What does the future hold for Azamara

[kiawahdon]

The drydocks two years ago were shortened, not canceled, and were the same duration as Oceania's recent ones that pacheco tells us about over and over. Let's not deceive. And Azamara's two ships still receive higher member reviews here on Cruise Critic than Oceania's two new ones.

 

And if you want a cruise line that offers constant promotions, just put yourself on the Oceania email list.

 

Having spent a month on both O and AZ during the last 12 months, I can say the difference in ship refurbishment is substantial- even before the O upgrades in process. Have you cruised on both recently?

Bottom line is that RCI is not, repeat not, investing in the AZ brand- period. It is a shame because the crew are the best

[Andy]

Rather let devoted followers stew on rumor than put out a statement!!!!

 

Hi Shedridt,

 

I must ask - Why would Azamara put out a statement ? To comment on nonsense ? It's just a few folks whom are making baseless demise comments. This reminds me of the telephone game we played as kids...(ok, I'm showing my age here !) where the first person makes a statement, and passes it to the next person. By the time it gets to the 4th person, the comments are completely different from what the first person said. I sincerely wish everyone would take a deep breath, and relax.

 

Besides, I'm supposed to be on bed rest, and our dear members aren't making it easy for me :)

 

As mentioned earlier... IMO, this is all much ado about nothing.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Host Andy

[midwestchick]

Hi MightyQuinn,

 

It's amazing how much email and snail mail I receive from Oceania. While I always look forward to cruise mail, I think it's simply too much - their budget must be massive. At least I'm lucky, in that I receive occasional emails and snail mail from Azamara. You're right though - that's another story.

 

 

I receive a TON of snail mail from O, Seabourn and some others and I get sick of putting things in the recycling bin every week...it's ridiculous.

Also...there are just a handful of people that cruise ACC that even are aware of CC or post on here....so, the complaints are not a very good indication of how many people are not happy.

Andy...sorry you are supposed to be on bedrest...get well soon.

[Reggiefan]

I agree that the failure to substantially upgrade its two ships--no, the cancelling of substantial upgrades after the company's president publicly promoted the ship upgrades--was not a positive sign for Azamara fans.

 

However, a meaningful discussion of Azamara's future would require information as to Azamara's profitability, which I have not seen in this discussion. I have no idea whether Azamara makes money and, if so, how profitable it is, especially compared to the other Royal Caribbean cruise companies. There is a ton of financial information on Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. that is publicly available, though I do not know how much of the information is Azamara specific.

 

But given Azamara's parent company, I would not hesitate to book a future cruise with this company, though I agree that eventually to compete the company will need to substantially remodel its existing ships and perhaps add to its capacity.

[geocruiser]

Hi Shedridt,

 

Besides, I'm supposed to be on bed rest, and our dear members aren't making it easy for me :)

 

As mentioned earlier... IMO, this is all much ado about nothing.

 

Oh, no! Bed rest. I hope that you are OK. Sorry, I did not know. Feel better soon.

[Andy]

Oh, no! Bed rest. I hope that you are OK. Sorry, I did not know. Feel better soon.

 

Thank you everyone, for your concern. If you are wondering, I had a really bad fall Friday night. Totally freak accident, but on the bright side, it could have been a lot worse. I mentioned it on the Celebrity forum : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42873205&postcount=65 .

 

It's really not so bad ! As long as I don't breathe or move, I'm fine :). The good news is, each day is a little better than the previous one, so I hope to be back on my feet in a few days.

[geocruiser]

Thank you everyone, for your concern. If you are wondering, I had a really bad fall Friday night. Totally freak accident, but on the bright side, it could have been a lot worse. I mentioned it on the Celebrity forum : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42873205&postcount=65 .

 

It's really not so bad ! As long as I don't breathe or move, I'm fine :). The good news is, each day is a little better than the previous one, so I hope to be back on my feet in a few days.

 

Very sorry to hear this. Falls are not good. I feel your pain. I had one 10/2013. It was bad. Just had a follow up MRI of my brain, to see if the two bleeds of blood are gone from between the brain and the skull. I use a cane now.

Please take care of your self. Will pray for you to heal quick. Just look forward to your next cruise.

 

Take care,

 

Maria

Edited May 28, 2014 by geocruiser

[need2cruisesoon]

Rather let devoted followers stew on rumor than put out a statement!!!!

 

I have a chit for a discount on a future booking & paid - whatever I paid for it! $250? - & now there is talk of the demise of Azamara which seems more reasonable than it ever has in the past.

