NEW SHIP REVIEW


The Advent P 66 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2010


of Azura


Gary Buchanan hails the fabulous style – and value for money – of P&O’s latest super-liner, Azura


&O Cruises’ venerable Canberra was withdrawn from service just over 13 years ago, in September 1997. Some might view this as just another statistic in the annals of cruising but, for me, this milestone had great poignancy as I embarked on P&O Cruises’ new- est addition to their fleet, the 116,017-ton Azura, earlier this summer. The 16-night sojourn around the Mediterranean was a sell-out; not surprising, as seven delightful ports featured on the itinerary. The cruise industry as we know it today has a relentless appetite for innovation; most passengers now expect a balcony to be an integral part of their


cabin and all demand a private bathroom with toilet and shower. Yet, for passengers on a tight budget booking a cruise aboard Canberra, there was the option of selecting accommodation without private facilities.


‘Court’ cabins towards the stern of this 44,807- ton liner had the benefit of ‘borrowed light’ – a clever design concept whereby natural light from the ship’s side at the end of the passage brought daylight into otherwise inside cabins. However, passengers occupying these cabins had to queue at bathrooms – towel in hand – to do their ablutions. This was not a scene from a pre-War tramp steamer


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