uktog

Two tops are very easy to get. It’s the larger sizes that can be tricky

I’m presuming you’re asking about tasting? If so, id it wine to drink with or without food. Food impacts on the taste a wine you like with food you may not like without and vice versa. Work out the circumstances in which you are intending to drink the wine and taste there

James Morrison delivers an excellent evening one of our memorable ones - enjoy!

I’m not alienated, I’m seriously frustrated. To sum up my position which has been influenced by several unacceptable land side issues, a pretty bad experience onboard last year (with no follow up on emails sent) and having had our eyes opened sailing on competitors, is if DH said can you book us a cruise tonight I’d look around across 4/5 lines whereas previously I’d just have called up Azamara. I have two big Azamara trips in quick succession starting next week. We are very much hoping that we find a much better experience than our last and our confidence can be restored. We can accept change provided the reasons are communicated simply and honestly with real reasons not bluff So very much looking forward to our upcoming cruises with hope seeking out the positives - not looking for issues

I will respond to Q2 and 3 after the experience we will have starting in nine days time. Re Q1 we have experienced other lines recently, one a new start (Explora) so cut backs were not evident and one (Viking) where in our short time with them they have been very consistent and we did not see any cutbacks

You are right but what is happening is in the short term people are changing cruise lines as they see better value for money for equivalent itinerary's elsewhere

No US agent no background call centre sound. Wasn’t logged in when she answered the call

I wonder how many will use given the new beverage package price

It would actually, when we were on Viking there were gaps and they made adjustments when we raised the issue. We spoke with the GM - their equivalent to Hotel Director - who sits in an office with an open door so guests can find them and speak when they are not in meetings or about the ship

I need to tell others about the call handlers attitude to queries about Shore Excursions. It left me shocked, highly disillusioned and the full realisation that this is probably no longer the cruise line for me given how their agents address queries/requests. Here is the background - and I apologise the prices are in Sterling but you will get the drift. We are heading to Japan for the Japan Intensive in April. The costs of excursions have increased a lot however its a one and done so we would be looking to swallow the costs for convenience - we do not feel able to DIY there. Silly I know but respect that please. We will stay 2 nights post cruise with a very early flight home on Day 3, so came up with a plan to use the Azamara little tour and airport drop off at Haneda on disembarkation. We booked a (cancellable) hotel adjacent to the airport which coincidentally does a shuttle to Disney so we might have gone there. Early in the week that tour was costing £135 or so each. Expensive I know but we were happy to swallow it. Last night I went on line and the cost of the tour was now £215 each (wow) AND reduced to 3 hours only. What did not make sense was that the equivalent tour which goes out to Narita is 4 hours and is costing £115. So as part of a call about the beverage package I ask if the cost of the tour could be checked to see if it is correct. The agent was clearly only prepared to parrot back what she saw on Seaware which is the same as I see but it got worse. I pushed could she query it here is the sequence of responses and a paraphrase of what she said "You need to understand prices change" - my response absolutely but why is the longer tour that does the same things apart from going to a different further out airport so much cheaper "They will be using a different tour operator" - hmm look could we still get that checked "No thats the price, you need to understand they increase" - well can I speak to someone "No customers are not allowed to speak to Shore excursions" - well how can we get someone to look at this, can you not raise a ticket RIGHT - here is the gobsmacking reply "They are very very busy and to be honest we probably won't get an answer until after you have sailed in April" I gave up Unbelievable way to run what should be a revenue enhancing operation. I will rejig our Tokyo plans now to handle the two days very differently but that call shocks me that Azamara have agents who will not even try PS Although I had not opted out of the survey I got no post call stay on the line survey

I have just called - here is the upshot 1. Quoted £387 per person for the ultimate package 2. Advised I cannot use the remaining OBC left over from an excursion booking - its general OBC not excursion only OBC 3. Suggested I book on ship to use it and get the Loyalty discount (I knew that would be the case if I wanted the discount I had to do onboard) 4. So I asked her what the onboard package price was and she said $21.95 a day. I did not book the £387 offer which by my maths equates to $28.95 or so per day, I am needing to be able to use up that OBC It was a wholly unsatisfactory call give how she responded to a query on shore excursion pricing but I will post that on the Shorex thread. I hate to be so negative about a line I have loved and been such a major part of my travel life and to which I should actually be looking forward to sailing on next week and in April but they just keep getting things so wrong and I cannot cope with this inconsistent poor service any more PS My travel agent has given up on them and has been very honest with me why given an issue with a previous booking I had we had to cancel and what happened after, some of which I have only just become aware of

Glad to hear you’re getting a good result. Many folks will respect Azamara more if they are honest up front. We all can accept issues if combined with honesty. Selling packages knowing they can’t deliver what’s advertised is an example where more honest communication is needed. Enjoy the wines!

