P&O Cruises, Azura, Mediterranean Review

Azura, Mediterranean

20 plus times cruises across many lines so this is a fair and accurate report of our cruise holiday. A very enjoyable cruise.

First the bad things... Some restaurants were closed and they didnt have the range of drinks behind the bars like normal but we never went hungry or thirsty. The entertainment team was virtually non existant though and the Jubilee celebrations were very poor. The shows, well they were ok, but we had seen them all before so P&O could do with mixing that up a little but that is personnel taste. The quizzes, we like quizzing, but please P&O bring back the instant trinket prizes rather than the card to fill in if you win... a plastic ship on a stick would be treasured. The ship itself is a bit tired looking, nothing too bad, but its beginning to look a little bit old fashioned compared to some of the newer ships these days.

The good things, the weather was fabulous, the ports of call were terrific, we really had a great time at them all... one ships trip into the mountains in land rovers which was too expensive but a great experience, one taxi hired for a trip to a few historical sites which was brilliant becasue we had them all to ourselves and ticked off another Roman Coloseum that we didnt even know existed, and the other two ports were a bus ride to town and self guiding around and a stroll around town after tendering off ship. That one was Korcula island and was our fave place of the whole cruise. Simply stunning.
As for the ship, Our balcony was huge and we could either be in the sun or move to the rear and be in the shade... best balcony we have ever had. Cabin otherwise was as expected. The Staff were undermanned but all were terrific.
Flights were good, no problem whatsoever at Manchester airport, despite all the drama reported on the news. Embarkation and dismebarkation went very well. We had a late flight home and so didnt leave the ship in Malta until after 5pm..so we had a whole final bonus day on holiday, spent the morning in Valetta and the afternoon swimming and sunbathing by the Oasis pool. Fabulous end to a wonderful holiday. Arrived home completely happy and satisfied.
P&O, well they certainly have thier issues, there are better cruise lines but as ever we enjoyed it and its ok, its not that expensive so is a good option for a cheap cruise with reasonable food quality and drinks not priced off the scale.