uktog

I thought it was an excellent well constructed survey unlike the amateur survey monkeys of the past. The way it presented over a series of questions what combinations you wanted and also looked to find your dealbreakers will give them very good data for analytical purposes. 
I certainly saw this as being a much more professional piece of research than in the past 

13 minutes ago, kool kruiser said:

Same here. It irks that on other social media groups there seem to be a number of  TAs who simply permanently gush...

I agree - I think your judgement will always be different if you have paid "full whack" for your cruise and thats the people I want to hear from.  Secondly the "gushers" want to stay in the pocket of the cruise line to get the best deals for their clients.  They are often also running facebook pages in tandem with travel agencies so you see comments like "I will have some good offers coming soon".  So of course we can only talk about the wonderful and post photos beside key players etc.  

On one Facebook site I was removed for answering perfectly valid questions of clarification pre cruise and another, when I had issues with my first reservation I got accused of being a troll and got vicious messages from someone who continues to gush to this day.  

I know here has a disadvantages in some eyes about not being able to message posters but I would say thats a huge plus.

5 hours ago, DS said:

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

Ask the question again to Azamara you’ll probably get a different answer 😃

When we were on onward they did the event on the port side of the living room at the back where the long table is. It doesn’t really work well there. You can’t circulate round the table if others are sitting down and it’s very hard to work out who was part of the roll call and who wasn’t. Group conversation is impossible. This is the curse of doing away with the library for another bar. 

I think there’s an issue with “Seaware” out of the box which leads to a less than ideal experience however once cruise lines pay for customisation as Azamara seems to be doing - hence changes coming on stream in the summer and further releases beyond then based on the CEO webinar- it will start to fit better for the guest. 
It’s got all the advantages of an integrated system so the very important management functionality filters down to be a guest benefit in time (such as better knowledge about each guest’s preferences, improved inventory control, less inventory wastage etc etc)

Seaware was a change for us all, our baptism with Azamara was very poor, they know that, however it’s going to be the future for many lines (Veronix also have hotel management systems and other leisure related packages) so we need to accept it and move on. 
At least Seaware brings combined intelligence to the software developers from many cruise lines and guests aren’t  at the mercy of home build patch and bridge systems Azamara struggled so much to migrate away from. 

I was expecting you to call it from a house phone using the number in your room information and taking a note of it - that’s what I’d have done in the situation you had.

I suppose working abroad as a solo female in crazy places I’ve become very creative and adaptable in hotel/travel situations

Yes we had bars closed but never had an issue - you must have been unlucky. 
Are you going to give Explora another chance or seek a deal elsewhere in the future? 

We had a large number of influencers and agents on the ship so rooms were used for their presentations day and early evening. We never had a problem finding somewhere to sit/drink. We also had the annoyance of the models wanting us not to sit on sofas as it impacted on photos but we managed. They did alter the dynamics and what was available to us but I’d still call it a niggle. Like the lack of doorbell would be a niggle to me and I’d dismiss it as a situation that arose because of how you unfortunately had to use the room more than anything else. And for coffee before 7 I accept you can’t instantly get it outside your room I’m not sure why calling for room service to deliver to an agreed place is such an issue. Much more hygienic than open machines touched by many. 
 

My niggle was the lack of reasonable entertainment offering in the evening exacerbated by an over excited self focussed cruise director (who has fortunately moved on) - but again we moved on. 
 

For us we are thankful we’ve even been able to get away so I suppose niggles don’t get any real attention from us. 

I would only bother if others issues were significant (eg relating to food quality entertainment etc). I see the items stated on the post not as issues more as niggles - I agree to a point about evening coffee though I have had beautiful coffees up sitting beside the whisky bar when I was onboard. For me, no ship 100% meets my “peculiarities”. I adapt wherever I go or learn to live with the tiny things. I could certainly do that easily on Explora 

I should have added our first Explora experience was surrounded by influencers and people on freebies but we were able to see beyond that to be happy to book again.  It is an issue and something I would be aware of when choosing itinerary - shorter trips starting on ending in Miami may be more at risk

We have many cruises on Azamara and have had one cruise in MSC Yacht Club and two on Viking.  We prefer quiet, relaxed with good attentive service but not over the top fawning.  On Azamara we usually go for a Club Continent.  We hate big ship. loud entertainment or loads of upcharge all around the ship.  We prefer fewer children (but do not need child free) and have no need for onboard shopping.  Good food matters to us as does some "piano bar" entertainment.  

