P&O AZURA FULL PASSENGER AREA TOUR

 The Azura cruise ship is a firm favourite with many cruisers. The Grand Class of ships have always been a hit and will be tomorrow's classic.

The Chat Group uCruise Azura   Darcey Bussell is the Godmother of this ship.

Azura is the fly-cruise of the two Grand Class ships. It home-ports in Barbados in the winter, and Valletta in the summer. This means that with just a short break, you can holiday in some fantastic places. We have always been huge fans of the Grand Class ships and have some great memories.

The Azura has eleven restaurants and eating areas, twelve bars and places to drink, four pools, a gym, two spas, outdoor cinema, a theatre and two show lounges. She is 290m long and has a beam of 36m. Its 24-knot speed is achieved by two 21 MW electric motors with fixed propellers driven by 6 Wärtsilä diesel generators. It also has three bow thrusters, and three stern thrusters which may not be enough when trying to berth as seen on our film where 3 tugs pushed her into Chania (Souda Bay)

It has four pools. The Terrace pool at the back is the one with steps and a handrail for those who are a little unsteady. It has a hoist with a chair on the Aqua pool. The Coral pool is the one with the pizza, grill, and sea screen. Then, there is the quiet pool, where no children are expected to be, that is the Oasis pool at the bow near the gym. The Oasis pool is the only one that does not have a bar.

The ship has five main entertainment venues. The Manhattan is a nightclub venue which normally has a comedian, a DJ or the occasional floor show from the Headliners. The middle club is called Malabar and now has a singer working to backing tracks, making it more like a club venue. However, the big act is often put in there for their second performance which I feel is such a waste. I have seen both Andrew Browning as George Michael in there, and Owen James as Sting, two of the best tribute acts we have ever seen. The main theatre, the Playhouse Theatre is where all the big acts do at least one of their shows, and the Headliners put on their extravaganzas and shows like 'Astonishing'. The fourth venue is the atrium, which has a dance floor by the Java Cafe. A singer can use this, like the Busker, the resident act that sings around the ship and at some sail-aways. It can also be used for ballroom dancing, line dancing and Fitsteps. Last but certainly not least is the stage in Brodies, where all manner of entertainment happens from quizzes to karaoke, from the Busker to video game competitions. It is also the sports bar and screen. I would not suggest that either the Blue Bar on Deck 7 or the Planet Bar on Deck 18 are entertainment venues, but they can have a pianist playing. The Planet might have the busker or a trio but that seems rare now.

Entertainment can also happen around the pool areas, especially when the weather is good.

There are very few port talks now, so we strongly suggest you look at our filmed port guides and lists of tours which are ideal for research, all listed in the menu.

Restaurants are many. The three main dining halls are the Oriental, the Peninsular and the Meridian. We enjoy a mixed shared table there most nights we are on, for a three-course meal. On gala or celebration nights, these are normally the black-tie formal nights, the meal steps up a notch and is four courses and amuse-bouche. One of the two weeks might be the Macro Pierre White lobster meal, which is lobster pieces in a choux-pastry shell.

The Premium restaurants have become the place to dine out, and on all our recent cruises they were booked to capacity every night, and even the Glass House which does not take reservations is full early doors. The Epicurean is a more formal restaurant with a great meal, meat or fish. The Sindhu is an Asian restaurant with Indian-style food that is quite mild unless you advise them you prefer it more spicey. The Beach House is half the buffet with the tables laid, lights lowered and waiter service. Here the nachos and fish skewers are as much a favourite as steak still cooking on a stone. The buffet is always a good and easy option. The dress code applies to the main dining area, and the Epicurean is smart.

A silly thing that probably won't affect you - there is a net on the top of the basketball court so you can't shoot hoops. Silly thing that may affect you, the shops always have a discount day on most times. It can be a different item discounted on different days or a vast 40% off on the last day. They will normally tell you, but you risk missing something as items do go. There is no deck 13, and you cannot walk through on decks 5 & 6, so have to go up to 7 and come back down.

