boxman52

I agree with you that it's not a choice of either total silence or non stop rave music playing. There is something very sensible in-between to keep all guests happy Do Azamara advertise the ship is silent other than low volume performers? If so I must have missed that, if not the customers who want a little atmosphere within reason have as much right to that as those who want to spend their time in silence It surely a compromise

You make some very good points I certainly think Sycamore were opportunistic. The rate at which RCI were losing money this sale made no difference & they had funding far greater than this is place. Orders for new ships were progressing for example I tend to think they took the chance to get some cash for something that was a liability rather than an asset. That is without having to invest in a brand they didn't believe in More than willing to accept you are correct and I'm wrong, who knows Where we agree is something has to either evolve or change

That's fine I just look at the financial transaction when they were sold They have a choice to either evolve & grow or charge more from the people who like their offer for the same thing

There are people who like Azamara I'm one as I've got a number booked That's fine but the current model can't be viable for the owners. You can clearly see that in the sale detail as it can't have been making a return They have aging ships with no real wow factor. Having been on both I can't see how Azamara on a ship experience is comparable to Viking. The Viking offer is much superior on the "hard offer" If rely on the ambience then that can be hit or miss. I was disappointed with the chair hogs and facetime calls that I couldn't get away from on Azamara All that aside the line can't continue without change and if they have no new ships on the horizon or dramatic refits of the current they need to evolve onboard offer to attract new customers I really think there is a limit for the amount of new passengers who will be attracted by silence around a pool (it's not because peoples phones are going) chit chat and the hope that other guests will step up & make it entertaining I like the current offer but I'm realistic to understand it has to evolve for them to survive

We went on our first Azamara cruise this summer and have two more booked so we are obviously fans However I think you make good points. We noticed the lack of atmosphere around the pool, and the entertainment was sometimes really poor. It seemed to display a lack of imagination and quality We will go on Azamara when the deal is good and use it as a floating hotel for interesting port intensive routes The issue the line has is it must have been losing money as part of RCI. That's clear from the details of the transaction. They are not going to turn it around by offering the same offer to the same people The market for people who want to go on holiday in silence around a pool is limited but of course it's there. It's going to be a fine balance for Azamara to retain loyal customers while expanding the numbers & increasing revenue on board. They have competitors who are investing, so do they want to be Holland & America or Fred Olsen. Currently their price point is often taking all into account below those two lines. I look at the deals I've had and to be frank once a factor in all I get for the price & the OBC it's not the price of a luxury line I could live with the music if they banned speaker phones and chair hogs at the pool!

We go from Miami on the I'm sure sold out Christmas cruise We have an early boarding time but I suspect we will get there later to avoid the rush If I'm on a RCI ship I might want to get on to book shows etc & get on early to use the app but with Azamara the only reason is the restaurants. I feel sure we'll get some times if we are flexible We'll enjoy a nice relaxing morning & lunch in Miami before heading off the the ship. That's got to be a better start to a holiday than standing in multiple queues and pens!

Arena Leme we thought was great Directly opposite the Leme beach which is the quiet end of Copa Beach Rooftop pool area with an amazing view down the beach Comfortable rooms and transport & walking really easy

I don't believe for one minute Azamara have employed a host of programmers to write code for a hospitality IT system. It's the same as if they built massive pig farms because they serve bacon! Even if they have lost their faculties & decided to enter the IT industry, it still doesn't stop them in the meantime putting in place a simple off the shelf payment system for final balance payment

It's really incredibly easy for Azamara to set up an online payment system Those people who say you can't get hold of an airline, as someone who flies weekly that's not entirely true. However you can pay simply & easily online Why Azamara just don't set up a very simple payment system that could be bought off the shelf for little cost is very odd. It does make you wonder why they don't do that. To make it really difficult for people to pay is unacceptable really. I'd also add a booking system for 4 ships is also a very very basic IT system. You can choose from very many & it will all be set up for you quickly I like the line but the lack of buying an IT system is very odd & makes you think a little

Done both. The Viking ships are much better. I'd say in every regard There is more included in Viking The food was nicer on Viking The staff seemed to be friendlier on Azamara The events on Azamara are good, they make a big effort and it shows More to do on Viking on board during the evening Both have merits We look at itinerary and price and make our choice

I fully understand that things need to get back to normal for us and for businesses, I am all in favour of that. Its just the spin that gets me down. I'd rather be treated like an adult!

It is difficult to reconcile this statement with allowing people onboard with no vaccine and no test result. Carol Cabezas. “Azamara continues to implement the highest safety measures in accordance with the local health authorities and the current positive direction of the travel industry" Its just logical to say the highest standard would be all tested and all vaccinated. Wouldn't it be more honest to say we have carried out a risk assessment and taken advice and believe the current risk level allows us to do this. They are doing it to gain more passengers not because its safer. It cannot be the highest levels. We are on the Miami cruise over the holiday and whilst this will not stop us and it might make no difference just some honesty would be appreciated.