 

BUT - Azamara's perennial weakness has been in its communications. I hope that Bonnie can help sort us all out (not that a corporation wouldn't pull the rug right out from under a spokesman....it's been done before).

 

This is a great line & I truly hope that it will continue. We love it as it suits us right down to the ground.

 

You won't get a response from Bonnie on this topic, meaning that the future for Azamara is undecided.

Meaning (in my opinion) that somewhere down the line the cruise line will be folded in to another luxury line.

Try Oceania Quest or Oceania Journey.

[pacheco18]

Try Oceania Quest or Oceania Journey.

 

LOL

They would change the names. All the ship names end in "a."

[midwestchick]

Very sorry to hear this. Falls are not good. I feel your pain. I had one 10/2013. It was bad. Just had a follow up MRI of my brain, to see if the two bleeds of blood are gone from between the brain and the skull. I use a cane now.

Please take care of your self. Will pray for you to heal quick. Just look forward to your next cruise.

 

Take care,

 

Maria

 

Oh no...sorry to read this, Maria. That's pretty serious...have a friend that fell and had a brain bleed...after 2 months she is still not doing well at all. I hope you fully recover...head injuries are horrible. :eek: God bless.

Andy...thank goodness nothing serious came of this...please be careful. Not sure of your age, but falls can be devastating to so many of us.

[Spursgirl]

Thank you everyone, for your concern. If you are wondering, I had a really bad fall Friday night. Totally freak accident, but on the bright side, it could have been a lot worse. I mentioned it on the Celebrity forum : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42873205&postcount=65 .

 

It's really not so bad ! As long as I don't breathe or move, I'm fine :). The good news is, each day is a little better than the previous one, so I hope to be back on my feet in a few days.

 

Very sorry to hear about your fall Andy. Get well soon.

 

Hope you and your family have a lovely cruise to look forward to

[kathy9]

First off....Hi Kathy, good to see you on Cruise Critic! Our family also has an Azamara cruise booked for May 2015. All of this conversation has me a bit concerned as well. And, after the day I have had trying to talk with the staff at Azamara, I am REALLY concerned. I had questions, and when I spoke with three different individuals, I got three different responses. Each left me on hold to check with someone else. We love Azamara, and we are cheerleaders, but feeling a little nervous here........

Linada

Hi Linda, How nice to hear from you. I am sure your cruise in May ,2015 will be fine! Where are you cruising to?

 

Thank you everyone, for your concern. If you are wondering, I had a really bad fall Friday night.

Andy Glad you are mending but you should get a tablet...then you can still be on bed rest and post. Just watch for the auto corrections!!!

Kathy

[geocruiser]

Oh no...sorry to read this, Maria. That's pretty serious...have a friend that fell and had a brain bleed...after 2 months she is still not doing well at all. I hope you fully recover...head injuries are horrible. :eek: God bless.

Andy...thank goodness nothing serious came of this...please be careful. Not sure of your age, but falls can be devastating to so many of us.

 

Thank you. I am doing much better. I use the cane for balance while out side of the house. My Dr. say that I should be fine. Falls can be so bad.

 

As for the OP question, about where Azamara is heading I feel we may not know. The changes that Azamara has had since its start for me were a lot. I was looking for more a steady product. Of course, there is some change in all cruise lines. I was hoping that Azamara would position themselves in between the main stream lines (RCCL, Princess, HAL and the like) and Oceania, Crystal etc. Smaller ships, good food and great service and a price in between main stream and Oceania. I was hoping that they would make their own place (just for them) in the cruise market. This may sound funny but I see Azamara watching their money, maybe they are saving up enough money to redo their ships, without having to get a loan for it. Kind of like saving for a new car.

Edited May 28, 2014 by geocruiser

[syam]

This is all very interesting. I believe Azamara is missing a significant target group (me and my demographic) while it assiduously courts an audience with many increasingly more attractive alternatives, that would be most of the people I read here, on CC, who cruise regularly (lucky ducks!)

As a retired educator, I am definitely not in the 1%, however, I have been able to manage to travel a lot over the years, not necessarily at budget rates, but with careful research and timing. I was advised to try cruising by other, what we used to call 'middle class,' family members and colleagues, but I couldn't imagine stacking myself up on a floating highrise/casino, herding around from commercial ports to tour sites on busses, etc. (no offense to those who enjoy that style....I was brought up with a father who loved the sea and spent my childhood on sailboats and cruisers, so have an actual affinity for the watery stuff under the ship and sort of like to be able to see it close up. I also have an aversion to crowds, buffets, etc.)

