blag

Just checking (without looking for myself) : Cruise Air Forum or Choice Air Forum? I assume they are different. And do you have a link for ITA Matrix, please?

See post #47 which may serve to explain the lack of support from TA or Choice Air.

This seems to be a pretty large ship docked there.

Although we seem to be going round and round on this, you paid Iberia direct for the seat upgrade. That seems to be something you did outside of any contract with either your TA or Choice Air, and understandably (perhaps), they did not get much or provide much assistance. In effect, you had a separate contract (offer; acceptance; consideration) with Iberia. I am not sure that it is appropriate to blame any party other than Iberia - your contract for the seats was with them. Let's try another way of explaining this. You order a Ford car (say) from a dealer, and you chose all the options you want. But none of the options includes the mudflaps that are so important to you. You ask the dealer to fit some for you, but when the car is ready for collection - no mudflaps! Do you contact Ford and expect them to sort this out? I think not, because Ford were not asked to fit the mudflaps! And would you feel that Ford had let you down?

You were unlucky, but maybe you left it late? We cancelled on or about 21/22/23 March without penalty.

See post #62

I see you are doing a 'land trip' to Puglia later this year. Puglia's a lovely part of Italy that we know well, seeing as we can drive there from home in about 6 hours (on a good day). October shouldn't be too hot, but it can still be quite toasty. In fact we were down there in mid-January. There were ladies sunbathing down on the beaches! Of course I don't know how much time you have on the trip, nor how structured it is, but I'd be happy to give you some pointers.

Have you seen and read post #58?

Thanks. I thought that I had tested it, but, as the saying goes, 'there's many a slip twixt cup and lip'!

Much the same as you. If flights are involved we overnight local to the airport before the flight (both outbound and return). Like you, we take 2, 3, 4, even 5 days in the port of embarkation. This allows our no-longer-resilient bodies time to adjust. Similarly, we very rarely fly home on the day of debarkation.

Although I said that Iberia was only the provider, and not liable, it now seems that the contract was with the airline, because they were paid direct for the seats. If you paid by Credit Card, there is recourse, because you have a contract with the Credit Card issuer, hence les37b's mention of a chargeback. Ultimately, if you do not get what you paid for, keep all the documents to prove this, and pursue your claim through all possible channels. But... it might be worth bearing in mind that most people do not respond well to threats.

The cruise was the Black Sea Summer Solstice Charity Cruise. There was not sufficient interest in the cruise during the short booking period after the Tabernacle Choir cancelled their charter. Cruise due to depart Copenhagen 17th June. We've now booked (thanks again to our TA*) a similar itinerary in August with Azamara. We were able to change one leg of our flights, and all hotels were booked with no cancellation penalty. One flight could not be changed, and we lost a bit on that. * again I cannot say too much, but she got us an almost unbelievable deal.

OK. The Black Sea cruise was offered at a premium price, and (as usual) we took a suite. Then the pooky-acky hit the fan, and Azamara (as I said, let's not bogged down with justification) changed the itinerary to one that IMHO is significantly inferior, and at offered no reduction in price. We were able to cancel, but had paid in full. Most of the price paid was refunded fairly promptly, the rest as a FCC, eventually, although I have yet to see the FCC. Our truly phenomenal TA went into battle on our behalf. I cannot go into details because I am sworn to secrecy, but she got us a fantastic sweetener on another (already-booked) cruise with Azamara. But she had to work for it - Azamara volunteered nothing. We had non-refundable Business class flights to and from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Insurers would not budge. With the fantastic assistance of our TA, we got a good deal on a cruise on the lower Danube, adjusted the Istanbul flights, and turned a ****-storm to our advantage. So we get a fews days before and after in Istanbul after the Danube cruise. Nevertheless, although Azamara finally acquitted themselves quite well, it took a great deal of work.

