Riocca

If you booked onboard you can a one off change to another sailing and retain all your onboard booking benefits of course you will lose any promotions that came with the original booking. Like you we booked this cruise whilst onboard quite a while ago and we were waiting to see what Azamara were going to offer but when the 2026 itineraries were launched we decided to move the booking to Quest’s 22 night Antarctica cruise. We received our onboard loyalty discount and the $300 OBC, the new booking came with the Early Booking Bonus which was the same promotion as we had on the original booking. Judging from the offers made to customers on the recently cancelled cruises the best we could expect was a lift & shift to another itinerary of up to 18 days which probably wouldn’t work with the 22 day itinerary we wanted to book.

Last year we had a discussion with an Assistant CD about background music around the pool area, was saying that if they play music they get a number of complaints but if they stop playing music they get an equal number of complaints that there’s no music. Classic case of you can’t please all the people all the time, personal preference is no music but don’t object to the occasional live music on sea days.

It’s the $1 US transaction after recent use in a different country that gets flagged by the fraud department, when I had a card compromised, thanks to a well known hotel booking site, it was flagged up because of a series of low cost transactions in Florida. The bank said this is what normally happens as the card is tested before being hit with the big one.

We’ve been using our Halifax Clarity card since 2015 and, touch wood, have never had a problem using it abroad. When we first had it you used to have to inform them where you were travelling but after a couple of years we were told that was no longer required. Like all banks they use AI to monitor if transactions are out of the normal pattern, so I expect if a card is being used in Australia and they then see a small test transaction in the U.S. it rings alarm bells unless it’s within the normal pattern of the card. Fortunately Azamara transactions are within the normal pattern of use for our cards, however we always have our normal HSBC cards as a backup.

Only thing I would say is that Azamara did a test transaction at the end if every cruise week. So if there was for example $100 due at the end of the first week it appears in pending transactions and at the end of the second week there’s another $100 test transaction. Our cruise was 17 days so I could see 2 pending transactions on the card but these are cancelled before the final balance is taken. It then depends on how the card issuer handles these pending transactions, Halifax viewed it as the same transaction so only the larger of the two pending transactions was taken from the available balance. Hopefully I’ve explained that okay 😀

On our recent cruises Azamara has tested the credit card with just $1 until there’s a debit balance on the onboard account when they will use the amount due. Payment isn’t taken until the cruise is over and the final invoice is issued. We use the Halifax Clarity credit card for traveling as it offers currency conversion at the full Mastercard rate with no fees. As it’s a true credit card you don’t have to preload any money and it’s accepted everywhere Mastercards are accepted.

While the 79 day itinerary looks great it’s a bit too long for us these days however we’ve booked the 22 day BA to San Antonio section taking in both Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords. My only thought is I wonder how popular the cruises that end & start in Panama City will be.

Yes our congratulations to Captain Dario 🥳

We’ve had a few repeats over the past few years some we were happy to repeat others not so. Last year on one cruise so many passengers stayed behind they had to hurriedly arrange some sort of entertainment, only a film in the Show Lounge but it was something. We’re all going to have differing views but we have enjoyed the majority of the ones we’ve attended and are glad we were able to experience them, but as with all things life moves on and will try and enjoy the onboard experiences.

Over the years we’ve experienced some great AzAmazing Evenings and some not so great, after 10 years many passengers will have experienced the same evening a number of times and recently we’ve noticed more and more passengers remaining onboard. So maybe it was time for a shake up anyway. However it’s possibly more fundamental than that, 10 years ago with two ships and the resources of Royal Caribbean the organisation of these events although complicated probably didn’t absorb too much of those resources. Now Azamara is a small independent company with four ships and limited resources, so those resources have to be used as efficiently as possible. Finding locations and arranging transportation is probably the biggest problem, of course Azamara could employ a whole department to provide these events but it’s going to reflect directly in the cruise fare which many complain is rising too fast anyway.

The following May 29th ten night cruise is currently showing as sold out, which is never a good sign, so maybe that will provide the extra days required. We are booked on Pursuits October 26th Athens to Dubai so are waiting to see what transpires, the prices increased to ridiculous levels a while ago but have dropped in price twice in the past week to something more normal.

Crystal Symphony made a run via the Red Sea: https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-ship-encounters-red-sea-tensions-on-repositioning-voyage/127657?fbclid=IwAR3t-OEcEDIovvej1dfLcf9MPZ4Fns4nUUsyiTY-PEAmJ4xBLv3t0ZulGxI_aem_ASvvmNDCP4gr3jV7MiQjMc8lyGjPUGhsl7H8JJOBoiNyd6ZUvnjKjWhyN9TSz6Fn894

Judging by a post Azamara has just made on FB it’s the long awaited 2025/26 itineraries, we were told on Quest last week that they would be out in April so would make sense.

