federalexpress

I cruised in January on Pursuit and also wanted to do this. The answer is, yes but with a small catch. What you are in essence doing is booking excursions in advance, then cancelling them when you are onboard. Unless it has changed, this is allowed but note 2 things. First I think there is a cancellation period, from recollection it's 48 hours but you would need to check. So you would have to ensure that, for example, you aren't trying to cancel a tour on your first stop as this might be outside the notice period. Secondly, and this applied to me, some tours are non cancellable. These are mainly non standard tours such as private tours with your own personal driver or host. You can see why they are reluctant to cancel these. As the above poster says, you will pay any change in price for the tour you re-book. You'd also have to give some thought as to sequencing. I guess the safest route is to buy the package first at reception, then go to tours to do your cancelling and re-booking. What you can't do is use OBC towards the Experience More package before you board, then use the tour credit in advance. You can only buy it with your card, thus leaving yourself with some potentially useless OBC . Hence you need to buy it onboard, then you can use your OBC. This struck me as pretty daft, since you are using it for an onboard service, and I did hear rumour they might change this in future but for now, you need to physically be on board to use it.

I'm curious to know what those brilliant Azamara concepts were and how they differ to today's offer. I have no particular skin in this game. I've cruised with AZ once and may not do so again. But that is because I'm not big into cruising, so may not take any cruise again, but they would likely be my first option if there was a location- like my S America trip- which is much easier undertaken on a ship, because I liked what I had (a few inevitable gremlins aside). What was/am I missing?

OK thanks, that's good to hear.

Thanks for that. When you say it changes each night, do you mean the whole thing changes (except for the 'favourites' section) or do they just make a couple of changes each day?

Quick question on behalf of my sister who is cruising on Sky later this year. I believe there are several (3?) Main Dining room venues. Do they each have a different menu or same one across all.

I was on the Falklands and Chilean Fjords cruise a couple of months ago. While the speeds could be variable and there was the odd outage, speeds were much better than I expected on a ship in remote locations, at times really quite fast, close to 100MB at best. Streaming was not out the question though not always certain, as I say it was variable. It seemed to work worst in port, ironically enough. Down for many hours on at least two occasions, from recollection.

Dear god, it never ceases to amaze me how banal bureaucracy can be. The scary thing is that there must be well paid people at the European Commission dreaming up this nonsense....

Having only ever had two cruises, one on HAL and one on Azamara, I am not able to comment on whether the ratings shown ring true, but I am a member of Which and I can comment on them. While I value their product reviews, I am always very wary of a survey like this. Even if, as I assume, every single one of those surveyed had been on a cruise in the past 12-18 months, for the smaller cruise lines with typically 1-2% market share, the sample size barely merits the term. A couple of dozen people at best. This is no way to produce any kind of realistic industry ranking. I generally view these rather lightweight surveys as Which doing PR. They tend to get their name in the press when they say they have 'research findings'. For what it's worth, and without much of a basis for comparison, we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise with them in January, partly because it did in the end very much fit in with our own preferences. Smaller more intimate ships with a very informal atmosphere and not so much loud music blaring everywhere. I've no idea if Viking or Oceania or Celebrity is better but I wouldn't rely on the Which survey for that, I'd look at Cruise Critic and for an idea of recent developments, good or bad, look at the boards for each line. That's what I did to pick AZ in the first place...

One thing you can't do, in case you were planning this, is use your OBC to book the Indulgence package. I tried that but no go. I think you're OK if you buy it with your own cash/card and then, as another poster indicates, there's no reason why the tours credit would not show up.

If it's still Martin, send him my best wishes, he was very helpful on our Fjords cruise a month ago. I'm the guy who wanted the dessert wine which he sorted for me- think he'll remember me! Also if your butler is Padam, send him my best too. He will also recall the dessert wine thing since he brought it to my CC suite most nights. Lovely guy.

On my recent Falklands and Fjords cruise on Pursuit, they actually had multiple chef's tables planned, for both Italian and French. However some were cancelled due to insufficient numbers. These people were then offered places on other nights which were closer to being viable (I reckon they need a minimum of 8, probably 10 to justify doing it) and just needed a few more people. So while it may start out with lots of availability, this can fluctuate during the cruise. Point taken about the risk of a last night, but that is the one we did and it went ahead, partly because others had been shifted to it from earlier cancelled evenings.

