Azura by Claire
Ship - Azura
Line - P&O Cruises
Date - 10 April 2010
After all the waiting, the countdown to Azura was finally over and we were at the terminal ready to check in for our first view of P&O Cruises brand new Super Liner. A brand new silver Mercedes Benz pulled up and a very smart Darcey Bussell, Azura’s godmother, stepped out looking dazzling and ready to fullfil her role. There was a real air of excitement and a feeling that we were about to witness something special.
Once smoothly checked in we got onboard to take a look around and at out cabins. We had cabin R36, a JC grade on Riviera Deck. The cabin was light & airy, the furnishing was luxurious and the cabin was overall well laid out. I loved the large mirror at the back of the bed on the wall which created the feeling of space. There were a lot of drawer and cupboard space. I was pleased to see a “walk-in closet” with hanging space for suits/dresses and no doors which prevent clothes from becoming squashed and creased. This was also ideal to stand up empty suitcases instead of having to store them under the bed.
We left our belongings and went to explore the ship. First stop was the Atrium; with its teak floor it was extremely impressive and full of people making it the social hub of the ship. It was set up for a band to play in the corner and two sets of stairs up either side gave it a very grand look. There were 16 steps to each block of stairs and these were overlooked by the 4 glass elevators taking excited passengers to other parts of the ship.
Next visit was the restaurant to test the food; we ate in the Verona on the Lido deck, which was the self service buffet area. We were greeted by a vast array of hot & cold food, something to suit everyone’s pallet. I had to try one mouthful of every sweet; we all shared them and agreed they were definitely ‘Top Notch’. Venecia is identical to Verona serving the same food but it just expands the seating for self service.
Dining:
For more formal dining choose the Mendian, Peninsular and Oriental restaurants on F and P deck. Again identical restaurants with a slight difference in colour/décor but serve similar menus. The Oriental is the largest of the three and will serve the traditional 1st and 2nd dining. In here waiters tend to your every need and all have tables for 2, 4, 6 or 8 people. Once we had eaten it was off to the specially arranged tour to look at the cabins & public areas.
Cabins:
All cabins were very impressive. The inside cabins are all well laid out and have hanging space which seemed the be a feature throughout all grades of cabins. The outside cabins were again very comfortable and airy with the added light. Balcony cabins had a spacious balcony area and furniture outside which still left plenty of room to manoeuvre around. There were tea and coffee making facilities in all cabins including complimentary biscuits. The higher grade cabins were a superior quality. Single cabins are the first on Azura and I viewed both the inside SA grade and the outside RA grade. There is also a large unit that runs along the mirror that would be especially useful for storage. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending one of these cabins to anyone.
Entertainment:
There is a vast array of entertainment venues on board:
Playhouse – The playhouse is very impressive with enough seats to occupy 802 guests. Split over two decks this is the perfect venue for performing.
Brodies – This is a lively bar with karaoke in the corner and had a real atmosphere about it. Situated on F deck, it was a very popular meeting place for pre dinner drinks.
The Glass House – Is a large venue, providing comfortable seating and a relaxed vibe. This is where you can taste wines recommended by Oliver Smith and choose some of his specially blended house wines just for Azura by the glass.
Mallabar – Is a lively venue by the might with a stage for a live act or band with comfortable seating that you can sink into, it’s the ideal place to unwind after dinner and be entertained with style.
Manhattan – Is the larger of the two bars which has a dance floor and DJ booth. The seating was set out in semi-circles on tiers. This is where we watched an Annie Lennox tribute act, which was identical in every way. She was of top quality and really showcased the high standard of entertainment onboard Azura.
Sindhu – Is extremely glitzy and rich in colour, décor influenced culture and Indian cuisine, some of the seating are booths for privacy and creating an exclusive dining experience. The menu is inspired by Atul Kochhar ‘master of spices’ specialities.
Children’s Facilities:
There are 6 main areas for the children to make the most of their Azura experience. There is a pool out on deck especially for children and facilities cater to all age groups. My favourite was the chill out area with flat screen televisions and bean bags to relax on, with equipment to watch their favourite film or play on games. I know my two children ages 8 and 12 would have lived there for the durations of the cruises. If you are travelling with kids be prepared to see very little of them!
The Retreat:
The Retreat is linked to the Spa Area and provides a covered haven, no matter if you are simply relaxing or having a treatment in a cabana or drying off from the pool. Fragranced with lavender pots this area provides a welcome break from the afternoon heat.
The Spa:
Is AMAZING! With twelve treatment rooms, child free pool and even its own cosmetic doctor. This is a qualified female doctor onboard to carry out treatments including botox. There is a thermal suite with hot stone beds, a hairdressing salon, gym and a Rasul – a private spa area for DIY treatments.
The Gallery:
Showcases fine art whilst the library stocks well read books and current magazines.
Shop Till You Drop! There are gift shops onboard selling duty free, clothing and cruise souvenirs. They are all conveniently located around the Atrium, to pop in and purchase your bargain duty free.
Once we had enjoyed every inch of the ship, it was time to retire to our cabins. I slept exceedingly well and the only thing was missing was the rocking motions of the sea to sooth me to sleep, as we were moored in Southampton the whole time.
After a hearty breakfast we disembarked and joined our coach for the long journey back to Barrow-In-Furness. I had a feeling though that it won’t be long before I will be stepping back onto Azura for my own holiday!
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