2fromTO

Thanks for the pictures Phil. The new deck furniture is fabulous and adds a punch of style and comfort. Love the new seating area on Deck 11 - great place now for morning coffee or an evening cocktail. Looking forward to being on the Journey in January.

How about Nordic Pole Walking on the Deck 10 fitness track? I intend to bring my poles on our upcoming Antarctic Cruise - we are at sea for 12 out of 17 days!

Sometimes on sea days we eat a late breakfast and then skip the lunch buffet in Windows! On those days we enjoy late afternoon nibbles from Mosaic or the Afternoon Delights from Windows. Also liked the seared tuna wrap at the Pool Grill but seems to no longer be on the menu. Love the MDR for dinner - portion size is perfect. Our kryptonite is the gelato and the coconut macaroons!

Hi 2fromTO,

 

I read it too, and the verbiage is quite confusing. Must have been written by the legal department :). What we do know : like most other cruise lines, they will reduce the fare before the final payment due date. However, if you want to add a promo to your booking, you would have to pay the prevailing rate. FWIW, Celebrity offers the same thing.

 

As for the 48 hour offer ? I'm not exactly sure what it entails either. Based on the time restrictions, I suspect it would not come into play very often. Here's a link to the terms and conditions. Good Luck reading it :) : http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/explore-on-shore/booking/value-pricing/best-price-guarantee

 

Hope this is helpful !

Thanks Andy. I will read the fine print again. I believe other cruise lines will give you a OBC for the difference if the price goes down before final payment - but you have to ask. Good idea to monitor the price after you have booked.

Our preference is Deck 6, mid-ship or stern. Less movement in rough seas and, most importantly, close to Mosaic Cafe!

Azamara does have a best price guarantee. You can find the link at the bottom of their first web page.

Yes, there is a best price guarantee but I am not sure if I understand the "fine print". Seems to only apply after final booking or within 48 hours of initial booking.

The two 2016 cruises we are looking at are both less with the current double upgrade promotion than with the recently expired BOGOHO promotion. I really do not understand AZ's pricing and marketing strategy. I guess the bottom line is if the price is right for you, book it. But, be forewarned, there is no "best price" guarantee.

All of the above comments brought a smile to my face and triggered many great memories. Looking forward to our January cruise and reconnecting with friends from previous cruises, both passengers and crew.

Hello Kiawahdon, as an ex-Revenue Manager of Seabourn and Cunard, I speak from many years of experience when I tell you charters are extremely profitable, not only in net dollars, but also with up-front, non-refundable down-payments. This means the money may be in the bank for many years in advance, and cannot be recalled.

 

I note, with a bit of surprise, that besides Azamara, your other favorite lines that you've listed on your profile are Seabourn and Oceania. I'm sure you're well aware that both of these lines welcome charters and large groups. Note the webpage on my old alma mater: http://www.seabourn.com/corporateIncentives/Main.action?WT.ac=footer_charters

And Oceania Cruises: http://www.oceaniacruises.com/chartersincentives/default.aspx. And for the record, here is our charter webpage: http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/charters

 

Since you're obviously familiar with, and favor lines which all welcome and operate many charters, why the outrage over our 2016 charters? and why pretend charters are unfamiliar to you, or a sign of financial ruin, when all of your favorite lines welcome them with enough advance notice and the terms are right?

 

I do welcome your posts, Kiawadon. I'm just trying to understand what others are calling 'negativity' and I might call 'curious'. A quick review of your prior posts on CC indicate you are extremely well-versed in the world of stocks and finance. I wonder what your true intention is for the disruptive threads?

 

Best regards,

Bonnie

 

Not sure what the intention is of Kiawahdon, but what is the intention of Azamara's Chiefing Blogging Officer? What is the role of the CBO on this forum? This post seems to cross the boundary of listening and providing factual information.

Hi Nordski, thanks for sharing that article. I've not heard of such B2B services that sort through the social media channels and create profiles of the posters to enable personalized responses, but I can see the potential value. In our case, you could say I'm doing the same thing but on a human level with this Cruise Critic forum: I read the threads daily (well, almost daily...yesterday I participated in a Harvest Festival so I was absent from CC). I do act as the corporate voice and am given complete latitude to compose and post.

I've learned what one might call the profiles of the most prolific participants. And I advise the various departments of any conversations they'll want to be aware of.

On some of our social medium channels we actively market voyages and sales promotions, such as on the website and our email blasts. On other channels we do both: listen and market, such as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+. But there are the channels where we primarily listen, such as Cruise Critic. And listen we do!

My job is primarily to listen. I only try to 'control' the message when there is erroneous information being proffered. Otherwise it is your forum. I'm a participant like all the rest.

That's a long-winded reply to your statement that the CBO has a difficult task. I'd say no, not difficult; typically enjoyable, sometimes challenging ;)

Not sure what was intended, but I do not like the idea of being "profiled" nor the idea of having the message "controlled". Perhaps this this was just an unfortunate choice of words on your part. I also disagree with your assertion that you are a "participant like all the rest" - while we appreciate your involvement in this forum, we are all well aware that you are an employee of Azamara.

Demanding 235 minutes is on the same scale as complaining that a basic liquor package doesn't include your favorite single malt scotch.

Not on the same scale at all....I would much rather have my favourite single malt Scotch than extra internet minutes! ;)

Thanks so much Bonnie. Sounds like we are going to gave a great enrichment program. Will post a review on our return.

Since we are a bit closer-in I'll see if they have more information to share.

Thanks so much

Do I see a pattern? Every time there's a program change that dissatisfies some in the community the topic of survival comes back to the top of the list.

