Xcelsior

I have actually done this a couple of times onboard - once when the line first launched from an inside to an oceanview for I think about $200 as they had a lot of empty cabins, and then again last July when the ship only had about 250 pax. on board and there was an issue with my oceanview cabin. So I asked if I could pay for an upgrade and I think they charged me $200 to upgrade to a veranda - because they agreed there was an issue with my stateroom and it was more or less a courtesy. I would wait until the second day of the cruise before asking though as they get swamped with requests on day one and it's unlikely they will be able to move you before day 2 anyway.

I'm on the same sailing. I don't have any travel documents and I'm not going to worry about it - I'll just show up at the terminal and then it's their problem. I'm dealing with OBC and shore excursion issues. I booked direct so at least I can get through on the phone lines now. From my understanding they are having a problem with shore excursions being deducted from OBC as the system is calculating Canadian dollars and US dollars at par. They' are supposed to be working on a fix. I'm not holding my breath!

Glad to hear you had a great cruise on the Apex. My 3 Celebrity cruises this year were on par (and for the most part better) than my 2 sailings with Azamara this year. Happy to sail either line - it's the itinerary that I'm after.

I use a regional european e-sim that I purchase through Airalo. Just turn off your normal sim in settings, and yes you can leave it in as long as you turn it off....but I am a worry wart.... so I just take my sim card out to be really sure I'm not going to be hit with roaming fees. Just don't lose it (like I did the first time). 😉 I get a 75% discount on my onboard wifi so I just buy that too for when I'm on the ship as it only costs me $5 per day....but honestly on most european itineraries you have very few sea days so it really wouldn't be necessary.

They found decent chairs for the spa suites though.

The Onward refurbishment was done hastily and on the cheap in my opinion. It is the worst of the four ships but I'm sailing it again as I like the itinerary. I hope they have corrected some of the issues I had when onboard in January, but I doubt. Agree that those chairs are absolutely ridiculous. One would think they would be embarrassed about them, but clearly not.

I first sailed on the Quest for its first ever Singapore to HK Christmas/NY cruise in 2008. It was 18 nights then and added a few extra ports than what that itinerary has offered in recent years. That experience was unbelievable - the food quality, the service, the fantastic shore excursions. Entertainment was still lousy...but everything else made up for it. Agree that there is absolutely no comparison with the food they offer today. I've been on 3 Celebrity cruises and 2 Azamara over the last year, and Celebrity on all 3 occasions had better food than Azamara hands-down. We will see how the Onward food is next month.

If you're in port most days or close to shore most of the time, and you have an e-sim compatible unlocked phone, I would suggest getting a regional e-sim plan for Europe. They're cheap and then you also have a data plan on shore as well. It works brilliantly on european itiineraries. Caribbean or transatlantic not so much. 😉

I always get the pass instead of booking a balcony cabin, unless there is a really good deal. I just wasn't sure if the price went up this year, and I really can't remember what I paid in January. Trying to figure out how I want to spend my OBC for an upcoming trip.

May I ask how long your voyage was? I thought it was about $100 per person and $180 for a couple

Does anyone have current pricing for the spa deck pass for entire voyage? Going solo on the Onward for 12 nights soon. thanks

Rude and unnecessary.

With the state of their website, the last thing I want to do right now is put my credit card information through it.

Me too. I give up.

Same here. This is beyond ridiculous. I really don't have a good word to say about Azamara and its leadership right now. Beyond frustrated that I am past final payment and can't even get through on the phones to get issues resolved or addressed. Why are we still supporting this company?

Did you like the Beyond better? Did it seem more crowded?? I’m concerned with the extra deck that single pool is going to be shoulder to shoulder.

Weather was great the whole trip.

I believe they can cancel up to 48 hours in advance and get their taxes and port charges reimbursed.

I received an email to book the Chef's Table for my sailing on the Edge in April. When I click on the purchase now link, it isn't listed. All the other dining options are. Does anyone know how to book this?

