Rabidcruiser

Understood - BUT it evidently doesn't always happen as there are many cases of no problem on Azamara ships when Halifax card and others are used in Europe. Trouble is that if AI is being used and programmed for this then NO card is safe to use abroad!! As I commented - we need due diligence by fraud departments tracking immediate previous expenditure patterns. We cannot just rely upon this kind of speculative security reaction which NOT (always) in the customers interest but the banks!  Not everyone will carry smart phones and not always will banks contact you - as we experienced..We even signed authorities onboard Azamara to prove presence and even that was blocked. Halifax subsequent report even got the supposed suspicious site completely wrong as it could not be found on subsequent Internet searches. Still, be safe, carry spare cards.....

After some 55 cruises (23 on Azamara) the Halifax card failure was more than a surprise for us. I also had an RBS ( Royal bank of Scotland ) mastercard card with us but that was new and had not even been activated by using as a chip and pin ( why not done on board) BUT surprisingly we managed to use this brand new card (without any special authority) for £750 deposit on Onward  for two future cruises!. The additional issue with Halifax is that they refuse to engage in discussion as to how they came to make such a ***** up of blockage and failure to communicate - both on the cruise and after. The reason for my post here was that when I spoke to Halifax post cruise they could not guarantee it would not happen again. It is evident that such cards can be used on Azamara successfully but I continue to press what exactly made this failure occur - sofar no explanation , apology or offer of compensation. If banks have become a law unto themselves ( aka the UK Post Office scandal) someone on high needs to set them straight!. Always carry at least TWO cards on holiday.  Ironically Halifax ( and other banks) now seem to think if you notify them where you are going they ignore  it as fraud could occur anyway. If it is AI they are using then saints preserve us! They still need to use due diligence like where was the card last used ( In this case - T4 LHR Hilton, Marriott Sydney, taxi Sydney were ALL passed then why not Azamara?)

PLEASE NOTE - We travelled on Azamara Onward on March 1st 2024 from Sydney and the Halifax Clarity card was not recognised and was blocked causing much inconvenience and embarrassment. I have an ongoing complaint with Halifax getting them to explain why a $1 holding charge merited a fraud blockage - be warned -  it could happen to you as they will not say it could not happen again

At the end of the day it was Oceania's total lack of communication to us as a booked customer (or our TA) which sparked my rant and finding out by e mail of offers to others that all was changing without being offered options really smacked of a total lack of customer service. Luckily our TA is now on the case ( despite late Covid attack on her and her husband)  and we will be able to see the cost benefits or otherwise. But for this Cruise Critic thread we would have had no sensible update to what was an apparent Oceania marketing e mail..... NOTE - rather than sending us two brochures a month we would appreciate more Oceania focussing directly on its customers with its offers - at least in the UK. I cannot speak for the service in the rest of the world

On 6/16/2023 at 5:22 PM, Sthrngary said:

I have seen this happen on other brands in the past.  Specifically change.  The post here represent the exact same posts from the past.  The question is why?  Change is difficult for MOST of us.  MOST of us like knowing the rules to the game and accepting them.  Human nature really.

 

I have been on this board now since I booked my first Oceania Cruise mid-2022.  I read, learn, post and appreciate most of the quality of members.  The tone that Oceania had to change some of their policies have been discussed, rehashed and debated. The general consensus was, clean up your act Oceania, you are confusing some folks especially the new folks. For me, it took a bit to get the program but after some thought, I got it.  That was with the help of some loyal long time guests so thank you.

 

Now my personal opinion which I don't expect for anyone to agree with or take as important.  Oceania is now attempting to establish themselves with things that would me more like the "All-Inclusive" luxury brands. Reading the notes above, it is more like All Inclusive Lite. If you look at the drink program, nothing much really changes per the notes.  The only real change is you get it and there for pay for the wine and beer program.  If you don't drink, you still have it.  that will make a certain group upset.  On the excursions, many folks don't like the cost of the brands excursions so they do it on their own.  Now they have to use some of what they believe is over price excursions with the credit provided.  Those that so often claim "The only way to go is Cruise-Only" lose that opportunity and feel upset about that. 

 

The reaction is we won't use Oceania again or we will think twice.  From Oceania standpoint, their future if they want truly grow are the converts from Main Stream Brands that want to lift their experience.  This was a business decision to create a much better competitor to brands like Viking. 

 

Change is hard only for those that remember the way it used to be.  The future growth often looks at those that have no frame of reference.  Just my two cents.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

We have done some 55 cruises over the last 20 years throughout the world, over quite a range of cruise lines, and are no strangers to change , BUT it would be nice when it occurs for Oceania to be honest as to how ones existing booking is impacted - I am not just referring to the upgrades from O-life which when you try to get to the bottom of them are muddled based on Oceania's replies to our TA and getting proper invoices was a task in itself. Perhaps they no longer fit our expectations as a reliable option. We choose cruises from a blend of cruise line / itinerary / price and overall service. Surprising that we have stuck solong with Azamara as their ships / staff  / packages are great but shoreside communications are like root canal surgery in their complexity and confused messages.  Sadly Oceania , for us , seems to be going this way as well. Good luck to those who enjoy the line and get great servicel

