Anyone been on the Azura?

[TC1474]

18 months ago we did a cruise to the Baltic on the Carnival Legend with an overnight stay in St Petersburg in Russia. Had a great time seeing places like Estonia, although for me the biggest disappointent was the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen.

Anyway, she who must be obeyed wanted to do that trip again and so she has just booked 14 nights on the P & O Azura for 14 nights in June out of Southampton.

Done Carnival (Legend and Glory - 3 times on each) and Royal Carribean (Indepenendce of the Seas - 2 cruises on her) a number of times, but this will be our first time with P & O and on the Azura in particular. She came out of Hamburg last Friday after a refit (she is 5 years old after all), so just wondered if anyone on here has any experience of the ship.

At £1100 for 14 nights all in, (which includes tips and car parking) I can't complain about the price, especially for that time of year, and she looks a nice ship, but looks can be deceptive and the reviews on sites like Cruise Critic are mixed.

So any observations most welcome

[Guest]

We went on the Azura December 2013 for the Christmas cruise in the Caribbean - 14 nights.

Return flights from Gatwick to Barbados overnight each time on BA Dreamliners. Very smooth transfers and luggage handling.

The ship is superb - we had a superior de-luxe balcony cabin which gives plenty of room to stretch out on the loungers.

Tea and coffee facilities in the cabin.

We would have the Steward bring a light continental tray in the morning - which means proper coffee.

Then a normal breakfast either in the dining room (waiter served) or in the cafeterias using self serve.

Food quality and choice is excellent. Hot food was HOT.

Dinner for us was fine dining - fixed table second sitting including 4 formal evenings which we really enjoy. We like an 8 seat table to get to know people and discuss the cruise.

Very clean everywhere - which it should be as the ship was not long built.

Very quiet at night for us - or cabin was 4th from the bow on the port side D120. Some noise and vibration as the lateral motors were employed during docking / sailing manouvres.

Excellent entertainment and the deck parties - particularly leaving British ports were great fun.

We would definitely sail on the Azura again.

[TC1474]

We went on the Azura December 2013 for the Christmas cruise in the Caribbean - 14 nights.

Return flights from Gatwick to Barbados overnight each time on BA Dreamliners. Very smooth transfers and luggage handling.

The ship is superb - we had a superior de-luxe balcony cabin which gives plenty of room to stretch out on the loungers.

Tea and coffee facilities in the cabin.

We would have the Steward bring a light continental tray in the morning - which means proper coffee.

Then a normal breakfast either in the dining room (waiter served) or in the cafeterias using self serve.

Food quality and choice is excellent. Hot food was HOT.

Dinner for us was fine dining - fixed table second sitting including 4 formal evenings which we really enjoy. We like an 8 seat table to get to know people and discuss the cruise.

Very clean everywhere - which it should be as the ship was not long built.

Very quiet at night for us - or cabin was 4th from the bow on the port side D120. Some noise and vibration as the lateral motors were employed during docking / sailing manouvres.

Excellent entertainment and the deck parties - particularly leaving British ports were great fun.

We would definitely sail on the Azura again.

 

Thanks for that. On all the cruises we have done, we always have a standard balcony cabin (Deck 9 this trip) and we never bother with fine dining, prefer the buffet, but good to know that you rated the food.

The ship has just come out of Hamburg (last Friday) after a major refit, and getting her bow painted with the Unon flag similar to Britannia, so I expect her to be clean, but good to know that you would recommend her again. Thanks for that.

[Steve D]

We also went on a Carribean cruise on Azura in November 2011 with two other friends and we both paid extra for one of the larger super de-luxe balcony cabins. Almost no privacy as the balconies jut out further on the ship than the others so everyone above could look down on us! We booked many, many months ahead and I think we paid around £1900 each. Our other friends decided to join us on the cruise about six weeks before it left and got a bloody suite with a butler, fresh fruit and flowers every day, canapes every night and entrance to a special restaurant breakfast for the same money. How they laughed, the bast*rds! Mind you, they were late risers and rarely ate breakfast so we both took turns to use their cabin card to have our brekkie in the nobs breakfast lounge. The Indian restaurant is fab - give it a try, it's nothing like the meals you get from your local Indian restaurant. Done a few cruises and prefer P&O every time. Tea making facilities in the room, cheaper drinks and priced in sterling.

[Jnestie]

We very nearly booked this cruise yesterday. Never cruised with p&o but all reviews look good. We booked a 10 night ncl cruise, balcony, flights and all inclusive for £550 pp. I don't know how they do it. Enjoy your cruise on the Azura.