We first cruised with Azamara Journey right before the 'conversion' to ACC. It seemed ideal for me.....small enough, smaller ports, relatively reasonable rates. We booked a promotion from inside to balcony (for around $1800) in the fall for a Spring cruise and the upgrade modifications announced around Christmas when LP was hired, began right before our cruise, so we were fortunate to benefit from the 'free' tipping, wine and shuttles, which were appreciated, but not essential to our decision to book, obviously. We loved our voyage, although the ship certainly needed some maintenance in spots. I could see myself doing more of this in the future. In the interim, we've had several land-based vacations, but I've been watching what's going on, especially with respect to Azamara, which I hoped to enjoy, again.

Since then, I've watched while free liquor has been added, then packaged in tiers, and some of the shuttles are no longer complimentary (in the case of Taormina, exhorbitant). The Azamazing evening was added. The price has gone way, way up. I can't drink that much!

My sister, who was on that first cruise with us, just returned from a Mediterranean cruise on the Quest last week. This itinerary, similar to our first, was booked on a promo last fall...so she paid around $2800pp for a similar verandah cabin, much less than the usual rate. I asked her if the ship had been 'spruced up' at all? She said it was pretty much the same. The staff were terrific, as before, the food great, entertainment about the same and she was happy to sip virgin pina coladas all day by the pool!

Essentially, she didn't experience any higher quality experience.

The daily 'rate' for these cruises (say, on a verandah) seems to have gone from around $500/day per couple, to over $1000 in some cases, to put Azamara in the 'luxury-ish) category, competing with much spiffier, newer or refurbished vessels. Even given the rate of inflation, etc., one has to ask if the special evening and the extra booze are really worth almost double the fare, especially to people who don't drink or prefer to pay their own way for that perk and not subsidize the passengers who do, to such an extent? Is the 'free' Az. evening worth hundreds of dollars?

There is still a market out there, I believe, for travellers interested in smaller ports, smaller ships and excellent service who can't pay top dollar and don't want the formality of the more upscale lines.

I guess, what I'm saying is that I really liked Azamara before it embarked on this 5-year plan to upscale and that a lot of other people really liked it, too. (You may not recall the huge fuss that was made when this was initiated). I still think there is a place for a few ships that can fit between the mass market lines with their rock-climbing and skating rinks and the luxury ships, price-wise, while being a little less 'all-inclusive' and more affordable.

 

That's where the big opening is in the cruise marketplace, if you ask me!

[pacheco18]

syam

 

You may be right. But I think the market you describe is hard to target.

 

However, there is no question that that is not the market Azamara is targeting.

I guess we all recall "bespoke."

Azamara is trying to be a luxury line or compete with luxury lines -- going more inclusive and raising fares. They are going after luxury cruisers (or at least the upscale market). Who can blame them? That's where the money is. Those are the cruisers who cruise many times a year. Those are the cruisers who spend money on board. When you have smaller ships and the overhead has to be covered by fewer passengers, you cannot survive as a low fare line. Simple math.

 

Only time will tell if this approach will be successful.

 

There are bargains to be had -- book an inside, get a balcony. I do not know if they could fill the ships without those sales.

 

Again, no one knows what's ahead. I bet even people on the inside don't know. The only thing I do know (and I think everyone would agree with) is that at some point they are going to need to seriously refurbish their ships. There are increasingly many other wonderful options out there that are competing for the same passengers.

[kikki21]

Kikki21, I read of your disappointment about your Athens hotel change. As you still have a few weeks before your cruise why not email customer services to see if they can assist you. As it is such a special holiday for you one would hope that they would be sympathetic and accommodating.

 

But please don't fret about the on board experience. Quest is a lovely ship with a wonderful crew and I am sure you will have a ball.

 

Am just very regretful that Lottie and I aren't able to join you.

 

Thank you Spursgirl - I'll give it a try, you never know!!!! ;)

[kiawahdon]

Industry trade publications state that RCI and its subsidiaries will spend

$6.7 billion on new builds in less than 4 years; and add over

28 thousand berths. Where does Azamara fit in Royal Caribbean's plans?:confused:

 

Delivery Division Name Cost (Million) Berths

2014 RC Quantum $ 950 4100

2014 TUI Mein Schiff 3 $ 625 2500

2015 RC Anthem $ 950 4100

2015 TUI Mein Schiff 4 $ 625 2500

2016 RC unnamed $1,300 5400

2016 RC Quantum 3 $ 950 4100

2018 RC unnamed $ 1,300 5400

 

