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Azura Review - Sneak Preview
First Impressions
P&O Cruises' newest ship, the 116,000-ton, 3,080-passenger Azura -- which was launched in a dance-inspired naming ceremony by godmother and ballerina Darcey Bussell in April 2010 -- is targeting both first-time cruisers and core passengers who love the classic style of cruising. The ship oozes P&O's traditional style: full dress codes, afternoon tea, deck games and ballroom dancing on the ship's three dance floors, which include a wooden one in the atrium hosting regular dance evenings.
But while these much-loved favourites will strike a chord with P&O aficionados, some innovative firsts will, no doubt, also attract passengers who are new to cruising (and new to P&O Cruises). Contemporary touches include two fresh dining concepts -- an Indian-fusion restaurant, which is the creation of Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, and the Glass House wine bar, for which TV wine expert Olly Smith has selected 32 different wines for cruisers to enjoy.
Then there are the well-publicised solo cabins, a rarity for new-builds in this day and age. The fact that there are no extra supplements to pay is great news for single travellers. But, be warned: You will need to plan ahead to nab one of these cabins. There are only 18, and by the ship's launch, they had already sold out for the whole first season.
Bedtime
Azura has five different types of cabins: inside and outside single cabins (approximately 130 square feet), inside and outside standard cabins (approximately 160 square feet), balcony cabins (approximately 233 square feet), superior deluxe balcony cabins (approximately 324 square feet) and suites (between 489 and 742 square feet, depending on category). Decor in all of the cabins is clean and neutral, and they are kitted out with nautical sailing canvas pictures, which is a nice touch.
As this is a British ship, tea-and-coffee-making facilities are standard in Azura's staterooms, as are the British three-pin plugs. There are a couple of U.S. plug sockets in the cabins, too.
The single cabins are one of the biggest standout features on Azura; the 18 cabins are all situated on Deck 6 and are a great addition for P&O. Each has a single bed, a flat-screen television and a vanity/writing desk and drawers, plus a bathroom with a shower. Cubbyhole-type units offer plenty of storage space. Interestingly, we found the inside single cabins to be much larger than the outside single cabins.
Regular inside, outside and balcony cabins are pretty standard in size, with a desk and drawer space, flat-screen televisions and bathrooms with showers. In-cabin toiletries include shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.
The superior balcony cabins are very spacious (classified as mini-suites on Princess ships) and include a bathtubs in their bathrooms.
P&O hasn't jumped completely on the spa cabin bandwagon, but with Azura, the line is offering passengers travelling in certain category cabins (JD and OD staterooms, superior deluxe staterooms and suites) to upgrade to the "spa stateroom package." This includes perks like access to the Retreat sun deck, two facials and full-body massages, unlimited fitness classes and access to the Oasis Pool (the adults-only pool, adjacent to the spa) throughout the cruise. In-cabin extras include spa bathrobes, slippers and towels, fruit baskets, MP3 players and docking stations, and welcome gifts from the Oasis Spa. The price of the package varies per cruise -- £249 per person for three to seven nights, £299 per person for 8 to 15 nights and £399 per person for 16 nights or more.
Mealtime
Dining options onboard Azura, like its sister ship Ventura, are abundant, with a total of 11 eateries. The alternative dining venues were much-hyped prior to launch, and they lived up to our expectations.
Sindhu, located on Deck 7, looks set to be one of the most popular restaurants on the ship. The cost of eating there varies, depending on the length of the cruise -- £15 per person for cruises longer than eight days, £20 per person for cruises of seven days and £25 per person for short cruises. The restaurant features gorgeous, dark-wood furniture and red and green soft furnishings with a hint of sparkly decor, as well as an open kitchen. Food on offer includes the traditional Rogan Josh lamb curry, Goan-style roasted lobster in coconut sauce with lobster kedgeree (Lagusta Xec Xec) and baked parcels of vegetables with tomato and fenugreek sauce (Subj Polti). If you want something lighter, Indian tapas will be served in Sindhu, too. Atul plans to be onboard a number of cruises this year to give passengers some of his cookery tips.
At the aft end of the ship on Deck 17, with fantastic sweeping views of the ship's wake, is the aptly named Seventeen (which sits in the same spot as The White Room on Ventura). It features upscale British fare, and menu options include foie gras, terrine of duck, Welsh salt marsh lamb loin and Dover sole. Desserts include Bramley Apple Tart Tatin and a dark chocolate mousse that sits on a layer of espresso popping candy. The cover charge for dining in Seventeen is £20 per person for cruises of eight nights or more, £25 per person for cruises of three to seven nights and £30 per person for two nights. Al fresco dining is also available here.
If you fancy staying out on deck, the Poolside Pizzeria and Grill, next to the Coral Pool on Deck 15, will serve snacks throughout the day.
There are three main dining rooms: The Oriental, Peninsular (both Deck 6) and Meridian (Deck 5) restaurants. Two of the dining venues (Oriental and Peninsular) are club dining, meaning you choose to eat at either 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m., and you will sit at the same table each evening with the same tablemates. Meridian, meanwhile, offers a freedom dining option for guests, giving the flexibility to arrive and dine when you like.
