azamara cruises reddit

Courtesy of Azamara |

Find a Cruise on Azamara

with a cruise advisor

Cruising with Azamara

Azamara garners high praise from cruisers and critics alike for its upscale cabins and trips to far-flung destinations. The line's four ships – Azamara Journey , Azamara Quest , Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Onward – sail to hundreds of ports, with popular stops in South America, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and Asia. With Azamara's ship capacity limited to about 700 guests, it's easy to steer clear of crowds and locate crew members (each ship has approximately one staff member to every two passengers).

While docked at different ports, Azamara voyages offer shore excursions that vary by activity level, including museum visits, wine tastings and walking tours. Whether you choose the shortest five-night cruise or a 155-night world voyage, you can take advantage of each ship's onboard fitness center, lounges and nightly musical and dance performances.

You'll also find six distinct dining options on all four ships, ranging from casual buffets to specialty restaurants like Aqualina and Prime C steakhouse. In addition to beverages and meals in the main dining room, Azamara cruise fares include gratuities, concierge services, self-service laundry and exclusive events.

Pros & Cons

Encourages destination immersion through AzAmazing Celebrations (one complimentary excursion on most cruises)

Relatively small ships, creating an intimate atmosphere

Fare covers most alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as gratuities

Only higher-priced, luxury cruises available; prices fluctuate slightly based on season, destinations and themes

Shore excursions (beyond one complimentary AzAmazing Celebration) not included in cruise fare

Limited onboard activities compared to larger cruise lines

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 3.5

Azamara has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 4 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples
• # 6 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines
• # 6 in Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

Explore Photos

Azamara Ships

Azamara Journey

Azamara Onward

Azamara Pursuit

Azamara Quest

Before You Book

• If you require special medical services or equipment on the ship, you must contact Azamara no later than 40 days prior to your voyage for U.S. sailings and 80 days prior for all others. Guests can fill out a special accommodations form on the cruise line's website.
• If you cancel your reservation 120 to 31 days prior to departure, you'll be charged between 25% and 75% of your booked fare. If you cancel within 30 days of the ship's departure, you'll forfeit any refund. For more information, check out the line's  cancellation policy .
• To guarantee reservations, Azamara requires a deposit of $1,100 per person for suites and $550 per person for staterooms. The remaining balance must be paid 120 days prior to departure.

Before You Board

• Azamara electronically sends a list of required travel documents for your itinerary, including ticket contracts and payment receipts, 20 to 50 days before departure. Before you board, you must present a passport that is valid for at least six months after the end of the cruise.
• You must check in 90 minutes before the ship is scheduled to depart or your reservation will be automatically canceled. Boarding procedures and departure times will be included in your travel documents.
• The cruise line recommends passengers consult their physicians at least four to six weeks prior to embarkation to ensure they are up-to-date on required vaccinations. The World Health Organization lists vaccination recommendations on its  website .
• Azamara recommends that passengers limit their larger luggage to one or two pieces. Travelers are also encouraged to bring a small overnight carry-on bag for their last night at sea.
• Pre-book shore excursions through the Voyage Planner in your account and reserve specialty dining ahead of time.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Oceania Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Virgin Voyages

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

The ultimate guide to Azamara cruise ships and itineraries

Azamara Cruises is interesting. Although it includes more in its fares -- gratuities, basic alcohol and some shore excursions -- than most cruise lines, it's not full-on luxury . However it's not mainstream, like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, either.

It has carved out an industry niche that caters to affluent, well-traveled cruisers who enjoy smaller vessels, a country house ambiance and itineraries that focus on destination immersion.

The ships in its four-vessel fleet are nearly identical, all belonging to the R Class, which was originally developed for now-defunct line Renaissance Cruises. Azamara prides itself on bringing its passengers familiarity and onboard experiences that are similar from ship to ship. You won't find waterslides or roller coasters, and that's exactly how the line's demographic likes it.

One of the line's most notable hallmarks is its focus on longer, later stays in port. Coupled with its AzAmazing Evenings program, which takes cruisers ashore to experience cultural performances in jaw-dropping locations, the experience is a little less superficial-feeling than other cruise excursions.

