Azura

1 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Cruise

Location

Date of travel

June, 2015

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

Family holiday

P&O’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ themed cruise to the Baltic and St Petersburg sounded like just the ticket for us. We had never been to any of the ports of call – Skagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo and Zeebrugge. The cruise itinerary was advertised 4 times during the summer, but only the first one onboard Azura was advertising the ‘Strictly’ theme. Having sailed with P&O twice before, they are our preferred cruise line. We had previously sailed on Oriana with its 1800 passengers, so were keen to see how different it would be on a much bigger ship – Azura – with just over 3000 passengers.

P&O recently streamlined the check-in procedure at the Mayflower Cruise Terminal in Southampton and we were soon under way. Our inside cabin was spacious – probably the most spacious cabin we have had. We were particularly pleased about that as we booked an “early saver” fare, allowing P&O to choose the cabin for us. Good choice. Well done, P&O.

I can honestly say we enjoyed all the ports of call. The weather wasn’t always the best, but we weren’t seeking sunny weather when we booked the cruise. Rather it was a chance to visit the Baltic counries with some dancing thrown in. What could be better? The 2-day organised tour in St Petersburg was well worth the money at around £100 each per day. If you take the ship’s own tour you don’t have to get your own visa for Russia, so it’s well worth it as that alone can cost in the region of £75 and getting around in Russia wouldn’t be that easy on your own unless you speak Russian! In the other ports of call, if you are mobile, it’s quite easy to get around on your own either on foot or by tram/sight-seeing buses. Whilst the St Petersburg trip was excellent, we felt that some of the other trips offered did not provide such good value for money and would advise ‘doing your homework’ in advance so you can make an informed decision as to whether you need an organised tour or not.

We were on the ‘Club Dining’ option, which actually means a fixed time to dine in a fixed restaurant. P&O now also offer ‘Freedom Dining’, which allows you to choose when and where to have dinner. This option seemed to work very well for many people we spoke to and next time we sail with P&O we plan to try it out.

Facilities onboard Azura include a well-equipped gym, lounges, bars, casino, spa, pools, sports facilities and a sea scren outdoor cinema – very cosy cuddled up on a sunbed with a blanket under the stars. Our only complaint about the ship would be that on a ship advertising a dancing cruise, THERE WAS NO DEDICATED DANCE FLOOR of any size. We had to dance in the Atrium, which was essentially the circulation space at the bottom of the stairs. In the early evening sessions when there weren’t many people it wasn’t so bad, but by 9.30 it was almost impossible to dance and all you could manage was to ‘shuffle about’. If you do want to try the ‘Strictly’ cruise with P&O, they do have other ships with dance floors, so check before booking. We just assumed a dancing cruise would be on a ship with a proper dance floor.

Apart from that one disappointment, we would highly recommend this cruise. The ports of call were fantastic. The Headliners Theatre Company were also fantastic and we enjoyed their shows and the rest of the entertainment. Facilities onboard ship are also excellent. It doesn’t matter whether you like dancing or not. As with all cruises, you can choose to ‘dip in and out’ of the various entertainment offerings and just do the things you like to do. We thoroughly enjoyed the dancing and seeing and meeting the stars of ‘Strictly’ and it made the cruise special for us.

Lifeisonebigholiday

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.