If you wish to return home without masses of laundry, we recommend using the laundrette early evening the day before the day before you leave. It will be empty as everyone is getting ready for dinner. Dump your washing. Go back shower etc then return and use the tumble drier. You can pick it up just before you go out to dinner. So lovely not to have to face a case full of washing when you get home.

Our new 2023 Azura ship tour will be loaded this weekend, it is far superior to the one we currently show, so we are excited. Here is what to expect when our poor 4Mbps finally loads it. So far it has been 5 hours and we have achieved 58%. That's rural London for you, anywhere in the world would be faster.

My prediction for the long term. I can see the main dining becoming less and less important, and deck 5 Meridian being looked at as a Limelight Club and cinema. I also think that when the two smaller adult ships are released from the fleet, the two Grand Class ships will see their kids club areas converted into cabins as they did when the Aurora was changed up. But that is just future guessing, I have no actual knowledge.

• 0:00 - Intro Azura
• 0:26 - Glass Lifts
• 0:50 - Cabin Steward's new routine
• 1:05 - Playhouse Theatre D7
• 1:22 - Glass House D7
• 1:44 - Shops D7
• 2:06 - Malabar D7
• 2:20 - Photogallery D7
• 2:30 Sindhu Indian R D7
• 3:07 - Manhattan D7
• 3:32 - Oriental D6
• 3:42 - Shops D6
• 3:52 - Reception D6
• 4:03 - Casino & Brodies D6
• 4:37 - Kamala Room D6
• 4:47 - Excursions D5
• 4:57 - Library D5
• 5:10 - Meridian Java Cafe D5
• 5:20 - Atrium Dance Floor D5
• 5:38 - Whitewall Gallery D5
• 5:55 - Ivory Suite D16
• 6:08 - The Bridge D14
• 6:19 - Oasis Pool D16
• 6:50 - Gym D16
• 7:07 - Deck 18 Sun
• 7:19 - Coral Pool
• 7:32 - The Grill
• 7:42 - Grab & Go
• 7:52 - Pizza & Ice Cream
• 8:02 - Aqua Pool
• 8:12 - Sea Screen
• 8:20 - Deck Quoits
• 8:30 - Terrace Pool
• 8:45 - Epicurean
• 8:58 - Golf & Sports
• 9:08 - Planet Bar
• 9:22 - Kids Clubs
• 9:50 - Buffet
• 10:09 - Beach House
• 10:30 - Main Dining
• 10:55 - Ship Map
• 11:04 - Split preview
• 11:48 - Kusadasi preview

The Azura is the sister of the Ventura. See our Facebook chat group for the Azura. uCruise Azura is a big friendly group. It has chat rooms within the group for specific cruises - see EVENTS.

Join the Azura Cruise Chat - click the picture and share your knowledge or ask questions

Our Adriatic Port Guides - click to play all

Dubrovnik Split  Zadar Trieste Venice

Our Eastern Mediterranean Port Guides - click to play all

Valletta Rhodes Valletta Mykonos Athens Heraklion Chania Zakynthos

Our Western Mediterranean Port Guides - click to play all

Valletta Ajaccio Civitavecchia (for Rome) Naples Pisa Spezia

STRICTLY ON A SHIP by actress Jean Heard. TV cruise presenter for Doris Visits.

As the main presenter for the on line and Opera TV cruise show Doris Visits I get to cruise a lot, but I was keenly looking forward to Strictly Come Dancing at sea. I normally work at every port stop filming from the moment the ship docks until the moment it leaves, and I try and see every entertainment act so I thought this might be a busy cruise for me. I had no idea just how busy and exhausting, I have never been on a cruise with so much on offer! If you have never cruised tale a look at the ten minute blow by blow of ports, ship and what was on. It is an education. B718 in the Med. Actually as this blog is content heavy you might want to read it then come back to the links.

