almostnewtocruise

Looking forward to seeing her again in April.. :)

Congrats!

Miriam

I've just changed to select by ringing my TA. Check out the similar question I fired a few days ago.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44660214

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Oh.. but then you had prepaid gratuities - which makes all the difference! :)

And I agree with teecee60 about the Future.., Select wasn't too popular at first, but now certainly is..

And also thanks Ruthk for the "pestering with a smile" advice. If nothing else works - I'll certainly try it!

Miriam

It depends how full it is. If the M'D determines that Select is very popular and was booked full, he won't let you transfer from your Main Dining assignment to Select. This happened to us on our cruise in September. I was going to switch to Select once onboard so that the gratuities would come from my OBC. We couldn't transfer to Select, and we just stayed with our early seating table. It was fine, we only go to the dining room half the time anyway because we like going to the other venues too.

Last time on the Equinox we dined Select and loved it. Like you - we would rather use our OBCs to pay for the gratuities and not have to prepay them at the time of the final payment..

I wonder if anyone has succeeded doing that... :o

Does anyone have experience with doing that?

Does this work on an Ipad/Safari also?

If so I must be doing something wrong

I have logged in, then went back to favorites screen and clicked on bookmark and I just get the same login screen

I don't know about Ipad, but even on a regular computer be sure that you bookmarked the right page.. It should be

https://secure.azamaraclubcruises.com/dc/myAccount/customizeCruise.do?cS=SIDENAV

At first I bookmarked a different page and of course it didn't work.. Now it works like a charm..:)

if you don't get any responses here, try tripadvisor. There's a forum for Syracuse and Sicily.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187891-i1413-Syracuse_Province_of_Syracuse_Sicily.html

I have been there...it took me a minute to remember all the things we saw. We were on a very small cruise ship that divided us up into small groups to see all the highlights regarding the ruins and the ancient history...there is sooo very much to see.We had local guides for this part. The city we did on our own and it was a great place to wander around again with all the history as well as the city now itself. I guess it depends what cruiseline you are on and how much you want to see and do,but I would say you need a guide for all the ruins.I have to be honest about the city..we berthed right there and were able to walk so I can't speak for any changes or larger ships.I am sure will enjoy the port no matter what you do.

Thank you both for your responses.

I'll indeed ask also on the Tripadvisor forum.. There is someone local there who seems to be very patient and ready to answer all questions! :)

We too will be on a rather small ship (Azamara) - so hopefully we too will dock close to the old town. Thanks for the tips about the "ruins".. I assume that this was the Archeological Park.?

The museum is supposed to be very interesting too..

Again - thanks for the tips!

Miriam

We'll be in Syracuse next April. Has anyone here have any experience with this port? Is it doable by ourselves or do we need a guide? How far is the port from the old city?

Any information will be highly appreciated!

miriam

Lottie, this is the post you're thinking about and you're right; it was tgg. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=43497211&posted=1#post43497211

Wow!! It didn't work first, but when I went back to this original post and used the link there - it did!

Thank you all!! It was refreshing to see all the details of our reservation (even without an upgrade:)).

But wouldn't you expect them to fix this problem by now?? :confused:

Miriam

The best deal for this port is a private tour bus.

 

http://www.ecoach.ie/

Blarney, Kinsale, Cork City & Cobh Bus Tour No other tour gives you more! In Association with Butlers Buses www.butlers-buses.com

 

19.99 Euro per person on the internet

I got a formal answer from Ian:

"The price is definitely 34.99 - I will try to find where it states 19.99 and remove it from our website."

Miriam

This is what we did, its a great deal. You have around 2 hours in Blarney and can choose to go up the castle or not. I actually enjoyed the grounds around the castle more then the castle itself.

 

Then off to Kinsdale where we had about 1.5 hours, we grabed some lunch there as well.

Do you remember how much you paid? (On the website they say that the tours "starts" at 19.99 , but actually this one is supposed to be 34.99 Euros)

And did you have to pay in advance?

TIA

Quite depressing - as we all seem to agree that the only perks that really have mattered are free internet and laundry..

Curious,,, can anyone explain how do "complimentary nights" work?

(As in

Earn complimentary nights* when you advance to a new member tier, ranging from two nights (Explorer) to ten nights (Discoverer Platinum).)