Here, you'll find a rundown of all the crucial information you'll need to decide if an Azamara sailing is right for you.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

3 things TPG loves about Azamara Cruises

• Its ships' smaller size and rich history.
• Later port calls that allow passengers to experience nightlife in several destinations.
• Its upscale yet homey onboard ambiance.

What we could do without

• Its lack of accommodations for solo cruisers.

The Azamara Cruises fleet

Azamara Cruises is one of the cruise industry's smallest lines, with just four ships -- Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Onward -- at the time of publication. All of Azamara's vessels are R-Class ships, originally built for now-defunct Renaissance Cruises, which folded in 2001, just a couple of years after the vessels debuted.

Azamara has rounded up the ships -- including the most recent, which it acquired from Princess Cruises during the pandemic -- over the years and refurbished them to add the line's signature upscale furnishings. In fact, it did such an impressive job that you'd hardly be able to guess that the vessels are more than 20 years old.

Each of the ships has the capacity for about 700 passengers, which places them in the midsize range -- large enough to provide a laundry list of amenities, but small enough that passengers can still enjoy calls on a number of ports that larger ships can't access.

At just a little more than 30,000 gross registered tons apiece, the ships are about an eighth of the size of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship in the world.

During 2020's industrywide pandemic shutdown, Royal Caribbean Group, which previously owned Azamara, sold the line to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Azamara's president, Carol Cabezas, told TPG that the firm has plans for expansion. Although Cabezas didn't elaborate, Azamara fans anticipate that new hardware could be in the line's future .

Destinations and itineraries

Azamara's ships sail in several regions, including Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, with an emphasis on the Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, Western Europe, British Isles and Greece.

"They cannot get enough of Croatia, Italy, Greece," Cabezas said. "Those are the kinds of places that people want to sail in, so we've dedicated a lot of the deployment into those country-intensives. That and Black Sea."

Azamara prides itself on being destination-immersive, which includes staying late in port -- often until 10 p.m. or even overnight -- to allow passengers more time to soak in the heritage. On most sailings, the line also offers its signature AzAmazing Evenings, which take cruisers ashore to iconic venues where they can experience local cultural performances. (At the time of publication, the line was offering cultural performances onboard , rather than ashore, due to COVID-19.)

Most itineraries range from a week to two weeks in length, but the line has also offered itineraries lasting more than 100 days, calling on more than 60 ports in more than two dozen countries.

Who sails Azamara Cruises?

Due to its price point, popularity in Europe and lack of short voyages, Azamara appeals to older, more affluent travelers with a surplus of vacation time. The average age can fluctuate from sailing to sailing, but it's common to find most passengers in their 60s and 70s.

The line's demographic is largely well traveled and port savvy, with many passengers forgoing shore excursions in favor of independent exploration.

Azamara also draws a large number of repeat cruisers, many having sailed with the line numerous times.

Cabins and suites

All of Azamara's staterooms , regardless of type or category, include at least one queen bed that can convert to two twins, a desk/vanity with a phone, nightstands with reading lamps, at least one TV that's a minimum of 40 inches, outlets and USB charging ports, a minibar, individual climate controls, closets, a safe, a hair dryer, robes, slippers, umbrellas and fresh flowers.

Each cabin has its own bathroom with towels, bath products, a shower, sink/vanity, storage shelves and a toilet. Additionally, all rooms include daily make-up and turndown services, as well as 24-hour room service, a tote bag, a daily bulletin of activities and turndown treats.

All suites come with complimentary butler service for their occupants.

Accommodations on Azamara's ships come in four types: insides (no natural light, 158 square feet), outsides (windows that don't open, 143 square feet), balconies (small outdoor deck areas with sliding glass doors) and suites (like balcony cabins but larger and with more perks). There are several options within each category, including seven cabins on each ship that allow access for passengers in wheelchairs and scooters.

Options within the balcony and suite categories are:

Club Veranda: This basic balcony-style cabin offers 175 square feet, plus a 40-square-foot veranda with two upright chairs and a small table.

Club Veranda Plus: The same size and general layout as regular Club Verandas, these rooms factor in passengers' loyalty status to determine the level of benefits occupants will receive during their sailing. All passengers booked in Club Veranda Plus accommodations are entitled to complimentary Wi-Fi minutes, one free bag of laundry every seven days, one complimentary meal for two in a for-fee restaurant every seven days, priority embarkation and disembarkation and free in-cabin alcohol.

