To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

@KimberleyClark we like travelling half an hour,parking the car then embarking.
I have flown to cruises but not for me.

Yes, but that’s not a problem for me. Broadens your choice of itineraries, you can have an extra few days at either end if you wish, and I always found disembarking at Southampton in more often than not dull/overcast conditions quite miserable. The ship’s services end, you have to crowd into the public areas and wait to be called to disembark. Whereas with Azamara you can have your last breakfast on board in the sun - and it’s full breakfast service rather than basic continental - and drinks are available while you wait to disembark. It’s very relaxed.

Don't you have to fly to them? I can get on mine at Newcastle.

I can’t imagine anything more dismal. Marooned on a giant prison hulk with a bunch of braying Tories, waiting to catch Norovirus from a sweaty prawn ring. No thanks.

@Meredusoleil I’ve been on Azura and her sister ship Ventura.

I had a balcony cabin on C deck. I spend a lot of time on my balcony so it’s worth the cost.

The Prom Deck 7 has chairs and can be good for sunbathing or if you want shade or protection from the wind. It can be an alternative to by the pool.

On Port days the pool etc. are very quiet if not empty until 10 or later. It’s a holiday and going ashore is your choice.

Quiet places on any day is the Planet Bar (Deck 18 at the aft of the ship) - it’s not out doors but it is quiet with panoramic views.

The Main dining rooms do breakfast, lunch and dinner - I prefer a sit down than the bun fight in the buffet. As you know there are pay restaurants, the afternoon tea in the Epicurian is well worth it. My favourite is the glass house, again somewhere that can be quieter during sea days. Look out for offers on the pay restaurants and spa on port days.

Happy to answer any questions.

I love them!

I've been on 3 so far and am actively trying to chose my next one.

I find them incredibly relaxing. All the food and drinks I want, and I just find a comfy seat and spend my time either gazing out to sea or reading. I load up my Kindle before I go and get through loads. My brain just seems to slow right down, in a way it never does in my every day life, and it's an incredibly pleasant sensation.

It's a good way to see different parts of the world quickly. Like a tasting menu, it gives you ideas of places you'd like to go back to.

Ooh! We are booked to go on an Eastern Med cruise with Azura in the summer! It will be our second P&O cruise, but I have also done a Nile cruise before too.

Any tips for Azura please? Am worried we wont be able to get sun loungers on the 2 sea days. Can I ask what type of cabin you had?

You sound a bit like my lovely brother! He never gets off the ship (except when they kick him off at the end), never eats in the restaurant and prefers the buffet when nobody else is around.

It's perhaps another reason to like cruises - groups can go on holiday and people can do what suits them.

I like Fred Olsen very much. I've done 2x on the (Glorious) Bollette, 1x on the Balmoral, and am booked for another and of May.

Civilised, grown up, no casino, excellent enrichment (lectures to the rest of us), their itineraries suit me and they leave from Soton so no need to fly.

Thanks - will do. I started cruising after the pandemic, when cruise lines offerred fabulous bargains and my brother's friends knew where to find them. 5 nights, Soton to bits of N. Europe on MSC. approx £400! For a single bain!!

It's changed since then, sadly

P and O Aurora is adults only. We did the Norwegian fjords in November 18 months ago, stunning scenery but very cold. We went from Southampton so could take lots of cases with warm clothes. 1800 passengers, just right.
Just been on Azura for 2 weeks, bigger ship and the first week had a lot of children on there, but to be fair it was Easter week. 3000 on there but we didn't find it too crowded.
Booked Aurora again in 2027 for another cruise to Iceland and Norway but in the summer this time.

Thanks. In fact it was the Borealis I saw when in the Fjords and I liked the size of the ship. Would you recommend Fred Olsen? They would work better for me location and itinerary wise.

Maybe look up Oceania too, @CrystalSingerFan; they have 700-odd ships and some at about 1200 too, which are the ones I prefer

You'll need deep pockets though - they nearly tripled many prices when NCL acquired them from the previous private ownership and they've been chipping away at what they offer ever since, but I find the actual product hard to beat

Them and ambassador are on my to try list with them going from Liverpool on some itineraries.

As much as I dislike people I have never really found issue with the size of ships (other than getting lost!) when with P and O. I would never do the likes of Royal Caribbean though personally.

@AccidentallyWesAnderson

Apparently the Balmoral isn't adults only but I have no memory of any kids on board. (But we didn't go during the school holidays.) It's got what I'd call a grown-up, civilised vibe.)

FWIW, the Fred Olsen Borealis is adults-only, but I haven't been on it.

Even nicer - I shall look them up. 😀

Enjoy!

Sounds much the same 🙂🙂

Saga ships have a cabaret/bar. The main meeting space has a piano and music is played there often

A couple more bars too

Yes re cabaret staff - really throw themselves into it.

With Azamara there is a cabaret lounge, a piano bar and the crow’s nest bar and the top forward of the ship where there is a live band ( always good) and dancing in the evenings. The entertainment staff who do the cabaret lounge shows are young and enthusiastic and it’s lovely seeing them doing what they love.

I’m looking at Fred Olsen’s Balmoral, is it adults only?

Just back from my first cruise with P&O Iona to the Norwegian fjords and we (myself and my partner early 40’s) liked it! The ship was massive but never felt like there were 6000 people on it. We deliberately chose out of school holidays so there weren’t loads of kids about but it was a family friendly ship so to be expected. Food was great, never got sea sick, we were never bored (and we’re introverts), and it was nice to spend a day exploring little towns we would never have gone to otherwise. I love the sea/water/scenery so knew I’d like it. Sitting on the balcony sailing into the fjords was stunning. Managed to get some quiet time in the infinity pool/whirlpool to myself early doors which was lovely.

However, I don’t think I’d choose a cruise for destinations like Barcelona etc that I’d do as a city break in itself. Or for a ‘sun’ holiday. I’d probably choose a smaller adults only ship next time, and keep it for places like the fjords or the Baltics etc. Would also look to depart from Scotland or north England as the coach to Southampton wasn’t that fun!

All those saying that you have to rush to be back on the ship at a certain time, that is certainly true of a day’s call. However a lot of cruises do late port departures or overnight calls which give you more time

As a fellow cruise fan I agree about the overnighters, @NeedWineNow, but have had too many where we've been promised a late (11pm-ish) departure, only to find on the day that they've changed it to 6pm

Obviously they can do this ("operational reasons / port fees" or whatever), but while I've not been affected personally it's a bit of a bummer for those who've made evening arrangements

Saga are 999 and - as with others - never feel crowded

And because it's passengers are oldies there are no slot machines etc.Entertainment is good - there is a theatre. We, normally, sit at the bar after dinner in the bar with live music and quizzes.

Regent I think was 700 lovely
celebrity APEx was 2500 too many

Azamara’s ships have a capacity of around 700, which is just right, the ship never feels crowded.

I'm going on it this year. We used to sail on cruise and maritime before they ceased.