January Is Done And Dusted

It doesn’t`t seem 5 minutes since it was Christmas  but already a very wet and mild January has come and gone as spring beckons us. Traditionally the start if the New Year is the time when our thoughts turn to holidays as we all need something to look forward to in the coming months. Cruising is no exception, this is a very busy period with lots of bargains beckoning already.

Looking through what is on offer this little gem sprang out at me as a really good springtime break.

P&O Azura sails on 3oth April from Southampton for a 7 nights Norwegian Fjords Cruise, prices start at £ 549 per person for an inside cabin and there is also £ 30 per person on board credit to spend too. Azura is one of the newer ships of P&O`s fleet, launched in 2010 she carries just over 3000 passengers. An elegant ship with loads of facilities, try the Retreat the adults only spa terrace, and some excellent dining options. Olly Smith`s Glass House is a bistro type casual dining option for lunch and dinner, with wines selected by Olly himself, and, for lovers of Asian food, Atul Kochhar`s Sindhu is a  wonderful option in the evening.

Enough about the ship what about the itinerary? I`ve been to the Norwegian Fjords and a cruise is the ideal way to see this stunning part of the world. The cruise visits Stavanger, Norway’s 4th largest city, once a small, quiet market town that was transformed by the discovery of oil of its coast in the late 1960`s. A visit to the old town is a must for any visitor.

Alesund is the next stop, spreading over several islands stretching out into the sea, with the spectacular Sunnmore Mountains as a backdrop, it is a naturally beautiful part of Norway . Azura then sails on to Olden, a little village and gateway to the largest glacier in Europe, before reaching her final port of call – Bergen, surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords and once home to the composer Grieg.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, don`t wait to long or it might be snapped up very quickly !