With that background we can say we tried Explora when it was still settling in last Autumn but liked it so much we have booked two more cruises.  Compared to Azamara the food is far better and more to our tastes and even the base level suites are far better than a club continent.    There is much more guest space than Azamara - it is more on a par with Viking.  However in terms of pools and outside space the order of preference is 1.  Explora 2. Viking 3.  Azamara.  In terms of entertainment our preference is 1. Viking 2. Azamara 3. Explora

I am glad we have found Explora - we were not enjoying Azamara as much as we used to, though weve since had a better experience on them - and would encourage others to try it with an open mind

There was an amazing pianist on board from Ukraine in November- Natalia. You really saw her skills when she did a four hander with a guest entertainer in the Journey lounge one evening. It was a shame many nights after dinner she played to no audience in the lobby bar - on one occasion she was scheduled to come on after the bar shut. The general manager came past saw that and told the bar staff they had to stay open until Natalia finished- good move as the bar filled up with listeners. I’m not sure the bar team were so impressed! 

My guess is you were part of the interface that is actually B2B and not B2C - in other words you were in the business to business portal and at that end it will be possible due to negotiations between Azamara and travel agents for transfers to be added free of charge.  This probably happens when flights are also added in a bundle by the travel agent as part of a product package. 
Anyway, as you say you are going down another route, my guess is you were never supposed to pick up a free transfer because you were using a route into Azamara that wasn’t fully set up and  tested for customers, you were in the travel agent area. 
It would initially issue invoices and then during a routine exception report the issue would be identified and corrected 

6 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I’d be interested to hear if anyone else uses the Android Seaware app - it sound useful.

I’m wondering though if it’s fully set up to integrate with Azamara passengers side of things yet. Might explain why a free transfer booked on it turned out not to be free? 

Great selection. I can’t now remember our selection but I know we read two and enjoyed them. 

5 minutes ago, KJB416 said:

I’m so glad to hear it’s improving. Please continue to keep us updated.

 

On another note, I also can’t be in the sun for long periods of time, but husband loves it. In their marketing brochures they have covers on the beds on deck 5 around the pool like picture below. I’ve never asked about it bc both of my trips have been in cold weather and sun has not been too much of an issue.  Do you know if the shades in the picture below are available?  I’ve never seen them up while onboard and like I said never needed them to ask after them .  

I believe these shades were found to be no use in any breeze - a case of a hotel designer not understanding that the aft of the ship has a breeze, so the idea was scrapped 

7 hours ago, Sidney68 said:

I am sorry to say that the service has deteriorated significantly. I have tried to give leeway to accommodate the change in passenger numbers but it is so dramatic I need highlight. Lunchtime in emporium I waited 15 mins to get a glass  of water - in the end I had the go up to the maitre D and ask if there was any service down our end of the restaurant? In the end he himself had to serve us. Empty plates were not removed and the whole experience resembled a very bad all inclusive buffet concept. Tonight, the restaurant still managed a good level of service but go into Explorer lounge and Journey’s lounge before and after dinner oh dear, what a change. We ordered drinks in a nearly empty explorer lounge before dinner and had to chase after 15 mins as our drinks hadn’t arrived, I don’t think they had clean glasses… In journeys lounge they were more interested in collecting dirty glasses from the previous show than taking new drinks orders. How things change! I really am trying so hard to not find fault but the change is so dramatic it is hard not to . 

 

As reported by other posters previously the evening entertainment needs work. The two singers have great voices but hearing similar songs night after night is repetitive! Overlay that on a two week cycle so that we are now on repeat of our first week and boy I am ready to scream! 

Not good. Hope it picks up. I must admit I didn’t like the singers at all in November and was hoping for an improvement as we have realised our next 14 night cruise is 2x7 cruises (it was sold as a 14). I will be climbing the wall if it’s the same very average two in September. Only two singers is never going to work. They need to wise up on that one! 

9 hours ago, English Tim said:

What I particularly noticed today was the lack of consideration for other people, by getting the best vantage point and not worrying whether you are blocking someone else’s view, but there is so much space on the ship that is easy to go and find somewhere else to be.

 

The dealbreaker for me could be the brand of champagne when they advertise well-known brands and then deliver whatever they consider okay?

Packing a ship with ill mannered free loaders is what would put me off booking beyond our current commitments.
 

