Azamara Club Cruises' New Approach -- A Review

(By Jim Work) -- This post is long overdue.  In April, I had the pleasure of joining the top-producing Cruise Holidays stores on Cruise Holidays International’s 2010 President’s Circle cruise aboard the Azamara Club Journey.  This was my first experience aboard Azamara, and it was the debut cruise for Azamara’s more inclusive onboard amenities.

I sailed aboard Azamara with an admitted bias towards its top competitor, Oceania Cruises.  After all, I have experienced Oceania Cruises on three prior occasions, and I am a top 50 producer for Oceania.  Nevertheless, I was favorably impressed with Azamara.  I believe it is adequately distinguishing itself from Oceania, and serving a niche market in its own right.

To its credit, Azamara Club Cruises recognized it needed a make over.   Since its inception in 2006 by Royal Caribbean International as its upper premium brand, Azamara had struggled to define itself.  If foundered as an almost step-sister to Royal Caribbean’s already-established premium brand, Celebrity Cruises.  Mention Azamara, and people would say “hah?”

Royal Caribbean decided to shake things up.  It hired Larry Pimentel, a noted expert in the Cruise Industry.  Pimentel joined Azamara with 25 years of distinguished experience in the industry.  He served as CEO and co-owner of SeaDream Yacht Club, an intimate line catering to the high-end market.  Prior to that, Pimentel served as President and CEO of Cunard and Seabourn.  He had also been named as among the 25 most influential travel executives in America.  Azamara gave Pimentel wide latitude to recruit the industry’s top talent and make sweeping changes among the line’s small fleet consisting of just 2 ships.

Pimentel immediately recognized the need to separate the line in the market, creating a more upmarket experience.  The result – the first upper premium line to include complimentary wine at lunch and dinner, complimentary gratuities, and complimentary port-to-city-center transfers.  It also scrap many itineraries, and adopted a more port-intensive approach, giving its guests the luxury of more overnights and long port stays with fewer sea days.  These changes aimed squarely at attracting a more sophisticated cruiser, one seeking the cultural and educational aspects of travel.

I was aboard the Journey for 10 days.  I found the ship remarkably familiar from my experiences aboard Oceania.  In fact, the ships are nearly identical, as both Oceania and Azamara purchased their ships from the now defunct upscale Renaissance line.  Azamara has managed to squeeze a few more staterooms aboard, carrying a maximum of 694 guests, compared to Oceania 684 maximum capacity.  It also carries fewer staff, offering still an impressive guest-to-staff ratio of 2 to 1 compared to Oceania’s 1.75 to 1.  Nevertheless, I found the service to be above average, with only a few hiccups along the way.  For the most part, these occurred in the dining room.  For example, on occasion in the specialty dining restaurant, our water glasses remained empty for too long, and our meals at times were not prepared to our liking.  Despite these minor hiccups, the service far surpassed Royal Caribbean’s other two brands, and was better than most other premium lines.

My accommodation was a luxurious Sky Suite.  In addition to ample space of more than 300 square feet, the room also boasted true butler service.  Among other things, the butler provided service for 2 private parties I hosted in my room, and, had I asked him to, would have even unpacked my luggage.  The balcony was large, accommodating a full-size table for dining, 2 chairs, and 1 lounge chair.  The bathroom too was luxurious, consisting of a bathtub with shower.

The entertainment aboard was surprisingly good.  Unlike some other lines of this size, Azamara offers full production shows.  Of course, the ship also has a host of small venue entertainment to include piano, comedy, and even an opera singer.

Like Oceania Cruises and most lines in the luxury market, dining is open.  Guests dine where and with whom they like.  Azamara’s dining, however, is a bit different from Oceania Cruises.  The main dining room is complimentary of course.  Its two specialty restaurants – Prime C and Aqualina – are not.  Their fee is a nominal $15 per person for guests not booked in suites (suite guests may dine complimentary in the specialty restaurants with no limit).  The fee is similar to what is found on most other cruise lines for their specialty restaurants.  The quality of the food I found as a whole to be very good, and indeed the main dining room’s cuisine was consistently as good as the food served in the specialty dining restaurants.

