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I have done two cruises on Azamara…

I have done two cruises on Azamara Pursuit. Lisbon to Rio and Canaries to Cape Town. Great itineraries. Small ship, good food, happy staff, relaxed atmosphere. I like the included drinks and gratuities. Onboard credit covered the excursions I wanted to do. I have travelling with five cruise companies. Azamara the best

Date of experience : November 10, 2023

BEWARE AZAMARA. BE VERY VERY CAREFUL

Booked aN Azamara cruise eight months before travel. Seemed like a decent deal. Ten weeks before travel they dropped the price by a several thousand pounds. When asked if they would offer the reduced rate, we were summarily told 'no'. Cancel your booking, lose your rather large deposit and then rebook. Customer Service zero out of ten. Integrity zero out of ten. My advice, which in hindsight i wish had followed,is book a reputable cruise line. Beware

Date of experience : August 09, 2024

Travelled in Azamara Journey Intensive…

Travelled in Azamara Journey Intensive Croatia June 26-July6th 2024 Fist time cruisers with Azamara and I was a little concerned after seeing some negative reviews. I shouldn’t have been. We have loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to book again. Love the small ship, it’s a beautiful ship. Yes it’s 25 years old but it is kept beautifully by the staff. On board the staff are just amazing, they look after you but they are genuinely happy to do it and are kind and naturally efficient. The food it incredible and all dining venues are very nice. I love the relaxed charm whilst still feeling spoilt. The staff attitude is very good and they all appear happy, I think it rubs off on the guests too as everyone is chilled, kind and patient.

Date of experience : June 26, 2024

Azamara cruise booked with friends we…

Azamara cruise booked with friends we all decided to book the 4 table dine around with a different charge applied to each couple me and my wife have paid £55 more than our friends how can that be right Azamara . Needless to say Azamara customer service don’t want to explain this difference in charges, so my advice to anyone reading this would be avoid this company and go elsewhere.

Date of experience : July 13, 2024

Excellent cruises

We have just been on our second cruise with Azamara from Hong Kong to Japan. It was fantastic. The staff were amazing, the food was second to none and the itinerary was brilliant. Whilst I accept that the ship was a little older than others we have been on and the cabins may not have been as grand, it was still spotless and well maintained. This is a very small trade off for low passenger numbers, smaller ports, more intimate dining, adults only and overnight stops in great places. I think Azamara have it right and will definitely book again.

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

Azamara Offers Space X Star Link Hi Speed Internet

As always, Azamara offers fine food, service, ambiance, and entertainment. Just finished a Caribbean cruise on Onward. But now they offer high speed internet service on all their ships thru Space X Star Link. Download speeds of over 60 MBps and Upload speeds of over 7 MBps. Ken

Date of experience : January 11, 2023

Nightmare Company

Azamara are a nightmare company to deal with, particularly at the moment. We had a nightmarish time for months before we boarded and not only were we ill with a gastric problem on board, but they refused to honour our 400USD on board credit. Many people had the same issue, but after spending a whole afternoon trying to contact a lady in the US office I managed to get ours sorted. There were too many other issues to mention here. However, the staff on board were very good.

Date of experience : February 08, 2024

Dishonest Cruise Line

We booked a cruise on Azamara Onward for August 2024 through our travel agent. We had IN WRITING on our booking form a $300 on board credit from a future cruise credit (Covid related) and also a $300 dollar per person excursion credit. (a promotion) When we tried to book a shore excursion at the travel agents the Azamara agent took it off the on board credit not the excursion credit. Azamara then said we did not have any other credit even though it was on our booking form. The travel agent was on the phone for over an hour only to be told we had been misinformed! This would appear to be mis- selling. We were so angry that we cancelled the cruise, losing our deposit of nearly£1000. We have sent the paperwork TWICE to the US office requesting the return of the deposit as we do not think it is moral to give credit and then as soon as booked deny all knowledge of it even though it is clearly written on the booking form and also on an email from Azamara confirming the credit. To date we have heard nothing. We would NEVER book with this company again.

