gymfreak

11 minutes ago, uktog said:

I am not sure if our loyalty is factored in now or later on after we bid.  Thats the detail we do not have!

Exactly, therefore if it is not then how do we know if a ‘weak’ bid will turn into a fair or strong bid? I think we need to know this as Azamara are potentially loosing revenue as we are deciding to bid or not on incomplete information. As you rightly said on those figures you did not bid, but if loyalty level then bumps up the bid then you may have made a choice to submit a bid

I notice two people have already posted on the new thread their experiences and bid prices for upcoming cruises.

As I know these OP’s are are loyal Azamara cruisers and have high status on LCV, then I am staggered at the ‘strength ‘ of bid required to be in a strong position.

If as we are led to believe these are the levels for high status members then goodness knows the level of bid required at much lower staus

 It would be very interesting for to compare the bids required for the same cruise at different loyalty levels to actually see if as is suggested the strength of the bids is really customised to the persons loyalty level

54 minutes ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

I think gymfreak may be talking about the Santa Teresa tram. On the map this looks quite close to the cruise terminal, but I’m not sure how. It doesn’t go to Sugar loaf tho’, just from the city centre to Santa Teresa district.

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro_Santa_Teresa_Tram

Yes thank you, I believe I am alking about the tram you mention. It may seem ultra cautious or perhaps worrying over nothing but I have read that taxis from the port are on some occasions not safe for tourists or try to overcharge. As I say this may not be true but didn’t want to be caught out Anyone know the appropriate fare from the port to Sugar loaf by taxi and what sort of taxi to take?

thank you

31 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Vicki, although it’s hard to tell with so many questions on this new program, I’d say that yes.  If you are at a higher loyalty level then your bid for strong will at a lower point on the monetary scale.  What I’m still not sure of is if you are say Explorer and upped your bid to $600 would you then stand a better chance of an upgrade than the Discoverer Plus who leaves theirs at $500?

 

Phil

Good point Phil

I assume their is nothing in the algorithm to alert someone when their bid enters a different position on the strenghometer (just made that word up!)

It seems a pain but does this then mean you keep rechecking and if so how often.

With so many other things going on in people’s lives I doubt this would happen 

I think I am beginning to get the gist of this new system in terms of process but do have a question 

Some people have reported on their experience of bidding and the use of ‘sliders’ which indicate if their bid is from weak to strong. 

My question is on any particular cruise is the slider gerneric for all bidders or does it provide specific information according to your loyalty level as to the strength of your bid? 

For example

person A on Explorer bids $500

person B on Discoverer plus Bids $500

As we are unaware of the multipliers will the slider indicate that person B’s bid is for sake of argument strong whereas personA’s is weak?

This would seem a much fairer system to those loyal guests and you would know more clearly where to pitch your bid 

16 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Bonnie, I’ll be honest.  I really don’t know what you mean.  Are you saying that if I apply for an upgrade on the slider thingy and there are categories available it will give me a fair or strong chance at a lower price than others on a lower tier?  And honour where possible that lower price?  And as a higher tier give me a cabin in a more favourable location (which is totally impossible for Azamara to successfully choose for me).  I have to say, I’m really confused.

 

Phil

Bonnie

i agree with Phil in that I am still confused 

The way I read it is that anyone on ANY tier who bids higher than me will be higher up in the process to get an upgrade. Right or wrong?

We have visited this port in the past and spent a wonderful time exploring the interesting Pelourinho district using the elevator to get there. My question is can anyone recommend other places or activities that are safe and that can be done on a day in port when we revisit on another cruise?

I really missed the Sunset bar whilst on Pursuit recently.

often we would have a pre dinner drink and nibbles there and miss a course out in the main dining room. Loved watching the wake as we sipped a cocktail!

I have read somewhere that a tram is based near the port in Rio but can’t find a lot of information abourt this. We want to find a way to get to Sugar Loaf on our day in port and like to use local transport. Is this doable or is a taxi the best bet. If we need to use a taxi any tips welcomed 

thank you

1 minute ago, RedBlu said:

We sail out of Singapore so that might prove difficult!

I understand but we sailed from Buenos Aires and I found room for 2 cases of Fevertree in our luggage!

14 minutes ago, RedBlu said:

Having purchased the Ultimate Beverage package for our forthcoming cruise I am hoping for decent tonic to accompany my Grey Goose vodka!

My advice, take your own!

8 minutes ago, Paul S said:

We join Pursuit next week.

 

Which tonic water is presently available on board? We are wondering whether our packing will need to include a couple of cases of Fevertree!

 

Paul

 

 

There was no Fevertree at all on Pursuit at the end of January and they had even ran  out of Schweppes! Only the vile Seegrams left , so most definitely get it packed. 

Vicki

Got to say I don’t mind the odd hour round about lunchtime on a sunny sea day of live music but a definite no to continuos canned music by the pool which would drive me nuts!