Does nayone ever get a reply to emails they send to the loyalty email address? I called to have some Circle points corrected before the Feb 1 decoupling from Celebrity - was told to email them. at loyalty@azamara.com......and 2 weeks later no response yet. What gives? Does anybody even read these emails?? Also, how is it that there has not been any updates on how the loyalty program tiers/benefits will work going forward? They have had MONTHS to figure this out after saying what a great thing it's going to be....and NOTHING. Not a peep. I think this is a cruise line that is in trouble financially and sinking fast. Worried for eveyrbody who has deposits and fully paid for cruises coming up (including myself).

Perhaps sailing slower to the next port does? I don't get it.

With regard to reduced time in ports, it was curious on the January 5 Onward cruise that we were always the very first ship to leave port. I pointed this out to several of my fellow cruisers and they were also equally surprised. I also don't understand why everyone thinks this is such an important distinction that puts Azamara above others since the late departures (when they do happen) are always the White Night or the Azamazing event --- so since everybody wants to be onboard for White Night (me included) I don't see this as being any type of advantage or destination immersion experience whatsoever. It's a night on the ship, or a somewhat disappointing shore excursion in the evening (although I know some of the Azamazing evenings are truly special or noteworthy). As an example, we didn't arrive in Dominica until 1:00pm. When we left the previous port the day before, Aida was still tied up. When we arrived in Dominica, Aida was already there - in fact they had been there all morning...and once again, left Dominica after we did. We would have loved the extra time in port that day. Also, we left Tortola at 2pm so we could crawl back to Miami for 2.5 days. Again, half day in port was cut while the NCL ship remained. Not sure if this was a cost savings for Azamara....but it was certainly noticed and annoying for passengers on a line that claims it spends much more time in port! Just because they say so...doesn't make it true. It's just marketing nonsense for the most part. I also want to add that Azamara did not provide a single shuttle service on the Jan 5 Onward cruise - another thing they claim that sets them apart from the mainstream lines. This could have been provided in both St. Thomas and Barbados. Had the ship been in Europe I'm sure they would have organized....but why not in Caribbean ports? I was told by reception that shore excursion staff were trying to organize for Barbados, but that it just didn't happen for whatever reason.

Yes of course. I'll continue to sail on both lines. I definitely like Azamara's itineraries better, I'm just lowering my expectations somewhat. Azamara is a little too boring for me, and Celebrity sometimes a little too crowded and busy. It also depends on who you are travelling with and what you are looking for in your vacation. Choice is a great thing.

I can only speak to my own experiences. I was on the Millennium in November and the Solstice in December. I rank the Millennium the best service and food I have had on a cruise in many, many years. It was absolutely excellent. The Solstice had its challenges - mainly with the condition of the ship as it badly needs to be drydocked and refurbished in several areas - but the food in Blu was not as good as the MDR was on Millennium which shocked me. I think ship to ship in all lines can be big differences in quality of food and service. The Onward was not a great experience or value for the dollar in my opinion compared to Celebrity - that being said, I have another cruise booked on Onward as I am not going to let one less than great experience define the entire line or the ship in the future. I just think it's a work in progress and they need to do better.

When I was on the Journey last Summer, there was not mid cruise survey at all, which really suprised me. So the fact that they even had a QR code in the daily to give feedback on the Onward was an improvement. I think I was probably the only person who completed it though. I think this ship is a bit of a mess overall, I noticed a lot of things that were just not up to Azamara standard - used towels piling up all day around the pool, lounge chair fights, lounge chairs scattered haphazardly everywhere after passengers had moved them and left. There were public areas that needed to be cleaned that obviously never were, missing tiles already missing around the thalossotherapy pool (only one jet in the t-pool even worked, the rest were broken and I was told it was not possible to fix them), banged up cabinetry in the staterooms, doors falling off hinges etc. etc. etc. Don't even get me started on the cleanliness of the area directly above the bar in the Living Room. Don't think that area had been cleaned since it was the Pacific Princess.