crusinbanjo

We have had good success on SS air when we had already known what flights and routing we wanted. If you don’t know in advance, you will likely get routing that is way out of the way. On one cruise we were able to get SS to book us from Boston to Hong Kong direct, then Singapore to Tokyo - Tokyo direct to Boston. It pays to know in advance and advocate for your own best interests…… or, as we do much of the time, book our own flights to get better routes, schedules and prices.

I didn't see it in my inbox either

Yes, I believe so and just at the end of the Snow Harvest Festival here in New England.

Mrs Banjo and I have similar feelings. We have not deserted SS, (or other lines), but we find ourselves doing less cruising. We have noted the declining experience and rising fares and feel the value per cruise is not always where we expect it to be anymore. We are now mostly planning land tours with small group operators that are providing what we perceive to be better value. That is not to say we won’t be cruising, just that we exploring and finding alternate options that fulfill our desire to travel in the manor we are accustomed to.

Mrs Banjo and I just returned from the first two segments of the World cruise. The onboard experience was good, as would be expected. I cannot comment on how it was in the past, since this was our first Azamara cruise. We have cruised on Silversea, Regent, Seabourn, and others, and all have a good on board experience. We thought the food was good, (but we are not very picky). The drink packages were confusing, and IMHO not necessary at all, as the wines and drinks included were just fine for us. Specialty restaurants were good and the chef's table was a nice experience. All of it was good, but not over the top. What was over the top, was the "Azamazing" night in Cozumel. That was truly spectacular. What was not amazing, was what was promoted as the "Azamazing" day on Fakarava Island. That was a total disaster, IMHO and did not represent the company well. The area we were not happy with is the accounting and pre cruise website planning options. The website was mostly a disaster until very recently. just one example is: I could not understand why we could not make specialty reservations online, instead, we had to wait in line, (pun intended), on the first day. We discovered later that it wasn't necessary as they had availability almost every night. Also, and most disturbing, is the lack of clear accounting of what we paid and for what. The ship provided a folio, as expected, but, in our case, my credit card was charged for what we also paid for with OBC. I have called and asked for an accounting, but have yet to see anything. I will be disputing the $700+ charge on Monday if I don't get a response by then. Overall, we would book again, with some reservations and precautions if the IT is better then the competition's.

From my point of view, Fakarava was poorly planned and very disappointing. It was advertised as an Azamazing event, but given the available time on the island and the length of time to get pax off and back on the ship, disappointing is not a strong enough word. Mrs Banjo and I had a cabin on Deck 6, and were one of the last groups to go ashore. All of the planned activities were winding down, there was nobody to direct us where things were happening and we ended up with less than an hour before needing to be back on board, so no time to swim, etc. For us it was not Azamara's best effort, it really made them look like amateurs in event Planning, Particularly after the over the top event in Cosumel, Mexico.

We booked directly with Azamara.

Mrs Banjo and I frequently book a gty on SS, never had an issue and almost always were upgraded to a high category than the Gty suite.

We board in a few days and have received nothing looking like a a boarding pass or other info from AZ. WE are planning to do as the website says, show up with our passports & credit card in hand. (will also bring along copies of our paid invoices....... Just in case)

Thank you, I hope you are correct. I don’t want controversy, if these things take too long, or go poorly, my plan is to accept what is offered, enjoy the cruise, and make future decisions accordingly.

Mrs Banjo and I will be boarding for our B2B cruises in the near future. The website now shows OBC credits that came from who knows where, and don’t seem to match anything we have previously documented. We have been assured that this will all be straightened out when we board, but, as I told the customer service person, I am not looking forward to having to go, with email printouts in hand, to discuss this on board. What we really purchased and wanted was a stress free cruise. This issue, along with the odd process of making dining reservation when you first board, has not helped in that regard. It looks to me like our first day on board will be about negotiating OBC, more negotiations for dining reservations and the required life boat drills. Relaxing, lunch and exploring the ship? Not so much! We are first timers with Azamara, and if this goes poorly, we will be last timers.

I took advantage of that promotion. I paid in full when I booked the cruise, used their "Port to Port" option and got 15% off the already lowered fair. Then I was sure to buy good insurance, but it was a major savings.

Well, I did call AZ customer service again and was assured that the OBC was in place and the screen shot I have is accurate and it will not be an issue when we board. I certainly hope she is correct, the last thing I want to do is be arguing about OBC while on board. So, it will be what it will be and we will not make a big fuss on board that will spoil the cruise. If it all works out, great! If it doesn’t, well we will still enjoy our first and last AZ cruise.

