RosieRuby

We are very excited to be back on Voyage this August on the Athens to Istanbul cruise. (We were last on Voyager for Christmas 2022 and into the New Year, on the Cape Town to Cape Town cruise.)  My query is, can anyone assist with a recommendation of a tour or a tour guide / company that includes transfers to the airport. Our flight is late afternoon, so we have a good 4 hours to do a tour before heading the airport. Thanks in advance.

9 hours ago, Boatmans Lady said:

 

Thank you. 

After speaking with my doctors surgery today, they are recommending that we don't have the vaccination but have directed us to the nearest YF centre and they will guide us further. 

So it looks like an exemption certificate for us and if it isn't accepted, we won't be getting off in Namibia. 

Thank you BL. Good advice- I have checked our nearest centre online and shocked to be quoted £90pp, with an advisory that YF vaccinations are 'in short supply'. Not exactly sure what the criteria might be for exemption, I am over 65 but my wife is not. Just wish Regent was more transparent about this when we booked not long ago.

On 9/11/2022 at 12:20 AM, Boatmans Lady said:

 

Could you please post anything you find out. 

Thank you

I have contact the HC in London asking them to clarify the position and am waiting for a response. 

For your information, info@namibiahc.org.uk 

36 minutes ago, Boatmans Lady said:

I too have been scratching my head over this email and will be contacting my travel agent to get clarification as we too are flying into Cape Town to board Voyager and our first port of call is Namibia. 

I wondered if it was a blanket email as many nationalities sail with Regent and Regent won't be aware if people have travelled in risk areas previously. 

 

Thank you BL. I also contacted my TA and asked them to discuss with Regent UK- they simply re-sent the same email as originally received which as you suggest appears to be just a 'blanket' email to cover them. I am going to contact the Namibian High Commission in London, who, as previously stated, confirm on the website that vaccination is NOT required.

38 minutes ago, mj_holiday said:

As the letter also said, it is up to the local authorities what they will accept to allow you in country.  I looked at the letter as Regent is passing along the information regarding requirements from the ports that are planned.

The High Commission or Embassy represent any 'local authority' in country and they state clearly that the vaccination is not required- it would not seem appropriate for any said authority to overrule the publicised requirement and it suggests to any potential visitor that there might be a risk when it is affirmed that there is 'no risk'. As stated, vaccination is not required unless travelling from a country where yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. 

I would appreciate any advice from previous Regent travellers who have cruised to Namibia. The Regent (US) office has notified us that proof of vaccination is required in order to enter the country but the UK Namibian High Commission, the CDC and other travel websites advise that it is NOT required unless entering from a country where yellow fever vaccination is mandatory (obviously excluding US/UK/Europe/Australia) This seems a strange decision as the cruise starts/ends in South Africa where YF vaccination is not required. I am not happy about having a vaccination that is not needed and fail to understand Regent's stance.

On 9/3/2022 at 2:37 PM, JBL919 said:

Hi!  My husband and I are going. VERY EXCITED!! Yes, very little action on cruise critic. We r on the December 21 cruise. You?  Plane booked. Excursions booked. We r doing 4 nights in capetown first. Then two night safari at sanborn. Second time

on regent. Only been on splendor so hoping this older ship is nice. Wonder if it is full?? Where are you from?  

 Hi  we are on that cruise - getting so excited! We have booked all our tours as well. We have 3 nights in Cape Town before hand. I have never been but my husband has visited South Africa a  couple of times. We have been with Regent 4 or 5 times and enjoy the ships, the staff and the service. I'm loving the idea of being away for Christmas and new year too 🙂

We have now had two Spirit of Adventure cruises cancelled and are waiting to hear from Saga about our options. Does anyone have details of the new (May 4th) maiden cruise? We are looking for details of itinerary and duration, although still concerned that it might not go ahead even though almost six months away.

Any information would be helpful. Thank you

Thank you for your responses. I'm reassured that you didn't find it off putting although I am concerned about how long the immigration at each port takes, waiting in lines every time. Thanks again.

We are interested in a cruise to South Africa and visiting several ports in the country. However, we have heard that in every South African port, you have to undergo in person immigration. Can anyone advise if this is the case? It would seem very excessive!

Many thanks for any clarification.

Having already changed our previously booked Caribbean cruise with Azamara as they cancelled the cruise, we have just been notified by our friends in Dallas about changes to our cruise on Azamara Quest, departing Miami on 19 March. Another overnight in Havana and in Santiago de Cuba has been added. I'm sure some people will be happy about this, but we were looking forward to Grand Caymen as we haven't been there in ages and also to the time at sea, which presumably now is being cut short to accommodate the additional time in Santiago.

I think it's disappointing that we haven't heard from Azamara directly ourselves (we're in the UK). These changes are being made at relatively short notice and I feel it's to benefit Azamara as it's more convenient for them, rather than honouring the itinerary that we chose - for the 2nd time!

I have read with interest on CC, the comments from other posters about Azamara's poor communications and the way loyal guests are treated (we're in double figures with them) and this appears to be another example of how they manage to get things so wrong and tarnish their reputation.

Hi can anyone tell me how long it takes to travel from Lisbon cruise port to Lisbon airport, at peak times, mid week by car. We have an 11am European flight.

Many thanks:)

We are cruising early next month. Our TA advises that Azamara customer services confirm that sticky-back labels are no longer provided on request and that paper labels are available with pre-cruise documents or at the pier. The paper labels, in our opinion are not fit for purpose and not what is expected from a premium cruise line. The TA advises that they have received complaints from Azamara clients but also suggest that it brings Azamara in line with Celebrity policy.

What is hard to understand when some of the increases seem so large is that the price of fuel/oil has dropped very substantially in recent months. This represents a large part of the cost for any cruise line although of course there are other cost factors but it was not that long ago that cruise lines often imposed extra charges by way of surcharges (often after booking) because of fuel price increases. As with the airline industry, fuel/oil is usually purchased well in advance and/or when prices are at their most competitive such is the buying power of most cruise lines seeking to obtain the best deal. I can appreciate the concern of some posters who have noticed hikes in future cruise rates but it will be interesting to see if such increases can be sustained.

It is interesting to see details of the cruises planned for 2017 and most have now found their way onto the website, but one of particular interest seems to be missing.The 18 night, 22 March 2017 Sydney-Singapore voyage on Journey is not listed when checked today-I would appreciate any information on whether this cruise has been changed or perhaps chartered for the booming Australian cruise market.

Sorry to hear that there are no included cava or sparkling wine choices but please advise if any of you recent Az cruisers have got prices and/or names of fizz choices to purchase on the ships- not included of course!;)