Just got back from BA. Can't say I noticed much hostility though the Falklands is still a surprisingly sensitive topic. But it really is only a distraction to the more serious issue of an economy in meltdown. I came across quite a lot of down in the mouth natives. Anyone not in the dollar economy, and paid in pesos, is pretty much living hand to mouth given it is impossible to save. For tourists, the big issue is of course currency. Just before my trip, the government changed the rules to allow card purchases to be transacted at what I would call the real market rate (Blue dollar) rather than the laughable official rate, which is roughly half. Hence my hotel cost halved from c£300 a night to £150. This makes BA very affordable, even for high end places and avoids the need to carry vast amounts of pesos from Western Union that won't fit in your wallet. But things might change before now and next winter given how unstable the country is, so google before you go, you might still need some Western Union cash. That hotel incidentally was the Palladio M Gallery. It's not as flashy as the Alvear Palace but the service was exceptional, the concierge especially so (he sorted our outings). The larger rooms are very comfortable and because it is a newish hotel, it's in a good state of repair (that currency crisis also has the effect of limiting the ability to procure materials for repairs/renewals). If you do stay there, the in house restaurant was surprisingly good and if you want a change from classic steak houses, there is a lovely small restaurant around the corner called Resto SCA (in the Society of Architects building). I think it is fair to say that the economic crisis made me feel a little less safe than, for example, Montevideo which struck me as a much more prosperous place. So I think you do have to be careful not to stray too far from the beaten track.

I think that is fair comment. Given I intended to mostly arrange my own, I used my $1000 OBC to part buy the Indulgence package. I especially valued the Ultimate package for wine and the wifi for 2, but also the free laundry was handy and the chef's table a nice extra. Given the cruise was 17 nights, this gave very fair value. You also got $700 tours credit and a $250 spa credit. I put both to use but it is fair to say that had I been shelling out my own money in a more direct way, I would not have used either.

It wasn't just private guides/drivers. There was a trip on the Falklands that was well over double the price of the one we booked, same itinerary, £150 per person versus £320 onboard. Another, a trip to an estancia for lunch and penguins, was $120 direct, just under $300 on the ship. That was more embarrassing because it was exactly the same venue, albeit we travelled there in separate coaches, presumably hoping the groups did not talk to each other. As I say, I think that's too greedy and if the situation is the same on other cruise lines, then they are greedy also. I don't think the shore excursion team provided much in the way of added value, certainly not enough to justify 2-3 times the price. In truth, I found it easier working direct. In fact in contrast to the exemplary service levels everywhere else in the ship, the excursions desk were the weakest link. You can tell how much margin there is in this sector when you consider an online booking tool like Viator, effectively a direct competitor to ship's tours, whose commission varies from 20 to 30%, way more than similar online booking engines for hotels, restaurants etc. But I guess nothing much will change for a long as people book the ship's tours and maybe for many it is just easier that way and the vast cost difference is secondary.

In my limited experience, the quality of the excursions is fine but oh my, the price. They were typically 2-3 times what you could arrange yourself. That's too greedy a margin. I paid $550 for a 4 hour private driver and guide in one port, this in a supposedly low cost country. Given they seemed to be angling for a tip, I mentioned the price to them to indicate I might feel that was the most I felt like paying for my 4 hours. I think they got the message; I realise this doesn't go the those at the coal face, others have to take their margin, including AZ, but let's just say they nearly fainted when they heard how much....

I'd agree with the comments on the Patio for dinner. Perfect for when you want something a little simpler and nice to be outdoors but still protected from wind. It doesn't even need to be all that warm, they have electric heaters if there is a bit of chill in the air. A much under appreciated venue, very lightly used by others on our cruise. Use it or lose it!!!

Ship - Pursuit Cabin Number - 8062 Month/Year sailed - January 2023 Would you choose this room again? - No Is noise an issue - Opposite a crew access door.Very occasional low rumble of a trolley overhead. Room type - Club Continent Now knowing the layout of the ship, I'd choose 8060 or 8058, both I think still in the cheaper N2 category but clear of access points and these locations have the preferable shower rather than bath arrangement. But in fairness, noise was not excessive from the access door and it certainly didn't spoil our cruise in what was otherwise a very pleasant cabin.

Then this is quite a riddle. Did you use a debit card to cover onboard costs recently? It is possible the banks have more recently routinely forced chip and pin authorisation, especially on larger amounts. So as of now, I'd still say, be wary of relying on debit cards on board give the absence of chip and pin machines onboard. I noted in your later post that you have used a mobile banking app to authorise. That option wasn't suggested to me but it might work, however I don't carry a banking app on my mobile. I know there are multiple checks on its use but I instinctively have avoided sticking bank access on my mobile, since I have greater capacity to lose my mobile than my laptop, which generally stays in one place!