No, I made them at the same time, asked for them to be B2B, but the invoices came in with separate numbers

Ours has yet to show up despite having filled in the form twice and 2 calls to AZ

Now I’m totally confused about the OBC. Mrs Banjo and I are booked on a B2B in January, I was concerned about getting the B2B OBC in addition to the promoted amount, so I called and was sent an email with a screen print of the credits for myself, and another for Mrs Banjo from the AZ reps computer. now when I look at the website, it is totally different, and there is no mention of the B2B credit. Guess I will need to call again. This is getting painful. As a first timer with AZ, we might just be last timers.

A trip like this is on the Bucket List for Mrs Banjo and myself. Fabulous photos. Enjoy!!!

They would not necessarily change the number. They will more likely change the expiration dates and other security measures, but even if they do change your number, it should not effect your account and reward points.

That was exactly what I said to Mrs Banjo as we were sitting in the Venetian lounge, waiting for our luggage tag color to be called so we could disembark. Just like all the other big cruise ships, out of the cabin early, sit around waiting to be allowed to leave…… and that’s just one reason why we love the small ships.

I did the same but got just the advertised brochure price, no discount, so I did not jump at that. We will stay with our current cabin.

Just received this email from Azamara today regarding the first segment of the world cruise. I hope more of this is not coming in the future, Dear Azamara Guest, We're writing to inform you of some important changes to your upcoming cruise, scheduled for January 5, 2024, aboard the Azamara Onward℠. While we always strive to provide you with the most remarkable experiences, we must prioritize your safety and well-being. Due to recent political instability and security concerns in Ecuador, we have decided to remove our scheduled calls to Ecuador, and, instead, are delighted to announce an overnight stay and an extended destination day in Fuerte Amador, Panama. Here, you will have the opportunity to explore this captivating destination and its many wonders. Fuerte Amador combines scenic beauty and cultural richness, offering a wide range of experiences. You can take leisurely strolls, or savor a delectable meal at one of the charming restaurants lining the Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador). This picturesque causeway gracefully links four small islands in the Pacific Ocean, treating you to breathtaking vistas of Panama City's skyline. You can also indulge in the vibrant gastronomy scene - Panama's culinary landscape is a delightful fusion of flavors, inspired by a tapestry of cultural influences. Be sure not to miss out on local delicacies such as ceviche, hearty sancocho soup, and savory empanadas. For those who have previously booked shore excursions with Azamara in Ecuador, please be assured that any charges associated with these bookings will be refunded to the original form of payment. Our team is working diligently to process these refunds, and you can expect to see them reflected soon. We extend our sincerest gratitude for your understanding and want to reassure you that this decision has been made with your safety, utmost comfort and enjoyment in mind; however, we believe this revised itinerary will offer you an extraordinary and enriching adventure. We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon. Should you have any questions or need guidance of what you can explore in any destination please contact your Travel Advisor or click here for your local Azamara call center number. Sincerely, AZAMARA® ©2023 Azamara. Ships registered in Malta. “Change the Way You Sea” is an international service mark of SP Cruises OpCo Limite Azamara, 3059 Grand Ave, Suite 205, Miami, Florida 33133, United States

This is precisely what happened to me on a recent cruise, (on another line). My travel iron was picked up and I was summoned to the naughty room where I had to open my bag so it could be confiscated until the end of the cruise. I did notice that there were quite a few other bags that were held as well, so obviously I was not the only one.

Alexandria, just after the Oct 7 attack in Israel, experienced an attack on a bus load of tourists by a policeman. Although this looks like an isolated case, with all that is going on in the larger area, I think the cruise lines are being very cautious.

Sorry about the interruption, but as I was updating this blog, an impromptu sail away party erupted on deck 9 outside of the Panorama Lounge. Now where was I….oh yes. From the top of the”mountain”, (read large hill), Mrs Banjo and I Started down the hard packed gravel path back to the city center. The walk down, although a little steep is some areas was a beautiful 2.6 kilometer walk through the alpine forest. Once back to civilization, the rest of the walk down was mostly on stairs, winding down past many interesting and historic,(I’m sure), wooden houses. when we reached the bottom, back to where we started, we started winding through some back streets until we were completely lost, admiring the old houses and shops. The map we were given wasn’t much help, as there are no street names printed on it. So, we were VERY LOST! Luckily, I spotted a postman who told us we were not where we thought we were and pointed us in the right direction to find our way back to the Fish Market and the Old wooden buildings at the top of the harbor. From there, getting back was a long walk, but pretty easy….weheuuuj, made it back to the ship. the sail away from Bergen was as fabulous as one can imagine, the weather was bright and sunny, but the captain has told us the crossing later tonight and tomorrow will be quite rough with 12+ ft seas and winds with 50+mph gusts. He has not said yet, but likely the outside decks will be closed. So the cruise will end, with rough seas, kind of how we began. Overall, a really good cruise with sun and clear sky’s when needed. I’ll write a full review when I’m home and have time to collect my thoughts. Hope you all enjoyed the commentary, I’ll post more pictures from home as well.