Vineyard View

OP never posted this cost. It was an arbitrary number as an example posted by blag. I was not referring to that at all in my post, as the $1,200 was brought up afterwards, but yes, if I saw an offer for $1,200 in a cc for 7 days I would question it. I have followed pricing for a few years, and average pricing on a 9-14 day in a cc averages much more. I still cannot find a way to defend the company, any cruise line, in the situation that the OP is in. The company owns the error. Legal loop holes or not. To do absolutely nothing just does not seem right.

Thank you for responding to me. I appreciate these details. As I said, we are not looking to book SS but the comment about the corporatization made me wonder what that was about with respect to Azamara. Seems that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction with several lines. More so than in the past.

No disrespect meant. I am curious if you have experienced SS recently with their changes you are referring from corporate vs how it was prior? While we don’t closely follow lines with included excursions (and pricing), I have read some very positive reviews regarding their new class of ships.

As a prospective Azamara customer, I am not too far off from OP who has just one Az cruise in their history. In reading through this thread, there seems to be some interesting perspective that OP should have known the fare they booked was unreasonable enough to expect a huge additional invoice after full payment. For arguments sake, Let’s just say I am looking for a special cruise - to honor a special event/request, etc. and I find an itinerary that is attractive and listed on the website as a special sale. All cruise lines offer ‘special sales’. It fits my timeframe and my budget, and I can honor a special request for family. I book the cruise, thinking all is good and start the ancillary planning of airfare, etc. Fast forward and the money I paid is no longer valid, due to a website error, and if I want to take this trip I need to pony up significant additional money to take this trip. As that new person to Az, do I sincerely know that it was an obviously wrong rate? Am I all of a sudden the person in the wrong instead of the company that to seasoned Az travelers might wonder if it is “an obviously wrong rate” ? And even if I am a seasoned Az traveler, and I caught a great sale, should I just accept that it was a website error? IMO. Regardless of the legal loopholes sited, this just seems ethically wrong to a pretty large degree. I am having a pretty tough time finding the majority of fault here with OP. I sincerely hope that this all gets straightened out. Don’t give up!

It’s really encouraging to hear that the quality and variety of food on Vista is mostly meeting - sometimes exceeding - expectations Hiltner! Thank you for your continued reporting. I would agree that the too often and too long CD announcements would be off putting- at best. Likely annoying. Makes one ponder why the CD feels that they are so important. When dining we usually are not in a hurry. We just mostly order one course at a time. We also do the same with starting with our wine and not ordering any food at that point. For the most part it allows us to pace our meal. If there is something that takes the chef a little longer to prepare we have found the server generally will inform us of that. I would not prefer my main brought as soon as my app is cleared away, or my dessert brought as soon as the main is cleared. For the most part, this has worked well.

Maybe there was a crew change between the sailings.

I read this happening quite a bit johnthomas. I would think that corporate, even in this short amount of time, has had the opportunity to recognize the input regarding the excursion piece by now. It is not sounding as it is uncommon with SM.

This is all really good Information to have regarding drink packages. I can see why waiting a couple of days makes sense to decide, since O does not require the package for the entire cruise. We generally upgrade our drink package on lines that do not include most all offered. For is, it just keeps it simple. If we want a cocktail before dinner, or a port/after dinner drink…..or a Bloody Mary on a sea day by the pool….whatever, we don’t have to really think about it. Everyone has their different preferences, so it is really great to have options like Oceania offers. Including, and especially bringing wine on board from local ports!

Thank you for your continued review of your first Oceania sailing. Your descriptions of lunch at Waves had me chuckling! If you and your DW ever find yourselves visiting Sonoma County, lmk! DH and I would be happy to provide a much better wine tasting experience at a more favorable price point! 😉 I look forward to your continued review!

Again, consistent inconsistency. Is there a vehicle that Azamara has to provide feedback to Miami? From reading this thread, it sure sounds as if someone at the top needs to step it up in a big way. I know you have sailed Azamara a lot as well.