Club Continent Suites: The smallest of the line's suite accommodations, Club Continent Suites are 266 square feet with 60-square-foot balconies. They include all of the amenities mentioned above, as well as a large seating area with a 55-inch flat-screen TV. Besides the TV and the increased square footage, some Club Continent Suite bathrooms also have bathtubs instead of only a stand-up shower.

Club Spa Suites: These suites are located near the Sanctum Spa on each vessel. In addition to soothing decor, cruisers booked in these rooms can expect healthy snacks to be delivered daily. They can also enjoy in-cabin spa music and their own glass-enclosed soaking bathtub. Additionally, Club Spa Suites have rain showerheads and all of the amenities afforded to veranda cabins but with a larger (55-inch) TV and 414 square feet of space, plus a 60-square-foot balcony.

Club Ocean Suites: These 478-square-foot luxury digs come with 173-square-foot verandas, a separate living room and bedroom setup (each room with a 55-inch TV), marble shower-only bathrooms (except on Journey and Quest, which have bathtubs), dressing rooms with vanities and additional closet space. Further, passengers staying in these suites have access to all of the perks to which those in balcony cabins are entitled.

Club World Owner's Suites: The Club World Owner's Suites are Azamara's most lavish, offering everything afforded to those booked in Club Ocean Suites but with significantly more space — 603 square feet with 233-square-foot balconies. They have marble bathrooms (with bathtubs on Journey and Quest) and separate living room and bedroom areas, each with its own television (55 inches in the former and 40 inches in the latter).

At this time, the line does not offer any cabins for solo cruisers, which means the already pricey fares for Azamara's sailings double if you're traveling alone.

Restaurants and dining

Azamara's dining options, although few, are impressive. Steak and seafood are often in the spotlight, and the quality is outstanding.

The line's ships each have one main dining room, Discoveries Restaurant, that allows passengers to dine at any time during set hours for complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. The waiter-served menu there changes daily, and you should plan on spending at least 90 minutes for dinner, especially if you're having dessert.

Windows Cafe is the line's free buffet venue, which appears on all ships and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Previously a self-serve eatery, thanks to the pandemic passengers now simply point to what they would like and a crew member doles it out. For dinner, cruisers are seated and given menus -- which change nightly to highlight differing cuisines, such as Mexican, German and Greek -- and order from a waiter. Although it's sit-down table service, it's still faster than the main dining room. Outdoor seating at the ship's aft offers fantastic views, weather permitting.

Prime C is the fleet's for-fee steakhouse restaurant. Its menu includes several meaty options like steak, chicken, duck and lamb, plus soups and salads. Dining there costs $30 per person, and reservations are recommended.

Aqualina is where passengers will find extra-fee seafood, Italian and French cuisine in a light, airy atmosphere. The menu might feature items like lobster, seared tuna and the catch of the day. Reservations are recommended, and the cost is $30 per person. (Note: At the time of publication, the venue was temporarily closed due to COVID-19-related capacity restrictions, but diners can still order from Aqualina's menu while dining in Prime C.)

Azamara also offers themed Explorer's Dinners for $65 per person, focusing on a different cuisine -- think French and Italian -- each time. Chef's Table is another option. For $95 per person, cruisers can enjoy a seven-course meal paired with wines. During the experience, the chef explains each dish, and the ship's onboard sommeliers go over the wine selections.

The Patio, a gratis poolside venue, puts on a waiter-served spread during lunch hours each day. The menu stays the same throughout each sailing and might include items like spring rolls, nachos, burgers and chicken fingers.

Mosaic Cafe is the cafe found on each vessel in the fleet. It offers free finger sandwiches, cookies and pastries, as well as a variety of specialty coffees, most of which are complimentary. It's a nice place to go if you're feeling a little peckish between meals.

Those passengers who don't feel quite up to a full meal for dinner can head to The Living Room, a bar and lounge area that doubles as the nightclub on each ship. There, sandwiches and pastries are offered in the afternoons, and tapas are available during dinner hours.

For anyone who missed dinner or who finds themselves hungry in the middle of the night, room service is a free option, 24 hours a day. The menu is considerable, providing pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a plethora of other options.

