cruisingaussies

OK, now I'm going to look at booking Eden!

Thanks will give it a try. We were on Beyond last year and for some reason never got to Eden.

Thanks to the OP, you've helped us make a decision not to pay out more to try a move up to a SS on the Edge this coming Christmas. We already have a SV (booked way back), only reason to move up would be to eat in Luminae and be able to have drinks in Michael's (or whatever it's called on the Edge). We can live without that. The price of SS on the Edge for this year's New Zealand Christmas/NY cruise is ridiculous, no wonder they are offering them as a move up, plenty seem available, I can't see the value full price. We have now booked Princess for the same period next year, 2024/25. We have a Reserve mini suite, which is 300 sq ft and entitles us to dine in a small restaurant. We enjoyed this experience earlier this year on Princess. The price is a few thousand dollars less on Princess. Plus, Celebrity are sending only the Edge down under now, which means that if you want a balcony you have to either book very early for a SV, or pay out double that for a SS. The rooms with an opening window, aka Infinite Verandah, do not appeal to us. They have lost us for next year and with the now NOT all included, unless prices are adjusted accordingly, they'll have lost us forever. I really think they've shot themselves in the foot with taking out gratuties and OBC.

Isn't wonderful and fun to find things like that. I like the bus timetable for Bondi Beach! I just dug out my travel diary from 1988, a road trip through France, which we're doing again next year. I, like you, had airline tickets, entry tickets to some chateaux (useful as I want to re-visit one or two next year) etc. I'd also noted most of the meals we had, mostly in the country and delicous.

Here we are. Most are understandable but I wish they'd just list what is included without the debit then credit nonsense. I wonder what the All Included code will be now, that it all isn't! All Incl perk w BOGO75 PCT NRD AUS OBC up to 200 per person NRD AUS TDQ5-PROMO2C 13N TDQ6-BEVCLINGRA13 TDY5-Basic Wi-Fi TDY6-Basic Wi-Fi Taxes, fees, and port expense

Our codes are completely different! Some codes are easy to work out but others give no clue at all. As you say, clear as mud. I don’t know why they can’t just spell it out so we understand.

Absolutely. Since Covid we’ve been having 10 week trips to Europe to catch up the two years we were locked into Australia. I take paper copies of everything, as well as having copies on my phone/iPad. Makes for a lot of paperwork but I shed as we go.

TA has issued a corrected invoice so I'm happy to pay the final balance now. I always insist on 100% correct paperwork before I pay anything. Once most companies have your money you go to the bottom of the heap if you try and sort out anything that isn't right.

I’m pretty sure this is a standard world-wide clause, they can change the itinerary at any time.

Booked a year ago with AI. It's issued by Celebrity. I don't see where tips are or are not shown. The document, upon further inspection, is full of anomalies. Under Cruise Fare and outside of the box is written that "a service charge for your dining and stateroom attendant are included." Then "If you have booked an 'All Included' promotion...you will receive a further invoice from us". Huh? Then the paragraph in my original post about grats being added to our SeaPass account daily. Finally, they sent an email about 10 days ago changing the itinerary but this document still shows the old one. X in too much of a hurry to get in the new NOT 'All Included' on the final invoice I think. I'll call my TA tomorrow, I think this needs to be corrected and re-issued.

Our TA has forwarded our final invoice for our December cruise, due for payment on Wednesday. We booked Always Included when it really was ALL included, ie with tips. Now this has popped up on the final invoice under Deposit and Final Payment Schedule: "To facilitate the crew recognition process, a $16.00 USD gratuity ($18.50 USD for Suite guests) is added to each guest’s SeaPass account daily. This gratuity is shared amongst the dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams." I'd feel more comfortable having them remove this paragraph but does it really matter?

Let's just hope the captain knows where he's parking the ship!! 🙄😁 I've Googled in French but most websites refer "Nice" back to Villefranche. There is an email address and phone number for the Nice port authority but I doubt I'll get a response if I email and to phone the time difference Aus-France is too awkward.