For it to be automatically charged to the card, that transaction has to be authorised. In my case, that would have required me either to call my bank to say the charge is genuine or use chip and pin. The latter was not possible, at least not on Pursuit, they don't have a chip and pin machine. Have you successfully used a debit card on Pursuit before? I suppose it is possible that a bank may not block every transaction subject to further verification, so it might work on occasion without chip and pin verification. It just didn't in my case and presumably might not in yours on some future occasion. If this is your first time on Azamara, my advice would be to not assume your debit card will be accepted and have a credit card as back up. I'd be surprised if other cruise lines are not using rather more up to date IT than here on Pursuit so maybe no problems on those. Here, it's swipe the mag stripe then sign the tablet. Given banks don't even check signatures on debit card these days, that seemed rather old fashioned! I believe credit cards are easier to have approved transactions without chip and pin because the money transfer is not immediate as with a debit card. My wife's credit card was accepted, no problem.

No account on TV on Pursuit as far as I am aware. I got my update from guest relations. Generally AZ are very weak at present on IT, albeit they have other compensatory strengths.

I'd agree with blag, the Indulgence package makes most sense if you are on a long cruise. I'm currently on a 17 night cruise in a CC suite and it has worked for me. Buying internet for 2 devices each and an Ultimate drinks package for 17 nights for 2 would have come to not far short of the package price. Plus I got some excursion and spa credit worth $950 between the two (but bear in mind the prices for both are eye watering so you don't get much for your 'money". If you're on a shorter cruise, can manage with a single device for internet and are doing your own thing with excursions, it's probably not worth it. To answer your other questions, I don't believe the Ultimate package affects what spirits you get in your room. I don't drink spirits so I gave them back. The replacement wine I asked for never materialised. On wine with dinner served in your suite, yes they bring you whatever wine you want, but not by the bottle, just by the glass. But that does come pretty fast, the butler is good and I guess would be especially responsive for the big suites. If wine is your interest, there is a separate thread on current wines on the Ultimate package (but they do change a lot). At the risk of confusing you further, there is at least one poster on here who would suggest you either buy a 'by the bottle' package (I think there are two levels for this) and then the whole bottles are all yours to use how you wish. Or, if you are willing, to just buy your own wine beforehand and bring it onboard and forget about a package. You pay a $10 corkage if you take it into public areas but nothing if drunk in your suite. You are going to wine producing countries so you can pick up a bottle or two in each port. Of course you can also have any of the included wines if you happen to be in a bar but as this poster says, bring your own guarantees you get what you like. Hope this helps.

Having experienced this I'd say very much the former, you have no means to enter a pin but that renders them basically useless on board. The mag stripe, which is what they used on my debit card, is more than likely going to get blocked without further verification. I wasn't asked for the 3 digit code so either that isn't available or your point about training is correct. My hunch is the former because I did try and push this and queried why they were using so last decade tech (or even decade before that). But the only options offered were a) credit card b) cash from an ATM or c) call your bank. I even asked if I could do a bank transfer but they don't have the ability for this onboard either. You would have thought they'd allow me an online option to pay which of course should have worked- but not available.

Here's what I think is a worthwhile tip if, like me, you tend to use debit cards, not credit cards. I supplied my debit card at check in to cover onboard expenses. Some time later I had a note saying payment (or at least the reserving of an allocated amount) had not gone through. This is normal, generally you then need to put your card in a chip and pin machine to verify. I had already done this a couple of times at shops onshore. Problem is, AZ do not have chip and pin machines. In fact they basically swipe the mag strip, which is decade or more old technology. The only options are to get the money from an ATM- and if your bill is large, that might not be so easy- or call your bank. They do allow you to make that call at your expense but you don't really want to be doing that at guest relations. So you must bring a credit card or have cash. Debit cards won't work on the ship (or at least not on Pursuit). Hopefully they will upgrade this soon. Luckily my wife carries a credit card so we were ok.

Yep, those were the two wines I mentioned above, San Felipe, I went back later to check the producer. As you say, very drinkable. I also heard they had a Uruguayan Sauvignon Blanc, not tried it yet myself, but my impression of that country's wines is very positive. Your feedback adds substance to my suggestion above- ask to try S American wines in the included package. I think they will, for the most part, be better than what was previously offered.

If you are stopping at Montevideo, your Azamazing evening might be there, at the Teatro Solis. If so, I recommend it, far exceeded my expectations, a really good evening out, based around Carnival, lots of singing, drums, dancing etc- Uruguay, it seems, celebrate Carnival every bit as much as Brazil.