Entertainment and activities

Entertainment on Azamara is engaging and fun, but not nearly as extensive as what you'll find on ships in larger fleets. You're likely to encounter musicians in bars, lounges and nightclubs, and song-and-dance numbers in the theater, along with an occasional comedian or magician. What you won't find are huge LED screens, acrobatic performances or shows with high production value -- and that's exactly how the line's target audience likes it.

Theaters and shows

During the evenings, there's a piano player in The Den lounge, and the ship's band plays in The Living Room nightclub before a DJ starts spinning dance tunes there late into the night.

As far as theater happenings, you might spot a movie screening on the daily schedule or turn up after dinner to find that there's a boy band performing Justin Bieber hits while dressing like they're part of a doo-wop group. Overall, it's low-key but enjoyable.

Other interior attractions and activities

Hosted activities run the gamut from added-fee wine tastings, scavenger hunts and complimentary deck walks and water aerobics to destination enrichment lectures, dance classes and shore excursion presentations. Also spotted on some daily schedules are coloring, word search challenges and Q&A sessions with officers.

However, one of the most frequent and popular onboard pastimes is trivia. There are multiple rounds offered each day, and they focus on subjects that are often tied to the destinations the ships visit. (Think Greek gods and goddesses or ABBA on Greek Isles itineraries.) Each person receives a grid sheet for stamps, with one stamp given for simply participating and two stamps given to the members of the winning team for each round. At the end of the sailing, passengers tally their stamps to collect Azamara logo prizes.

There's also a number of unhosted activities, such as ping-pong, darts, crossword and sudoku puzzles, board games, book swaps, knitting get-togethers, shuffleboard and LGBTQ, singles and Friends of Bill W. (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetups.

Additionally, one of Azamara's signature activities is its White Night Party, usually found once on each voyage. Passengers are encouraged to dress in white for an evening of dining and entertainment under the stars.

Top-deck attractions

Apart from shuffleboard and a jogging track, there's not much on the outer decks of Azamara's vessels if you're not a sun-worshipper. There's ample deck space with loungers, and a main pool with two hot tubs where passengers can go to cool off -- or warm up. There's a second pool for thalassotherapy near the Sanctum Spa, but it's open only to cruisers staying in suites or those who book passes to use it.

Another one of Azamara's signature offerings is AzAmazing Evenings -- a series of complimentary nighttime shore excursions that take passengers to famous landmarks, such as Ephesus in Turkey or the Russian Ballet, for culturally immersive performances. Currently, due to COVID-19 restrictions, AzAmazing Evenings have been replaced by Destination Celebrations , which involve the ship staying late in port and bringing local talent onboard to perform outdoors.

Children's programs

Although children are welcome onboard, there are no kids clubs on Azamara's ships, and there is no special programming for young cruisers.

What to know before you go

Required documents

You will need a passport for most of Azamara Cruises' sailings. The only ones for which the combination of a birth certificate and photo ID (such as a driver's license) will suffice is on a closed-loop cruise -- one that leaves from and returns to the same U.S. port and visits places that include Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean.

Passports should be valid for at least six months after your travel concludes.

Gratuities are included in all of Azamara's fares. Passengers can choose to leave extra if they wish. Spa services will automatically have an 18% gratuity added.

Azamara's Wi-Fi is some of the worst we've experienced at sea. In addition to being pricey ($19.95 for 60 minutes, $29.95 for full-day access or $19.95 per day for unlimited access for the duration of the voyage), it's spotty at best, especially when the ships are at sea. Azamara officials say the line is planning tech upgrades in the coming years, which hopefully will include a stronger connection.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring your own drinks -- including wine, beer and liquor -- on Azamara's ships for private consumption in your stateroom. If you wish to drink them in public areas or dining venues, you'll be charged a $10 corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Generally, Azamara's vessels are nonsmoking, except for clearly designated areas on the forward port ( left, when facing the front of the ship ) side of the pool deck. Passengers are not permitted to smoke in other public areas or in their cabins, including on their balconies.

All Azamara ships have self-service laundry rooms onboard. They're free to use and include complimentary detergent. The vessels also offer send-out wash-and-fold service, as well as dry cleaning and pressing, all for an added fee.

