Q: Azamara cruise cabin availability

[Myrna]

We will be in Europe later this year, and have been looking at a particular Azamara cruise between Turkey and Greece. There are only 3 cabin decks 6, 7 and 8. After much research, we decided on a balcony (veranda) cabin on deck 7 - to minimise my seasickness. I am claustrophobic, so there has to be a balcony, no port hole and no internal cabin. From the photos, I can see that the veranda cabin is actually quite tight with a very small bathroom. We also looked at a suite (50% larger then a veranda cabin) but they are on deck 8 (right underneath the pool and cafes).

We phoned Azamara number in Australia and the call staff said there was no veranda cabin available on deck 7 (because all the cabins were sold out on this deck for this very 'popular' cruise!), and only one suite (bigger / more spacious cabin - about $1,500 higher per person) available on deck 8. After much waiting on the line, to-ing and fro-ing the staff came back and said there was one veranda cabin available on deck 7 and told us its number. We checked the map / plan and said OK. But when the confirmation came through it was a different cabin number so we mentioned this to the staff who did not explain why. Since we did not have to pay the deposit until another 3 days, I decided to check out third parties selling this particular cruise. I found that there were other cabins on deck 7 available for booking (in the same veranda category) which I could book online. So, I think the Azamara staff was trying to put pressures on us (sales pitch).

Question: Is it better to book directly with Azamara? Or, is it OK to book with a third party? We are not 'frequent' cruisers, and have only taken cruises for destinations such as Alaska, and not a loyal member of any cruise line.

 

[VPS]

I would be getting a travel agent to have a look for you. Some friends of mine were just looking at a Hurtigruten cruise and there was a lot of dynamic pricing. I just happened to get an email from a travel agent afternoon saying they had some specials so I forwarded it to my friends and they ended up getting an extremely good deal from her

 

[Pushka]

I think that TA's bulk buy cabins which are then removed from the cruise ship inventory for direct sale, then the TA's need to move them or give them back, which likely causes them issues. So the TA's offer deals. It's likely that Azamara can't see this process happening but just see the bulk batch that the TA's have booked for resale.

 

[odysseus]

There are pros and cons each way, although I doubt Azamara are deliberately trying to pull a swifty.

In answer to your question, going direct with Azamara will give you more flexibility if you want to change cabins in future, or make any other changes, or cancel. Going through a TA adds possible cost , and complexity in most cases when making changes.

But TAs may give extra perks e.g. OBC, and may give more assistance when booking/making enquiries. Thus, some prefer them for pricing value or support, while others avoid them for flexibility.

 

[Myrna]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I have learned a few things here about cruise booking

I will contact a TA whose website showed a few available balcony cabins for booking.

I have a further question, to minimise seasickness, is a cabin in the first quarter of the ship 7026 better than a cabin in the fourth quarter 7097 of the ship?

 

[tgh]

is a cabin in the first quarter of the ship 7026 better than a cabin in the fourth quarter 7097 of the ship

Not much in it.. probably better aft .
Good luck with the cruise , an experienced cruising ta can usually provide better service than direct

 

[Pushka]

I don't get sea sick but I've heard anecdotally that forward is seemingly better than aft. And lower down better than higher up. If it's a med cruise in summer then I'd not be concerned.

 

[Port Power]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I have learned a few things here about cruise booking

I will contact a TA whose website showed a few available balcony cabins for booking.

I have a further question, to minimise seasickness, is a cabin in the first quarter of the ship 7026 better than a cabin in the fourth quarter 7097 of the ship?

View attachment 374155

I've taken a lot of Azamara cruises. As @Pushka says, in the Med there is probably no difference, but I believe the aft quarter is slightly better than the forward quarter. That said, I had just about the same cabin (7036) on last year's cruise from Fremantle to Melbourne and was fine. Yes, the bathrooms are small, but the shower is large enough because it is narrow but longer. Azamara is still one of my favourite cruise lines.

I always use my TA in Bicton (near Fremantle, WA) to book cruises, and they are usually a little cheaper than the online Azamara prices.

 

[Myrna]

I've taken a lot of Azamara cruises. As @Pushka says, in the Med there is probably no difference, but I believe the aft quarter is slightly better than the forward quarter. That said, I had just about the same cabin (7036) on last year's cruise from Fremantle to Melbourne and was fine. Yes, the bathrooms are small, but the shower is large enough because it is narrow but longer. Azamara is still one of my favourite cruise lines.

I always use my TA in Bicton (near Fremantle, WA) to book cruises, and they are usually a little cheaper than the online Azamara prices.

Thanks, Port Power.
I have read on facebook that the Azamara pursuit (we will be taking this ship later this year) last month had GI problem. Also, some people said their Azamara cruise around the Greek islands and Turkey in May has been cancelled due to on-going unrest in the Red Sea etc. This is the cruise which we will do later this year ...

 

[Pushka]

Thanks, Port Power.
I have read on facebook that the Azamara pursuit (we will be taking this ship later this year) last month had GI problem. Also, some people said their Azamara cruise around the Greek islands and Turkey in May has been cancelled due to on-going unrest in the Red Sea etc. This is the cruise which we will do later this year ...

Did the cruise touch into Israel? Many cruises are being rerouted but those are south of the Suez Canal where the Red Sea is and not around Greek Islands and Istanbul.

 

[Port Power]

Thanks, Port Power.
I have read on facebook that the Azamara pursuit (we will be taking this ship later this year) last month had GI problem. Also, some people said their Azamara cruise around the Greek islands and Turkey in May has been cancelled due to on-going unrest in the Red Sea etc. This is the cruise which we will do later this year ...

By "GI", do you mean something like norovirus? People learning from Covid has helped avoid these problems. However, it is not a ship's fault, rather that of passengers who do not wash their hands.

Unfortunately, issues in both Israel and around the Red Sea are not something any cruise line can be held accountable for. So sad for those of you who have booked the very interesting areas around the middle east.

 

[Myrna]

Did the cruise touch into Israel? Many cruises are being rerouted but those are south of the Suez Canal where the Red Sea is and not around Greek Islands and Istanbul.

Something to do with 2 of their ships in Asia which need to go around Africa, instead of via Red Sea, so they won't make it to the Med in time for the scheduled cruises (hence cancellation).

 

[Myrna]

By "GI", do you mean something like norovirus? People learning from Covid has helped avoid these problems. However, it is not a ship's fault, rather that of passengers who do not wash their hands.

Unfortunately, issues in both Israel and around the Red Sea are not something any cruise line can be held accountable for. So sad for those of you who have booked the very interesting areas around the middle east.

Yes, gastro problems and everyone got locked in their cabins (so said people on facebook). Some people said the whole ship should be fumigated if there was a GI outbreak?

 

[Port Power]

Yes, gastro problems and everyone got locked in their cabins (so said people on facebook). Some people said the whole ship should be fumigated if there was a GI outbreak?

Fumigating the ship used to be the norm a few years ago. We received emails advising delayed boarding because of that.

 

[Pushka]

Something to do with 2 of their ships in Asia which need to go around Africa, instead of via Red Sea, so they won't make it to the Med in time for the scheduled cruises (hence cancellation).

Yes that makes sense. Many cruise lines, eg on the World Trips, are skipping Europe Med in order to get their ships back to UK and US pretty much on time. But then there's the next world cruise to sort.