Thank you for your review of your most recent experience. Your vast amount of sailing experience with Azamara brings a lot of knowledge of product and expectation. I am sorry to hear that your recent sailing missed the mark on multiple levels. That is disappointing. Not having sailed in that part of the world, do you think supply availability had any impact on food? I haven’t read that before but I don’t follow those itineraries. The inconsistent service, and cutbacks mentioned, I believe, would be noticeable to most people who sail in this category. I hope that your Onward journey in September proves to be much better for you and your friends on such an important occasion.

Thank you Chucktownsteve for this analysis. We have not sailed on Regent, so I cannot compare. I agree that there are always complainers on the four boards that I mostly follow. When the same complaints become consistent (ie: inconsistency on Az, skipped/reduced ports on Oceania) some legitimacy tends to develop. That said, I agree that no line is perfect. I agree that first out itineraries aes generally the time to book. I missed that window for next Spring. I think it is a good thing to have a couple of lines that you are comfortable with and can enjoy. It opens up more itineraries and options. You finding that with Regent and Azamara provides that for you. Again, thanks for your comparisons.

But if that happens, who does a person call who uses flightease given the time/hour question OP is worried about during the connection, should things go sideways during off hours for SB customer service and TA with time differences.

Again, I thank you. I wasn’t completely clear on the party atmosphere statement. I honestly think that Azamara would be a fun line to cruise on. The R ship size of bathrooms and space prior to suites is my own, and DH, hesitation.. Yes, I clearly accept that this works for so many people. Not just with Azamara R ships.

Thank you Dynacruiser for taking the time to respond so thoroughly and honestly to my concerns and this originating this post. I sincerely appreciate you doing this so evenly, in the good and the not so good - but the overall high satisfaction in this product - Azamara. I will say that I never read anything to make me think that “Azamara is a party on board now”. What I had read was that the special event off ship in the evening is now a party on board. So no, I did not picture nor read that this is a party atmosphere type of line. Some people seem genuinely disappointed in this, and yet as you mention in your response, it seems that this is inconsistent as to whether it occurs or no. There is quite a bit of chatter about cost cutting and devaluing the brand….thank you for assessing your thoughts around these concerns. It is good to hear that most passengers that you are interacting with are very satisfied with their experience. As a couple who enjoy good wine, we often bring our own bottles on board from port, whether we are sailing on Viking or Seabourn, so thank you for that input. I commend you on your pointing out the times you have vented on the boards about various occurrences that you have been frustrated, so thank you for your honesty. I truly do not believe that any line is perfect. I am curious what other brands in the premium or luxury segment you have sailed on? Maybe Azamara has ticked enough boxes for you to have no desire to sail on another, and that’s really quite okay. Again, thank you for your thoughtful and honest input in your response to this thread. DH and I always have a great time when we travel, and starting this thread has provided a lot of meaningful input to Azamara. We are definitely looking at some interesting itineraries for our travels next Spring.

Under the wines list…..the included 4 are what is offered unless you buy the Ultimate? If you buy the ultimate then those listed are included by the glass? If you are in a suite, is there a package included?

Gotta get up and walk away! I could care less - nor will I waste my vacation time with that.

They are out there. Good ones. Don’t give up.

I just looked at one of three we are watching. May 2025, A3 went up $600 pp for a 10 day itinerary. I didn’t look any further.

Our TA provides discounts, not fees. I have never researched whether she is part of ‘the club’. She works hard for us and we have always been happy.

What a great pleasant surprise!

Good question. I hadn’t thought of that….someone will know! Thx for asking

That is what I thought, but wanted to make sure. Thank you both. I was looking at an itinerary and several categories showed one or the other. Given airfare, and all the other planning in advance on a long distance destination, I don’t know that my nervous system could handle Guaranteed, and it’s a hard no for waitlist! Thanks again.

I tried to find this on the search forum. Only thing that populated was around excursions. I would like to understand the difference between waitlisted, and guaranteed cabins? I would assume that guaranteed means you will sail, in at least that cabin category, vs waitlisted having no guarantee? Since assuming is not always wise. I would appreciate confirmation/clarification? Thank you!

I am so sorry that happened to you. All of it. Thank goodness for insurance.