Vineyard View

Wow. This is really Interesting. When do the new season launches generally occur with SB?

I have not been on the Azamara board for quite a long while. We had to cancel our first booked cruise due to high Covid concerns. Since then we sailed on Seabourn and really loved our experience with them, so much that we booked onboard a cruise for next month. Once again, we had to cancel due to a medical situation. So now I am researching for a trip next Apr/May. The most recent “sale” with SB is actually a very large price increase. So much so that I am now looking at other lines (ie: same itinerary we were to sail next month is up 28%). We are also considering a land trip across the pond for the first time in years, as it is clear that Azamara, as well as Oceania, and definitely Viking, have bumped up considerably as well. We realize that this is occurring across the industry, and will likely continue until the point that consumers change directions (which may, or may not occur anytime soon). We don’t care about ship excursions, so that baked in price on Viking (after multiple sailings in the past), is off the table. I keep reading on Oceania about the reduced port times, and skipped ports, so much more than any other line that I look at. We sail for itinerary as well as line, so this is concerning. I just perused this morning the Azamara board. I am reading a lot about cost cutting, raised package prices on drinks and internet, cheap furniture that hasn’t been replaced on Journey, Azamara Evenings being a party on board now, and overall concerns around how the new ownership may be devaluing the brand. With Azamara (Or Oceania R) we would book entry level suite due to bathroom size (I know, not worth it to many, but it’s what we would do). We see several itineraries of interest next year, which is what is drawing me back to this board. So I am curious. A lot of you have spent so much time on Azamara over the years. Do you see the value proposition still there for Azamara over similar competitors in the premium/luxury category? What do you see in the current service/price model that makes Azamara the best fit (or not) for travelers who like to enjoy cocktails before dinner, are not focused on entertainment, enjoy spending time on their balcony at times, enjoy maximizing port times, DIY in port mostly, and have a taste for good food (and wine)? I thank you in advance.

I completely agree with you - the immersive experience of traveling on land far exceeds a day or two in port. We love partaking in those options. We did so more in the past than recent years. With all these changes in travel price structures, I am starting to look at the possibility of a country/region specific area in Europe on land in three different regions. I am also looking a two other cruise lines as well as SB, where I was pretty set on SB prior to this latest increase. When we do cruise, we don’t take ship excursions….we prefer DIY or Private, and we ALWAYS carve out time to just sit in a local place, drink a local beer or wine along with local cuisine, and just take it all in, without a time limit. I realize from experience that it is not the same as DIY land travel. We also prefer DIY land over tour land travel, however. As the years go by, land travel can present challenges that weren’t a big deal before (schlepping bags from hotel to hotel, on and off trains, ferries, etc). So I guess there are certainly tradeoffs as tours are going to assist with that, but if we decide on land next year, we will DIY with home bases as we’ve done in the past. I just looked at one of the itineraries I had a screenshot on from Feb 25, for sailing late May ‘2025. It’s gone up again! Almost $6k more now on a 14 day itinerary. Ugh. Questioneverything, you nailed it. We are all very fortunate here on CC to have had, and to plan, the travel memories that we do!

Hawaii used to be a ‘go to’ easy trip from where we live. We crossed that destination off our list years back for these reasons. Hawaii is not, in our opinion, worth these prices. Some of the itineraries we are looking at need to be done by ship, but the one I shared pricing on we could see and enjoy immensely (Adriatic) by land for the most part. Europe would offer excellent options at a lower price point than this, no doubt. When we stayed in Venice last Spring we had a lovely suite, with fantastic balcony overlooking the Lagoon, without worrying about what we spent on food and drink for way less than these prices. So, it does have us talking. We enjoy all the advantages of land travel that Robisan, Sunprince, & texanaust point out. The big advantage on cruising is the unpacking once, and visiting places more difficult to navigate by land. Markandji, absolutely agree! We too, have those stamp to memory, get into your heart safari memories. One of the best ever trips. And yes, we’ve said a couple times “we could go on another safari” for these prices! But damn. We do love to cruise!

I sure hope that after this current promotion, prices might settle back down a bit. I am not counting on it, but I am sure hoping. We had to cancel a cruise next month due to medical. Looking at the same itinerary for April 2025, and the pricing has gone to $1,414 per person per day, from $1,022 per person per day. That is pretty huge in my estimation. Yes, a couple other lines I am watching have certainly increased their prices as well. It’s happening everywhere. These price points, and this steep % increase over a 12 month period, for these geographies, could tend to push customers down market. It may very well be a pie a in the sky wish that prices go back down, but current pricing might be out of reach for some comfort levels.

Thanks for the tip! I just added the promo to my card. It’s a gold

SB offers alcohol, and honestly quite good offerings, at any time. Not just at lunch/dinner wine/beer. Attractive to some, not to others. Oceania offers excursion credits that are attractive to some, not to others. In the States, I would think included gratuities included with Oceania would be attractive to all, but I would imagine the UK pricing might have them ‘baked in’. If they don’t that is a real bonus.

Vallesan, we very much enjoyed sailing on Quest last year. We were not sure how we would like that size of ship either. Our past more recent (pre C) sailings were with Viking. Our regular balcony cabin was a really well laid out space, the food and service was very good/excellent. I hope you enjoy her as much as we did. I would agree, that at this time, after looking at multiple lines, O and SB are the two we are focused on. As time and ships change, we will continue to look at others. Azamara was worth a look based on a couple itineraries, but to get a decent size bathroom (much like O smaller ships), we would have to bump up in price to SB and the stateroom would not compete with SB.

