Cruising is a holiday that can polarise opinions. For some, it’s their favourite way to travel, seeing multiple destinations, albeit briefly, in one trip. For others, being stuck on a boat, no matter the size, is their idea of hell. We boarded P&O Cruises’ Azura to see whether it could win us over, and – spoiler alert – we loved it.
What’s hot
+ Easy, stress-free travel
+ Plenty to do, without any pressure
+ A great value, sociable, varied holiday
What’s not
– Not everything is included
– It isn’t high-end luxury
– Cabin plug sockets are badly placed
Why choose P&O Cruises’ Azura?
There’s no shortage of cruise companies promising to take you almost anywhere, from short hops around Europe to full-on world cruises. The ships vary just as much as the destinations, with some the size of a small city (the largest currently sailing can carry 7,600 passengers and thousands of crew members), while others are cosier, taking as few as 100 guests per sailing. The price tags are just as diverse, too.
Where P&O Cruises excels is in offering cruises that fall neatly in the mid-range: less elite than Regent or Silversea, less formal than Cunard and less glitzy than Royal Caribbean, but it feels more relaxed and less crowded than MSC. It covers plenty of different routes, too, from the British Isles to the Caribbean, and for the really dedicated cruise lovers, there are world cruise options available.
From the moment you book the cruise to the moment you land back in the UK, P&O Cruises makes things as easy as possible, which is a huge bonus for nervous travellers or first-time cruisers. You know exactly where you need to be and what paperwork you need to have with you, and there are always plenty of staff members around, even at the airport, to help should you need it.
Our trip took us around the Canary Islands and Madeira
, spending seven nights on board the fleet’s mid-sized ship, Azura. With 14 guest decks and a capacity of 3,100 guests and 1,250 crew members, Azura might sound big, but once we got our bearings, we found it easy to navigate.
If you’re new to cruising or just hate the idea of being overwhelmed on a huge ship with thousands of other people, then Azura is a great option. It had the bustle you want from a holiday resort, but it was rare for any area to feel crowded – other than in Malabar for the karaoke night – and finding a quiet space to sit and relax was never an issue.
Our cabin on P&O Cruises’ Azura
There are several cabin options on board to suit different budgets. We stayed in a balcony cabin, which offered the best combination of space, relaxation, and value for money — although it does add around £300 a week to the cost of the cruise. Unless you’re splashing out on a suite, you’re never going to be overwhelmed by space on a cruise ship, but the addition of large sliding doors and a balcony provides plenty of natural light in the cabin. It also gives you somewhere extra to relax, watching and listening to the waves, which I found incredibly soothing. If your budget allows, the balcony is absolutely worth considering, especially on sea days.
While space is at a premium, there’s ample storage and hanging space for your clothes and luggage behind a dividing wall. It’s simple but effective, helping you keep the main room tidy and uncluttered. Located just outside the petite bathroom, the space also serves as a dressing area, with a full-length mirror for your final fit check before you head out.
The bed is a decent size and comfortable, with bedside cabinets on each side. What it lacks, though, are easily accessible plug sockets near the bed, or any USB sockets. The only usable sockets are at the far side of the small desk, the furthest point from the bed. That’s fine if you aren’t using your phone as an alarm clock, but if you want your phone by the bed or need to plug in medical equipment like a CPAP to sleep, it’s far from ideal.
Beyond the bed, there’s a desk and chair, an armchair, a fridge and a small TV, albeit with only very limited channels. It’s really everything you need.
What do you actually do during the day?
We joined Azura in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, after a Jet2 charter flight from Gatwick. Because the ship stayed in port for two nights, we had a full day to explore Tenerife before setting sail.
With stops at Madeira, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, as well as two full days at sea, the itinerary gave us a chance to enjoy some of the highlights of each place, interspersed with relaxing sea days. From the heights of Mount Teide in Tenerife, with snow underfoot and the sun beating down, to a colourful tuk-tuk tour of Funchal in Madeira, there are excursions available at every port.
Cruising in March means the weather can be slightly unreliable, especially if you’re expecting wall-to-wall sunshine, but we were only caught out once, by a flash shower in Gran Canaria. We were on our way to the Arehucas rum distillery, and had to console ourselves with a sample or five of rum, so it wasn’t all bad.
While stops at each port are usually only a day long, they give you a glimpse of each place, letting you taste the food and drink and see a snapshot of what it has to offer. The visits might be short and sweet, but they’re brilliant for getting a flavour of a place and working out where you might want to return to properly.
Without the distraction of activities on land, we threw ourselves into cruise life on sea days and headed off to play shuffleboard, wander around the art gallery and enjoy some time by the pool. There’s plenty happening around the ship, from poolside quizzes (no, we didn’t win) to paint-and-sip art classes that combined artistic tuition with plenty of wine, plus bingo and ballroom dancing. Happily, there’s no pressure to join in, so you can do as much or as little as you like.