Doesn’t it hack you off when you’re in the call queue with the constant marketing tape playing it goes on and on about the Azamazing Evening. Maybe I should ask the agent which cruises get them. I can kind of accept them coming onboard if that’s what’s needed but stop misleading guests that you get them. The socials from the world cruise are extremely misleading to future cruisers who will get not experience the special dinners, evenings etc. but it’s not made clear. However full disclosure for the first time in 8 cruises I am getting an offshore event on my next cruise but then in Japan ours is on ship - and for a Japan intensive cruise it’s being held the only night it’s not in Japan which reeks of a cost saving decision.

Given that the package was $21.95 18 months ago as I recall this increase is way above 30% Azamara probably profited from us having the package. We did not drink more, we drank better so our cost to them was difference price. There was also a convenience factor. Our daily consumption in addition to sparkling water was one drink in the day one pre dinner drink two glasses wine and usually but not always one post dinner. Given drink is supposed to be an included product I wonder how many others are like us $42 a day was fine to enjoy better quality products $80 is far too much. And even worse if you then find these products aren’t there anyway. Very disappointing and whilst Azamara may back track to a more reasonable figure in due course unfortunately yet again as has happened quite a few times before I’m probably be caught in the “experiment failed” group

I would be speaking to the Hotel Director about this. Hopefully you get a price adjustment on what you paid. Good luck and smooth sailing

Trouble is I’ve obc I need to use. Doubt I can but I will call tomorrow. Mind I also have to watch what exchange rate they apply Why is it never straight forward 😂

Thanks. I do not know what has prompted such a steep increase as @paf225 says so hard on the back of a previous increase. @oddjob16 is so right, the wine isnt worth it if indeed they have it in stock. I am going to work out what I will do as on our last cruise the included rose was undrinkable and the sparkling water had had a bubbles bypass. Absolute bummer with the cruise being so close. At least the last time Viking increased the price of their Silver Package they set a date the price would apply AND emailed existing bookers offering them the opportunity to buy then at the existing price. Much more transparent in my mind. Does anyone know the current corkage price?

There is. It’s gone to $31.95

Well wouldn’t so we said no

It has been reported on the newbies thread that on Journey the Ultimate Beverage package price has been hiked from $26.95 to $39.95. Whilst Azamara package always was quite competitive and maybe an increase was due this is not a small increase its eye watering especially considering what some other lines charge. Case in point Viking - ok have to buy for all in the cabin and for all the cruise but it is $25 and that is to come from only wine at meals to a wider wine and spirits list than on the Ultimate. For us $80 a day supplement to move up from the included drinks is an absolute step too far. What do others think. If this increase is going to be applied fleet wide will you still buy a beverage package? PS it looks like the difference price between the premium and ultimate package is staying broadly the same at $8

The difference price to upgrade is still approximately the same $8 per day per person. What really annoys is I tried to book the Experience package last week that gave the ultimate but because I wanted to use our OBC as part payment they could not do it. Never mind, either way Azamara gets less revenue for us than they would have by the looks of it.

Just done the maths. It’s a price increase of $440 for us for our cruise next week. I’m not sure I can justify spending over $1000 even with the platinum discount on a package for us. I wonder how many will now not buy it = overall revenue loss. I will be interested in seeing what Quest is charging

Ouch on the drinks packages

I also would love to do it online. My biggest gripe about calling is even though the excursions were not involving OBC I was paying at the time with my credit card on both occasions the call handler has refused to send any paperwork of confirmation to me because it’s booked through a travel agent. The only proof I currently have for a trip next week is a screenshot of my onboard account (though it doesn’t say paid) and my credit card statement. If I pay the full total myself I believe the excursions booking has nothing to do with the travel agent.

I had exactly the same issue last week for a cruise in February. Browser made no difference switching between Mac, iPad and iPhone plus neighbours laptop no joy. Ended up having to phone. I posted then the system is still “buggy” and whilst I only had a few minutes wait for the call to be answered the agent was not competent and there were issues which I had to call about again to resolve