P&O Cruises - Azura Ship Cruises Reviews

Thursday 9th Feb 2012

www.cruise.co.uk - Cruise Deals, Cruises & Cruise Holidays

0800 408 6200

All these P&O Cruises - Azura Ship Cruises Reviews are written by REAL cruise passengers & we DO NOT moderate or change any of the review. You can agree or disagree by posting up your own comment. If you write your own review we will send you a Fodor's Guide to Cruising for FREE, Get Some Great Deals On P&O Cruises On The Azura Ship 2012

Cruise Reviews
120,934 Opinions Cruise Answers
182,431 Q&As Cruise Photos
14,140 Real Photos Cruise Videos
1,448 Real Videos Shore Excursions Our Cruise
Consultants Cruise Info
Guides Cruise Forum Get a Quote Special Offers Last Minute Cruises Luxury Cruises Tailor Made Cruise River Cruises Family Cruises Free Brochures Make a Payment

Cruise Reviews

Pando Cruises

Azura

Stunning First Cruise On Azura

Stunning first cruise on Azura

Reviewed By: Britchic, West Midlands on 8th Sep 2010
Cruise Line: P&O Cruises	Times cruised before: 0
Cruise Ship: Azura	Sailed: August, 2010
Destination: Mediterranean	Age: 36-45
Cabin: Balcony	Occasion: Family holiday

Our first cruise. What a fantastic experience. Perhaps we were looking at it through rose coloured spectacles, who knows? Does it matter? We enjoyed ourselves anyway. We drove down to Southampton the night before and stayed in the Travelodge, possibly the noisiest hotel I’ve ever not slept in and not an experience I care to repeat. We were at the Ocean Terminal by 12.00 and it was already full so some people must have got there mighty early. After a slight delay with our cruise cards off we go, trotting on to the ship and up to the buffet for lunch. No problems with tables or food, and my 8 yr old son is excited already – all this food and he can just get it himself! We have words about portion control and eating what you take. Cabins were ready by 2pm and we go down to meet our lovely Steward(ess) Jolly, and see our surprisingly large cabin – a C deck balcony. We purchased a package so we have champagne, flowers and chocolates waiting and it all feels very civilised. In fact we didn’t experience any problems with P&O organisation bar one – the extra Mothercare bedrails weren’t there and apparently don’t exist until I think to chase them up at Reception a few days later when they miraculously appear. No matter, we had readybeds with us anyway. We always had great service from all staff aboard, in particular some of the restaurant staff who made a big fuss of the children. Moving on to food – a big part of the cruise for us! My 5 yr old daughter was really looking forward to the formal nights for a chance to dress up and they didn’t disappoint her. The vast majority of passengers were in very formal wear on each of the four nights. With the exception of some lobster puffed out with mashed potato the food was really good and in some cases exceptional. As expected the buffet food not so good, but still fine and some nice puds for childrens’ tea! We ate in all the restaurants, and our favourite by far was Seventeen. This was a £20 cover charge on our cruise (I believe it is a £25 cover on shorter cruises) but it was well worth the money. Every item on the menu was exquisite, from the scallops to start to the theatrical crepes suzette to finish. Sindhu was much less to my taste, for a £15 cover, although my husband enjoyed his meal. The Glass House we found rather mixed – wonderful tempura prawns but distinctly below average bruschetta. Verona, the buffet which converts to an Italian trattoria in the evening, was of a pretty good standard and only a few items incurred a cover charge, one of which was the fillet steak cooked at your table on hot lava rock – delicious. Entertainment – I’m afraid with 2 small children we didn’t sample very much of this. Most of the daytime stuff didn’t really appeal although my husband attended a few lectures. We went to one Headliners show, quite enjoyable and some decent singing and dancing, and I watched Mamma Mia on the seascreen, cocktail in hand, on a gorgeous warm night a few hours away from the Greek coast. Life doesn’t get much better than that! If our children went to Kids’ Club in the evening we tended to eat or visit the Planet bar on Deck 18, and either watch the wake or the fantastic images of various places...the Orient was our favourite. Talking of bars, the drinks prices were I thought more than reasonable. We usually paid £12.50 fo a very decent Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and cocktails of the day at under £2 were a bargain. For those doing the same trip, before you buy the P&O 6 * bottles of water for £9, Katakolon duty free building has packs of 6 waters for 1.50 euros. For those with children the kids’ club is a really great resource and can transform your holiday. The children had to be practically dragged out of it they were having so much fun and the staff worked long and hard with them. Ports of Call – we visited Malaga, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula and Gibraltar. It was a very pretty itinerary and one I’d definitely do again, but particular highlights were our private tour of Katakolon with George the taxi driver, Dubrovnik, Venice Sailaway (standing watching it all pass by with Pavarotti blaring out brings tears to your eyes) and the sailaway from Korcula which was a charming little place amongst many islands. We didn’t do any ships’ tours. The ship – she was very impressive and managed to handle 3000 passengers well I thought. We had generally very good weather so I don’t know what she would be like if passengers had to spend an extended time indoors. Favourite spaces were The Planet Bar, our balcony and the Meridian restaurant, particularly when we had our window table for four and saw dolphins. In general it seemed a very friendly cruise with quite a mix of age groups. We didn't encounter much moaning, or much to moan about! We have already booked a cruise for next year, so P&O has won some new fans here.
Quality of Food
We tried all the restaurants, and liked the MDR for formal nights or if they had a good menu, Verona, Seventeen and both Indian and Oriental nights in the buffet. The Peninsular was good for breakfast or a leisurely lunch, and even the pizza and burgers bars poolside provided tasty food.
Entertainment
I'm cheating rating this really since we only went to one show.
Shore Excursions	n/a