I am very much looking forward to your review Hiltner. Over the years I have been the recipient of your sage advice, be it on specific cruise boards or ports of call boards. I find your feedback to be impartial, fair, and well balanced. As a couple considering Oceania for the first time, and with far less experience than you, yet some experience on mutual lines, I look forward to your impressions. While we can all come away from the same experience with differing views, I am interested in what your thoughts are and will take them with value Thank you for taking the time from your vacation to share with all of us! Hoping you have a fantastic journey and that O meets/exceeds expectations!

It’s a great registered trademark. I will give you that. Are there people who are attracted to this cruise line because of this trademark? Likely so. I think there are people who this ‘trademark’ is a gravitational marker in making decisions. Why would their marketing department use it? Because it has a grab for some. Look at all the discussion on this board around it?

Can’t argue with you Isr45. I haven’t looked at Caribbean itineraries. It sounds like your cousin had a great opportunity. I would have jumped on that as well. .

Seabourn does not have excursions baked into the price that SS does. For some that has merit, and for others it does not. I havelooked at both Regent and SS. That excursion up charge is not worth it to us as we do not partake . Your cousin must have been sailing in the Pinnacle Suite on HAL. I have looked recently, including a drinks package, and unless you are in the highest suites on HAL there is not a competitive price point to SB. At least not in Europe. Not Spring 2025. And the size of the ships, quality of food, etc are a significant difference between the two. As you say, and I agree completely, to each their own. We all have our travel preferences, and individual differences in what matters changes with the person. A few people on CC will not change the trajectory of any cruise line. But….a 25% price increase overnight, is a significant consideration in the decision.

Thank you. I will take a look at this tomorrow. I really appreciate this information.

Good to know. Thank you. I haven’t even started looking. I think I am just so surprised at the level of price increase that it has thrown me for a loop!

Feeling exactly the same way. The four itineraries we are considering for 2025 are ridiculous right now with this latest increase. We won’t book at these prices, if they are the same, when we are medical cleared. As a result, the post about cruising the British Isles vs land trip, spurred an often discussed over the years discussion with DH yesterday. I might start putting some teeth into that concept and see where it leads me. I sincerely hope that this latest sale has everyone thinking the same, resulting in very low bookings so that SB redirects its course. I think we would prefer to cruise next year. I too am glad that I am not the only one feeling this way. A 25% price increase on one of the itineraries is just too much to justify. Regent looks great, but we don’t use ship excursions, so that price multiplier is not of value to us. Oceania is another possibility that we have never sailed on. All I know is that after our BI land dialogue yesterday, will travel someplace wonderful next year, by land or by sea.

I am in the same category. I hope that these SB inflated prices on this latest ‘sale’ go back down. I haven’t followed SB long enough to understand their pricing trends. Or sales trends. I realize that it may be rare that pricing goes back down with them. I only know that having sailed on them, I like their product. I however do not know about if we will bite on these current prices, at least on the itineraries we are looking at for next year. DH and I were discussing this evening a land trip in the British Isles next year as a back up plan.

The planning is part of the fun! Enjoy every part of that. Thanks again for starting this thread!

Tsunami, sounds like an amazing trip. Out of curiosity, how much time are you allowing for this adventure? And how many changes in stay location?

You are going to love every minute of this experience. I wish we were planning this experience again this year! Yay!

We took the water taxi with no issues. You do not have to enter the secure area of the airport. Yes, it is a bit of a walk for sure. It is much more enjoyable than taking the bus which takes you to one stop, and you then need to schlep your bags to wherever your hotel is. Maybe the Hotel has some different agenda, but we took a private taxi directly to our hotel dock. It was absolutely the VERY BEST way to arrive in Venice. LOVED every minute of that experience! The public water taxi service will take you to one of the regular stops, which would require you transporting your luggage to your hotel. That could be daunting depending on where your hotel is.

Let us know how you enjoy your trip. Sounds like you will be covering a lot of geography! We used to travel longer trips or 4-5 weeks. Currently we see 2-2 1/2 weeks as the stretch with our pup/dog care. I think to see all the countries one needs to do a much longer trip, so I am a bit envious on that piece for sure!

Thanks much to each of you on your really valuable feedback. I need to do my homework. Really great suggestions here. It just proves my original theory that I need to narrow down my focus and discard the opportunity to see everything in one trip! There is just so much beauty and history to see in this incredible part of the world.

Absolutely! We always travel shoulder season for that reason….Apr/May being our favorite times for multiple reasons. I just sincerely wonder if in a two week timeframe, one can visit that much geography without changing stay locations more often than we like. Friends took a two week trip to Scotland and Ireland last Fall. They were on the move way more than we want, and agreed upon return that it was more than they liked. And that is not even touching Wales, London, or the many lovely places surrounding.

Thank you Harters. Yes, finding that sweet spot to call a home base for a bit is our style of land travel. Two weeks (due dog sitters) is about the range now days. We have experienced London in the past, but never outside of London, nor Ireland/Scotland. So that is a lot of geography! I think that my doing research is a prerequisite, and committing to that is necessary to pull off a great land trip. It’s been a long while since we have done an extensive land trip outside of the U.S. Your response is spot on.

Good friends have taken a number of Traflager tours. They enjoyed the experience, although they do point out that in the bus tour world, one never knows who your traveling companions are going to be, and how they may impact your experience……both good and bad. We are discussing whether to take a British Isles cruise next year, vs a driving tour. We’ve actually had this discussion for several years! We are not group land travel people. When we did safari in Africa we traveled with these friends mentioned above, and it was a lifetime heart experience, but generally, if others want to travel with us, we would choose a cruise over land. So a bus tour is truly out for us. I am enjoying this thread very much. There is a lot of good information and suggestions. I get stumped on where to start the planning, and how long to realistically plan. It seems to me that a single land tour would not be sufficient, and that is when I find myself stumped once again!