Electrical outlets

Outlets in each cabin consist of a mix of North American and U.K. options. Standard balcony cabins have two of each at the vanity, and two additional North American outlets can be found just above the minifridge (although one of them is used to plug it in).

Additionally, the line has added USB ports near the beds so you can charge your devices as you're curled up in bed scanning Instagram reels or catching up on the latest episode of "Stranger Things" (Wi-Fi permitting, of course).

The currency onboard is U.S. dollars. Passengers will each link a credit card to their onboard account (or put up a set amount of cash), as all onboard charges are cashless. The room key each cruiser is issued at embarkation serves as a room key, charge card and ID card when disembarking and reboarding the ship in port.

Drinking age

On all sailings -- except for those departing from North America, where the drinking age is 21 -- the legal minimum age for alcohol consumption is 18.

Azamara recommends a "resort casual" style of dress, which prohibits bare feet, baseball caps, tank tops, torn or distressed jeans, bathing suits and shorts in the main dining room and all specialty restaurants. More casual wear is allowed in the Windows Cafe buffet, but shoes are required, and cruisers must wear cover-ups over their bathing suits.

There are no scheduled formal nights onboard, but passengers are welcome to dress up. They are also advised to bring a white outfit for the line's signature White Night Party, held once per voyage.

Azamara Cruises' loyalty program

Azamara's loyalty program, Azamara Circle , has five tiers for passengers to reach, based on the number of points they earn each time they sail. With each new tier, they unlock additional benefits, such as free Wi-Fi minutes, complimentary laundry service and discounts on spa treatments and future cruise bookings.

• Adventurer (1-149 points).
• Explorer (150-299 points).
• Discoverer (300-749 points).
• Discoverer Plus (750-2,999).
• Discoverer Platinum (3,000-plus points).

How much does an Azamara Cruise cost?

Azamara sailings are on the pricier side, with fares for weeklong sailings stretching into the thousands per person, especially for higher-end accommodations. Fluctuations occur based on cruise length, cabin type, itinerary and time of year.

At the time of publication, the least-expensive booking we found was $1,459 per person (not including taxes and port fees), based on double occupancy, for an outside cabin on a seven-night Western Mediterranean voyage from Rome's Civitavecchia. The price for a suite on the same sailing was $3,349 per person.

However, you'll find less nickel-and-diming on Azamara voyages than you will with mainstream brands, as gratuities and basic beverages -- soda, bottled water, coffee, a couple of daily house wine selections, beer and standard liquor -- are included in the price of the cruise. AzAmazing Evenings are also rolled into the fares.

Passengers can expect to shell out extra for top-shelf spirits, spa treatments, shore excursions, professional photos, Wi-Fi and send-out laundry and dry cleaning services (assuming they don't receive them for free, based on loyalty status).

How to book

Cruisers can book Azamara voyages directly through Azamara, either on the line's website or by calling 833-292-2292; virtually through a third-party online travel agent; or by calling a travel advisor, who can help with all the details for a commission that's usually covered by the cruise line.

Most cruise lines have their own cobranded credit cards, but unfortunately, Azamara is no longer one of them. Passengers used to be able to use cobranded Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean International credit cards to book Azamara voyages, but it's unclear whether that is still possible, given Azamara's split from Royal Caribbean Group.

To maximize your spending when you book, use a card -- like the The Platinum Card® from American Express -- that will earn you additional points on travel.

Bottom line

Azamara cruises are a good option if you're looking for an upscale line that offers excellent food and service at the lower end of the luxury price spectrum. You'll also receive a more destination-focused experience, with longer stays in port that allow you to take in the local nightlife.

The ships across the fleet will be familiar to you after just a sailing or two, and their elegant-but-relaxed vibe will leave you feeling like you're simply enjoying a drink in a friend's living room.

On Board Credit

By Qwltngcruiser , June 24, 2021 in Azamara

Recommended Posts

Qwltngcruiser

Hi, we’re new to Azamara and we purchased our first cruise through a big box store. That purchase gave us a $400 onboard credit for the cruise. Azamara told us that the credit isn’t usually able to be used until we’re on the ship. What can you use the credit for?  We’re wanting to prebook shore excursions that are important to us. I’m sure we can gamble with waiting to sign up for some others that don’t matter as much, but what else can we buy with the credit if that doesn’t work out?  We already have the upgraded drink package and a few nights of specialty dining. 