Date of experience : March 01, 2024

Shoddy Azamara business practice

We booked a cruise with Azamara, through six star cruises. Due to Covid, the cruise had to be cancelled and we accepted cruise credit - what a disaster. We have had to book two cruises, so far and still have credit left, because Azamara hold so much to force you to keep booking, or lose your money. This means paying far more money out, as the credit only covers a small part of the cruise. Please consider this company carefully, they have been awful with us and the booking company confirms that there are plenty of others like us!

Date of experience : February 20, 2024

Shocking customer service and non…

Shocking customer service and non response. They cancelled our cruise without notice. Promised full refund and all expenses Nothing has happened. Having to claim in the small claims court. Appalling company Absolutely terrible. Avoid at all costs

Date of experience : September 13, 2023

Azamara - Poor Staff Treatment

Is it appropriate for a captain to belittle their staff in front of passengers? Would you appreciate having your size referred to as a punchline for their joke? Ask Azamara. I've tried and had no response! Maybe this cruise line should consider it's position?

Date of experience : April 03, 2023

Disgusting Customer Service

The cruise itself was very good. No complaints about the ship, food, entertainment but the ship was rife with norovirus which i managed to contract along with my friend. It ruined the rest of my holiday to an extent as i wouldn't go anywhere where i couldn't be near a wc so missed out on a safari and Victoria Falls. The ship tried to say we had brought it onboard when in fact we learned that it had been on the previous three cruises. The pool was closed on day three and never reopened and it was really hot. There were only four ports to visit on our twelve night cruise as two of them had been cancelled before we set out and there was nothing except for a small shopping mall in each port. As I was still suffering with my gastric problem, I didn’t want to venture too far afield. I sent an email to Azamara in February to which I received no reply and have today, 6 May, had an email to say the case has been closed. Im afraid my one and only cruise with Azamara will most probably be my last, not because of the actual onboard experience but because if you report any problems, they are unlikely to help.

Date of experience : February 02, 2024

They are as bad if not worse as their reviews suggest!

The actually cruise was underwhelming, the rooms are tiny and dated despite us paying for a suite. The food was not up to the premium prices they charge. But the worst of all is their customer service, unfortunately some of our party were unable to attend through illness. To claim on the insurance we just need a letter from Azamara confirming they didn't show. I may as well be asking for moon rock, after 2 months they are incapable of sending this info, just get 'it'll be done in 2 days etc' after 4 chases we just keep getting the same response nothing happens. I WILL NEVER BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY AGAIN AND I ADVISE EVERYONE TO DO THE SAME, LOOK AT THE OTHER REVIEWS THEY'RE MAINLY ATTROCIOUS.

Date of experience : January 02, 2024

What a rip off

We booked a cruise on Azamara Cruise Lines for October 2024 on the Ancient Trade Routes cruise. We put $1000 down payment. In Oct. 2023 war broke out in Israel. We canceled the cruise as we do not fewl safe traveling to this area of the world. Azamara refused to give us our deposit back or.give us credit towards another cruise. I will never book another cruise with them. Buyer beware!

Date of experience : October 20, 2023

A great company gone rapidly downhill…

We have an upcoming cruise booked with them. Unfortunately they have been sold to another company, and this is where the problem lies. We tried to find our booking on their website, it said you have no bookings!, computer problems they said. Finally our booking showed up missing our pre-booked excursions, and the free on board credit we had, was missing. Getting an answer from them is nigh impossible, their customer service is just to ignore you. Our flights booked thru them had also disappeared! I wish we had never booked this, and worst we have used them before and recommended the to friends also coming with us! Never again, they are hopeless.