If that all sounds just a little bit too active, there are four heated pools on board to lounge around or in, weather permitting, of course. The spa is the perfect place to head for a bit of pampering — at extra cost — with a variety of treatments available, from massages to facials, and a salon if you fancy getting really glammed up for one of the black-tie evenings.
What about evening entertainment?
There’s no shortage of things to do in the evenings on board, either. With 22 bars and restaurants and eight entertainment venues, you’ll be hard pushed to try them all.
The 900-seat Playhouse Theatre has a mix of entertainment, from polished stage shows to music, comedy and magic. There’s live music at the Moroccan-inspired Malabar, followed by karaoke for those of a bolder temperament, or you can hit the dancefloor in Manhattan until the early hours. Brodies is a popular evening spot, with pub quizzes most nights, as well as being home to the ship’s casino.
The outdoor cinema screen shows several movies nightly, with a family-friendly film for younger guests showing during the early evening, followed by something for the grown-ups. If you fancy a little more hustle and bustle, the ship’s central hub, the Atrium, is usually the place to go, with everything from line dancing classes to a silent disco, which was far from silent but a lot of fun.
Our cruise had two sea days, and each featured a black-tie Celebration Night, giving us plenty of opportunity to get dressed up. Glamming up in formal wear isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun night, so it isn’t compulsory, and there were enough guests who didn’t take part to ensure you wouldn’t feel out of place. On these nights, a couple of the more formal restaurants won’t seat guests in casual attire, but with so many options available, it’s no big deal.
What about food and drink choices on P&O Cruises’ Azura?
One thing you definitely don’t need to worry about is going hungry on Azura. From morning until night, there’s always something available, and with P&O Cruises catering largely to British guests, the food choices feel familiar rather than intimidating. If you’re travelling with children — or indeed adults — without an adventurous palate, they won’t go hungry.
Azura’s food options range from casual buffet dining to smarter restaurants, so you can keep things simple or make more of an evening of it. There’s plenty to enjoy, with the potential to try something different every night, although it’s worth booking ahead to avoid disappointment, as the restaurants can get very busy at peak dining times.
My favourite meal of the week was at Sindhu, the ship’s impressive Indian restaurant. The food felt fresh, delicious and a little more distinctive than the more familiar main dining options, and I loved every bite.
While food is available throughout the day as part of your booking, not all restaurants are included in the holiday price. Some of Azura’s more tempting options cost extra, including Sindhu for Indian dining, The Glass House for wine-bar dining, Epicurean for modern fine dining, and The Beach House for relaxed grill-style meals. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, but they could still come as a surprise at the end of your break if you’re not expecting them.
Drinks are another thing to think about before you sail. You can pay as you go, which may work out best if you only want the occasional glass of wine, beer or cocktails, especially as individual drink prices are fairly reasonable. P&O Cruises also offers pre-paid drinks packages, but whether they’re worth it depends entirely on how much you’re likely to drink each day, so do the sums honestly before booking.
Who is a P&O cruise best for?
P&O Cruises is a strong choice for anyone who wants an easy, good-value cruise without too much formality or fuss. It’s ideal for cruise novices who want to give it a go without worrying too much about the price tag, and for multi-generational families who want to get away together. Those looking for something genuinely premium or ultra-luxurious may want to look elsewhere.
During our time on board, we chatted to plenty of other guests, some of whom were first-time cruisers, but many had cruised before. A couple from Dundee told me this was the third time they’d holidayed on Azura, each time travelling a slightly different route, but loving the familiarity of the ship.
Sue, whom we met while taking in the impressive magician, Phil Hitchcock, at The Playhouse, was enjoying her first-ever solo cruise. Rather than booking any excursions, she was heading off the ship at each port and enjoying solo sightseeing at her own pace, before rejoining the ship and making the most of the friendly atmosphere and surroundings each evening.
Guests on Azura spanned most age groups, from young babies to octogenarians, and the atmosphere was noticeably friendly and relaxed, with most people seeming very happy to be there.
P&O Cruises’ Azura: The verdict
If you’re looking for a holiday that offers variety, this is certainly it. Different ports bring different experiences, whether you choose an organised excursion or head off to find your own adventures.
Want to kick back and relax on the ship and enjoy the world floating past? Go for it. There’s no right or wrong way to cruise, and that’s the beauty of it. There’s so much to do on the ship itself, you’ll need to book a second trip just to experience it all.
Azura isn’t flashy or especially indulgent, but at such affordable prices, you wouldn’t expect it to be. The black-tie gala evenings bring a wonderful touch of glamour, with so many guests taking the opportunity to dress up and embrace that classic idea of cruising.
No two days are the same, which is something I love about it. If you’re looking for ultra-luxury, then Azura isn’t for you. If you want an easy, sociable, good-value way to see multiple destinations but only want to unpack your case once, P&O Cruises’ Azura is hard to beat.
What: P&O Cruises Canary Islands And Madeira Fly-Cruise
How much: Two-person cabin from £1,198 (balcony cabin from £1,398)
Average Joes rating: ★★★★☆