Thanks to those who made useful observations to my somewhat of a rant. The 2024 Sydney to Bali cruise may be a segment of a world cruise ( which "booked out" on Dec 2022) . To free up so many cabins a huge chunk ( most of the ship) must have dropped out of this segment or whoever reserved the booking dropped out- fair enough but we only found this by accident. Booking early we got a so-called £800pp discount.in February and paid a deposit (refundable) for the cabin. The  same grade cabins are getting the same "Early bird discount" as of todays prices. No, we do not need to upgrade to the new system BUT what is being offered to our TA does not seem to match Oceania's online offers. We are still working out what we might need or save but this was not part of any original deal., Payment of Gratuities from OBC was an Oceania idea , not the TA. We have cruised Oceania at least twice before and my cruise log shows it must have been included in the price and does not show separately (unless i logged it wrong). If Oceania are going down the Regent route they are going to have to improve their quality considerably at the prices they are pushing. Being messed about by Oceania (both us and the TA) does not enamour them to us  - as you might note from my tone. Still you pays your money and takes your choice-  - still not sure if we  will cancel before any deadlines.NOTE to Susiesan - Azamara DOES include some hard liquors in addition to some beers and some wines but not speciality ones. Oceania $80 per day means you have to drink a lot as two persons - or their drinks are wildly overpriced.

Having booked some time ago on Insignia for the Feb 2024 Sydney to Bali cruise being told that the only two remaining cabins were x and y only to find that now nearly ALL cabins are NOW suddenly available ( apart from top suites) and their replacement for O- life is being introduced AND we are alos now compelled to pay gratuities out of any onboard credits. ***** is happening Oceania? We travelled pre pandemic and got far better deals and better flexibility with you. Sadly an equivalent Azamara option is not available at the time where all the gratuities are included, a limited but acceptable free beverage package is included, often ( varying) onboard credit is included) and you do not have to pay for excursions you may or may not take. Just how is Oceania stacking up against this? (AND why are they changing the rules for prebooked passengers to try to screw yet more revenue from them for questionable benefit at best)

I can understand the logic of both fit (over 70) cruisers and the tour providers here. i am 72 and know my limitations and would not now book certain energetic tours anyway, It is not clear as to just how few tours this"over 70" limit permits for each cruise and at what cost. My wife ( under 70) is now reluctant to book a cruise with Azamara ( a favorite line for many years pre pandemic) because this might limit us to just bus tours.

I see an irony in this as many ships tours were previously promoted by evidently young staff which did stretch some (unfit) persons ( of any age). Does Azamara now publish a list of all excursions , for each cruise showing which tours are allowed for over 70's which are not just a bus tour round town? I certainly would not to see an age discrimination set in stone as it breaches individual rights and in the UK at least  would be deemed illegal. The problem is ensuring that ALL people are aware of their own limitations and do not penalise the safety and enjoyment others with them. Simple age discrimination is NOT the way.

Yes - have received one although we mostly cruise with Azamara and our RCL voyage was in 2014. Is this a general data breach they have been hiding??

On 8/18/2021 at 5:26 PM, Richteab said:

It was a direct booking and I’ve now spoken to Customer Services who have escalated this to a supervisor and then upwards. I hope.

 

What telephone number did you or your agent use?? I just used the 0344 number on the latest Azamara advertised website and got an obscure (Guatamalan??) voice referring me  / my TA to a premium rate number which according to the Cruise Critic thread , apparently should have been dropped in 2014 ( company YUMPU??). This is becoming beyond a joke.....

We had previously contacted the original loyalty ambassador who is on maternity leave until October and already sent a high priority e mail to Patti Gonzalez  loyalty @ambassador.com- not holding our breath

We are in the UK and also experiencing problems despite our 20+ Azamara cruises . We book via an excellent TA so she and I are badgering Azamara for the promised FCC - mainly from the curtailed Cape town to Dubai cruise , deposits taken for a Brazil cruise and refunds for quanrantin for noro onboard. We had an uplift to a 2022 Brazil cruise which hs also been cancelled. This totals some £7582 which Azamara shoreside seem to be quietly forgettiing that they owe us as FCC or refund. We have tried the polite and the heavy handed approaches to all and sundry and are meeting a wall of silence. Love the ships, the staff and the itineraries but find dealing with shoreside like root canal surger without anaesthetic. Any suggestions for contects who WILL do anything sensible is very welcome.

Thanks to all who replied. I had seen the old logos beiing scraped off / painted over but had not seen any sign of the new ones. I remember the changes announced  in 2019. Hopefully we will get to see the ships again in person after two of our South American cruises have been cancelled (2020 and 2022 South America) . Sadly it looks like our distant cruise bucket list will have to await a worldwide slackening of the pandemic. We are both double jabbed but that may not be enough for some places yet.  We have only clocked up some 20 cruises on Azamara - there were ( until 2020) still some accessible places we hadn't managed to visit with them

The original (post 2019) world and Azamara club cruises logos seem to being painted out for all three ships docked up in Glasgow. Does anyone know what logos will be replacing them post buy out from RCCL?? Will this be done for the 2021 season when and where cruising is permitted?

Celebrity Millenniuim had a major pod problem in March 2009 and the cruise from Auckland round NZ to Sydney was cancelled with ca 10 days notice .This problem is more common than you think with Millennium class ships and Celebrity seem to think that a refund and what was an equivalent value contribution to the next cruise ( now reduced to 50%) is fair - on a take it or leave it basis. Given how much money they take up front and then reduce their product delivery at short notice without an option to cancel without penalty is typical of their accountants attitude