Azamara Quest inaugural cruise put back by 5 days

**Ally** · 06-08-2007, 04:26 AM

Azamara Cruises, the industry's newest cruise line, has made adjustments to Azamara Quest's launch after the poor debut of its first ship, Azamara Journey; that ship's extensive refurbishment was not completed in time for its inaugural sailing.

Azamara Quest, originally slated to sail its maiden 12-night Caribbean voyage on October 19, will now launch on October 24. That gives the line, which is conducting an equally intensive refurbishment of the vessel, an extra five days to complete the work.

"When we had the trouble on Journey I made a quick call," Azamara President Dan Hanrahan told media. "We really need to slow Quest down and dissect what went wrong with Journey because we will not repeat that experience.

"That would be unacceptable," Hanrahan adds. "So we're going to modify the first cruise. We'll take an additional five days in dry-dock." Hanrahan noted that the refurbishment process, which for Journey was very complicated occurring in four places (Brazil, Trinidad, the Bahamas' Freeport and Bayonne), will be easier. Azamara Quest will undergo its upgrades in a European shipyard -- thus eliminating the logistics complications faced by Azamara Journey -- though he declined to name the yard.

As a result of the five-day padding added to Quest's schedule, the first cruise would have started on a Wednesday which Hanrahan noted was awkward. Instead, the line has created a two-night sampler cruise that sails from Miami to Coco Cay, a private island in the Bahamas. The second will be a five-night trip to Key West, Playa del Carmen and Costa Maya. And then the ship will be back on schedule. "As much as we hate to do this," he added, "we want people who board Quest the first time to have a terrific experience."

Affected passengers were contacted by Azamara's reservations team and offered two options: cancel for a full refund, or rebook on another 12- or 14-night Caribbean, 14-night Panama Canal, or 12-night South America cruise in a like category on Azamara Journey or Azamara Quest between October and December of this 2007, excluding Christmas and New Year's sailings. Those who choose to rebook will also receive a $300 per-stateroom onboard credit ($600 per suite).

FlRic · 06-08-2007, 11:45 AM

I must have been travelling or sumthun when Azamura came into being. Ally, could you do one of your wonderful researches and fill me in on who is Azamura and what are their policies. I thought these two ships were in the Celebrity lin-up. Thanx, loads!

**Ally** · 06-08-2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlRic

I must have been travelling or sumthun when Azamura came into being. Ally, could you do one of your wonderful researches and fill me in on who is Azamura and what are their policies. I thought these two ships were in the Celebrity lin-up. Thanx, loads!

Already done Rick

http://www.cruisingtalk.com/celebrit...r-company.html

Just awaiting a standalone area for the line.

FlRic · 06-09-2007, 11:15 AM

Thanx Ally! I found the info on the regular thread.