Day one, a Sunday the Britannia left Southampton and quite a few of the three and a half thousand passengers were finding their way round the ship for the first time. The tone of the cruise was set as we found costumes from Strictly, soon to be known as SCD on mannequins around the ship. SCD is now very organised on board, so if you are worried that such an event filled cruise might be battle to see things I cannot stress enough that is not. Britannia holds 3600 passengers and the Headliners Theatre holds 950. Each special SCD act performs four times and they are ticketed to ensure that everyone gets to see the show and I think almost always when they want. Now it is down to you, the passenger to plan how you will get round the event filled day and find time to eat! With choir, other entertainers and port stops the list of events looked daunting.

Monday 26^th morning it started early with the opportunity to book private lessons with Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec in the Atrium where passengers were also encouraged to book to compete for the final grand passenger dance off. There was a SCD help desk set up in the Atrium. At 2pm there was a Master Class with Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec in the Crystal Ballroom, this was busy but people were in good spirits. then at 4pm Janette and Aljaz were in the packed 950 seat Headliners theatre. The charming couple were introduced by Tracy Clegg and Aljaz told the story of how the last question two years ago on the same cruise was ‘when are you going to propose?’ He said he went straight to the on board jewellers and bought the ring, he told how he proposed and they then revealed their wedding plans which are to take place just a couple of weeks after they disembark the ship. Three weddings, London, Cuba and Slovinia. They also announced that they have both been confirmed back on this year’s Strictly with three new female dancers and a new female judge. We were off to a great start Black Tie evening I was spoilt with an early treat at Michelin star chef Atul Koochar’s Sindhu Restaurant.

10am on Tuesday 27^th there was the first of a hosted wardrobe tour of the SCD costumes on board and at midday Janette ran a Master Class in the Crystal room. Later in the Limelight Janette and Aljaz ran a dance class for youths in the more private area of the Limelight Club. Everything worked like a well oiled machine with Eric Lanlard doing both a Master Cookery Class in the morning and an Audience with in the headliners in the afternoon. Because some of the events are ticketed, there was a Strictly help desk established in the Atrium from 9am to 10.45 daily. I was spoilt with an early treat at Michelin star chef Atul Koochar’s Sindhu Restaurant.

Wednesday  28^th June the costume tours repeated but there was the additional live fashion show at 4pm from the resident ship’s show cast. Jeanette and Aljaz did a meet and greet session, signing and having photographs with guests at midday. Film director Stuart St paul revealed the secrets to filming on location and spilt the beans on how little of Angels and Demons was shot in Rome. (that is a fun way to see Rome, see the blog) (He also reveals the best way to shoot the Trevi Fountains in the Rome blog)

The black tie evening was quite special and very full so we eat early. I had the lobster main course and the two of us shared the suggested wine so we were off to a great start. Jeanette and Aljax did the forst of ther evening shows and we were there. This was a ticketed event, not because there was a cost, but because everyone wanted to see them and it was the perfect way to ensure everyone did. There were two shows that night in the headliners, 8.30 and 10.30, then two more to follow tomorrow. That meant four chances to see the show. The Headliners theatre is bigget than most West End shows, it has an LED back wall for effects and backdrops but that was not used. The whole stage was a dance area and they performed. It was a joy to watch such master talent close up and personal and I have not seen such great dancing since Patrick Swayze danced with his wife at the Oscars. Two other dance couples danced with them twice, and they were the specialist dance instructors on board for the tweo weeks. They were also magnificent dancers, but, the sheer excellence of the our stars was obvious. The show was funny and engaging and mixed clips with antidotes as well as dances including the Russian Tango, the American Smooth and a Jive. The ‘Evening With’ event at the headliners felt like a longer very full show and one can see why they need to eat because the energy they must use twice a night plus their day time training as well as dance classes must burn huge amounts of calories. Opposite them in the live lounge at the other end of the ship KaiMcKenzie was Michael Bublé, a tribute act even Michael says is the best. We left the theatre having been spoilt with a great show and managed to find seats to watch another hugely talented individual.

Thursday 29^th June was our first stop in Alicante and I was off filming one of our usual films for Doris Visits. In the evening were the next two shows for Jeanette and Aljax to ensure the hole ship had seen them, we went to see the very funny comedian Tucker, who we have seen before but had new material and even the ones we had heard before made us laugh out loud.

