Azura Inaugural Celebrations

Linda Buckingham on 09 April 2010
The launch of a new ship is always exciting - and this one was no different. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and a lovely day to head down to Southampton. When you get close to the ferry dock you can often see the larger ships and Azura was sitting there gleaming in the sun. Check in was delayed slightly as Darcey Bussell arrived and we were all asked to make way for her to go through the procedures in peace. This was expected and handled well as we were all given numbered cards so we didn't lose our places in the queue. After a quick check in and a lovely lunch in the Venezia 24 hour buffet restaurant we set off on our inspection of the ship.

The 'Retreat' is going to be a popular venue on this family friendly ship as it offers a child free relaxation zone for a modest fee. As with every ship of this size (3,100 passengers) there is a state of the art gym, aerobic studio and spa for the adults plus excellent kids’ facilities for children of all ages. There is now a new opportunity for families to do something together with the outdoor 'Seascreen', where blockbuster films will be shown. For adults who love the spa - there are brand new spa staterooms giving preferential access to the spa terrace - and outdoor spa cabanas.

I was disappointed that the new single stateroom wasn't open for viewing when I found it - but popular opinion from colleagues who did see them said that they were very well styled and should prove very popular! In general, the style of the ship is fresh, contemporary and offers a great range of cabins from the singles to the butler serviced suites.

The last part of the tour is to visit all the entertainment & dining venues. These all have individual style but really don't come to life until everyone's out and about later. After a presentation from P&O in the Playhouse Theatre we have around an hour to get ready for the gala dinner. This is when we find out that the hot water doesn't run out and there are plenty of well placed mirrors around the cabin!

At 18.30 the gathering place for everyone aboard is around the atrium for a champagne reception and we're all out in our finery. A wonderful dinner is served in the silver service Meridian restaurant and then we're free to enjoy the ship at her best. For those who wanted a leisurely drink there are plenty of places to go.... the Planet Bar has sea views all down one side and if that's not good enough the opposite walls are floor to ceiling audio visual screens which show different vistas every night - you could be in the middle Manhattan one evening and Rio the next!

If you're missing home, people can head to 'Brodie's' - there's live music and a pub feel with the slot machines and gaming tables out back. For a quiet wine bar there's the Glasshouse which is designed by Olly Smith and offers a sophisticated alternative dining venue with wine pairing. If you're missing your curry you can spoil yourself in 'Sindhu' the Atul Kochhar Indian/British fusion restaurant.

We found ourselves in 'Malabar' the exotic looking Indian themed bar nearby which featured a live band and singer for most of the evening and then moved on to the larger 'Manhattan' for an hour or so on the dance floor. We couldn't make up our minds whether to go in search of a late night snack or call it a day and I have to say that my dancing feet made the decision for me - only four hours to breakfast - off to bed!

Overall, although Azura is a twin sister ship to Ventura - I definitely preferred Azura for her style and design. She has all the expected facilities with alternative dining, professional entertainment troupe and on board shopping but the single & spa cabins, big screen outdoor cinema and 'Retreat' give new options for us all to enjoy - I just wish we had been able to stay on longer to try them all out!