Let's say - you moved from Discoverer to D. + and therefore "earned" 6 days.. So if you now book a 10 days cruise - does it mean that you pay only 40% of the price?

(I'll still take the internet and the laundry :o)

Miriam

Marcie and Marylou - thanks for the welcome! This will be our 7th AZ cruise, but a first TA on a such a small ship. And we've never done so few ports! So - on one hand I am very excited about it.. On other - a little apprehensive.. :)

I found the relevant roll call.. registered .. and was quite surprised to find that there are already 21 people there. In my experience that's quite a lot for AZ at such early stage! :)

Not that the number matters.. As spursgirl said - they will hold a nice party even with less than the "minimum' 25..

Miriam

Last update..

We've just booked our 'instead cruise" - a TA on the Journey in April 2015.

Instead of a verandah we'll now have to settle for an 'inside'..

AND (sigh) we still need to add about $1500... :o

BUT.. we'll be able to enjoy 16 (!) days of Azamara.. most of them at sea (just 3 ports)..

Hopefully this time this will happen! :)

BTW.. no matter what, I still can't see our cabin number on our reservations online.. Has anyone managed to resolve that problem?

Miriam

Thank you all again!

For participating and for contributing.. and then for being happy with and for us.

I know we couldn't have done it without you! :):):)

Miriam

(preparing for her "shortened" Celebrity cruise in September.. while looking already for a replacement for the AZ one!)

Hi !

I am sure that you will ALL be happy to hear that I got an answer - and a very positive one too!

It didn't come from L. P. himself, but from somebody high enough (I presume) in the AZ hierarchy to deal with decisions of this kind. They recognized the very "special circumstances" of our case and "to prove their dedication towards excellent service" they are granting us back our penalty payment - as a credit towards future cruise on Azamara!

(there are some restrictions to this future use - but we can "live with them "- easily and gladly! :))

I know that my TA worked hard for us to achieve this outcome .. and that they were others who also put in a good word for us.

And then I really want to say thanks to this community!

I don't know it for a fact, but I am sure that the support and sympathy we got here must have helped. There is this "something" in the ambiance of the AZ ships that trickles to their fans - and makes these forums so helpful..

So thank you all - those who posted here - and those who wrote me privately ..

And see you soon on future great cruises!! :):):)

Miriam

Hi Miriam,

 

Here in the US, when you cancel a cruise, I'm fairly certain that port charges and taxes (which show as a separate line item on your booking confirmation) are refunded. With that said, I'm unaware of the policies outside of the US, or if it's an unusual circumstance.

 

Wish I could be of more assistance, but we'll have to wait and see if anyone from Azamara chimes in on this one. Good Luck !

Andy, is it based on previous experience with AZ, or just something more general? I too book through an American agent and our "fees" and "transfer" appeared in seperate lines and still it was calculated the way it was (i.e. lumped together :))

Trying to find my way through all those websites available about cruise companies' penalties and refunds - made me curious about these "port charges, taxes and add-ons" . So far it looks like there are real differences between cruise lines.. While some of them clearly state that they "exclude" certain things from penalties (like port charges and taxes - see Celebrity) - other companies put "total fare" as the basis for calculating penalties - like Az - and many others. Still.. maybe they do act sometimes differently at their own discretion? (like in cases of 100% penalty?)

Although I don't suppose this kind of information will affect anyone's decision to book a cruise with a certain company as opposed to another (contrary to what some may think, we at least do not buy a cruise thinking that we will cancel it! :)) , it could be useful to know the refund policy while buying an insurance .. or if one needs to decide whether to book a transfer or an hotel through the cruise company much time in advance..

Anyway, lots of time to look at all this "later".. :)

Miriam

Miriam. We had to cancel a cruise in April 2 days before we were due to fly out, due to the illness and subsequent death of my mother-in-law. Azamara refunded us 100% of the port taxes and fees plus our shore excursion. We of course forfeited the rest of our payments to them but our insurance covered most of the loss. We are in the UK but I don't think that should make a difference so it might be worth you contacting Azamara again.

 

Hilary

Hilary, now I am totally confused! From what I heard from our TA,, and from everything I read on Az website and on several other "general" websites - I gathered that these are the rules. It says "gross fare", or "total fare" and even mentions hotel arrangements and other adds -on (but not shore excursions!!) - as "non refundable". It's true that it also says :

The policies shown here are for the United States and Canada only. Residents of any other country should contact their local office or travel partner.