Date of experience : May 17, 2023

One of the fraud company in India,worst…

One of the fraud company in India,worst services,worst employees & all the people are fraud. Don't take any membership for this group.They will said you different different but actual is different. Please don't take AZMARA CLUB Membership.its fraud company.

Date of experience : June 02, 2023

The worst experience plus the worst customer service

We were recommended Azamara by our travel agent we were skeptical but decide give Azamara chance this was our 31st cruise it all started great till our bathroom didn't work for 6 days out of 12 days cruise the management staff just lie after lie. This ships are 20+ years old and ready for scrapyard out dated rooms small and we had Veranda plus bathrooms are for people who are 5 feet tell and 120 pounds other wise you wont fit staff are great but they have no control over useless managers of their department it definitely not 5 star cruise may be weak 3. Their is the reason it was sold by Royal Caribbean to Sycamore Group witch have rating in all fields big F just like their cruise line. I try to resolve when we came home to USA that was another horrible experience just lie after lie they will lie to you till you give up. Don't recommend Azamara unless you like to be lied to you and abuse

Date of experience : August 25, 2023

We went on the Azamara Quest recently, it was our first time sailing with them and a first post Covid cruise. Everything was amazing and nothing was too much trouble. The ship is immaculate, the staff attention to detail was second to non. Because it is a small ship you sail right into the centre of cities. Masks are still warn moving around the ship and by all of the staff all of the time. The food was great, we didn't have the premium drinks package and was very happy with what was provided. Can't wait to sail with them again.

Date of experience : April 17, 2022

Not worth your time and money

We have a cruise booked with them for May 2023. They have been "updating their website" for 3 weeks and it is still not done. Online reservation management has been unavailable for weeks - cannot check-in or book excursions etc. In fact, the reservation does not even show up and they will "only service cruises which are 30 days out". The estimated completion date for the website update has been a moving target. Customer support phone lines are unavailable too. The company has not even bothered to issue an apology. Azamara may gave been a good company once but it is clear that it is now being managed by incompetent people, lacking any customer support or PR training. This can no longer classify as a 'luxury cruise line'. Steer clear if you value your vacation time and money.

Date of experience : April 02, 2023

Book another cruise line!!

Biggest mistake we’ve ever made booking an Azamara cruise. System supposed to be down for 4days from 16th March. It’s the 10th April and we still can’t even see our cruise let alone book excursions. No apologies from Azamara just say check in at port, which will be chaos. Book excursions onboard along with the other 750 passengers - great!! Don’t hold out much hope for the cruise we thought we were booking all going to plan later this week!!

Date of experience : April 10, 2023

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Azamara Review

Thursday, September 12th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Best for luxury sailing to smaller ports with immersive experiences ashore and onboard
• About 700 guests per ship
• Destinations throughout the world
• Complimentary wine, beer, and spirits with meals
• Gratuities not included

Azamara is a luxury cruise line that operates four mid-sized ships: Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward, and Azamara Pursuit. The cruise line was established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group, and its ships have a reputation for providing guests with an intimate and immersive cruising experience.

Stay longer in port

One of the defining features of Azamara is its focus on destination immersion. The line's itineraries are designed to provide guests with a deep and authentic experience of the places they visit. Each ship offers a variety of shore excursions, ranging from cultural tours to active adventures. Azamara also offers longer stays in port, with many itineraries featuring overnight stays and evening tours, allowing guests to experience the local nightlife and culture. That could be a big advantage compared with some of the larger cruise lines, where port departure times are often as early as 4PM.

Small ships = better service

Azamara's ships are smaller than some luxury cruise ships, with a capacity of around 700 guests each. This allows for a more intimate and personalized experience, with a high staff-to-guest ratio ensuring exceptional service. The ships feature a range of amenities, including several restaurants and bars, a spa, fitness center, pool, and live entertainment venues.

