BillericayUK

Final words I posted on the forum hoping for pearls of wisdom instead I came under attack by people who said they had been in a similar situations several times before with Azamara and still they continue to book with them knowing that there was a high possibility Azamara would do the same again. Some posting were even declaring that it had happen to them several times if it was some kind of badge of honour. As my dear mother would have said, they have more money than sense. Others parroted supply and demand and T&C’s without them actually having read them which I had before I posted on this forum Clause 1.8 Will the price change? We reserve the right to increase or decrease the prices of unsold holidays at anytime. The price of your chosen holiday will be confirmed in accordance with section1.2. Hardly a supply & demand issue when there are only a dozen cabins left and over 14 months to go before the cruise. Also in this clause they say they can increase or decrease the holiday cost if the increases exceed 2% and if they are over 8% there is the option to accept, change or refund. Some who posted haven’t read their T&C’s For decreases there is no limitation. I could challenge them in a court that the 20% decrease is because of a decrease in their costs, however since I’m not privy to the cost make-up of the original holiday they could cobble together any figures they want to disprove it. Equally it is not a legal requirement that they make a profit on this specific cruise but they would have to demonstrate in a legal action that the discount now being offered is not as a result of a reduction of their cost and they probably wouldn’t fancy that close examination. Clause 1.10 Can I make changes to my booking after it has been confirmed? A very long cause but in essence it says I can change ship or sail date for £75 per guest. I can change cabin or names for £35 however both would attract a cancellation charge. T&C’s are a last resort and in business, you try and reach a solution that is amicable to both parties so that you retain business and goodwill on both sides. For Azamara T&C’s are a first resort. I put the full T&C’s and exchanges for formal legal advice. The advice I received is that Azamara are stuffing me by adopting sharp practice. I could proceed with a legal action however there is a 50/50 chance that I would lose/win and also I could possibly suffer more cost than I stand to gain. Also Azamara may not fancy the bad publicity and concede before a court case. Unfortunately, I don’t have more money than sense and I have done what the only sensible posting from Royallondon said and rebooked. Azamara places no value on existing customers and this will be my one and only cruise with Azamara.

Based on comments from over the pond Azamara are ripping off the UK market I feel like the little boy in the Emperors Clothes story. Some seem to be jumping to the defence of the Azamara without actually asking and answering why. I've read the T&C's and I cannot see where or why I have to cancel. I'm not asking to cancel my cruise. I want the same cruise, same cabin, they can keep their freebies but I want the new price because I committed and booked early. That commitment has a value. If I was cancelling and walking away then fine they have an entitlement to the deposit. It is Azamara who say I have to cancel but what am I actually cancelling? How does the price change cost £500? Why should someone be able to book the same cruise as me today but £500 cheaper than me? Azamara shows no appreciation for their existing customers. It's an out and out rip off by Azamara and that's putting it mildly.

This level of heavy discounting must be unique to Azamara and the message is clearly don't book early with them and on the strength of this experience I will never again book with them. .We are talking thousands of pounds difference not a few hundred. Azamara wouldn't guarantee the same cabin on a rebook however my TA who does appreciate my business moved me a few cabins along into the next grade with his compliments. He will continue to get my repeat business. Azamara make no recognition of booking early and committing to them. As I said I'm a seasoned cruiser, I am not naïve and I am use to price reductions close to sailing date to fill cabins and discount offers for Black Friday etc but I have never seen a 20% reduction and a couldn't careless attitude to existing bookers.

I'm a seasoned cruiser with top level status with Princess, HAL and high status with P&O and several others. I'm use to cruise prices fluctuating by a few hundred pounds particularly nearer departure. I'm a 1st timer on Azamara. I booked in July 2023 a cruise for £10,000 which sails in February 2025. A travel agent sent me a speculative email 2 days ago which included my cruise at £8000. I checked the Azamara website and sure enough it had dropped 20%. My original booking included freebies of $300 OBC, upgraded drinks and internet for 1 person. I contacted the TA I booked with and asked him to contact Azamara. They replied that Azamara had said 'I can cancel the original booking and lose my deposit of £500, lose the original freebies and have no guarantee that I would be able to rebook the same cabin as the original booking'. Yes there are T&C's and there is still a saving but isn't it simply stealing to keep my deposit when someone can book today with a £500 price advantage over me whereas I demonstrated commitment and booked early and had this TA not sent me a speculative email I would have never known about the massive 20% saving. UK bookers you may want to check your bookings! I feel very aggrieved with Azamara's attitude as dealing with other cruise lines where there have been issues has always conciliatory and mutual compromise. Have I chosen a very poor cruise line?