But I can't imagine they will give the Brits something they don't give Americans.. :)

Maybe Andy or Bonnie know more about these rules?

Miriam

Sorry, what I meant by the reference was that it was illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba. While highly discouraged by the Israeli government, it is not illegal for Israelis to travel to Turkey.

 

Thanks for clarifying what you were looking for. It seemed like a you were unhappy about getting only 25% of the taxes and port fees back but it looks like that was a secondary issue.

 

Good luck in resolving your situation.

ShopperfiendTO, you are right.. It's not illegal for us to go to Turkey. If it had been - we wouldn't have bought this cruise in the first place and this thread wouldn't have existed. :-))

As to being unhappy.. Yes, we are somewhat unhappy about the 75% of the transfers we are not going to use .. and the 75% of the fees of the ports we won't be visiting ..

But then we are not too happy about all the rest too.. :)

But I agree - if Az "stands firm" as you call it , they won't be doing anything legally "wrong". These are the rules and they can stick to them ..

Not so sure about the "unfair" ..

As many have said here - Good Will (thanks Petlover!) goes a long way. Especially as exceptions have been made before.

Miriam

At the risk of getting slammed, I am curious what it is you're looking for, a refund of the taxes and port fees or a change/credit to another cruise?

 

If the former (and even then, I'm not sure about the port fees), certainly that sounds reasonable.

 

If the latter, then I think that's the risk you take with booking with a foreign travel provider and vacationing in a (relative) conflict zone. Your government is advising against non-essential travel, which means that you are legally allowed to travel there, it's just that your government really wishes you wouldn't (It isn't a full embargo like Cuba has been for Americans).

 

So you could go to Istanbul, board the ship, never leave it until disembarkation to go straight to the airport out of Turkey, limiting your stay in Turkey to be basically the transfers from airport to ship and back. But you decided that you didn't want to.

 

I fully concede that it wouldn't make it much of a cruise (assuming you booked it mainly for the ports) as it essentially becomes a cruise to nowhere (like a crossing), but it still is a cruise with full Azamara ship amenities at your disposal.

 

Sorry to hear about your situation and I know how much it bites to be out money, but I see both sides here. And you should get the full taxes (and hopefully port fees) back.

I think you got it a little "in reverse" - if that's the right expression. Our government (unlike the US gov. regarding Cuba ) is advising us not to travel to Turkey not because it wants to "punish" Turkey and its economy for whatever reasons (we still can freely buy cigars - and everything else from them ), but because the current "climate" in Turkey became actually dangerous for us. (just google the news about the freshly elected Erdogan, Israel and Jews - to get the picture)

I know I am repeating myself.. but we would be very happy not to disembark in any ports - if only we could get on and off the ship without any contact with Turkish authorities.. Or even if we could cut the cruise shorter and get on and off the ship not in Turkey but somewhere else (like we're doing on Constellation in September - where we cut our cruise 3 days shorter and get off in Athens!).

But on this AZ 12 days cruise the first non-Turkish port is on day 5 (Batumi, Georgia) - and the last non-Turkish port is on day 10 (Volos, Greece). So do you think it's even "sane" to buy new flight tickets (do those places even have airports?) for a 6 days cruise?

(And by the way -and I've already mentioned that too.. Turkish Airlines - whose tickets we had - stops flying from here starting 2 days before "our" cruise. So we wouldn't have been able to get to the ship - even if we hadn't cancelled!)

As to refund for taxes and fees .... Bad News!

It seems that Azamara belongs to companies (HAL, Crystal etc ) that do not refund those. Unlike others - AZ doesn't even refund transfers! Strange but true!

Unlike RCI and Celebrity which "exclude" taxes and fees from their penalties, Azamara calculates the "gross total" you paid for everything.. subtracts your TA commission - and gives you (in this case US) back 25% of that ..

And yes.. we would like very much to have the other 75% back as a credit for a future cruise.. As I said - still hoping... :o

Miriam

The good news are that yesterday (Monday) I sent a (second) letter to AZ president - this time directly - and the letter hasn't come back as "undelivered" . So hopefully the address was correct.

The not- so- good news are that I received nothing back - not even an automatic acknowledgment that it has been delivered to "somebody".

The other good news are that I haven't received a NO either..

So still hoping.. :)

Miriam

Thanks to all who wrote and gave me encouragement and advice !