I can’t get excited about whether they serve brand x or y alcohol. I bet in blind tasting many cannot tell the difference so I won’t let label snobbery influence my decision. In all our bookings I cannot see the brand of champagne mentioned, I always take marketing blurb with a pinch of salt anyway, switches of brands happen on all lines from time to time. 

1 hour ago, carfla7 said:

Thanks for all these comments. The provision of a shuttle was a major plus for us. It just made visiting a port so much easier. Cost cutting I guess - but ill-advised if they want to maintain the “luxury” feel.

Or more active local taxi unions?

I understood in Tenerife the local taxi union had objected to the provision of shuttles. This is becoming more prevalent in ports since the pandemic as taxi drivers try and regain their markets. 
 

Azamara always links in with the port authority for the provision of shuttles where permitted. Sometimes this connection is more visible than others. Even if the port appears to be providing the shuttle its cost is wrapped up in the port fees. 

9 minutes ago, blag said:

In my case, I selected a no-cost option (add-on) direct with Azamara.

I booked the cruise whilst on board, transferred it to my TA. I subsequently booked the no-cost option myself, independently, and Azamara confirmed it (at zero cost) in their invoice, which was presented to me by my TA.

I fail to see how this was not 'set up by the guest'. 

 

You don’t have a packaged bundle which is what I was referring to. These can’t be booked onboard and an onboard booking can’t be transferred into a bundle. A bundle usually has flights, cruise, possibly some hotels, transfers or even one excursion arranged by the agent. 

15 minutes ago, blag said:

But, what happens if Azamara have included something (and is reneging, as in my case) but the TA has not specifically included these?

In the case of excursions and other add-ons I have dealt direct with Azamara, either in person whilst onboard, or via the Azamara online interface. In fact, AFAIK this seems to be the conventional protocol. 

 @DavyWavey70 may be contending with with a similar situation. 

It’s a bundled package @Riocca explained before, the rules relating to them are different. By creating a package holiday whilst it gives restrictions it also has other advantages. All no cost  inclusions are via the packaged product and aren’t set up by the guest. 
There are a couple of large UK internet based agencies who create packaged bundles and attract guests with what looks like a fantastic deal but my previous experience with one is they come unstuck if adjustments are needed 

Whatever has happened here, accusing people of lying without giving all the specifics is uncalled for and the only person who can resolve this is the travel agent 

Mistakes do not equal lies 

8 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Yes it’s all in the confirmation.

 

Sorry, my wording was sloppy. It was the Azamara agent that’s been lying to me, not my TA. 

And to repeat the agent may have made a mistake, accusing someone of lying implies a deliberate act to deceive you - I suspect your evidence on that claim would not stack up. Why would they deliberately be trying to deceive customers given how precise and demanding UK consumer legislation is?

I fully recognise a mistake may have been made, perhaps just as you have done, wording has been sloppy.  Things may not be correct on the IT record - but that is not deceit.  

The only mistake from what you have told us that I can see is that the Azamara agent spoke to you - you should have been told to route your call through your travel agent.  That is what you should be doing now and there are well established routes for UK agents, particularly those who do bundled packages as you have bought, to escalate items to Azamara.

I would also add that July/August can be really tricky wind conditions even on a nice day.  Azamaras docking position in Leith has a big advantage for guests re accessibility however it’s one of the trickiest entries for Captains through a tidal lock so only two chances a day and not an option if the wind gets up.  Between The Open and the Tattoo in July/August several cruises have had issues over the years (I also remember one in 2015 getting stuck in the port for an extra two days). 
In many ways now we have the tram network extension Vikings tender spot coming into Newhaven is better because it’s more reliable. 
If your overnight has a risk of being ex Rosyth I would look at hotel options though they will be crazy priced. If you can accept basic just as a spot to sleep look for something like the Ibis at the Gyle. It’s on the tram line (opposite end to Leith) so getting back to the hotel will be relatively easy and if you want to head back to the ship from the hotel next morning it’s a five minute walk to the train station for the route heading back to Inverkeithing (for Rosyth). 

I have upgraded my package via my agent no problem. What was your agents reason for declining to do it?

Im not defending the agent who has upset you but people make mistakes- they and the company are not dishonest they just make mistakes. 
I hope you can put this issue behind you - it will get resolved- before you board otherwise you’re going to not enjoy your cruise. 

21 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

@Stem to Stern, would you mind giving out the email address for Loyalty again? Did you book through a TA? 

erin.odonnell@azamara.com