Retired grandparents

9 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Where is your dread coming from?  Have you seen any report about post-cruise overcharges?  I haven't.

Yes, I have seen a number of reports of people fighting for months to get charges sorted.  One fellow had about 3500 dollars in bogus charges. 

I have an agent.  There were problems with an overcharge of 600 for the cruise and our OBC was not showing.  Also, loyalty credits are wrong.  I don't care about the loyalty so much.  I called them multiple times sitting on hold for hours.  Was told twice they would fix it and they did not.  My agent went to them as well and it was not fixed.

I finally went to agent and put foot down as we have been with them long time and brought many friends in to them, they also sailed on Azamara with us as well.

I think it is sorted.  I insisted on an email from AZ detailing our OBC that is written to us and to ship staff.  Spent just far too much time on going back and forth and still can't get the excursions all sorted. 

But, only real concern now is I do not want to see overcharges on CC that take months to sort out.

They are struggling with the transition and I understand the pain of it.  They are my preferred line, we did more than 10 with Viking and know great service in front of the house and on the ship.  AZ is the best for destination time and quality IMV.  Hoping this cruise goes off without a glitch and we are booking more with them in future.

9 hours ago, Marylebone37 said:

 

Reposting this here from the another thread to avoid going too off topic…

 

I have been/am a harsh critic of management’s system transition fiasco, and have posted about it on other threads. 

 

BUT, I boarded the Pursuit on Tuesday in Barcelona. As others have said, the shipboard experience is seemingly unaffected and truly superb. Embarkation (with nothing but a passport) was seamless and very quick. The ship is in really excellent, almost pristine, condition, the food outstanding in Discoveries and Windows, and the service levels are on par with or even better than other luxury players like Regent, Seabourn etc. Internet dropped here and there for brief periods, but otherwise very speedy and easy to set up and apply your status level discount. 
 

Heads up to those boarding in Barcelona… the online FAQ did show the wrong name for the embarkation terminal. We boarded at the Marina terminal (where the ferries arrive/depart) and NOT Moll Adossat. Luckily we had a helpful taxi driver, but keep your eyes peeled for the ship and signage. 

 

Our OBC did not make it to the ship and that is being sorted out by reception and filling out the appropriate paperwork for Miami to review/confirm. However, excursion tickets (booked and paid for using OBC prior to the transition) were waiting in the stateroom and correct. Loyalty status was totally incorrect online but accurate on board. 
 

Happy to answer any questions as best as possible. 

My concern is what is happening for people when they get home and no inaccurate charges on credit card follow them home.  We have 1000 OBC and want to use it for the cruise but the site is not working right.  Wish I could get it done and have tickets waiting in room for us instead of the mess of going to the excursion desk with 600 other passengers doing same thing.  I really dread that.

On 3/11/2023 at 5:20 PM, Vineyard View said:

Well, guess I may begin looking for a different itinerary!  Thank you very much 

Good luck.  Not sure how much noise the rooms actually have.  But, Spain Intensive is a very good cruise.  If you are going to skip on it, I'd find one off in the future with room availability.

But first, did you look at the comments for the rooms you are considering?  We are same kind of schedule as you.

Just finished Spain Intensive, Rome/Barcelona/Valencia/Cartagena/Gibraltar/Sevilla/Lisbon on Nov 30 2022.  Room 8016.  Something was wrong with the room fire sensor or shower exhaust fan and sensor goes off when taking shower.  We had the alarm go off on four different days.  The routine is the alarm is seen on the bridge and they immediately call the room and send security.

The first time they told us to keep door to bathroom closed when taking shower.  The next time, we were told to keep the door open.  It is a real bother to be in shower with phone ring and security beating on the door.  I talked with front desk about it, to security, to several ship officers and nothing seems to have been done.  From the reaction of one desk clerk, I came to believe this is a continuing problem and even my insistence they get maintenance to fix whatever was causing the alarm; nothing was fixed.

I don't recommend this room

For the folks new to Azamara, they have a loyalty program you may want to know about.

https://www.azamara.com/loyalty/azamara-circle/member-savings/refer-receive-program
If you are going with someone who has sailed with Azamara in the past.  See that link.  There is a small window for the referral to be used.  See that link

You get 150 to use on the cruise you are on.  The person who refers you get 300 for a future cruise.