$ 6,700 28100

Edited May 28, 2014 by kiawahdon

[pacheco18]

Industry trade publications state that RCI and its subsidiaries will spend

$6.7 billion on new builds in less than 4 years; and add over

28 thousand berths. Where does Azamara fit in Royal Caribbean's plans?:confused:

 

Delivery Division Name Cost (Million) Berths

2014 RC Quantum $ 950 4100

2014 TUI Mein Schiff 3 $ 625 2500

2015 RC Anthem $ 950 4100

2015 TUI Mein Schiff 4 $ 625 2500

2016 RC unnamed $1,300 5400

2016 RC Quantum 3 $ 950 4100

2018 RC unnamed $ 1,300 5400

 

$ 6,700 28100

 

Might be a good question to ask Mr. Pimentel above.

[shedridt]

I don't think that you can combine the notion of low cost with small ships & small ports as cruise lines have to make a profit & they can't, really, unless they strip out all the niceties that we enjoy so much.

 

Azamara has provided a WONDERFUL niche for many cruisers - as a luxury line it is more easy breezy than some of the deluxe lines, prices are more reasonable (albeit not cheap!), the size is right & service is excellent. It does not seem to me at all unreasonable to ask Azamara to provide customer communications & talk sensibly about the future of this line. If they DID no one would be talking on this board about the future of Azamara. How much better to get out ahead of the issue & provide the encouraging news that would prompt us all to book future cruises.

 

As it is, Azamara cruisers have found it difficult to get even basic information about cruises already booked - much less those they might book 18 months in the future. With respect, Azamara's future depends upon its ability to look toward the future & assure its devoted clientele that the line will be there for them.

[TommyD3]

Industry trade publications state that RCI and its subsidiaries will spend

$6.7 billion on new builds in less than 4 years; and add over

28 thousand berths. Where does Azamara fit in Royal Caribbean's plans?:confused:

 

Delivery Division Name Cost (Million) Berths

2014 RC Quantum $ 950 4100

2014 TUI Mein Schiff 3 $ 625 2500

2015 RC Anthem $ 950 4100

2015 TUI Mein Schiff 4 $ 625 2500

2016 RC unnamed $1,300 5400

2016 RC Quantum 3 $ 950 4100

2018 RC unnamed $ 1,300 5400

 

$ 6,700 28100

 

I find it interesting that Celebrity has no new builds either.

Five new ships for Royal & not one for Azamara or Celebrity:confused:

[pacheco18]

I find it interesting that Celebrity has no new builds either.

Five new ships for Royal & not one for Azamara or Celebrity:confused:

 

Celebrity just got all those gorgeous Solstice class ships and Solsticized the M class ships. That is a pretty substantial investment in the brand IMO.

 

There is no investment at all in Azamara.

[Sailin' Shoes]

There is no investment at all in Azamara.

 

Ay, there's the rub.

[midwestchick]

Ay' date=' there's the rub.[/quote']

 

 

A scary rub, it is. :( How has capacity been this year on ACC? Does anyone have any stats? And I thought I read no drydock until 2016? :eek:

[insidecabin]

When we first discovered ACC it was known as the RCCL hidden secret.

 

I think there is a market for a capacity controlled quality product in the RCCL stable.

 

Cut the land side overheads.

 

build great itineraries with embarkation ports for easy air.

 

Let the ships do what they do best and provide a quality product

 

Promote only to existing customers of RCCL they have enough to fill the beds on two ships if the price/product is right

 

promote and sell from the other ships.

 

go back to being a specialist extension of X utilizing their web/booking infrastructure.

 

Direct all the selling/exec/web overheads back into the product/pricing.

 

It will sell itself.

[wangeling gal]

Insidecabin,

 

I can understand and agree on most of your points but the one that said

 

Promote only to existing customers of RCCL they have enough to fill the beds on two ships if the price/product is right

 

Is one I can't agree with. (but can understand)

 

We had the most brilliant cruise and holiday with Azamara, one where the experiences and memories will last a lifetime. This could not have happened if it had only been promoted to existing customers of RCCL.

 

I just wish the powers that be would listen to what the most loyal of their customers are saying. If there is one thing that I have come to the conclusion of is that they don't give a toss about what anyone thinks or says. They just don't. The crew and officers are beyond fabulous as is the experience, but shoreside just don't care and it's never going to get any better.

 

Make the most of Azamara while we can, coz I reckon they won't be the Azamara we know and love in the fture

Edited May 29, 2014 by wangeling gal