Friday we were in Barcelona. Jeanette and Aljaz left the ship and Karen and Kevin Clifton got on. Eric and Ern, the Eric Morceombe and Ernie Wise tribute who we also play golf with back home in The Stage Association, the next small world phenomenon happened. Another of the golfers partners was on board to sing. This was a real treat because we have heard about her for a long time as one of the top female West End stars but had never seen her, Jenna Lee-James. She had just finished playing the lead in Mamma Mia and had previously been in We Will Risk you for nearly six years so she sung everything from Streisand to Freddie Mercury and we were in the presence of greatness once again.

Saturday 1^st July. A cruise ship does make the world a small place because although it was too windy for the Britannia to pull into Cannes, plans were made for us to detour to Corsica. Having missed Cannes film director and Cannes veteran was on board to explain the Cannes Film Festival and what goes on there. In the evening Tucker held a late night comedy session. The entertainment kept coming day and night and it was exhausting reporting on all of them. Tucker was a treat.

Sunday was La Spezia and we took the train Pisa and filmed the leaning tower, cathedral and town for Doris Visits. On the way back we did a short film on La Spezia for the many who like to see the local town and never venture further. Back on board was an audience with Karen and Kevin.

Monday 3^rd we arrived in Civitavecchia and we travelled into Rome where I presented and Angles and Demons film made for Doris Visits. Kevin and Karen performed the first two of there show in the evening. Or there was a cookery club dinner at the chefs table in the Cookery Club on deck 17. Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker started her four nights in the Limelight.

Tue 4^th July Black Tie - Peter Andre performed the first of his four shows and in the live lounge was Rieta Austin one of the Strictly singers performing her show. Film and action director Stuart St Paul was in the Headliners theatre in the afternoon talking of his years of Pop Videos where he co choreographed pop videos like Wild Boys with Strictly’s Arlene Philips and Elton John Videos with Strictly’s Bruno adding the action, the fire and the sumasulting gymnasts into the routines.

Wed 5^th July we stopped at Catagena, a regular stop but I had not been there since a very early Britannia cruise and noted that since then they have hidden the entrance to the amphi theatre that was accidently found in 1980. Now you have to accidently find it again, though the best views of it are still from above it, the castle and the park.

Peter Andre did the last two of his four shows and Jayne Middleton was in the Live Lounge as Annie Lennox.

Thur 6^th saw Craig Revel Horwood start the first of his four shows in the headliners and soul legend Jimmy James played in the Live Lounge. Darren Day started his run in the Limelight.

Friday 7^th was a black tie night, and Strictly’s Natalie Lowe hosted a chat session at midaday then judged the passenger dance finals with Craig and Executive producer Richard Curwen. Lven Johnson played the live lounge as Winey Houston but we saw Dareen Day in the Limelight perform an incredible show.

Saturday 8^th, the last sea day saw things wind down with Exec Producer Richard Curwen talk about whe behind the scenes, Natalie Lowe did a signing session and then the ships company of in house entertainers did the second of the strictly fashion shows. Director Stuart St Paul did his final talk about directing on Petra and the Wadi Rum as an introduction to the Arcadias 99 day circumnavigation next year. That night I had dinner in the Sindhu, feeling totally spoilt and exhausted and needing a holiday to get over the busiest and most entertainment cruise I have ever been on. Even Richard Curwen said it was the biggest Strictly Cruise show ever and that talks were on going for next year to be even bigger. It is a good job I am boarding the Azura for the Fjords in two weeks time as I need a break? Click the picture or here to get to the ten minute fast cut film of the blow by blow cruise.

Doris Visits is a cruise travel Channel now with over 200 films up and many informative blogs. If you would have told me when we were shooting the 60 episodes of the web series Shades Of Bad, that it would turn into this I would have laughed. Now I look at the next twelve months in the diary, having already cruised three times in 2017, and there are with more cruises. I am looking forward to the two round Greece next year. Please share and flow us at www.DorisVisits.com

Note from the editor, she never even mentioned the stop in Gibraltar !