What I like most about a line like Azamara and Oceania is the size.  With fewer than 700 guests aboard, it is simply an elevated experience over larger cruise lines.  I especially appreciated this when using the pool on hot days (we were in the Caribbean).   Never a wait for a lounge chair, and nowhere on the ship did it ever feel crowded.

I recommend Azamara Club Cruises for adults looking for an upscale but certainly not stuffy cruising experience.  It also is an excellent venue for groups, as it offers complimentary use of meeting rooms and equipment.  One cautionary note:  Azamara Club Cruises (like Oceania Cruises) has no children's programs aboard.  Children are permitted aboard, but bear in mind Azamara’s focus is on providing a upmarket experience focused on destination.

Disney Cruise Line: For Kids of Any Age, from 1 to 81.

I admit.  I had been ambivalent about traveling on Disney Cruise Line.  For one, unlike my sister, I am not a huge Disney fan.  Of course, I like Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Donald, but I never felt the need to vacation with them.  For another, I have no small children to entertain, so in terms of experiencing the different cruise lines, Disney had not been high on my list.  I wanted to experience a Disney Cruise some day, though, and that some day finally came.

My extended family and I -- 17 of us in all ranging in age from 1 to 81 -- traveled on the Disney Wonder on a three day Bahamas cruise February 11-14th.  Three days worked well for us when we booked -- it was not a big time commitment, it was over Presidents' Day Weekend, and, amazingly because of promotions Disney ran in the fall, it was relatively inexpensive allowing more of my family to go.  What I discovered, though, was that 3 days left me longing for more, so much so that I booked another Disney cruise while on board.

Being in the industry, I knew the statistics.  Roughly 40% of guests who travel on Disney Cruise Line are adults with no children.  Disney Cruise Line hosts more honeymoons onboard than virtually any other cruise line.  And Disney has a reputation of being a premium product, excelling in service and cuisine in ways that other cruise lines in the family market do not.  Yet, it was the personal experience I had that really drove home why so many adults love Disney, and keep coming back to Disney Cruise Line over and over again.

It's hard to summarize all the reasons why my Disney Cruise experience has catapulted Disney to among my top three or four favorite cruise lines.  For one, not to be too trite, there was something really "magical" about having Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Captain Jack, and a host of other Disney characters about the ship on a daily basis.  From photos with your favorite characters, to a Pirate Party on Deck with Minnie and Goofy and Mickey, to one of the only actual fireworks displays at sea, the experience was quintessentially Disney.  Add to that the magnificent spa, the adult-only pool with hot tub, a spacious well-equipped gym and a phlethora of intimate lounges for adults to kick back and relax over their favorite drink, and it's not hard to see why Disney Cruise Line has such broad appeal.

For those who judge cruise lines by the dining experience, I don't think Disney will disappoint.  In the range of cruise lines, I would rate Disney's dining experience squarely in the middle within the Premium market -- superior to the mass market lines like Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Carnival, but not quite as good as the upper premium and luxury lines, like Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, or Regent Seven Seas.  What makes the experience so unique is the rotational dining through the ships' three unique dining venues.  While your table guests and dining room waiter and assistant waiter remain the same each night, the restaurant and accompanying menu change.  One night you will dine in Tritons; the next in Animator's Palate, and the next in Parrot Cay.  All are unique, but perhaps the most unique is Animator's Palate.  Costing Disney roughly $4.3 million to construct, Animator's Palate begins the evening in all black-and-white decor.  As the evening progresses, the black-and-white characters turn to color, until the walls and paintings all turn vibrant.  If I had to fault one thing, it would be the deserts.  Like on so many cruise lines, I found the desert menu and quality lacking.  Not being a huge desert fan anyway, though, I found the appetizers and main courses more than made up for that.

I also was impressed with the quality of the staff.  Staff members were polite to a fault, always greeting guests as they passed, stepping aside to allow guests to pass in the narrow hallways, and performing their jobs with consummate professionalism.  Our head waiter, Witt, knew our names by the first night of our short cruise, and called us by name thereafter. 