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

26 minutes ago, Qwltngcruiser said: Hi, we’re new to Azamara and we purchased our first cruise through a big box store. That purchase gave us a $400 onboard credit for the cruise. Azamara told us that the credit isn’t usually able to be used until we’re on the ship. What can you use the credit for?  We’re wanting to prebook shore excursions that are important to us. I’m sure we can gamble with waiting to sign up for some others that don’t matter as much, but what else can we buy with the credit if that doesn’t work out?  We already have the upgraded drink package and a few nights of specialty dining. 

If you don't spend the $400 from the big box store, Azamara will put a credit on your credit card on disembarkation day.  Book the excursions you want and get the $400 back later, if you haven't spent it on something else while onboard.

On the ship you could use the credit to upgrade the  included beverages, spa treatments, use in the shops ( but limited shops) book last minute shore excursions or buy some bottles of wine.   We have about $1300 OBC from our TA and will happily take the credit to our credit card.

So they will just pay you the on board credit back in money?

Vineyard View

37 minutes ago, jelayne said: On the ship you could use the credit to upgrade the  included beverages, spa treatments, use in the shops ( but limited shops) book last minute shore excursions or buy some bottles of wine.   We have about $1300 OBC from our TA and will happily take the credit to our credit card.

Wow. That is something. There are lines where you use it or loose it. This is really good to know. We are looking at booking our first time with Azamara. It I climes unlimited wi-if, premium drink package etc. We are usually DIY or I dependent tour people, so we were wondering the same thing. What will we use OBC for. 

3 hours ago, Vineyard View said: Wow. That is something. There are lines where you use it or loose it. This is really good to know. We are looking at booking our first time with Azamara. It I climes unlimited wi-if, premium drink package etc. We are usually DIY or I dependent tour people, so we were wondering the same thing. What will we use OBC for. 

OBC from Azamara via a promotion is indeed "use it or lose it"

OBC from your TA will, as has been said, be credited to your card at the end of the cruise if you have not used it.

Grandma Cruising

6 hours ago, Qwltngcruiser said: Hi, we’re new to Azamara and we purchased our first cruise through a big box store. That purchase gave us a $400 onboard credit for the cruise. Azamara told us that the credit isn’t usually able to be used until we’re on the ship. What can you use the credit for?  We’re wanting to prebook shore excursions that are important to us. I’m sure we can gamble with waiting to sign up for some others that don’t matter as much, but what else can we buy with the credit if that doesn’t work out?  We already have the upgraded drink package and a few nights of specialty dining. 

You can book excursions now using your credit card, then once on board cancel them (as long as they’re not on the first couple of days or are not overnight excursions which have a longer cancellation period) and rebook using your OBC. Just check the cancellation period - mostly 48 hours, but overnight excursions tend to be much longer - up to 60 days.

Wifi is another way of using up your OBC, if you didn’t get any/enough free wifi with your booking.

If you’re new to Azamara have a look at the topic ‘Tips for Azamara Newbies’ 

Usually by the second day of the cruise all of your OBC's show up on your account.  They will be listed as NBC's or RBC's.  NBC's are non-refundable (generally from a promotion), RBC's are refundable (usually from your TA).  They always draw down your NBC's first.  It's been so long (way too long) since we've been onboard that I may have the actual listings wrong but Nonrefundable begin with N, refundable begin with R.  

Thanks everyone!  Very helpful!! 

9 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:   OBC from Azamara via a promotion is indeed "use it or lose it"   OBC from your TA will, as has been said, be credited to your card at the end of the cruise if you have not used it.

Thank  you for this clarification. I appreciate it. 

Mackdogmolly

10 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:   OBC from Azamara via a promotion is indeed "use it or lose it"   OBC from your TA will, as has been said, be credited to your card at the end of the cruise if you have not used it.

You can also donate some of the TA OBC to the crew fund (but not the Azamara OBC). We have done this at the end of a cruise and it is much appreciated.