Tomorrow (Monday ) I'll start acting on both fronts - getting in touch with Larry Pimentel's office (still not sure how) hoping for a change in their decision - but also finding out what happened with our refund (in other words ; where are the taxes and transfers?!)

I'll let you know how it goes..

And I hope that this time Laraine will be wrong about the "less than legendary" shore side service :)

But I do miss Bill.. :o

Miriam

I hope that you get a response from Azamara. Not all insurance policies are the same. Did your policy cover terrorism and acts of war? I am booked on a tour to Israel in October. When I booked in May, I did not expect the conflict in Israel. I have not canceled. I hope that the fighting stops soon. If not, the tour company has reassured us that they will cancel the trip. They will also refund our money. I can also cancel and get my money back. I do not think that Azamara or any cruise line would put guests into a harmful situation. I am rather surpised that Azamara is still doing the Black Sea cruise. I know people who were booked on the Quest Aug. 20 and rebooked on the Journey Aug. 20. Good luck. I hope you get satisfaction.

Redtravel, I too hope that the fighting will end soon and that you will be able to visit here (we are worth visiting! :)) And if not - then I am sure that you'll get your money back.

By the way - I didn't have any problems with the private tours operators in Turkey. They seemed to understand perfectly well why we are canceling.. and mostly expressed a hope that 'we shall meet after all - in better times"..(now, with the new president they've just elected today , I can't see it happen any time soon)

As to our insurance.. It covered only medical emergency and luggage problems. We booked the cruise less than 2 months before the sailing date ... It was the "substituted" Black Sea itinerary - no Ukraine and no Russia. And who would have thought that the danger for us will actually come from Turkey itself?

Miriam

I am confident that you will receive a response to your email. I've contacted him on a few occasions and have always heard back. I hope you're able to transfer to another sailing.

TerryAndDoug , thanks for your post.

If you've been in touch with him in the past - do you have a more direct line to him? I wrote to him c/o my TA and can't be even sure that it arrived at its destination. If you have - can you write to me at the email you quoted in your answer to me?

TIA Miriam

Turkish Airlines is the best airline in the world -- so not surprised that accommodated you.

 

The problem as I see it is that Turkey is not telling Israeli citizens not to come to Turkey -- it's the other way around. I do not see how a cruise line can accommodate all the political requirements in this complicated world. If the US told all of its citizens not to travel to Israel e.g. (which it largely has) and Azamara decided to stop in Israeli ports for 3 nights, Azamara would not be accommodating American citizens either. I doubt ANY cruise line would do that.

 

You need the "rachmunis" factor here -- you have to find someone high enough in the food chain who can make decisions as opposed to just following policy. Given Azamara's poor shoreside service, could be difficult but I would keep trying. Perhaps Bonnie can help you?

The mystery of Turkish Airlines' unexpected magnanimity has been just solved. And it has nothing to do with their being (or not) "the best airline in the world". (I agree that they are good, but not THAT good)

If you check their website, you'll find that they've just announced that "due to operational reasons'' they are canceling "most of their flights to and from Tel Aviv between 18 August and 25 October" (!).

"Our" flight (the earliest one on the 20 August) is now officially canceled .. as are also 3 later flights ! So it seems that if we hadn't canceled - we would have been NOW in a situation when we have a cruise ( already with 100% penalty! ) and no reasonable way to get there.

Laraine, I don't think we need 'rahmunis' :). I still hope that common sense and good will should be enough to see that this IS indeed a "special case".

And I would love to hear from Bonnie..

Miriam

Even if you had travel insurance, most would not cover this situation.

 

Yes, you should get your port fees and taxes refunded.

 

It sounds like you did your due diligence and looked at flying into and meeting the ship at another port, and leaving early. This is evidenced by the fact you are doing exactly that on a Celebrity cruise.

 

I believe these type of situations need to be handled on a case by case basis, and Azamara should let you have a 75% credit to use on another cruise.

Well.. strangely, we did not get port fees and taxes back..

Nor - even more strangely - the $50 we paid for the transfer from the airport to the cruise ship. As I've already mentioned - everything we paid was "lumped" together - and our credit card account has been credited with (exactly!) 25% of that sum. (it says - by RCI)

And to tell you the truth, I have no idea even to whom to complain about it..

Thanks for the support..:)

Miriam

Thanks for the support!