Finally, I really liked the layout of the staterooms.  The rooms are spacious, with plenty of storage room, desk, and sofa.  What I like best, though, is the split bathrooms.  Included in all rooms with the exception of interior, the split bathrooms feature sinks in both bathrooms, with a toilet in one and a tub/shower combination in the other.  This really helps when getting ready in the mornings.  One stateroom category I highly recommend is the Category 7 sheltered balcony.  For the money, it's a steal, priced significantly lower than regular balcony staterooms, but still offering a spacious balcony cut into the haul of the ship.  There aren't many of these rooms on the ship, so getting them may be a challenge at times, but they offer perhaps some of the best value rooms onboard.  I also was impressed with the Category 9 ocean view staterooms on Deck 2.  With a layout that is identical to balcony staterooms, but boasting a very large porthole window in lieu of the balcony, these rooms too represent a great value.

Overall, I rate Disney Cruise Line a 7.5 out of 10, which is a pretty high score in my book.  We liked it so much, in fact, that we are planning a wine cruise aboard a Disney cruise in Europe in 2011.  Stay tuned.

Should You Buy Cruise Line Air?

Yesterday, I read a blog posting that strongly urged readers to book their air directly with the cruise line. The author based the recommendation on several assertions: (1) that the cruise line assumes responsibility for ensuring you arrive to the ship on time; (2) that the cruise line will delay the ship's departure if a group of people on the same flight arranged through the cruise line is delayed; and (3) that the cruise line will pick up the costs travelers incur as a result of flight disruptions and cancellations for air purchased through the cruise line.

I agree that many cruisers pay a premium to purchase airfare through the cruise lines believing that everything the author said is true. Unfortunately, the author could not be more mistaken. Cruise lines will virtually never delay a ship's departure because of flight delays or cancellations, no matter who arranged those flights. The cruise lines have designated dock times for which they pay substantial sums, and incur large fines if they overstay their designated departure time. Besides, do you really believe that a ship will inconvenience perhaps as many as 4,000 other guests simply because some on the cruise are delayed en route?

In addition, good luck trying to address flight delays and interruptions with the cruise lines directly, especially if you are traveling at odd hours (e.g., Sunday morning, late at night, etc.). We've had this issue, and the cruise lines are not staffed or equipped to address them in a efficient manner. What's more, I would be very surprised if the cruise line agreed to pick up substantial incidental costs (such as hotels) because of air delays, disruptions, or cancellations. They are simply booking agents and will place the blame where it belongs: with the airlines.

This is all to say that there is no substitute for purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself against air delays, disruptions, and cancellations. Skip purchasing the cruise line's insurance; if you don't take their airfare, then their insurance most likely will not cover your airfare. Instead, buy your insurance through a reputable travel insurance company. We use, and highly recommend, Travel Guard insurance. Travel Guard has a dedicated flight desk that is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have called on their services numerous times for our clients, and they have immediately stepped in, rerouted our clients, and, if necessary, picked up the costs incurred by our clients as a result of flight delays, interruptions, and cancellations.

In addition, there are many reasons to buy the airfare separately from your cruise line. First, the air is likely to be cheaper, perhaps as much as 1/3rd less. Second, and for some more importantly, you have control over your air schedule. If you purchase cruise line air, you will not know your airline or air schedule until well after your cruise final payment date, and you may not have the most direct route to your destination. By purchasing your own air, you can pick your airline and your flight schedule. Third, you will avoid any deviation charges the cruise line may impose. Cruise lines often post "deviation fees" -- as much as $100 per person -- if you choose to fly to your destination a day or two before your cruise departure, or stay later than the end of your cruise. By arranging your own air, this is an added cost you will not incur.

Finally, a word about "air included" cruise rates. Some cruise lines include airfare with their cruise fares. These lines include Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Crystal Cruises, among others. When booking one of these cruises, always ask about what the air credit would be if you were to arrange your own air. You might be surprised that, even with included air packages, the combination of airfare and air tax credit you receive off the quoted fare is more than the cost of what you would pay by arranging your air independently. To save even more, ask your travel professional to quote your air rates. Travel professionals, including us, work with a number of air consolidators that purchase airfare in bulk and sell it at a discount. You will travel on a major air carrier in a regular seat aboard the air craft; the only difference is that you might pay hundreds less for the same ticket than the guy sitting next to you on the same flight who booked directly with the airline.