Quote .  I ordered a particular rose wine and whilst some waiters would bring the bottle and pour my glass, one or two would just bring a poured glass and my card back.  We quickly twigged I was being served the standard rose but a zero charge was being booked to a more expensive wine so would send it back - of course there was a big delay as they found the one I had ordered (hint hint the previous glass could not have been from that bottle) What a disrespect for a guest who’d paid for a package experience.

We have just debarked  from Pursuit and regretfully this is still happening on some occasions when ordering from a package.

Thanks Phil for highlighting this. As you know we are on Pursuit now so will try and be vigilant about charges on the account

vicki

Thought I’d better update. We actually got an upgrade on Friday prior to sailing this coming Wednesday

Good luck to others who are waiting 

With us it was via our TA

It does say in the information about these upgrades that if you booked via a travel partner then the offer is made via them, Although  in practice not sure if it works like that for everyone 

7 hours ago, JSCW6 said:

Bonnie or anyone who may have the answer to this question: This fall I will be taking a cruise and moving up to the next tier in the loyalty program. It will entitle us to four free nights. I am planning on booking the next cruise on board to take advantage of the LCV discount. Do I have to just book a cruise within one year of the change in tier or do I also have to set sail within the year?  I have called Azamara for clarification and received different responses each time.  For example, if I book in October 2019, do I have to sail by October 2020 . 

Thanks, Jackie

Laurieb is correct. You only need to book the cruise within one year of achieving the status. We booked our 6 free nights 11 months after moving to Discoverer Plus and sailed over a year later

Vicki 

18 minutes ago, iata said:

Yesterday 2 N1 available 8050-8052 none today

yesterday 4 n2 available 8062-8068-8069- 8071 today 3 available 8068-8069-8071

 

seems that at least 3 upgrades have been done since yesterday.

 

please tell us if you got it

Not us sorry to say

We are Discoverer Plus so I can only assume if these have been allocated as LCV upgrades then it must be to someone at Platinum or booked even earlier.

Vicki

Thanks for the prompt replies. Maybe there is still time but if not it’s good to know these offers are still a great perk and as I said I know we shall enjoy a great cruise with an amazing crew and interesting people

Must think about packing and what fits post the festive season!

vicki Brown

Hi fellow LCV members

My question is about the LCV $398 upgrade programme.

Has anyone in recent times been successful  in obtaining this perk? We sail on the 23rd January (less than 2 weeks) on Pursuit and it would appear there are lots of unsold cabins still available in most categories apart from inside.

Dont gat me wrong we are happy with the category we have booked( balcony)  and even happier to be sailing on Pursuit which is the newest member of the Azamara family. We love Azamara and have cruised happily with them many times and are now Discoverer Plus members. 

I am posing this question to ask is this still a viable possibility to be offered this perk on a future cruise or am I entering a dud raffle!

Thanks

Vicki 

40 minutes ago, crazyman3 said:

 

Thanks.

Which of the Radisson hotels was it? There are more than one in CT.

In our case it was the Raddison Blu Waterfront which is far closer to the V&A Waterfront. I believe the other one is further along the coast

vicki

1 hour ago, crazyman3 said:

Our Azamara Journey cruise finishes in Cape Town. We'll only have 2 or 3 nights in the city because we need to work -----to pay for more cruises, of course!

 

So, where would you suggest we stay? We usually book Sofitel hotels if available but I see that CT doesn't have one.

 

Thanks.

We stayed at the Raddison Blu Waterfront, fabulous hotel on the front, we had breakfast outside each day whilst watching dolphins frolicking in the bay. Only 5 mins from the Victoria Waterfront by complementary shuttle which runs hourly and very reasonable. Great breakfast buffet.

44 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

It is worth bearing in mine that Pursuit has been in Europe all Summer and its quite likely that Royal Club will be back onboard when the ship takes on new supplies in Miami.

Good point

Quest had just made the trip from Athens to Dubai before we boarded. The tonic on offer apart from those in the know like myself who found out about the Fever Tree was that other disgusting tonic I think it’s Seagrams ( May be spelt differently). I think it rivals Royal Club in the yuk factor!

vicki

3 minutes ago, BBMacLaird said:

 

I second your sentiments, Phil...pleased and somewhat surprised. By that I mean it’s news to me. I’ll see if I can find out more. 

If it is only a test, here’s hoping guests “vote.”

Thank you Bonnie

I was more than pleasantly surprised when we boarded I had even packed a case of Fever Tree tonic cans as we knew we would upgrade our package and couldn’t bear to ruin it with inferior tonic. As it was only a one week cruise I could just about manage to squeeze it in but fingers crossed for our 16 night cruise on Pursuit in January that that we won’t be put off upgrading the package because of the tonic options available.

Had another great cruise on Azamara, thank you to all the ship crew

Vicki