Don't get me started! I have a litany of such things. For example: our next cruise with Azamara was cancelled yesterday. All our flights, hotels etc. paid-for. Mercifully, it was cancelled, which means it is (hopefully) covered by our insurance. But contacting our insurers is like plaiting smoke. But when the itinerary changes significantly (for whatever reasons - let's not get bogged down in justification etc. etc.) and the cruise is NOT cancelled, insurers will not accept any claims. Because you are choosing not to go on the cruise. This has been the case for us on two cruises with Azamara, both after significant itinerary changes. Now, some will say it is imprudent to purchase flights etc. a long time in advance, but good prices can be obtained at such times, and I prefer 'to get my ducks in a row'. I could go into details, but I am trying to focus on the potential consequences of a significant change of itinerary. It would be preferable if, in the case of significant changes of itinerary (again irrespective of the reasons) Azamara were to acknowledge that there are potential uninsured costs as a consequence of their decision*, and offer either realistic compensation, or just cancel the cruise with the opportunity to lift and shift; or an FCC; or the opportunity to accept the alternative itinerary. On one cancelled cruise a few years back they did offer us a small sum, but this was insignificant compared to the costs of flights. We booked a horrible cruise with another line so as to avoid losing too much. Azamara paid for one extra night in our hotel, and transfers to and from a different departure port (Ft. Lauderdale rather than Miami). For the recent Black Sea cruise no compensation was offered, with a, significant cost impact to us!

See post #33 on this thread, it may help.

I am uncertain as to whether online check-in will work to your advantage (or not) in securing the seats you want/paid for. Sometimes the personal approach works best. But, I probably hardly need add: be cool, calm and collected. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar! Maybe more experienced travellers can advise?

Here is what the Azamara web site says about Choice Air: ChoiceAir®, Azamara’s air booking tool, lets you review air choices on all major airlines, then book on your own or with the assistance of travel professionals for a minimal charge I feel that there is an general assumption that if you book flights through Choice Air, the cruise and the flights are somehow linked. Personally I think that this assumption is flawed. They clearly state that you 'book on your own'. Azamara offer this as a tool, and they may receive commission, but I don't see how the structure of this arrangement will constitute a package. In effect, in my opinion, you are using a second provider, albeit via a resource that Azamara provide.

But remember: verbal assurances are not worth the paper they are written on.

Premium Economy isn't really worth getting too stressed about, and it certainly isn't like Business on Iberia long-haul. Arrive really early for your flights and try yo be at the head of the queue. When you check-in present all your documents and insist that you be given the seats assigned to you. If that doesn't work, seek compensation from your agent/Choice Air or whoever, but remember that Iberia are merely the providers.

I am not sure why the flights providers/airlines is an issue. Surely this boils down to whether this is a package or not? Why would the selection of airlines matter? There is a definition in the Regulationsb In these Regulations, subject to paragraph (6), a “package” means a combination of at least two different types of travel services for the purpose of the same trip or holiday, if— (a)those services are combined by one trader, including at the request of, or in accordance with, the selection of the traveller, before a single contract on all services is concluded; or (b)those services are— (i)purchased from a single point of sale and selected before the traveller agrees to pay, (ii)offered, sold or charged at an inclusive or total price, (iii)advertised or sold under the term “package” or under a similar term, (iv)combined after the conclusion of a contract by which a trader entitles the traveller to choose among a selection of different types of travel services, or (v)purchased from separate traders through linked online booking processes where— (aa)the traveller’s name, payment details and e-mail address are transmitted from the trader with whom the first contract is concluded to another trader or traders, and (bb)a contract with the latter trader or traders is concluded at the latest 24 hours after the confirmation of the booking of the first travel service,irrespective of whether the traveller concludes separate contracts with one or more travel service providers in respect of the services. Whilst this may be pretty difficult to understand, try to follow it, and see whether all the clauses fit. But note the 'or' in (a), above. The biggie, as I see it, is how the flights plus cruise were described. Not verbally, of course. What was said to you has no validity. But note that the list includes other get-outs for providers.

Check the wording, if you can, of any documents issued to you. And if necessary, refer to the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

Here are some resources in case Azamara don't arrange visas: https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/passports/VisaApplication.aspx http://www.smevisa.gov.ao/Consulate.aspx https://snedai.com/e-visa/ International Yellow Fever Certificate required, before Visa applications. Recommended vaccines: South Africa: Hep A, Tetanus, Typhoid Namibia: Hep A, Tetanus, Typhoid Angola: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever Ghana: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever Côte d'Ivoire: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever Canary Islands: Tetanus Madeira/Portugal: Tetanus https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/201/south-africa https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/157/namibia https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/7/angola https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/89/ghana https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/112/cte-divoire-ivory-coast

Whilst I don't tip when tipping/service charge/cover charge is included, and I share your views, I suspect that those who do tip, and have responded accordingly, will justify their posts as being a legitimate response to the topic. As such, they may not be 'advertising'. Nevertheless there is a motive in tipping, and I don't believe altruism exists.

As far as I have been able to ascertain, Greece is the only EU country insisting on an antigen test (and, in this case, including PCR) within 24 hours of embarkation.