| Azamara cancels next Quest cruise

Extensive damage to Azamara
Quest has forced the
cancellation of the Apr 12
sailing from Hong Kong.
AUSTRALIAN clients are among the
hundreds of passengers whose holiday plans
have been spoiled by the engine fire onboard
Azamara Quest last Friday.
After last week’s 17-day Asia cruise was cut
short, Azamara had hoped that the next
sailing would go ahead, but it announced the
decision to cancel on its website.
The cruise line and travel agents are currently
in the process of contacting those affected.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is
also underway.
Since Sunday (01 Apr) Azamara Quest has
remained in Sandakan while engineers
assessed the fire damage in order to evaluate
the status of the next voyage.
“Assessments such as these can be
complicated, and all facts must be gathered
before a decision can be reached,” the
company said in a statement on its website.
“Unfortunately, due to the time needed to
repair the damage caused by the fire, it is
necessary to cancel Azamara Quest’s next
voyage, which was scheduled to depart
Singapore on April 12.”
The ship is expected to be moved to
Singapore for the necessary repairs.
Azamara apologised to its clients for the
effect of this “unexpected development” on
their holiday plans.
The company said its staff would “personally
discuss the details regarding their cancelled
sailing” but it is believed that passengers will
be given a full refund plus a future cruise
certificate for 30% of the fare paid.
Meanwhile, all passengers on the previous
cancelled cruise have left Malaysia on flights
chartered by Azamara.
Azamara also provided luxury hotel
accommodation, while passengers who chose
to arrange their own hotel were reimbursed
up to US$300 per day.
Passengers received US$150 per day for
meals and incidental costs, and Azamara also
contributed up to US$500 toward the costs of
flight itinerary changes.
Agents can advise their clients, who wish to
discuss the matter further, to contact
Azamara’s head office in the United States via
collect call to +1 408 916 9001.