Below is from cruise timetables.com and refers to Villefranche (Nice). Our Aza itinerary refers to Nice (Villefranche) which is the usual description, just like Rome (Civitavecchia) Florence (Livorno) etc. On the timetable Azamara Quest is shown as arriving and departing Villefranche on 07 and 18 May. Plus other ships including Voyager of the Seas on 17 May which has max pax of 4000!!! Sorry about the messy copying but am doing this in bed on my iPad with my morning coffee. HomeVillefranche (Nice), France Port Schedule Villefranche (Nice) Cruise Ship Schedule For May 2024 Day Cruise Line Ship Times Pass'gers May Sat 4 🧍🧍 Norwegian Viva a 0700 d 1800 3100 Tue 7 🧍 Azamara Quest 698 Wed 8 🧍🧍 Celebrity Ascent a 0800 d 1800 3260 Sat 11 🧍 Crystal Symphony 606 Tue 14 🧍 Marella Voyager a 0800 d 1800 1912 Fri 17 🧍🧍 Voyager Of The Seas a 1000 d 1800 3114 Sat 18 🧍 Azamara Quest a 0600 d 1800 698

Yes it is a turnaround, our cruise finishes in Villefranche on 18 May and another begins. No idea how many are disembarking /embarking.

As we all know, there are different conditions for different countries and you need to check with your TA for the definitive answer. Final payment is not yet due, however I didn't get round to contacting my TA previously and when checking again today, the price has gone up by almost $1,000. Maybe the price drop/rise that I've seen have been fluctuating for a while, as prices do. I don't bother checking very often once booked. In any case, we're happy with what we have, although it could have been an interesting exercise for the Australian market.

Anyone know how disembarkation is handled at Villefranche? Have been there several times and I can’t imagine how: (a) Azamara Quest will handle all the pax and luggage on tenders in a timely fashion nor (b) how that tiny reception building on the quay in Villefranche will cope with receiving pax and luggage. nor (c) will there be plenty of taxis available, the whole port area is so small. Has anyone experienced this? Its Azamara Quest May 11 2024 Rome to ‘Nice’ cruise.

Please be aware that the walk from the cruise terminal to the train station is up a very steep hill! I think the bus stop is as well.

Anyone know how disembarkation is handled at Villefranche? Have been there several times and I can’t imagine how (a) Azamara Quest will handle all the pax and luggage on tenders in a timely fashion nor (b) how that tiny reception building on the quay in Villefranche will cope with receiving pax and luggage. Has anyone experienced this? Its the May 11 2024 Rome to ‘Nice’ cruise.

Thanks so much for all the replies, am running this past our TA. It isn't a big drop in price but a dollar is a dollar these days!

Thanks to anyone who can answer this, particularly from Australia. Booked a May cruise last week and yesterday the price went down!

I found Page 3 looked impossible but went back up to the top where it instructed to drag the points of the list to the right hand column in order of preference. Seemed a rather strange way to do it but it seems that the « ideas team » that have come up with this are a strange lot themselves - in my opinion anyway.

Two utterly terrible ideas, we will never book an Azamara cruise again if either is introduced. What on earth are they trying to do with the brand! There is no space on these ships for either proposition. We were on the point of booking for next year but the worst website in history and now this, is making us think again. In the survey I emphasised when I could that what we like about az are the older demographic passengers, no families or large groups. Then small ships. Why don’t they throw money at sorting out the website instead of paying people who seemingly have no idea of what the majority like about the cruise line to come up with ideas like this.

We’re on board Encore at the moment. Cancellation deadline is 48 hours.

In Australia we don’t have this luxury. For the upcoming season 2023/24, it’s the Edge or nothing…. Or another Cruise line. We were lucky to snag a SV for the Xmas cruise months ago. SS prices are ridiculous.

Thanks all went well, Swift and easy embarkation and everything correct on board. We had a great cruise and hope you do too!