Drinks are included with dining

Dining is a highlight of the Azamara experience, with a focus on fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. Each ship has several restaurants, including a main dining room, a buffet, and specialty restaurants that require reservations (and that will incur extra charges above and beyond your cruise fare). The specialty restaurants include a steakhouse, a seafood grill, and an Italian restaurant. Guests can also enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and spirits with their meals.

Limited Caribbean sailings

To make a fair comparison across cruise lines, we looked for sailings in the Caribbean in March, about a year in advance. That's peak season in the US, as travelers often try to line up a winter escape over spring break. However, Azamara doesn't sail in the Caribbean most of the time: when we searched, the only options there tended to be in November and December, though we did spot one Caribbean Journey sailing available for booking almost two years in advance, and extremely well-priced starting at $1,439 per person for a nine-night cruise.

Around the world in 155 days

And, if you're looking to go, well, everywhere , you should consider Azamara's World Voyage: 155 nights, 22 overnights, 27 late stays, 40+ countries and 75+ unique destinations. You could start in Fort Lauderdale, go through the Panama Canal, visit the Pacific Coast of South America before sailing over to French Polynesia, check out the koalas in Australia, follow ancient trade routes from Singapore to Dubai, you get the idea. Yes, you'll pay at least $36,000 per cruiser, but what an experience!

Best for immersive port experiences and luxury sailing

Azamara gets a just-above-average rating. It's missing the all-inclusive value of some other luxury cruise lines (you'll pay for your gratuities and shore excursions here, as well as any dining upgrades you select and other amenities), but it still gives you access to destinations not served by the bigger cruise ships. It's worth looking into if you love taking a deep dive into the cultures in your ports of call, especially some of the events and experiences that are only available after sunset. Azamara misses a lot of the must-haves for many vacationers, but it's still a cruise line we can wholeheartedly recommend if it checks the boxes for you.

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Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above... Continued from above... -->

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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Find a Cruise on Azamara

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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.
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• Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL pulling visits to St Petersburg

By dmsw00 , February 24, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Just received an email from NCL to advise that, for the rest of the year, none of their ships will be visiting St Petersburg, Russia (we were doing a cruise on Prima on 3rd September 2022, and a St Petersburg overnight stay was scheduled).

They say that 'Our team is working diligently to confirm replacement ports and will advise all impacted guests and travel advisors as soon as possible'.

I suppose it's a case of 'wait and see' details of the ' new' itinerary, before deciding whether we wish to continue?

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Good.   No need to see up front what a mass murder looks like. 

Totally agree with the decision 100%, but feel really bad for everyone on those itineraries.  We did the Baltic a few years back and without question St. Petersburg was the highlight hands down.  Various replacement ports are available, but impossible to replace that experience. 

Davechipp74

44 minutes ago, Ray4Fun said: Good.   No need to see up front what a mass murder looks like. 

I dont believe you would see anything first hand in St. Petersburg  as the Ukrainian border is some 2000km away from the port.

5 minutes ago, DAVECHIPP1974 said: I dont believe you would see anything first hand in St. Petersburg  as the Ukrainian border is some 2000km away from the port.

Yes, but St. P is still in Russia. Who know what will happen to the whole country in general between now and the first Baltic cruise that includes STP in mid-May - less than 3 months away.

don't-use-real-name

4 minutes ago, DAVECHIPP1974 said: I dont believe you would see anything first hand in St. Petersburg  as the Ukrainian border is some 2000km away from the port.

But Americans (with the sanctions) maybe secondary targets and in for some unpleasant

experiences .

Damn Putin for opening Pandora's Box !

1 hour ago, dmsw00 said: Just received an email from NCL to advise that, for the rest of the year, none of their ships will be visiting St Petersburg, Russia (we were doing a cruise on Prima on 3rd September 2022, and a St Petersburg overnight stay was scheduled).   They say that 'Our team is working diligently to confirm replacement ports and will advise all impacted guests and travel advisors as soon as possible'.   I suppose it's a case of 'wait and see' details of the ' new' itinerary, before deciding whether we wish to continue?