P&O Cruise Ship Arcadia World Cruise 2017 - Polynesian & Asian Adventure

P&O Cruise Ship Arcadia World Cruise 2017 - Polynesian & Asian Adventure

It is a dream, a bucket list item, but also a huge undertaking. Columbus and Vasco did it and they, like all seafarers made stops. So, 'world cruise' does not mean the whole world and it does not mean 'never getting off'. Though I add, there are those who never leave the ship.  

What does a World Cruise mean?

It probably means you are retired or you could not take 114 days off work in one stretch. Not and come home to a job still waiting. It undoubtedly means you are an adventurous.

There are those who make it the holiday of a life time, those who do it over and over again once hooked, and those who plan such a journey around family that now lives abroad, like Australia.

The Acradia is one of P&O's ships that undertakes these mammoth journeys each year and it is partly because it is an adult only ship and it is just small enough to get through the Panama and Suez Canals where as the Azura is 2 meters too wide for Panama.

What do you pack, what do you need. Not much is the real answer though you will take a lot more. When at home you probably have the same cycle of clothes, and it will be little different on board. You will go out more, because the theatre, club and pub are all just a stroll down the deck. You might use the laundry room, you might use the laundry service, but you will not be doing any cooking. Not on the Arcadia. You might on the Britannia which has a huge kitchen for cookery classes with stars.

The Arcadia will move quickly from Southampton on January the 2nd and before you know it be in Madeira, then Barbados, then on transit through the Panama Canal. Before you know it, you will have turned native and enjoy being looked after in style. USA, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Middle East ... the list goes on. If you are sitting on a nest egg, just remember you can't take it with you. Take a look at more details and some of our films that will help you plan, because the one thing you won't have easily is internet and research and some excursions should be considered before you go.

Go to P&O site for full details or ports and excursions

Go to Doris Visits site with Doris details and films of many of the stops, filmed tour of the ship and laundry room.

Port Talk blog on Barbados with video clips+tips - look before you book

Many of you will now be thinking 'Caribbean'.

Barbados

Right, it is a fun fantastic place, and no matter where you are going, or cruising it is likely you will go in and maybe out of Barbados, if not stay there like the stars. Cilla had a place there, Cliff still does as many others.
If you are just using it for transit maybe we can encourage you to see a little more of the island than just the capital, which is not why you go to Barbados. Barbados, the bearded one, with its rugged east coast that contrast so much with the sandy beaches of the west.

North of the capital you find the more traditional trendy spots and designer shops, the south is far more fun and Ousting is where you go to the Friday night fish night party. I suggest you talk to you operator if on a cruise and ask to extend your stay.... staff call it shore leave .... to stay before the cruise or after the cruise.

Even if you can't, and you have a day there, let these films show you where you can get to on public bus. Lunch at Mullins in the North East, easy from the bus terminal next to the cruise port. Or walk through the town and take a bus south and discover Worthing and Hastings (or fish night) or from that other south bus station, get a bus to the West Coast and see the Botanical Gardens and rough seas hit the beach.

Follow us on www.DorisVisits.com, and on Facebook and twitter our next cruise is on the Arcadia, world, from Hawaii Links to the films https://youtu.be/nHvYGqwfr54

https://youtu.be/fuhjekVbbzQ

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ftexc http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ek6i8

PONTA DELGADA, SAO MIGUEL, AZORES is the transatlantic stop for many ships.

DORIS VISITS PONTA DELGADA, SAO MIGUEL, AZORES

Ponta Delgada is situated on the volcanic Sao Miguel Island in the Azores. The amount of rainfall (a lot) means that the vegetation is lush. Be prepared for showers even if it looks bright because the weather can change in an instant. One moment hot sunshine. The next a downpour and cold wind.

Sao Miguel is nicknamed the Green Island because of its fertile soil, and this is due to the temperate climate.

We left the terminal at the ground level exit, and followed the pedestrian walkway to the town centre. There are many ways to explore. you can hire bikes, cars or even a tandem. The narrow streets are winding and cobbled. The town square is charming and on many of the streets you will find a church.