Staff
We were freedom dining, but still some of the waiters really made an effort with the children.
Children's Facilities
One of the best aspects of the ship for us.
Onboard Activities
There seemed to be a wide choice even if we didn't partake!
Cabins
Pleasantly surprised by the size.
Overall Rating

Was this review informative to you?

Report this review

1 2 3 Next»

Comment by Denison, Cleckheaton (12 Sep 10 10:03) about this REVIEW

Nice to read such a great review of P&O new ship. We are hooked on both cruising and P&O as the standard, we have found, is always excellent and so we have decided to take the plunge and try a month on board in December / January. It is refreshing to get a good informative review, well done.

Report this comment

Comment by Beauchamp, Barrow-In-Furness (11 Sep 10 21:11) about this REVIEW

Thanks for that helpful review. We have no children in tow but you have answered a lot of questions very well. We on Azura in March next year our 7th cruise but always like to read good informative feedback.

Report this comment

Comment by Howell, Bury St Edmunds (11 Sep 10 17:31) about this REVIEW

Thank you for your lovely review. We are crusing on the Azura in December 2011 with our two boys who will be 9 and 5. We have booked a balcony cabin and are wondering whether to upgrade to a superior deluxe balcony on C deck - would be interested to hear your thoughts on the cabin and the sleeping arrangements for children? Many Thanks Ann-Marie

Report this comment

Comment by Britchic, West Midlands (12 Sep 10 09:55) about a COMMENT by Howell (11 Sep 10 17:31)

Hi Anne Marie, the superior deluxe balconies are on D deck, C deck has regular priced balconies but the balcony itself (not the cabin) is double the size of other balconies. The superior deluxe cabins on D deck are bigger cabins and have a bath, but the balconies themselves are smaller than on C deck. So it's up to you really whether you would prefer the bigger cabins, with bath and sofa bed configuration, or smaller cabins with a bigger balcony.

Report this comment

Comment by Riley, Wakefield (11 Sep 10 17:14) about this REVIEW

Hi truly glad you enjoyed your first cruise, loved your review and now we are looking forward to our 4 weeks in December, this will be to celebrate our Golden Wedding. Hope you enjoy your next cruise, sure you will, it was good to see a good review, even more so as it was Azura, thank you. Happy cruising Hazel V Riley

Report this comment

Opinion: Agree Comment by Westwood, Brixham (11 Sep 10 16:12) about this REVIEW

Pleased to read a positive comment in particular from a young family. P&O are a great cruise line. In fact as my wife and I have tried others, they are the best in our opinion. We began cruising some years ago with Thompson, and Airtours, (these were not bad and the food was always good) and then graduated to P&O. Our first cruise with P&O was a trip to Australia, and I can state that was a real experience. So good we went a second time the following year. We are now gold members and look forward to many more years cruising with P&O. We have not yet cruised on Azura, but look forward to doing so. Ann & Mike Westwood. (Brixham, Devon)

Report this comment

Comment by Reid, Paisley (11 Sep 10 12:21) about this REVIEW

Thoroughy enjoyed your review! Can't wait now until December when we will be on board Azura for four weeks in the Caribbean. Make sure you are registered as members of Portunas Club and begin building up those points! Children just love cruising - our grandson is now an old hand!

Report this comment

Comment by Muir, Arbroath (14 Sep 10 09:39) about a COMMENT by Reid (11 Sep 10 12:21)

Also on the Azura in December for 4 weeks, great to hear such a positive review

Report this comment

Question by Reid, Paisley (14 Sep 10 21:35) about a COMMENT by Muir (14 Sep 10 09:39)

Perhaps our paths will cross!

Report this comment

Answer by Muir, Arbroath (18 Sep 10 08:09) to a QUESTION by Reid (14 Sep 10 21:35)

You never know, I would look out for the kilt but I am sure there will be quite a few.

Report this comment

1 2 3 Next»