Just got the email. I will likely cancel.

1 minute ago, susiesan said: Can you copy the email you received here? I am on a Baltic cruise on dawn and have not received that email.

By the look of it, the emails are currently being sent out (mass emails) to the passengers on Baltic/Northern Europe cruises.

3 minutes ago, susiesan said: Just got the email. I will likely cancel.

Why? If STP is your sole reason for the cruise, okay, but what about the other ports of calls on the itinerary. NCL is looking for replacements.

KeithJenner

Whilst St Petersburg is a great port, don't let that take away from the fact that the other Baltic ports are also some of the best places to visit on a ship.

I can understand if some people only ever intend to go to the area once they may want to wait until St Petersburg is an option again, but I wouldn't rush to cancel because of this.

17 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said: But Americans (with the sanctions) maybe secondary targets and in for some unpleasant experiences . Damn Putin for opening Pandora's Box !

True and our embassy in St Petersburg has been closed for a few years, Moscow over 6 hours away would be only option.

Ottawa Lynne

What a shame. We did a Baltic cruise a few years ago and a private tour in STP was definitely the highlight. There is so much to see and do there. Personally, if I could only go once I would cancel and hope for peaceful times another time - if there's a chance you could do it a second time then I would go.

BklynBorn47

STP was part of our Baltic land tour in 2018.  For personal family reasons I would have preferred to skip STP,  but  I had to get in the van or be on my own in Estonia until they returned. In retrospect I wish I had skipped it.  A video tour of the Czar's palaces and the churches closed during the Soviet era would have been enough.   The history of Russia's occupation of the Baltic States for nearly 50 years is important including populating those countries with Russian citizens to "prove" they should be part of the USSR.  The people of those countries have good reason to be fearful even if they are not currently in the line of fire.  

I hope that cruises to the other stops in the Baltic will not suffer.  

As for our cruise to Black Sea Ports later this year, even before Putin's invasion I had decided to stay on the ship when we docked in Sochi.  I didn't want to fund his war machine.  Now it likely won't happen anyway, not Odessa either.

All that said, I am not judging anyone who decides to cancel their cruise because STP has been eliminated.  I just wanted to add my perspective.  

charlie murphy

I support the cancellation of Saint Petersburg. No doubt that It is a highlight of the cruise. I would say it was A highlight not the hightlight. We did Saint petersburg as independent travelers off our cruise. No doubt it is a special  port, however you will be completey spent after visiting the Port.  If you are there for only one day It is not enough and you are not missing a thing. I WOULD NOT recommend someone canceling a baltic cruise if the only port you miss is Saint Petersburg. The other ports in the area from Germany to Finland are equally wonderful and if Saint petersburg is replaced by Brugge YOU WIN. ( I know that this port in recent years decreased visitorship to perserve it's heritage, not sure if iterneries visit anymore. )  Yes it is different and a full day at other ports.  STP packs too much into too little time. If you really need to see STP stay a while and enjoy the city . One or two days in not enought and way to sight intensive if you ask me, but I understand the reason, lots to see, big distances between , big crowds and at best you get is the highlights in too little time.  The canal tours in copenhagan is better. the sail in and out of Stockholm is better. The beer in belguim is better. you will get lost in the Hermitage, it is special for sure, so is the spilled blood chapel, saint catherines or peterhof  are away off and a full day if i remember.  BOTTOM LINE think before you decide, there are a lot of great ports on this iternery SPT is ONLY one of them . 

2 hours ago, ALD18 said: Totally agree with the decision 100%, but feel really bad for everyone on those itineraries.  We did the Baltic a few years back and without question St. Petersburg was the highlight hands down.  Various replacement ports are available, but impossible to replace that experience. 

I also feel bad for the owners of the private tour companies and the tour guides. This will be another summer with no income. This mess is not their fault.

lepidoptera

 A few months ago I started looking really hard at a Baltic. Ultimately decided to wait due to worries that there would be sanctions against Russia/a lack of consular assistance. I wish I had been wrong for everyone’s sake. 

