uktog

Explora has announced that as of 5 Nov they are updating their onboard currency depending on the part of the world they are sailing. Journey in the Americas/Caribbean will be in dollars and in Europe in Euros. Not sure how this works for transatlantics. I will be in the minority but Euros worked better for us. I am on a cruise starting 5 November that has a large amount of OBC designated in Euros - I am 100% sure we will lose out in conversion along the line

Border control related to passport checks and processing of exit documentation/stamping passports and can involve agents for a country due to be visited. You will always have baggage scanned regardless of where you do check in and any border processing

Thank you. The onboard rules seem to have changed recently. You certainly cannot have any border agent work and other activities in the same venue.

Yes as I indicated whenever the cabaret is used for any element of check in (and that varies depending on what dock Azamara gets) they cannot do the group by group muster there as well so it has to be a full ship event later on. Whilst the mass event is not ideal, it is only 50% of the Cruise passengers maximum that would be in one place so in many ways no worse than going to the dining room or theatre later on in the day in terms of contact with others.

Yes but only if you have the same muster station both cruises (does not have to be the same room)

It all depends whether the Cabaret Lounge is being used to process check ins or not what the method is. If check in is on the pier it’s the small groups process if check in is onboard it is the all together method

And therein lies the problem with Seaware

At least you managed to pay - its a problem linked to Seaware. Explora Journeys also has this issue but unfortunately they cannot take any payments, you have to contact your travel agent and pay them so they can pay Explora. Also Explora you cannot even search for excursions against your booking as it says you have an outstanding balance and you have to pay that before you can do anything. Travel agents can send you a PDF ..... Seaware has a lot to answer for, at least Azamara has put in place some work arounds

As part of a service recovery after shortening our cruise by three days EJ offered us their pre cruise package. We accepted (still to have it) but we aren’t impressed. No airport transfer included (that’s ok I know transfers in from the airport and they are easy to set up) Then the gem a few weeks later, although it’s supposed to be bed and breakfast they’ve only got room only rates at the hotel. The only solution they could propose was to give us OBC (hmm not really useful for our cruising style) to cover breakfast costs. As it happens we aren’t really breakfast people so can work round it but it’s not impressive My advice would be you or your agent will be able to set up the equivalent hotels and transfers for less, it will be properly set up and you will have much more control/flexibility as well

For most people the EES will mean little difference, every year the ETAIS gets pushed back but when it comes in, for us, it’s no different than we already have for coming to the USA or Canada. Yes another authorisation to get and watch the expiry of. At least they are planning to have the validity for 5 years and the cost lower as Canada extends to us and not the 2 year higher cost of the USA.

Yes it’s a standard issue most cruises- if it doesn’t happen it’s got overlooked by the Cruise Sales Manager

Until it’s consistent it’s not progress sorry

We had an excursion we cancelled that was paid pre cruise at a sterling price (UK booking) on our credit card. The refund went to our onboard Account in Euros. At the conclusion of the Cruise as the refund had been done in euros we opted to withdraw the euros cash which was then going to be useful for some other travel plans we had rather than leave it for our credit card to convert it to sterling

Thanks. Particularly frustrating are the turncoat haters who used to sail on Viking and regularly pop up to emphasise why they no longer cruise with Viking and run down the product. Move on, stay away from the Viking board and let’s focus on the current and balanced reviews like @CRF has given us.

Excellent balanced review- thank you!

I discussed this with the Head Office senior manager responsible and it is due to issues with the configuration of Seaware software and accounting for the costs and the discount. It is something they are trying to have resolved in a future software release.

If you look at the upgrade thread there is an issue. Back to back cruisers cannot apply for upgrades. Even if you get the email bids get cancelled

They are shockers! Excellent advice Alternatively photograph the driver and plate before getting in. The genuine ones don’t mind. The bandits either behave or rant and shout so you don’t get in that car and as everyone else in line has seen it the bandit has to drive off

They certainly get the lower cancellation charges but lose all the protections and take the currency hit if the exchange rate moves as Jazzbeau highlights so its swings and roundabouts

Oops meant to say a lock I wasn’t suggesting running around during a single lock though you can do that. We would typically start a down flight at the front, see one chamber, maybe then do a side then do the final chamber at the back.

Deck 5 for an open deck is a great place to see at least one lock. We’ve done 4 transits now and our advice would be try and see every lock from a different spot. So front, back, high, low etc At least with Azamara moving from port to starboard whenever you want only takes you 30 seconds

If they have done more than just what is expected of them by the cruise line yes. If they just do their job effectively and not above and beyond I transfer what I would have given them to the general donation. I come with a budget based on the number of days the cruise and use it all but the vast proportion is to the general fund

You can use refundable obc

It’s about expectation levels about the “culture” on Azamara not about tipping. If you’ve cruised predominantly on lines where tips are add ons and some guests avoid what they should rightly be giving crew then maybe you come to Azamara with the view of the poster that money talks and the butler is the route to something special. It’s not. @dynacruiser captured it so well talking about the “how” with staff (smiles etc) not the “what” (extra tips, expecting personal introduction). Azamara guests do tip in addition to the included gratuity but not as an upfront bribe and usually for something above and beyond the high service levels seen. @denverbri69 might like to consider looking after all staff that make his butler look good (those favours that may happen aren’t solely the butler’s efforts) by contributing to the Crew Fund rather than solely focusing on individuals. That fund pays for crew parties celebrating national days etc - and that’s probably one every cruise - excursions, buys prizes for the very popular crew bingo etc and is managed by the crew not head office. The Azamara model works for crew far better than for mass lines (which from the profiles it appears the poster is used to) The evidence is it is a line where probably as many don’t tip extra as do, in an industry where there are opportunities on every line, but Azamaras staff retention and re- sign on rate one of the highest in the industry

Do it yourself on the first night. Your butler will not have time to do that on embarkation day. They look after up to 12 suites each