Host Jazzbeau

My OBCs from Azamara and from my TA's group are already showing in the Voyage Planner for my 2022 cruise, and I was able to use them to pre-book shore excursions.

That’s sometimes is the case when the TA OBC is a joint marketing effort.  We have encountered that twice and the TA OBC was non-refundable in those cases.

That's what I'm afraid of.  We have a total of $1,100 [plus maybe Amex, but not likely].  SpainDayTours is so highly recommended that if the minimum numbers are met, we will have no Azamara shore excursions and nothing to spend it on onboard. 

I'm assuming the CO suite unlimited specialty dining doesn't include the Chef's Table.  We may be trying all three!  And really good wine the other nights...

We have never had any TA OBC.  Have any other UK cruisers managed to get TA OBC on UK booked cruises?

3 minutes ago, Medeba said: We have never had any TA OBC.  Have any other UK cruisers managed to get TA OBC on UK booked cruises?

We’ve never had OBC from U.K. travel agents, it’s more normal that they will discount the price. Going back in time our TA used to get 15% commission from P&O we received 10% of that as a discount, these days it’s a little less clear.  However since Covid and the tricks TA’s have tried to pull not sure wether the minimal discounts now on offer are worth dealing with them anymore.  

28 minutes ago, Riocca said: We’ve never had OBC from U.K. travel agents, it’s more normal that they will discount the price. Going back in time our TA used to get 15% commission from P&O we received 10% of that as a discount, these days it’s a little less clear.  However since Covid and the tricks TA’s have tried to pull not sure wether the minimal discounts now on offer are worth dealing with them anymore.  

Thanks Riocca.  I have booked b2b Journey cruises next year and I got what I thought was a good discount from my new cruise TA.  I debated booking direct but decided on trying a new, well regarded, TA.  I decided to try a new TA because the one I have used for many years have not once contacted me since the start of the pandemic (and I have recommended friends to them!).

excitedofharpenden

1 hour ago, Riocca said: We’ve never had OBC from U.K. travel agents, it’s more normal that they will discount the price. Going back in time our TA used to get 15% commission from P&O we received 10% of that as a discount, these days it’s a little less clear.  However since Covid and the tricks TA’s have tried to pull not sure wether the minimal discounts now on offer are worth dealing with them anymore.  

I'm totally with you John. I don't think I'll be using a travel agent to get an additional discount on the price. Certainly not for the foreseeable. I'm very sad about that because I had a good relationship with the guy I worked with, but he's now left and dealing with refunds through covid has been messy.  I will go direct. 

ChucktownSteve

The first thing I would do is ask the TA if their OBC is refundable.  Like Jelayne I was caught by a TA's cross promotion that was not refundable.  I learned to ask after that.

What I started doing with the refundable OBC is to go to guest relations to ask for the ROBC in cash.  Not only do I have walking around money but I don't get the cash back charge back on the credit card rewards.  If they won't give it to you in cash, then last resort, let it go to your card.

• 2 years later...

Old topic, but new question.  We've got an Azamazing amount of onboard credits for a short cruise.  Can we use some of our OBC to buy a dining package for some friends who are also taking the same cruise?

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Thursday at 07:37 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:48 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:19 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:29 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 11:57 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Azamara Cruises
• Azamara Cruises from California
• Azamara Cruises from Florida
• Azamara Cruises from Anchorage
• Azamara Cruises from Miami
• Azamara Cruises from Seward
• Azamara Cruises from San Juan
• Azamara Cruises from Vancouver
• Azamara Cruises from London
• Azamara Cruises from Barcelona
• Azamara Cruises from Venice
• Azamara Cruises from Amsterdam
• Azamara Cruises from Lisbon
• Azamara Cruises from Athens
• Azamara Cruises from Copenhagen
• Azamara Cruises from Civitavecchia
• Azamara Cruises from Sydney
• Azamara Cruises from Hong Kong
• Azamara Cruises from Singapore
• Azamara Cruises from Dubai
• Azamara Cruises from Buenos Aires
• Azamara Cruises to Caribbean
• Azamara Cruises to Barbados
• Azamara Cruises to Puerto Rico
• Azamara Cruises to San Juan
• Azamara Cruises to St. Lucia
• Azamara Cruises to St Martin / St Maarten
• Azamara Cruises to France
• Azamara Cruises to Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• Azamara Cruises to Germany
• Azamara Cruises to Spain
• Azamara Cruises to Andalucia
• Azamara Cruises to Catalonia
• Azamara Cruises to Barcelona
• Azamara Cruises to Italy
• Azamara Cruises to Campania
• Azamara Cruises to Lazio
• Azamara Cruises to Taormina
• Azamara Cruises to The Netherlands
• Azamara Cruises to Portugal
• Azamara Cruises to Lisbon
• Luxury Azamara Cruises
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Azamara Journey Deck Plans & Reviews

