blag

Hear! Hear!

It would seem that most of the usual suspects - not including me, I hasten to add - would (and do) hotly dispute this!

Interesting. Would you feel that Azamara standards had dropped if they (consistently) did not have the Fever Tree tonic water?

'filed' or 'failed'?

The thing is: we all have different tastes. Because you wouldn't miss either the Boddingtons or the Brussels sprouts doesn't mean they don't matter to others. I am sure that there are things that you would miss if they weren't available, but that I - and others - would not. Of course, the occasional absence of stuff is understandable (and I acknowledged as much). I could go on about there being no key card holders and no tote bags, but I feel it would be a waste of time and effort.

I wasn't asking for any such replication or any expectation of this. You have made that assumption. Brussels sprouts are listed as a side dish in Prime C, but were not available.

I am not splitting hairs, but please do tell...

It wasn't. I think it is important to be realistic about this. Azamara have demonstrated their lack of resources, skills whatever you may call it by completely mismanaging the transfer to the new web site. It smacks of systematic gross incompetence. Those who work(ed) in IT who have commented in these and similar fora are simply astonished at his badly it has been handled. Personally, I wasn't surprised. We seem to be in agreement that we all like the end-product - it is hard not to - but it is being eroded, subtly, but consistently. Let me give you a further example - again, easy to dismiss as not being of any importance (on its own), but as I say, symptomatic: they used to supply real maple syrup for pancakes, waffles etc. Not any more. On our last cruise apple sauce wasn't available with pork. Individually, these things are of little consequence, but an insidious reduction in standards is taking place.

No supply issues here!

Duhh! Popularity had a significant resurgence when they introduced the beer in a can with a widget. The widget generated a gaseous creamy head which made the beer more like a pint of traditional draught beer when pulled through a 'tight sparkler'. Contrary to what you state, the beer is still popular and is readily available. As for the poisoning in 1900, it hardly seems worth mentioning nearly a century-and-a-quarter later. Let's not get sidetracked into a debate about the popularity of the beer: the fact of the matter being discussed is that, popular or not, it is listed on Azamara's drinks lists but isn't provided.

We, too had a similar discussion with Hotel Director, who told us that the Boddingtons problem was one of location (i.e. outside Europe), but when we challenged this (because it wasn't available on our Baltic/Scandinavia cruise, either*) she became rather confused and vague. Furthermore we were given the same reason on our most recent cruise, with an update that as soon as we reached European waters it would be available, but when we reached European waters, it was not. As for the rock salt: I ask for it, but the supply dried up mid-cruise. Sprouts: they are on the menu in Prime C!

IMO and experience it’s not that standards have dropped but the availability of products has. Maybe, but for a whole year? You refer to wine and glass shortages, but Boddingtons is not a wine, nor is it supplied in bottles. I am prepared to give Azamara time to resolve matters, but I remain sceptical. I might add that I have not even looked at the new web site despite having one future cruise booked.

Yes. (Not 'Bitters', by the, way). And for me, at least, Brussels are a fundamental part of Christmas. You have ignored the other issue, just in case you would care to dismiss that as well, Please take the time to re-read what I said. The important word was 'symptomatic'. To the some (with the rose-tinted glasses) the examples I cited may not be evidence of lowering of standards, but since at least one of these is long-term, they are certainly not indicative of an improvement.

Whilst the sentiments expressed here by 'the usual suspects' are probably correct, my experience on three cruises with Azamara in the last year lead me to say that in some areas standards have, most definitely, dropped. Before the howls of protest begin, let me cite just a few examples, one being a long-standing issue, others probably being a localised or temporary supply issue. Firstly, despite being listed, there has been no Boddington's bitter on board on any of our cruises (different ships, different locations, but including north-western Europe) this year. And, if my recollection is correct, on our most recent cruise the choice of bottled beers, was limited to just two. Secondly, there were no Brussels sprouts (or rock salt*) available throughout our Christmas cruise. Thirdly, the quantity and choice of spirits provided in suites has diminished. I freely admit that, in the grand scheme of things, these are not sufficient to justify cancellation or avoiding Azamara**, but, nevertheless, I believe they are symptomatic. For those who have leapt in to defend Azamara (many of whom have merely repeated what the OP stated) I think it is important to apply some perspective. From my perspective, standards have dropped. * eventually, I bought some rock salt at a port and gave it to Maitre d'. **On the other hand, for future cruises, I am now seriously thinking about booking with Azamara's closest competitors, and nearer the time will be scrutinising their CC boards for evidence of similar 'supply' issues.

I wouldn't hold your breath on this! I think the Cruise Critic rules prevent me from explaining why this is not going to happen. Perhaps even referring to 'the rules' will get this post deleted!

Hi If you fly from JFK to Milan (Malpensa), I can see the non-stop flight on Emirates on 16 June returning 21 July is currently just $3126 for two persons Economy. Of course, you'll need to get to and from JFK, to and from Venice, and on to Chioggia(?). Lots of changes, but travel light, and maybe it will be viable.

That's the kind of thing that I get ... for! But...

Ditto for us early in January this year. Our tour was supposed to include sunset at Sugarloaf, but visibility was less than 40M! But, for Christ the Redeemer, mercifully, the clouds parted briefly to afford good visibility. Even in that weather the platforms up there were packed, and there was scaffolding on one side of the statue.

Having worked with IT for most of my life, I think that it is highly unlikely that 'The New Azamara Website' will match the hopes, aspirations, expectations being expressed here. It may be an improvement, but don't hold your breath.

No.

You are not alone in finding that some excursions don't meet your expectations. Generally-speaking, though - in my experience - if sufficient people complain, Azamara responds. Isolated complaints (and I am not saying that you are alone in complaining about this specific excursion) tend to get ignored. For example, one one of our Azamara cruises a few years ago all the excursions in Mumbai caused considerable complaint, and refunds were issued whilst we were on board. In fact, although we did not like Mumbai, we thought the excursion was OK (but not great). Similarly, in December '22 we had one excursion that was really unsatisfactory, and many complained. A refund was issued whilst we were on board. But, on a Baltic cruise this summer, we endured a really tedious excursion. So bad that, as far as I know, only two out of the 20 or so finished the walking tour. We complained, but no refund was issued - apparently because we were in a significant minority. And again, I repeat, for all I know, you may have been part of a majority. I really don't believe that Azamara shoreside will do anything if it was not resolved on board.

Yes.

Thereby paying twice for the same thing! On Pursuit, and soon on all ships (if not already) this is now paperless, but I don't recall whether there is reference to an additional tip.

Yes, I feel sheepish, too. It's intimidating, and IMHO, naughty.

And, all you have to do is ignore it! Simple. But it bugs me, too. And when your butler arrives on the penultimate day to check if everything went well, and then lingers too long. To me it is crazy to tip additionally when you eat in a restaurant that applies an automatic service charge. The same applies on Azamara Cruises: tips are included. No doubt we will hear that the staff are paid very poorly... But, throughout these frequent discussions on this topic not one person has provided any verifiable evidence or proof of this, so this is promulgated as if it were a fact. The staff are not slaves. They are there of their own free will. Tips are included in the price of your cruise. Same as the included drinks. Do you ask reach for your billfold or credit card to pay for each drink? Of course not - they are included!