The mosaics on the cobbles are very pretty and in the middle of the square there is a pavement cafe. The tourists are catered for, there is a horse and cart ride almost constantly running around the town. I hope it's not the same one, otherwise those poor horses must be pretty tired.

The language spoken is Portuguese and Ponta Delgada puts you in mind of Lisbon.


Some of the churches are quite beautiful. The altar in Igreja do Colegio is definitely worth a look, as is the statue of St Sebastian on the high altar in the 16th century church of Sao Sebastiao . It definitely reminded me of Liberace!!

The sand is the black volcanic sand. The water is sparklingly clear. it is easy to see the fish. We went down to the waters edge and met Bruno who runs a company called Best Spot diving, He is friendly and enthusiastic about his trips. There are many interesting wrecks to see as well as the varied marine life. If you want a diving adventure contact him in advance at bestspotazores.com His team are qualified marine biologists so they know their stuff.

Another place that is well worth a visit is the botanical gardens. Full of bamboo trees, beautiful plants,caves, and even a play area for children. I had my jumper on and off so many times while we visited Jardim Antonio Borges because the temperature kept changing . This is why the vegetation is so abundant and colourful. There are many birds there, the bird song is beautiful.

There is an open top bus that leaves from the quayside. It is busy early on in the day but if you leave it quite late you practically have the bus to yourself. Make sure you don't miss the ship though!

When I revisit Ponta Delgada I plan to try out the 27 hole golf course. Although I must remember to put my brolly in my golf bag for the occasional shower.

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ST MAARTEN, a cruise stop looking at both the French and Dutch side

DORIS VISITS ST MAARTEN

The main thing that strikes you when you arrive in St Maarten is the Caribbean feel mixed with the Dutch flavour, as we arrived on the Dutch side of the island in Philipsburg. Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St Maarten.  Everything is very well signposted and organised. Everywhere is spotlessly clean and all the signs are in English. There is a ferry from the harbour to the beach but the distance is easily walkable. The beach is white sand, the sea is clear blue. There are many different restaurants to choose from, and a variety of cuisines. I sampled the coconut shrimp washed down with rum punch. Very enjoyable! There is a colonial atmosphere. The buildings are colourful, mainly two stories high and many have a shop below and living quarters above. One of the things St Maarten is most famous for is the duty free shopping. There are a wide variety of duty free shops selling everything from diamonds to technology to designer clothing.  The main area of Front Street resembles an open air mall. There are also the touristy market stalls with sarongs, necklaces, fridge magnets etc.  We stopped for a coffee and asked the waitress how to get to the French Quarter.  There a many ways to travel, including taking a Segway up and down the boardwalk. You can hire a car or a bike.  The cheapest way is by bus.  We were told the main French town was Marigot, the capital of St. Martin. The bus stops are easy to find and the name of the destination is written clearly at the front of the bus. Also the bus drivers are friendly and helpful.
As we drove towards the French part of the island it was interesting to see how the scenery changed. When we got off the bus we may as well have been in a different country. The sun was still shining and the sea was still blue but the French flavour was obvious everywhere. Gone were the well organised, well laid out streets. There were patisseries and designer stores scattered haphazardly about, as well as a very classy harbour full of designer yachts. The people are very chic.  French is spoken everywhere, and the coffee is divine. There is a yacht club overlooking the bay. I felt like I was in the South of France.
At the top of the hill overlooking the harbour stands Fort Louis. It is quite a climb to get up to the Fort but the view is breathtaking across the bay to Anguilla. The Fort was built to protect the port warehouses, which stored produce including salt, coffee and sugar cane.
The Waterfront area is alive with open air market stalls selling local art, fabrics and crafts and there are many open air cafes. There is also an upmarket shopping mall and a wonderful ice cream parlour.
I would be hard pushed to choose between the french side and the dutch side of the island. They both have wonderful qualities and are definitely well worth seeing. In fact the lovely thing is that you don't have to decide. You can easily enjoy both!

To see the full playlist search DORIS VISITS on YouTube, or click here.

To watch the TV web series click here YouTube.