Azamara Journey

Activities & entertainment

• Dance Classes
• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes
• Hot Tubs (2)
• Jogging Track
• Shuffle Board
• The Drawing Room
• The Sanctum Spa *
• The Sanctum Spa Terrace *
• Cabaret Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Onboard Movie Screenings
• The Patio - Casual
• Windows Café - Casual
• Discoveries Bar - Clubby Bar
• Spirits - Cocktail Bar
• Mosaic Café - Coffee Bar
• Discoveries Restaurant - International
• Aqualina Specialty Dining - italian *
• Swirl & Top - Low-fat Yogurt
• Pool Bar - Pool Bar
• Sunset Bar - Pool Bar
• Prime C Specialty Dining - Steakhouse *
• The Living Room - Tapas
• Excellent 29
• Very Good 13
• Terrible 10
• All languages ( 71 )
• English ( 69 )
• German ( 1 )
• Spanish ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

• Cruise Lines “A – O”

• Read thousands of Azamara Cruise Reviews • Write an Azamara Cruise Review

Find Your Azamara Roll Ca ll   

• Azamara Journey
• Azamara Onward
• Azamara Pursuit
• Azamara Quest

12,864 topics in this forum

• Recently Updated
• Most Viewed
• Most Replies

Upgrade bid experiences 1 2 3 4 48

• 1.2k replies
• 175.7k views

• Grandma Cruising
• 14 hours ago

Azamara Cruisers - How are things where YOU are 1 2 3 4 55

• 1.4k replies
• 104.7k views

• Mackdogmolly
• 18 hours ago

Tips for Azamara Newbies 1 2 3 4 98

• 2.4k replies
• 336.2k views
• Thursday at 03:44 PM

Azamara Cabins Thread 1 2 3 4 52

• 1.3k replies
• 399.5k views
• Wednesday at 04:56 AM

Current Lists of Wine on Board (2022/23) 1 2 3 4 15

• 370 replies
• 46.2k views

• let's go cruising

Senior officers at the moment - post what you know 1 2 3 4 8

• 190 replies
• 63.8k views

Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle 1 2

How to deal with "difficult" posts or threads on this board.

• Host Jazzbeau
• May 2, 2020

Azamara seem to be scaling back Azamazing Evenings 1 2 3

• 56 minutes ago

Japan Intensive Live -Take 2

• 57 minutes ago

Feeling Deceived and Powerless 1 2

• 2 hours ago

Current satisfaction with Azamara now that new Ownership has had time 1 2 3 4

• 3 hours ago

White Night

• ChucktownSteve
• 9 hours ago

Azamara shore excursions 1 2 3 4

• luv2travel90266

10% credit if paid in full by April 10, 150+ days prior 1 2 3

• 17 hours ago

How are bid upgrades being handled now?

• Saturday at 08:52 PM

MANY cruises but first Azamara 1 2

• Saturday at 08:15 PM

Shoehorn in Azamara cabins?

• Saturday at 05:05 PM

Incompetent Customer Service

• Saturday at 02:23 PM

Disappearing OBC

• Saturday at 03:47 AM

Japan Intensive on the Journey 1 2

• Saturday at 03:24 AM

Changes for Onward and Journey April/May Red Sea transit 1 2 3

• Friday at 10:36 PM

2 Different AzAmazing Evenings Scheduled

• Friday at 06:07 PM

Latest Promo - Stay tuned something new is coming …

• Thursday at 09:01 PM

Booking specialty restaurants - service desk or ask the butler?

• DrivesLikeMario
• Thursday at 04:56 PM
• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Click this gorgeous photo by urnojfk to Write a Review!

New Member Photos

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...