On the subject of tonic and mixers. On Onward recently they left all the mixers out on a tray at the bar for when they needed them. Sometimes open if partly used. This resulted in a number of flat quite warm drinks Seemed a strange thing to do

I'd say from the details of the financial transaction between RCI and Sycamore Azamara was not returning a profit. I suspect it was loss making as a sub brand. Given that standing alone it's going to have to pay for more of the services it shared with other RCI brands, I suspect things have to change. Increase prices & cut costs are obvious tactics. However I'd also suspect to see some others employed. Atlas is an attempt to increase revenue from an enhanced drinks package. I'd say while that solves the cocktail issue there is more to do on the wine side. The choice, champagne aside, was a long way from my idea of "ultimate" They also need to attract people to buy the ultimate package and offer them more of an experience. I doubt this will be sitting in a quiet general bar. So the Atlas concept comes in,, plus I suspect a piano bar with music as a theme. This will annoy some and the accountants will no doubt be projecting outcomes from lost customers v new ones. Next I'd bet they will look at the pool area to attract perhaps more multi generational groups and younger people. This is not Carnival and there is a huge gap between silence & belly-flop contests. This will all involve choices both for Azamara and it's customers. We will all have red lines I suppose. For me on a ship this size if they go for the family market, I'll go back to Viking.The ships are too small for groups of children. Personally if they tinker a little to make it more lively that would be fine with me.

I found the music not too loud anywhere The main noise issues were people shouting & having facetime calls. Awful at breakfast time A number of guests wanted to ensure everyone else heard their comments so at times were excessively loud. After a few days we spotted them It's not helped by the silence at the pool. I ended up just hoping some background music would come on as a counter. I really do think they should do something in the pool area because for me it was seldom peaceful with people playing videos on phones or calling

On the Onward now & I've kept my eye on the Atlas Bar Seems to have been fairly well used. Cocktails are very good. I'm not sure the concept will work at all in the Den. Keep in mind it's a concept not just a bar. If you aren't interested in a nice cocktail bar or think it's just the drinks that matter I understand you will not agree with this There is a quiet corner in the Living Room with a number of books. It is designed as separate to the rest. Fair to say just on my evidence in passing it has not really been used. During the day given most people are off the ship it is very quiet These are just my observations & of course others will differ.

I've worked in Amsterdam for the last 8 years flying in from UK weekly Last 2 weeks I breezed through the airport. A lot depends on your timing on how long your wait will be . They are meant to have started 500 more staff last week Amsterdam is really easy to get around get a pass/ticket from the yellow & blue machines at the airport Use buses, teams, metro & trains by using Google maps. Tap in & out with your ticket. At the airport they are stands by the downward escalator before you go down to the platform Central is always from platform 1,2 or 3 at the airport If you are not going to stay near Central the airport express bus 397 is very good. Take a look on Google Maps if that is better for your hotel. I think with bags it's better to get the bus than arrive at Central & try & get the right track outside with cases. Unless you are staying nearby at the front The number of the bus stop per bus is shown on screens outside the airport. 397 is out and to the right furthest stop It's more straight forward than it sounds Finally under no circumstances take a taxi from anyone standing outside shouting taxi. They are bad people The taxi stand is directly ahead when you exit the terminal by the bus stops. There is an organised queue. If someone takes your cases & crosses the roads stop & get your cases back

Three times now we have called the UK number at about 19.00 on a Friday night and got answered within a minute. This is after calling during UK office hours and having no luck. We called the UK number

It's not something that needs fixing really. Also if I'd have bought the business being paid would be my number one concern Not wanting to sound like a broken record but if Azamara had the slightest will to do this they could. There are so many ways available to collect money All businesses need to do it It's like running a cruise line with no ships!

Are you in the US because it seems better there than in UK We've spent hours so far across multiple days

We have 14 days to pay before our deadline. The process of trying to give Azamara our money so they can have a sustainable business has started. So far endless minutes holding on a call waiting no answer It really is inexcusable as the most function of any business is to receive money from customers and you should make that as easy as possible There are so many systems out there to allow payment. Azamara could put a system in place very quickly. You can link to them immediately to allow online payments. Hiding behind IT limitations in this day and age is quite simply out of date thinking. Who is running their back office I wonder

I agree the Torshavn is a great venue with a really good feel to it. I hope the Atlas bar will be similar although as you say its a real shame there is no live music

We have two cruises booked with Azamara upcoming so it will be interesting to compare. No-one here has mentioned Viking, we have been on them and found the ships great, food very good and the overall inclusive package excellent. If Azamara is as good we will be very happy. Of the main lines we like RCL for a very different holiday but get their unlimited dining package that elevates the food offer. We don't go on expecting an exclusive experience but we get other things from them that we don't get on the smaller lines

These days you have to be very careful with social media or site based reviews on anything. Some people are professional influencers or some have a financial interest in the industry. Go on the RCI boards and make any adverse comment and there is a total pile on from people forcefully disagreeing. When you probe you find lots are agents or in someway have self interest in talking up the line. I also think some vloggers, not all, are in it for what they can get from the cruise line. I don't think Gary is as he has the following to want to protect his credibility as he makes I suspect a fair income from his activities. In the "old" days before the internet it was more a step into the unknown when you went on holiday. Maybe these days we can stress a little too much about one persons view or experience that might not be wholly representative. But here I am looking at a social media board so what do I know!

Puts tin hat on. The tip system is really bad. It results in two tier service, I have read many people say we tip at the start of the cruise and we get really well looked after. If that server is giving you extra attention it normally means someone else might well not be getting the attention they have already paid, including service, for. A honest days work in most of the world outside of North America results in an honest days pay, not a pay packet that is dependent upon the whims of if and what people tip I find a number of people make point of telling people how much they tip - why? However my biggest issue is go to somewhere in Africa, parts of Asia and in many places you have people earning more on tips in the tourist industry then in essential professions. The amounts of money I have seen handed out to a fuel pump attendant is ridiculous. The results are that nurses, engineers etc who are really needed choose to serve drinks at a bar. Finally the tip becomes demanded. Because one person tips, if you don't tip extra (I have seen this on a cruise ship only once but many times elsewhere) you get abuse or a demand. I suppose my point is that the process of tipping over and above the agreed service charge has a major impact on others, so it is not just a personal choice.