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AGENT VISITS.

Launch events oversubscribed

THE LAUNCH events for Azura were oversub- scribed by more than 100%, according to Complete Cruise Solution boss Giles Hawke. He said 2,000 agents visited the ship in the

‘Azura learns from Ventura mistakes’

Sophie Griffiths and Rob Gill.

AGENTS WHO visited Azura for the naming celebrations believe the ship shows P&O Cruises has learned from the teething problems that marred the launch of sister ship Ventura. When Ventura launched, many agents and customers felt P&O did not cope immediately with the increase in cabin numbers, passengers and the extra deck. But Sovereign Cruise Club managing director Stefan Shillito said Azura was a big step forward from its sister ship. “With Ventura, it was a far larger ship than

P&O was used to selling – it seemed like they were trying to be all things to all people. But it’s also easy to throw the baby out with the bath- water and alienate existing customers,” he said. “Azura is a more mature ship and shows how

P&O is growing in confidence. There’s enough onboard not to scare away P&O traditionalists and also the kind of contemporary elements that will attract younger people.” Shillito added: “The cabins made good use of the space, although on four-star cruises there will always be some complaints about the bathrooms being too small.” Creative Cruises director Jason Peters said: “P&O has really been listening to its customers

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and the trade. Azura was more elegant than Ventura, which I found rather cold. “The service standards and food were

excellent – it will definitely appeal to the more sophisticated P&O customers who like fine dining. Azura is streets ahead of some of the other P&O ships.” Save’n’Sail director Phil Nuttall was impressed by the way single cabins were grouped in what he called “Single Street”. “I like the way they have put all the single cabins together, so single people know who else is travelling on their own,” he said. “Inside single cabins were a third bigger than the outside single ones, and I much preferred these – I would definitely forgo the window for the extra space.” Bolsover Cruise Club director Julie Straw found Azura “more modern and more luxurious” than Ventura.

“It meets what passengers want on a

day-to-day basis. I don’t see it as particularly aiming towards the older market, as families can get a lot out of it as well,” she said. “P&O has learned from the dining issues it had before. We get less complaints on Ventura about dining now, and I think Azura will have addressed this problem.”

days leading up to the naming on April 10, but more than double that number enquired about joining the celebrations. Hawke said it demonstrated there was little danger of “launch fatigue” hitting agents despite the unprecedented number of ships going into service this year. He was expecting Cunard’s launch of Queen Elizabeth in October to be similarly oversub- scribed. “We could have had twice as many people as filled places on Azura this time. I am convinced it will be the same with Queen Elizabeth,” he said. Hawke said CCS would do its best to accommo-

date any agents who had not yet seen Azura but wanted to do so.

ttglive.com

Azura: the facts

Passengers: 3,100 normally. Maximum of 3,574 Cabins: 1,557, of which 117 are outside, 910 with balcony, 440 inside and 18 single.

Restaurants:

8

Children’s Clubs: 6 Decks: Bars:

Shops:

14 7 6

Key features:

The Glass House – bar and restaurant with wines chosen by TV expert Olly Smith (pictured above). A special storage system means fine wines are available by the glass The Retreat – Adults-only open air spa terrace. Spa staterooms to be available SeaScreen – open-air cinema Sindu – Indian restaurant by Atul Kochhar Single cabins – available with no supplement Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76