How early would you book Azamara excursions?

I've asked this a few times on other threads but thought I would start a thread to get a wider range of opinions. I'm booked for the Sept 21 -29, 2018 Iberion Passage cruise on the Journey. This is from Lisbon to Barcelona with ports in Cadiz, Gibraltar, Almeria, Ibiza and Valencia. Between early booking OBC, Suite OBC, and TA OBC I have over $3000. So needless to say I need to take advantage of as many Azamara excursions as possible. I keep hoping the on line booking for OBC will come into place but not thinking it will since there doesn't seem to be any updates. So I'm guessing I will need to use the work around and book and pay then get the credit back when I board on Sept 21. Is there anyone who has sailed a similar itinerary that would have an opinion at to how far in advance I should book to feel confident the excursions won't be booked up? Also if anyone has been to any of these ports and has utilized any of Azamara's excursion would love to hear any recommendations.

Thanks

Brian

Following. I'm wondering the same thing. Is the work-around good for 2018 cruises?

Bonnie, if you read this thread I would love your input realizing it would just be your opinion and not based on firm info from Azamara.

Bonnie, if you read this thread I would love your input realizing it would just be your opinion and not based on firm info from Azamara.

If it were me I'd wait until I'd made final payment (at/around 121 days out, in your case around May 20) and then start looking to see what the tour options are. Then, with a windfall of $3000 OBC, I'd only use my own credit card for excursions I definitely didn't want to miss out on, and that had a likelihood of selling out, such as small group tours, e.g. a cooking class.

But truth be told I'm not an "advance planner." I go to the ships to relax rather than arrive having every day pre-planned. That's too much like my 'normal life'.

Or were you asking if I know when the permanent fix will be in place? :confused:

Unfortunately, no I don't.

Thank you Bonnie for your feedback. This is great advice. I booked this cruise when Azamara first opened up 2018 sailings so now that we are 8 months away its starting to see real and I'm getting excited.

I would say as you are from the USA you’ve no currency risk, just a little loss of interest on your personal savings so once you’ve made your mind up, go ahead and book them especially any of the smaller more specialist trips. Azamara is about destination and to get the best from destinations particularly those you may not revisit for a while, if at all, i think you need to plan. My advice would be - Don’t leave it until you get onboard, others views may differ.

I’ve seen smaller space limited excursions book up six months ahead. The thing is you need to plan most of the picture and I find it’s easier to plan the lot. Of course I can switch to plan B if I want but I’m not scatting onboard to set up Plan A. Planning gives me the relaxing holiday though others may be different on that.

Maybe sometimes I fear Azamara doesn’t expect us to plan hence some of their garbage on the website re Land Discoveries. Maybe that’s why the preference to wait until board exists for some - they know that the onboard brochure unlike the website will be correct.

However if your plans are ready, your one of the lucky ones that have excursions correctly tying up to port arrival and departure times and your booking currency is US dollars, I’d book whenever you’re ready rather than wait.

Have fun planning and enjoy your cruise when it comes, it will soon be here!

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Thank you Uktog. This is our first major cruise where we have to plan every ports excursions. We have done several river cruises where it is all planned out for you. So I'm trying to gather as much info as possible and figure out what will work best for us. I think I'm going to do a combination of booking in advance and on board. As we decide our must sees I will book those in advance and get the credit back on board. But I may leave some flexibility for getting on board to book based on weather, how we feel, etc....Thanks again for your input

Hello

I have had all my tours both private and ships done for over six months. One of the ships tours was cancelled which gave me the time to find another similar one to do. I paid for all of them. I know a lot of you have a lot of OBC,, I think I only have $450 since it is my first Azamara cruise. I just do not want to get on board and then try and decide what I am going to do or hassle with the tour desk about booking and un-booking so I could use my OBC. I have planned every day my tours based on ports & what I want to do or see.

I am going on vacation and I don;t to get into any potential hassles. I just want to rest, chill , learn and have fun.

Kathy

I just received written confirmation that the "work-around" will be honored for 2018 from Az Customer Service.

I just received written confirmation that the "work-around" will be honored for 2018 from Az Customer Service.

Hi Mario, Yes the work around is valid for all of 2018. I hold out hope that someday this year I'll announce the permanent fix :o (yn) (yn)

Hi Mario, Yes the work around is valid for all of 2018. I hold out hope that someday this year I'll announce the permanent fix :o (yn) (yn)

Thanks, me too.

Papa-B-Me, for your itinerary I think you will have enough excursions to choose from. Unless you are really looking at something exceptional, if I were you, I will wait until I am on board and pay with the OBC.

However, you can, as others have mentioned, book ahead, pay by credit card and get the refund on board. I did that once on my last cruise with the Journey because we were going to Jordan and I did not wanted to miss the excursion to Petra. I have got my money refunded on cash on the last day of the cruise, because this is what I have wished.

Travelberlin

Thank you for your input. I think this is the approach I'm going to use unless Bonnie gives us that great announcement that we can book in advance. So far there is only one excursion that I see that I would really be disappointed if it was full so will probably book it next month. Thanks again

Brian

I pre booked all the excursions I wanted last month for my Oct cruise so that it's one less thing to worry about. Just bought my hotel and flights as well.

Hi there...

I have to ask... what is the excursion "workaround"? I'm in a similar situation with OBC to use but would like to pre-reserve the excursions. On the Azamara FAQ site, it says that excursions cannot be cancelled onboard and then rebooked using OBC.

Hi there...

 

 

 

I have to ask... what is the excursion "workaround"? I'm in a similar situation with OBC to use but would like to pre-reserve the excursions. On the Azamara FAQ site, it says that excursions cannot be cancelled onboard and then rebooked using OBC.

Bonnie ( Azamara’s Chief Blogging Officer) has said on Cruise Critic that because Azamara does not yet have the capacity for those with OBC to use it to book Excursions ahead of their cruise, they can book Excursions with a credit card ahead, then when they get on board cancel, get refunded, then re-book using OBC.

Here is a link to the thread - the relevant post is post 28. https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2551128&page=2

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