Charlie Chan

recook9, we have had the same experience so completely understand your frustration. We booked back to back cruises (Greece) for May 2025 while on board the Pursuit last year to take advantage of the various bonuses offered. 2 weeks after booking we were informed that the cruises would not take place as the Pursuit would be remaining in Japan for an extended season. We were given the opportunity to move to a couple of other nominated cruises but none suited. We rebooked (at greater cost) for October 2025. We were given a little extra OBC. By sheer chance earlier this year, we discovered that the second of the B/B's was also listed as a Charter. This was listed on our booking when I logged in. It reverted to the normal booking the next day. I did post about this back in February. We contacted Azamara for clarification but received no answer. The cruise continued to remain bookable on both the charter and Azamara sites. 3 or so weeks ago we received the official email stating the second cruise was now a charter. We received the same email as you but were given 3 days to decide. We could not find any cruise round this time that suited us and satisfied the need to retain the back to back status for our OBC etc. The cruise immediately prior to cruise 1 was almost identical to the one we sailed in November last year, so we reluctantly cancelled the first cruise as well. Europe is simply too far for us to travel for a 10 day cruise and it is too early for us to plan 2 years ahead for 2026. We had $2400 in OBC, so Azamara has certainly benefited financially from our 're-accommodations' while we are back to square 1. We completely understand that the cruise line has the right to do this according to the booking contract. The issue is more the way it is handled and the need for the customer to feel some resolution. It also seems to me that it was unethical for Azamara to continue list the cruise as bookable on their sites when the ship had already been listed (and bookable) as a charter. Just because other lines may also do this does not mean it is acceptable. .

Thank you both for the feedback. The link to the Pursuit was useful to see how their cancellation was handled. We have considerable OBC on these cruises so will have to remain patient until we receive notice of the 'cancellation'. Even though it is in the future, it means a substantial change in plans considering the distances we have to travel to Europe. Other cruises around this time are not suitable as they repeat cruises we have just recently completed. I think publishing the cruise as a charter was obviously a big mistake on someone's part.

We are booked on B/B cruises on the Onward in October 2025. On Monday, DH signed in and found that the 2nd cruise - 7 Night Greek Intensive (October 18 2025) was now listed as a booking on an Olivia Charter. (The original cruises were booked directly with Azamara while onboard last year. Those cruises were subsequently cancelled and redirected to Japan. We had little option but to change the cruises to October). We then checked a number of travel agent sites we have used and the cruise was shown as sold out or unavailable. It was also unavailable on the Azamara site. We rang the local agent - they have been wonderful the past year - and the consultant we spoke to had no idea how this could have happened without any correspondence from Azamara. He said he would escalate the issue with head office. Tuesday - the cruise description after logging in had returned to the Greek Intensive - but it could not be booked on any site. Wednesday - still showing as Greek Intensive but now bookable on both agent and Azamara sites. Olivia Travel still lists the cruise as a charter. They state they always book the whole ship. Some room categories are shown as wait listed or limited supply so it has to be bookable with them. We haven't had any further communication from Azamara regarding this issue. I did take screen shots of the changes. We would greatly appreciate any insight you may be able to shed on this issue. I did check a similar charter for this year and it is well supported so it would appear that the charters are popular. It's all very frustrating.

This is based on our experience in October last year. Our Azamara cruise embarked and disembarked from Fusina. No one was allowed to embark or disembark independently in Fusina There were apparently no facilities at the Fusina terminal to handle cruise passengers. Everyone checked in at the old terminal - Marittima. Luggage was tagged and was sent independently. We were then taken by an Azamara bus to Fusina. The reverse happened at the end of the cruise. There is a cruise terminal in Fusina - but it caters for the boats that ply the lagoon. It was not connected to the area where the cruise ship was moored when we were there. I really can't comment on Azamara disembarkation transfers to the airport as we were spending the night in Venice. I don't know if the Azamara buses are permitted to go directly to the airport or must return to Marittima first. I would check carefully to see if you are permitted to disembark independently - things obviously change over time. Do a google search on Fusina cruise terminal and you will find similar discussion about this issue. One thread is from Regent Cruise line where they clearly state the same rule. The previous poster obviously had a very different experience so I would certainly try to get something in writing from Azamara regarding independent disembarkation. (I meant to add you would also need to check if private vehicles are allowed to enter the Fusina port area if you were hoping to get a private transfer to the airport))