree though, from this end we don't usually get the little extras the US passengers get, i would not let it stop me cruising all the same, love it love it. the only way to travel:D