Fab Time

As the title suggests we had a fabulous time on the Azura in January this year, this was our first time on her but not our first time cruising with P&O. We cannot fault the ship but then she is only two years old so that should be the case. The food in the Penninsular restaurant was of a good standard for most of the cruise but on occasions it was not so good (maybe it was the choice we made). We were also a little disappointed to find that the menus reverted to day one after two weeks at sea. We ate twice at Seventeen restaurant (we were lucky enough to be able to sit out on the 2nd visit, which was amazing) we also ate a The Sindhu, where I have to say we were a little disappointed with the food combinations (called fusion) but again that could be down to personal choice.

The staff as always were helpful and polite and it was good to see some familiar faces. We don’t tend to watch much of the entertainment but on the occasions we did we were not overly impressed – one comedian and a Freddie Mercury tribute act being the exception.

We decided to pay extra to use The Retreat on the first day of our cruise which during the first week cruising from Southampton to St Maarten was not a problem but on the first day of sunny weather we could not get a lounger to lay out on and ended sitting on the wooden steps at the end of the pool. We were not happy about this but thought things would sort themsleves out – on the 2nd day of sunny weather all hell broke loose as the spa reception staff had sold far too many day passes meaning that the majority of people could not get a seat never mind a lounger!! Although we did not get involved this caused a real rumpus and a pursor became involved. After listiening to peoples complaints they were told that they could have a full refund if they required. We did not want a refund but just a guarantee of a sun lounger especially as we had paid extra for this facility. I think P&O really need to look at this because it led to people queueing from 8.30-8.45am for a 9am start (the time The Retreat opened) to make sure that they could save a sun lounger this is not really what you want to be doing when you are on holiday and in actual fact it would have been easier to just use the normal loungers on the open decks. They should only sell enough passes for the loungers that are available to ensure that no matter what time you attend The Retreat you will be able to utilise a lounger – all that said the two staff who manned this area were very friendly and helpful and the food although limited was excellent.

I have knocked one star off for comfort – this is not because of the cabin or furnishings as the cabin was the biggest one we have stayed in so far and was of a very good standard with a lovely balcony – but I really wish you had an option to turn off the air-con as and when you require. My husband had to attend the medical centre with chest infection (the 2nd time this has happened on a cruise) and we decided between ourselves that it was probably due to the air-con – on his 2nd visit to the MC he was advised by the doctor to leave the balcony door open overnight (which we did) and this did help but on our final day in Barbados when he went to get the immigration passes the man in front of him in the queue told him he couldn’t wait to get off the ship has he had had a chest infection and ‘lost’ 8 days of his cruise being ill. I feel sure it is due to the air-con so why oh why can’t we have the option to control this oursleves like in hotel rooms!!

P&O please consider this as I am sure we are not the only people who feel like this.