uktog

Seems a little unfair if that’s how it’s being handled

Thanks for all your posts and updates. They have been so balanced and helpful. Sorry we have to throw you off so we can get on. Safe travels and hope we sail with you one day

Thanks Floris. Nothing we can do about the weather but make the best of it!

That’s the problem the solution is US centric- almost all European carriers do not unless you bought the more expensive cancellable airfare

Surely they can wait. I’d go to the future cruise people and ask them to speak up on your behalf. So sorry to hear this has happened to you

Im so sorry to hear this Odd. I know how much that cruise meant to you. It’s very late cancellation given for many airfares will be purchased and the maximum sums being refunded are too low for people buying business class

Sorry to hear that. It’s still quite wild in Miami so no beach chairs for us today

Well our start has been an adventure arriving in a tropical storm (yes rollercoaster approach in) and then struggled to get cab to go to South Beach. As we drove in we were sticking in floodwaters Our hotel, like the airport, has sprung lots of leaks. No lifts as the shaft is flooded and water was even getting in our lovely original deco windows Somehow I think our planned sunning it on the hotel’s loungers on South Beach might just be substituted with a mall trip. Anyway we’ve taken the buckets of rain for the team. Just remember that IF we have a great weather cruise.

I’m starting this thread to pick up the baton from @InsGuy3 and @florisdekort Our focus will be comparing to Viking and Azamara entry level suites. We hated MSC Yacht Club - the pampered few within a “factory ship” wasn’t for us so will not feature much in comments. Given how poor our dining experience in YC we just hope for far better. We therefore hope this thread stays away from YC discussions ad infinitum This is our third chance to get onboard two previous cancellations one a week before cruising. That was handled very very badly by MSC but we’d already paid in full for this trip so have stuck with it. The precruise experience has been no better than our memories of mass lines 20 years ago - wrong information, agents not able to give answers, we had huge issues accessing paperwork etc. So we will embark for two cruises with only 2 restaurant reservations as the system will only allow that but with the positives and negatives slate wiped clean (helped by the BA lounge Whispering Angel promotion) as we are waiting for our flight to MIA having done the tricky domestic leg. Hoping to be posting positive news very soon

You can’t book direct but you can book through an agent in the US no problem if your happy taking the dollar exchange risk.

Traditionally booking your shore excursions was not part of the majority of UK travel agents role. In almost 30 years of cruising I’ve never had an agent do it or offer to do it. It’s always been the guest that set everything up.

We got an email about the process as we have current bookings. It is good to see clarity but I’m really disappointed that the process is far less straightforward than before. Often we have OBC and working out our excursion plans is an evening/weekend task. Nice downtime from work. Unfortunately if I’m to complete transactions using OBC I have to call Azamara or my agent. Not great trying to fit around work, so whilst we can do the planning when it suits us, there’s a second hurdle at payment which has to happen within 72 hours. Others may be fine with the process and it’s good there is clarity now on what is possible. But I find the new process cumbersome and a retrograde step if OBC is being used. The old way was far more customer friendly

And there is the heart of the issue the new management have to get a grip of. You are only as good as your poorest shoreside operative.

Very much depends on the port authorities I can name several where once you’re on you’re on. The position changes each year so I would leave it until around May 2024 and clarify directly with Azamara

If only ours was the £ equivalent of $75. It’s more like $300. I’m with @Hammer61 the pricing game (ok dynamic pricing to give it its fancy term) is putting us right off committing now the price guarantee has gone. We rarely used the guarantee but at least we knew it was there. Now we’d feel “cheated” if early commitment penalised us. Certainly for UK guests joining European cruises where there’s a range of flight options there’s zero incentive to book early now unless you’re someone who must have a particular room (we are not) Im not sure in the UK the airline comparison is as relevant yes they use dynamic pricing but you also can buy flexible cancellation at no penalty tickets. We do that for long haul then monitor prices. If the price drops (especially at about 3 months out you can often get a great deal on a more restricted) we swap over. Interesting for our two long haul early next year our flexibile tickets still almost beats current non flexible prices to within £25 but I’m watching Black Friday- I may even change airlines then at no penalty It’s a case these days of know the rules for your country and do your homework and regular monitoring

I think many guests opt to enjoy Chefs Table once as opposed to say two visits to Specialty Restaurants where quality has been variable and some are looking for new menus. You also find a lot of suite guests who opt for Chefs Tables as special nights and to use up OBC. If the galley and wine service can cope with it every evening it does indeed make sense. So long as quantity does not compromise quality all round it makes sound sense but the service impact has to be resourced

I can understand why with that head of hair 😂

Captain G

Not quite, last time it was a lot more than that when we were embarking with another line due to a one way system then a security delay

Glad you are getting underway soon

Agree, however it does affect Uber pricing

If I read right on the Miami Port site you are disembarking at Terminal E on Friday (sorry to mention the D word). Ambassador on call told me it’s C Once someone knows the real answer could they post there. (I know the driver will find it anyway but want to help them)

Thank you for the update. I hope the seal comes very soon. Sounds like the captain handled it exactly as he should do.

I read somewhere that Dondra was involved in the establishment of Azamara and was part of defining the original vision.

What is described above is predominantly only relevant in the ship within a ship context and not in a smaller all suite vessel. I would only be looking for No 2, 14 and 19 in my must list I hate the "gated community" special areas exclusive use concept, I am only happy with a butler if they fully understand I hardly need them and not to be over attentive (being responsive if I call is fine), No 12 I am looking for the absolute opposite, I do not want a wham bang course, next course, next course experience, I want the same kind of evening dining experience as I get at our favourite 5 star hotel, but absolutely no need to have the same wait staff, in fact I think variety is healthy