Riocca

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.

That’s my guess, the 26 night Singapore to Athens cruise is showing as pricing unavailable the same as Onwards two segments. That presumes that Journey can travel the distance required with only essential stops to make Piraeus for the 29th May.

Won’t know for definite until there’s more information but it looks like the individual cruises (segments) have been cancelled. So two cruises for Onward and one for Journey, this strategy will allow them to avoid the Red Sea with minimal disruption to ongoing itineraries . The World cruisers were a problem in that they already onboard and destined for disembarkation in Barcelona. We are booked on Pursuit Athens to Dubai in October but fully expect for that and the following Dubai round trip cruise to be cancelled to allow the ship to avoid the Red Sea. To be honest it makes the most sense if they cancel two cruises it affects probably 1300 passengers but re working itineraries will have an affect on many more.

Something is possibly about to happen as the April/May Red Sea transit cruises for both Onward and Journey have just been marked a “Pricing Unavailable”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68490695 Very sad news but hopefully this will push Azamara into taking action as there’s surely no way they could put passengers and crew at risk transiting this area.

I think you’re right it’s a long time since we changed loyalty level, although I’ve looked at the latest loyalty t&c’s and can’t see a mention of 50% of anything.