7 hours ago, roberts2005 said:

Cabin 8002 on Onward.

 

no noise from above.  Service door opposite was constantly banging.  The doorway is in constant use.  The door need to be adjusted so that it closes slowly. Reported to several people.  Last person said it was on the list.

Yes about the door constantly flapping.  Crew are constantly going to the end door in that hallway and into the side door.  Was not so much bother in 8005.  But, when in hall could hear it closing hard.

Pursuit, Cabin 8005. 

We had this room for April/May 2022 Athens/Egypt/Israel/Cyprus/Turkey cruise.

Internally the room was as nice as a 7th floor we had on Quest previously in Dec 2021.

I had read about being higher and forward being more likely to feel effects of the sea.  We saw nothing at all from one night when sailing from Israel to Cyprus saw higher waves. 

A concern I had was the little workout room/gym is directly above this room.  The facility closes at 8PM and not sure when it opens. 

We never heard anything at all until on night at 9:30 someone was running right over our bed.  A call to the desk assured me they would resolve it immediately.  Ten minutes later the running was still loud with no change.  Another call to the desk and I joked that maybe I should go up and take care of it.  They insisted it would be resolved now.  Ten minutes later and I put on my pants and went up.  Fortunately the door to the area was unlocked and peering into the facility I found a lively couple of crew members in a very active workout.  When advised they were right over our bed and it was well after facility closing time, they said sorry and the noise stopped.

I advised the desk the next day while taking care of something else that I had resolved the problem after two calls.  I thought it was over.  That afternoon a lovely bottle of bubbly, some chocolate covered strawberries and a note apologizing for the crewmember's vigor.

We had never heard anything previously.  But, this room is right at the end of the gym area and I suspect most people work on weights in front of the mirror and don't run in place.  Running is more likely on the machines more likely over rooms 8003 or so and the machines probably buffer the noise more than running right on the deck.

Also, we were usually out of the room from breakfast until after 8PM most days and would have missed any noisy exercise over the room.

I would not accept any of the rooms 8001-8005 in the future just knowing the likely possibility of hearing some folks up there.  But I think 8006 is probably ok as it is beyond that area.

Pursuit, cabin 8005.

Experience and comments welcome

I wear mine at least once on every ocean cruise. I am 71, retired from USAF in 96 after almost 30 years.  I like waving the flag and have always had very positive responses.  Especially from the ladies.  The ladies seem to really like to see men dress up and mess dress is all I would wear.

As to fitting, one can always go to uniform shop on base and just get one that fits.  So far mine has not shrunk beyond where I can wear it.

I want to revisit Vietnam after being there long ago during that war.  Staying in Saigon for at least five or six days with some travel outside the city on my own or with small group of similarly inclined folks is the goal.  But, it would be nice to either then get on a cruise ship hopefully sailing north or end a cruise in Saigon and then do my own visit there.

Thus, any recommendations on ocean cruises that begin or end in Saigon?  I always like to have planned visit at end and beginning of cruises.

Thanks for any advice.

On 2/26/2019 at 12:46 AM, stretchcruz said:

I'm onboard Orion now. Meet and Mingle was tonight at 6. I went with name tags, etc. There were trays and trays of snacks, trays of drinks...hotel manager was there, cruise director, probably 6 or 7 other officers. They were expecting 40 people. My husband and I and one other couple (Sherry and Jim) showed up. Embarrassing. We got to meet a lot of officers but I felt terrible that they all went to so much trouble for nothing. Wasted food, drinks, and time for the officers. I know Sherry said she didn't get her invitation and only knew because I mentioned it on another site. We are on the next cruise from Sydney to Bali and they said that they were expecting even more people on that one. I sure hope it happens or I wouldn't blame them if they discontinued it.

Do you know if we are supposed to tell Viking about the people signed up for the Meet and Mingle??

I started the group for a Homelands cruise coming in May and we have a good number signed up.  I do not want to drop the ball on it.  I called the Viking number and the sales folks knew nothing.

Thanks

I started a roll call for a Viking Cruise next May.  But, can't find how to do Mix and Mingle?

Thanks

I drink and she never does. No foo foo coffees for her either. So, it would be double price for me.