12 minutes ago, lepidoptera said:  A few months ago I started looking really hard at a Baltic. Ultimately decided to wait due to worries that there would be sanctions against Russia/a lack of consular assistance. I wish I had been wrong for everyone’s sake. 

Same here... what a fasco for those living in the region.

Still St. Pete plays significantly in the pricing of such itineraries because it is a unique port that allows a premium price, and I suspect also has increased costs for the companies. So if they are (appropriately) dropping it, the price should be adjusted as well.

13 minutes ago, pghflyer said: Still St. Pete plays significantly in the pricing of such itineraries because it is a unique port that allows a premium price, and I suspect also has increased costs for the companies. So if they are (appropriately) dropping it, the price should be adjusted as well.

Yes, I agree.  We canceled last week as we decided we just didn’t want to go there anymore.    

57 minutes ago, ontheweb said: I also feel bad for the owners of the private tour companies and the tour guides. This will be another summer with no income. This mess is not their fault.

I agree, this is third time we cancelled with TJ travel, who have been wonderful.  

18 minutes ago, milolii said: Yes, I agree.  We canceled last week as we decided we just didn’t want to go there anymore.       I agree, this is third time we cancelled with TJ travel, who have been wonderful.  

not a capitalist economy in russia. The tour guides will survive.  I am sure russia does not rely on the cruise trade for their economy to function, other regions do. i am also not an economist so i could be wrong with my assumptions but I don't think so. My first thought is not to lost revenue of the tour guide,  there is a bigger issue here. such as passenger, crew and vessel safety.  I would suspect that fees at other ports are commencerate with the fees of the russian port, I also assume that those contracts were arranged years in advance, the port of saint petersburg is not saying " oh as long as your not stopping here let us refund your fees" so the cruise line will be eating these fees and scambling to find an alternative. i would not expect a price drop. Let's hope for a better Stop (or two). there are a bunch of great ports in very close proximty in the baltic sea. 

The baltic has approx. 5000 very beautiful and interesting ports.(ok,5000 not really of course,but a lot)

There are beautiful cities in Poland,Finland,Estonia, Lithuania,Sweden,Denmark and Germany.

You can easily fill 9-12 days of interesting ports without going to St. Petersburg. Yes, it is a very beautiful city but i would clearly recommend to not cancel just because of this.

I am Australian and I am really annoyed and peeved at this move by NCL. The only reason I booked on the cruise was St Petersburg. I am not due to cruise until August. Surely NCL can wait and see what pans out in the interim before cancelling. As another poster pointed out, the Ukraine is nowhere St Petersburg. By the way, the whole world is not American. Plenty of other nationalities cruise too! I don't think I'll be booking with NCL again. I vote with my feet!

AtlantaCruiser72

I fully expect Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean Group to follow suit soon and withdraw St Petersburg and other Russian ports from 2022 itineraries for their various brands.  This move is more about solidarity with US government economic sanctions on Russia than immediate security threats in St Petersburg. 

ColeThornton

4 minutes ago, Lindysu said: I am Australian and I am really annoyed and peeved at this move by NCL. The only reason I booked on the cruise was St Petersburg. I am not due to cruise until August. Surely NCL can wait and see what pans out in the interim before cancelling. As another poster pointed out, the Ukraine is nowhere St Petersburg. By the way, the whole world is not American. Plenty of other nationalities cruise too! I don't think I'll be booking with NCL again. I vote with my feet!

I'm confused.  What does being American have to do with this?

1 hour ago, ColeThornton said:     I'm confused.  What does being American have to do with this?

Yeah, I'm also confused by this lol We are Canadian, we were booked on the Getaway to the Baltics for August but ultimately cancelled at the end of December, deciding to put it off (again) til 2023.

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