uktog

There is a sliding scale of discounts for all returning guests on the ultimate package up to 25% for those at the highest level of loyalty but only for purchasing onboard Those at the lower level of loyalty and those with no sailings can now enjoy a 20% discount by booking pre boarding, those on the tier that already gets 20% has no benefit and those at 25% would be worse off this this offer. Likewise those at the highest level of loyalty already get unlimited wifi so the offer is of no benefit to them

This was an issue before the website issues and rumours about the status of Loyalty recognition, it has always been the case that these promotions encouraged new cruisers rather than repeaters.

They are opened for cleaning when in port but for safety reasons cannot be opened at any other time. If you ask it will be a no

Sounds though that I might enjoy the bar experience if they follow a recipe. To me a good drink is one where the spirits to other ingredients are in correct proportion. My absolute hate on Azamara is bar tenders who think they are doing you a favour with extra measures of spirits when you’ve told them otherwise

Elisabeth has just gone on leave to return just ahead of the world voyage I believe

@Dr H your reference to chromosomes is not necessarily a very diverse comment these days 😂😂

Azamara is a destination intensive line. Therefore the first sea day may not even happen - some itineraries have no sea days or alternatively the day is very late. There is also a view that whereas on mega ships a get together was needed, on Azamara it is very easy to connect with guests and a structured event is not needed. Add to that the range of venues available on a smaller vessel is not high - the cabaret lounge can be needed for rehearsals, there can be other groups that have formal arrangements with Azamara (eg Music at Sea) and now there is no library on one ship. I guess Azamara now believe people can sort themselves out but they do offer one slot albeit usually at or just after sailaway. It has the same status as a Friends of Bill - space but no officers

I found on Viking it was easy to meet people both those on cruise critic and those not. Its like Azamara a very friendly line.

I read that some of them look after 26 separate facebook pages all extolling the virtues of MSC related products. Must be exhausting and you need all these very reduced price cruises to recover

That’s new wording

I see they got goody bags. Hope you got one - it’s the very least they could do. I’ve been to naming ceremonies on other lines and there was no distinction between paying guests and the hangers on. I think there is a very clear message about MSCs focus here

I saw the menu and have borrowed the photo. If I’m not mistaken, these items are on standard menus. I think it’s all wrong how they’ve treated their guests as opposed to those on a “business trip”

Maybe it’s time Azamara looked at all their evening offerings - White Night, Azamazing evening and Folkloric events. The original concepts are about 9 years old and there’s a blurring of what’s what. We’ve had folkloric at White Nights, Azamazing evenings and folkloric that are very similar. When boundaries get blurred and competitors challenge your USP in an area or it’s no longer feasible to offer it consistently it’s time to rethink and redefine

The problem isn’t the cruise line it’s the port who in some countries only release the complete dock details just before docking. Some big ships can only use one dock hence why they know ahead. Azamara can go virtually anywhere so can be later but the taxis always find them!

Funny we always we’re approaching Explora as an alternative to Viking and Azamara in terms of our booking behaviour and are curious to see if it’s price point is justified

Logistically better on board this one in my view. Appreciate others may not agree. Often tours from Florence struggled to get back in time to leave for the theatre. They have to allow so much time for transport to and from the theatre. Doing it on the ship will allow them to push the start time back quite a bit so more people can attend.

So long as the light is genuine and not “fake” or “bought off”. Been great reflections here no fake or bought off. I’m contrasting with some I’m reading elsewhere for the same cruise and am minded of the 1960s UK political scandal where a witness used the now well used phrase “well he would say that wouldn’t he” (although in the trial Mandy Rice Davis said “well he would wouldn’t he” )

Funny that’s what I thought. If the port authorities can only allow 7 ships a day surely economics based on per capita taxes will drive them to give space to 7 mega factory ships. Maybe it would have been better to keep the two venues ok cut capacity at the larger (but didn’t the authorities not recently heavily invest to extend it) and keep World Trade Centre with a requirement to stay overnight and to use ship to shore power. That would reduce the movement and docking fumes significantly. Although I do recognise, it currently doesn’t help Azamara to the fact they can’t do ship to shore power.

and you can upgrade for the remainder of the cruise at any point and only pay for the remaining days

I had already moved American Queen from a line I would always look at (based on previous cruise experience) to one to think carefully about before booking due to onboard experiences (large groups cared for by their onboard travel agent making the independent travellers feel "second class"). Based on what I read here re responding to customer communications and processing refunds they have moved to off the radar. A shame because the itineraries were good but everything else is not (in terms of what matters to me)

Having seen how absolutely awful the communication and paying customer service focus (or absolute lack of it) was at the time of the late cancellation of the inaugural I had hoped that was just pressure of the situation. When I highlighted elsewhere that the paying guests were second rate citizens whilst influencers and agents were being so looked after I got abuse. OK I already had a second booking, I assumed this was a one off so I try to look forward to a cruise next month. But reading this I start to have those horrible thoughts. It’s great to hear the food is good but poor onboard communication and issues like lots of things out of use is not something I would be happy about. I’m really hoping my cruise is influencer free and doesn’t have big events carried out at the expense of the paying guests. Thanks to those who have kept us updated and I look forward to hearing the experiences of those on the next cruise

Thanks. That’s our usual approach with butlers this one just didn’t/couldn’t get the message 😀

Thanks. The one time I was out there indeed there was a shuttle but it was an 8 euro charge which I believe is what other ships guests have to pay. Whether Azamara would be able to offer free shuttles I do not know. Like you walking over the bridge isn’t an option! I will miss the good old days of a nice stroll after dinner from World Trade Centre

Dont start me on our "one and done for now" experience on MSC Yacht Club. We quite liked going to "the dark side" to do the shows. Unfortunately first night we were led to believe that without the butler escort we could not go (it was just post pandemic so we believed this line" To our absolute embarrassment the escort involved the butler going ahead of us in the busy areas shouting "Make way please VIPs coming through" For the rest of the cruise we would try and sneak to any show we went to without him though again he reminded us one day he had to take us........... Good luck, like you I can go with someone getting me a coffee if I decide but thats about it. Rearranging how I lay things out in the room (a la Azamara butlers) really winds me up!!

You spotted the give away clue "I think it was"..... if I paid for it I would know it was..... Husband and I can go for a whole day with a Michelin star chef, get real hands on and a lovely 3 course lunch for that price so it is not amazing for a two hour session