Venezia and Verona up on Deck 15 are the two buffet dining rooms, serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late-night snacks. In the evening, Verona becomes a waiter-service Italian restaurant, while Venezia serves up themed buffets that include Oriental, seafood, best of British, and country and western.
Cutlery in the dining venues comes courtesy of designer Nick Munro.
If you are looking for a caffeine boost -- and not the usual cruise ship coffee -- then Java on Deck 5 is a welcome treat. P&O has teamed up with U.K. coffee shop chain Costa Coffee to offer a mixture of espresso-based drinks. Prices range from £1.80 to £3.15.
Grand Old Favourites
Structurally, Azura is the same in design as Ventura and Princess Cruises' Grand-class ships, so any cruisers familiar with these ships will have no problem finding their way around.
And, of course, many of the popular features remain. The three-story atrium is the hub of this ship (just like on its sisters), as it leads off to a variety of public areas that include shops, the purser's office, the shore excursions desk and the coffee bar. A few favourite bars from Ventura have made their way onto Azura with some minor tweaks. The exotic Malabar is quite similar to Ventura's Tamarind, and the stylish Blue Bar, situated at the top of the atrium, is akin to Ventura's Red Bar.
The Oasis Pool and Spa is almost identical to the one on Ventura (with the addition of the Retreat, of course), and this will be a welcome return for those who love to spend time pampering.
New and Nifty
We expect the Retreat to be a hugely popular spot on the ship. It is modeled after The Sanctuary, the adults-only sun deck area pioneered by sister cruise line Princess Cruises. Situated high on Deck 16 forward, it has its own private terrace area with cabanas and sun beds. (Some double beds are available, too.) Soothing lavender smells from the spa waft up to keep you relaxed. The price for using the Retreat is £6 for a half-day on a port day and £10 for a half-day on a sea day. Healthy snacks and drinks are available in the Retreat. (We also spotted burgers and chocolate pots on the menu if you decide to indulge!)
Another inspiration from Princess is the giant SeaScreen, suspended over the Aqua Pool on Deck 15 (hence, the reason for no cover over the pool, as there is on Ventura). Films and British television shows such as "Only Fools and Horses" and "Absolutely Fabulous" will be shown as you sail.
If you are a wine lover, then you are in for a treat in The Glass House on Deck 7. The relaxed venue is the mastermind of extravagant wine connoisseur Olly Smith, who has selected 32 wines especially for P&O's Azura; each wine can be sampled by the glass, thanks to the nifty Enomatic wine system that keeps the wine preserved and the temperature correct for each type of wine. It looks pretty impressive, too! Wine pairing is also available with dinner; The Glass House offers a menu featuring light bites, steaks and seafood with prices ranging from £4.95 to £7.50. Smith has also introduced "Wine Flights" here. For £9.95, you can choose one of seven flights, consisting of three 125 ml glasses of wine for you to try. However, wine's not the only libation served there -- we spied Boddingtons and Stella on tap, too.
Smith has also added his touch to the Deck 18 Planet Bar by creating six themed cocktails. The unusual bar has a floor-to-ceiling video wall of iconic places around the world. Another new bar is Brodie's -- a London-inspired pub on Deck 6. Be sure to check out the fab flooring in there!
Kid-friendly Factor
P&O has been promoting Azura as a real haven for couples, so we were surprised at just how well-equipped the ship is for youngsters. Situated at the aft of the ship on Deck 16 are four main areas for kids: The Beach Hut for 2- to 4-year-olds, Frontiers for 5- to 8-year-olds; The Hub for 9- to 12-year-olds and Apartment 16 for 13- to 17-year-olds. There is also a night nursery for youngsters. As on sister ship Ventura, Noddy will make appearances during cruises, too! A sports court on Deck 19 is also popular with the kids onboard.
Huh?
Future brides and grooms take note: Azura is registered in Southampton -- not Bermuda like all other P&O ships. For that reason, wedding ceremonies cannot be carried out onboard the ship, but vow renewals can take place.
Azura also has no Cyb@centre -- an odd choice when most lines are increasing their connectivity. Instead, a very small library on Deck 5 offers a number of computers for passenger use. We anticipate that this space will become quite crowded on sea days. To avoid the queues, rent a laptop from the library, or bring your own. The ship is Wi-Fi-enabled, and Internet packages cost £35 for 100 minutes or £65 for 250 minutes.
Bottom Line
Even though many of Azura's innovative touches come from its American sister brand, Princess Cruises, the ship still highlights many things that U.K. cruisers will love, from dining venues to areas for relaxation. The ship has the right mix of classic and contemporary offerings; for example, you can go from playing shuffleboard on deck to sipping a fabulous glass of wine out of an Enomatic machine in the Glass House. If you want the charm of a traditional British cruise ship with all the innovative extras that older ships lack, then Azura is a great pick.
--by Kelly Ranson, U.K. Editor
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