Just disembarked Quest and being on Pursuits 26th October sailing obviously asked this question, no definitive answer but it’s looking likely that this cruise will be cancelled and the preceding charter to allow Pursuit to dead head around Africa to Dubai. Prices also went extremely high for this cruise to dissuade people from booking but have dropped in recent days to more reasonable levels. We have booked flights that can be cancelled or altered at minimal cost just in case.

Don’t forget Azamara have a new management team in respect of a new CFO and incoming CEO so that brings in new ideas. My take on the differing offers is that they are trying different things to see what is most attractive to customers and will settle on whatever is most effective. As regards Sycamore my understanding is that all their companies run autonomously they provide the funds for growth, think of it like a bank, but if Azamara can provide cheaper financing from bringing in customers funds early then that’s good business. Viking have been doing this for years in the North American market with no return for their customers.

Spoke to Tony last night and the rumours are indeed true, so you’re going to enjoy some excellent entertainment, enjoy!

From other forums it was said that Onward had experienced stronger than anticipated currents which caused a higher fuel burn than anticipated. Currently we are on Quests TA crossing and as far as Mindelo yesterday have had never perfect sailing conditions although Captain Johannes has been warning that things could be a little different north of Cape Verde. So yesterday just after sail away he announced that the weather system they had been tracking from Greenland was going to bring significant rough sea conditions so for the comfort and safety of passengers some changes to the itinerary would be made. So currently instead of heading to Tenerife as planned we are heading to La Palma which was the following port, our stay there is as was originally scheduled but we will then head to Tenerife arriving at 10pm staying until 10pm the following day. This will give shelter during the worst of the expected sea conditions, Quest will then head directly to Lisbon missing out Funchal to give us the smoothest ride possible. It’s this sort of communication and care that makes Azamara special, we’ve travelled with other lines who wouldn’t make any changes just telling passengers to expect rough weather.

Pursuit’s October cruise that transits the Red Sea is yet to be cancelled, although it’s only a matter of time, so 2025 would be after that I would assume.

The same chairs are used in the Pool Bar.

Currently onboard Quest and can confirm that the WiFi included with the Experience More packages is the faster Starlink service. However when I initially logged into the system using the package link I was only getting the standard slow speed internet, took a quick trip to customer services to get it corrected. Even though I am entitled to free WiFi as a Loyalty/Suite benefit the system only allows one account per person, just something to be aware of.

Yes at Discoverer Plus we paid $6.40 per day. Plenty of Whispering Angel onboard Quest and there’s a new Scottish Gin on the Ultimate Package called Botanist. Strange thing is the flyers on Quest shows a picture of the Atlas Bar and specifically mentions it in the text.

Just boarded Quest and beverage packages are $26.95 for Premium $34.95 for Ultimate, upgrade Premium to Ultimate is still $8 but loyalty discount applies to the upgrade. Also speciality restaurants are $49.95pp we have been assured this pricing is now fleet wide.

Just boarded Quest in Rio everything super easy, our only problem along with many others was taxi drivers not knowing where to drop off their passengers. Even then Azamara had a golf cart & trailer patrolling to pick up and get passengers to the correct area. Security was slow as Oceania Marina is also boarding today and the security area was common. We arrived at the terminal about 11.40 and we were at onboard check in by 12 noon, specialities booked and drinks package upgraded and sat on the Sunset terrace by 12.30. Obviously learned lesson from last year.

Antibiotics have no effect on Viruses so it’s doubtful that the problem was viral. If it is related to the bottled water it’s possibly coliform bacteria due to poor quality processes in the water bottling plant. Another possibility is that minerals within the water are causing a mild reaction in some people. Either way it would be impossible for the ship to test the water onboard to ascertain the cause.

Segment 7 of the World Cruise was due to end in Dubai and as I understand it full World Cruise passengers are approximately one third of the total passenger count, this would probably make Dubai the disembarkation port for the majority of passengers. Therefore deviating from Dubai would make it a logistical nightmare for many of the other passengers who will be on that segment. Cancellation of segments 8&9 was inevitable given the current situation in the Red Sea and minimises the ongoing disruption to future itineraries, appreciate it’s disappointing for those who booked the full World Cruise but Azamara are looking at the bigger picture. As regards those who booked single segments I would expect Azamara to be making the same offer made to those on Journeys cancelled 3rd May cruise which has been noted on another thread.