Why do you think this is so? I am not so sure that the continuing debate on the subject of AZ's survival can be written off as reaction to change. Many in the community are vested in AZ (including us) and are genuinely concerned and puzzled by recent decisions - the relocation of the reservation centre to Guatemala, the priority placed on charters, and the disaster of the LCV program. And then you add poor communication to the mix...

I understand/recognize the "upsell" concept and have never been confused about Azamara's fancy new name for them!

 

I do wish--and intended to say so earlier--that Azamara call them what they are and save us the charade of having to apply for them when they're so unlikely to occur... Instead, do as other cruise lines do and phone or e-mail eligible guests under a tight deadline for acceptance/payment--with a $398 offer based upon accumulated Cruise Points and original booking [rather than application] date if adhering to now published criteria and if touting the possibility as a loyalty benefit--if/when availability exists...

 

As conceptualized, the whole thing is cumbersome from a member perspective--it shouldn't saddle him/her with additional administration--and could lead to a very pleasant surprise rather than a source of disappointment if application is made unsuccessfully...

Completely agree.

I genuinely have a sense from so many loyal cruisers' postings, that focusing purely on the loss of a couple of benefits is missing the point. Azamara's P.R. department has been trailing this supposed 'upgrade' for months now, and promising something spectacular in terms of the revised LCV.

 

What I don't think anyone in their right minds expected, was that the Company would take the opportunity to remove some cherished perks (no matter how relatively trivial), implement an obscure reward system with abstract benefits such as extra nights and discounts/upgrades that may be difficult if not impossible to achieve, and then sell this package as "L'announcement of the year" ?

 

My sense is that many CC contributors feel that Azamara's approach to this rollout and their response is a significant part of the problem, rather than just the issue of laundry and internet time.

Exactly. The LVC rollout is one big empty promise. I feel duped - that is the issue for me.

Bonnie,

Would appreciate any additional information you may have about the enrichment program on our Antarctic cruise. While we are looking forward to Nigel Marvin's perspective on the wildlife/birds of Antarctica, however it would greatly enhance our experience to have lecturers on board who also could talk about the many other interesting facets of Antarctica - glaciation, climate, history of expeditions, the many research stations etc. It is a unique destination that calls for an equally unique ship-board enrichment program. A great opportunity for Azamara to excel in its commitment to Destination Immersion. Thanks.

Just received an Azamara marketing email showing Robert as the new Azamara Corporate Executive Chef.

That's great! Thanks for sharing this.

If Fabio has anything to do with setting up the menu in the "new" Aqualina, I will be very pleased.

Me too!

Understand the feelings of the very loyal cruisers from the past. We are newcomers, only one cruise with Azamara and a second booked for next March. We book travel strictly for the best value for the money spent, and despite the "higher" prices of today, Azamara generally prices out well below other lines we look at like Regent, Oceania, Seabourne, etc

I agree. AZ is good value, especially when they have a promotion such as the double upgrade or BOGOHO. Too bad the new LCV programme is such a sham - I don't like being conned. Hope our January cruise will be as great as usual.

I wanted to see if I understood the "complimentary nights" benefit. It doesn't seem so good to me so far: "new Discoverer member receives 4 complimentary nights when moving from the Explorer tier to the Discoverer tier. Once they redeem their 4 complimentary nights, they'll pay for 3 nights if they book a 7-night voyage, or pay for 6 nights if they book a 10-night voyage.

 

So that means that you get no complimentary nights until you "move to the next

membership tier". So If I have already sailed ten times on Azamara on ten night sailings in a veranda and have 350 points, I now need to earn another 250 points to get this complimentary night benefit? Which means another 50 nights sailing in a veranda, which may take some time.... 5 more ten night cruises?

Actually you will need 400 points to reach Discover plus and earn the free nights.

other comments are not valid.

Can you please elaborate - what comments are not valid?

A lot of focus in this forum has been on the loss of laundry and internet. We are not happy about that either, however, we would happily pay for internet and laundry if this perk had been replaced with something of at least equal or greater value. The way we see it, there just isn't much of value anymore for cruisers with Discoverer Status and higher. That is the issue.

We are not going to spend $1000 in the Shop to save 10%. We are not interested in the Spa, especially given our previous experience with the hard sale tactics of Steiner. We are Discoverer, with 349 points, all earned with Azamara. We need 400 points to advance to the next tier in order to receive Free Nights. That means 80 more days in a veranda - not happening anytime soon. The likelihood of getting a Suite upgrade - almost nil as many cruisers have way more points than we do. As to the booking on board - not sure is this is the best option. The price under the recent BOGOHO promotion, for the same cruise, was substantially less than the price when we booked on board last Feb - even when you factored in the $200pp on board discount.

AZ, where is the value for us in this new program?

We had a wonderful day on The Mekong Delta with Saigon River Express. Highly recommended. In Singapore, the museum of Asia civilization is very interesting (go at a time when there is an English speaking guide) and we loved the Orchid garden at the National Botanical Garden - go early before it gets hot. Enjoy!

So soon I will sit on a cruise beside someone on their second Azamara cruise and moves up a level and gets free nights whilst loyal guests who stood by you since 2008 and are at plus level are light years away from that final "gift"

 

Hardly seems a good recognition of loyalty sorry

Could not agree more.

Joel, all of your examples under the new scheme assume that the guest spends money in order to achieve the savings. If I don't upgrade, book a future cruise or passages, spend money in the spa or shops or indeed book a cruise within 12 months of achieving a new level to get my free nights then I'm out of luck and that doesn't even take account of the terms and conditions under which I'm booked which may preclude me from offers anyway. Under the old scheme there truly was FREE stuff, but now it seems the only way you will give anything away is by me spending more money and increasing Azamara's revenue. I get it. I really do.

 

Phil

Exactly.