Some of the Best Promotions in the Luxury Market

Here is a rundown of some of the better promotions going on right now in the luxury cruise market.

This week, Crystal Cruises announced its 20th Anniversary Celebration. Its offers throughout 2010 are some of the most extraordinary out there, especially for the luxury market. The offers includes fares that are lower than comparable 2009 fares on many itineraries, offering better than 2-for-1 rates, free roundtrip economy class airfare for guests booking an ocean view and balcony (remember, Crystal has no interior staterooms) and free business class air for guests booking suites and higher, and up to $2,000 "As You Wish" spending credit onboard. This is in addition to Crystal's price guarantee, which means that should you book and your fare goes down before sailing, Crystal will rerate your cruise to the lower rate automatically. These fares are enough for us to decide to host a Thanksgiving Cruise Holidays of Alexandria cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony roundtrip Los Angeles. Sail with us November 21-28, 2010, and you'll enjoy the extraordinary rate of just $2,165 for a Category E stateroom, plus prepaid gratuities and a $500 "As You Wish" spending credit.

Oceania also has released its 2010/2011 Winter Collection. It's entire collection (as in years past) includes free roundtrip airfare and up to $3,000 off 2-for-1 rates. A first for Oceania is its new pricing structure. No longer do guests have to add air and cruise taxes, which in previous years could add as much as $1,000 to the rate. Now, the rates include all taxes, lending themselves to no surprises. The only additional costs to the guest are transfers and of course the onboard expenses, such as gratuities and beverages. But these too are minimized. First, Oceania has begun to include non-alcoholic beverages free-of-charge on board its ships. Second, the largest Oceania travel partners, like Cruise Holidays of Alexandria, have negotiated pre-paid gratuities for their guests onboard, saving them hundreds of dollars additional on their cruise.

Finally, Silversea has offered an array of incredible opportunities to sail one of its luxury ships. Silversea still is offering up to 60% off numerous itineraries. This puts Silversea within reach of many people who in the past could not afford to travel aboard. When you consider that Silversea is all-inclusive, and therefore guests will not face a large bill at the end of the cruise for such things as beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcholic) or for gratuities, Silversea absolutely is worth considering. But don't wait; Silversea already has announced plans to discontinue its 60% off rates beginning in early October.

For these or any other cruise offers, contact Cruise Holidays toll free at (866) 368-7327. You never pay more with us than booking directly with the cruise line, and frequently pay less.

Most Relaxing Holidays – Cruises

Cruises are a great way to get to see a variety of holiday destinations in a short space of time. They are (perhaps unfairly) often perceived as being, well, abit boring – but it completely depends on what you are after in a holiday. If you want non-stop excitement and adrenalin rushes, yes – cruises probably aren’t for you. Or if you want a great beach holiday – then likewise, cruises won’t really fulfil your needs. But if you just want to get away and unwind then a cruise may just have what you’re looking for.

So what is a cruise? Well there is a large variety of different companies to choose from, but the general idea is that you stay onboard a large cruise ship for around two weeks, and you visit several destinations in various countries along the voyage. Passengers have the option of disembarking at these locations and heading off for a daytrip to see what these places have to offer. Back on board the ship, there are a variety of activities to indulge in such as sunbathing, pool games, golf, gambling, nightlife and of course great food (usually). There is a lot to do, and most of it is enjoyed at a nice leisurely pace – perfect to get away from it all.

P & O and Princess are two of the two biggest luxury cruise operators. Their cruises cover several different continents – many start in Southampton and venture into the Mediterranean sea, stopping off in the South of France, Italy, Greece and many other locations. Other cruises may require you to fly to the Caribbean where the ship will embark on a voyage around a selection of sun-drenched islands.


A Caribbean Cruise

Cruises have typically been regarded as being very expensive affairs for the middle classes – however sue to the current economic climate sales are down and operators are offering outstanding deals to fill up their rooms. Barter with the sales people on the phone for an almost guaranteed further discount – if you don’t ask you don’t get. I would recommend a cruise as something to do at least once during your life – you may love it and go every year from then on. Cruises are definitely the basis of highly relaxing holidays, allowing you to experience many of the best holiday destinations in a short time span – you may discover somewhere you love and decide to turn it into a much longer trip at a later date.