Azura to the Greek islands

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes Pompey, the shower heads are fixed, at least they have been in all the cabins on Azura I've been in, and plastic curtains
Most reliable form of showering where the public shower, are fixed heads. Flexible shower leads tend to get twisted or stretched in these situations and they are also a devil of a job to keep clean.
Never had a bath whilst on Azura. Maybe Mervy can help as he stayed in cabins on Deck 9 I believe.
If you have never been on Azura, I think you will enjoy her. Having said that, my next cruise is with Ambassador as they are going our next favorite place.

Yes my recollection from a few years back now is D Deck superior cabins have a bath with shower over.

[Onelife]

Hi Ray, thanks for taking the time to post during your cruise and for your informative appraisal.

Without doubt the best review I have ever read (now where have you heard that before)

[barney]

Looks very likely I'll be booking for a bit later this year ...probably deck C or deck B . I know Barney (& maybe you ?) have a preference for deck C and wonder if there is a reason as deck B seems to be ok as well....there are still plenty of cabins on deck A,B,C on the dates I'm looking at.
Don't see any details of airport departure times so I presume you get them when you've made the booking ?

The reason we always book C deck, Pompey, is because the balconies are twice the size.
We spend a lot of time on our balcony.
If the sun is on it, then so are we.
Like most on here, we've done many cruises so the general ship offerings have little interest to us.
Many would say that we are most unusual cruisers.
We do mix a little, but not if we can help it.
Happy to chat, but not interested in hanging out with anyone.
Not interested in the shows but do enjoy some of the tribute acts.
If the weather is good, then generally a light breakfast on the balcony, the probably a quick gym session, before chilling out.
For us, it's all about doing very little onboard and enjoying the ports.

[Jan Rosser]

Love a C deck balcony cabin - I’ve booked one on Ventura late October (half term with family) - 7 days - Spain and France although not sure how much it will be used. Now I don’t have young grandchildren who want to be in the pool all day I prefer sitting on the balcony - quieter/more space - love it. We usually have three cabins in a row and open up the dividing doors so even more space.

[Stephen]

I agree with Barney apart from the gym bit.

We prefer the balcony any day of the week rather than being rammed between a load of sun beds round the decks.

[Portsmouth]

Thanks Barney,Jan & Stephen for your advice on C balcony.....I am going with friends and we decide to get cabins next to each other so we could open the dividing doors. I suggested two cabins adjacent still available on deck C but they were told by their agent the balconies were overlooked and wer'nt keen on that so went with the agents suggestion of deck B. So I've had to go with the flow and book next to them on deck B. going to miss having extra balcony space

[Ray B]

Jan, did you take the whole family on a cruise.

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[Ray B]

Pompey, all C deck balconies are over looked as they come out further than the ones above them, but half the balcony is under the ones above, and still gives you privacy from above.
The agent did not describe the balcony correctly.

[Jan Rosser]

Jan, did you take the whole family on a cruise.

Not likely Ray

[Onelife]

Hey! Pompey, with a little extra planning you could have opted for the C deck balcony cabin with your friends taking the b deck cabin then they could have just dropped in.

[towny44]

Thanks Barney,Jan & Stephen for your advice on C balcony.....I am going with friends and we decide to get cabins next to each other so we could open the dividing doors. I suggested two cabins adjacent still available on deck C but they were told by their agent the balconies were overlooked and wer'nt keen on that so went with the agents suggestion of deck B. So I've had to go with the flow and book next to them on deck B. going to miss having extra balcony space

I hope you used a TA like Bolsover Pompey, and not a feeble high street one, where the little girls have never been on a cruise?

[Onelife]

Thanks Barney,Jan & Stephen for your advice on C balcony.....I am going with friends and we decide to get cabins next to each other so we could open the dividing doors. I suggested two cabins adjacent still available on deck C but they were told by their agent the balconies were overlooked and wer'nt keen on that so went with the agents suggestion of deck B. So I've had to go with the flow and book next to them on deck B. going to miss having extra balcony space

I hope you used a TA like Bolsover Pompey, and not a feeble high street one, where the little girls have never been on a cruise?

i'll take them

[Portsmouth]

The agent did not describe the balcony correctly.

Agreed....They used one of the high street travel agents not a cruise specialist

[Portsmouth]

I hope you used a TA like Bolsover Pompey, and not a feeble high street one,

Yes I did, I use a cruise agency but my friends used an ordinary high street travel agent.
As they booked first we had to follow and book the cabin next door, we haven't been on a cruise with them before but they like to be in charge of arrangements. As we fly out together it will be interesting to find out what seats on the plane going to Tenerife they pick

[Ranchi]

we've just come back from a trip on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. In order to do that we experienced Thameslink, Eurostar, the Paris Metro , Venice water taxis and the flight home ( as well as the VSOE).

It made us realise why we like cruising. The VSOE was wonderful - but it's all the transfers


BUT we'll never complain about the size of cruise ship bathrooms ever again

I liked the instruction of a Concorde captain re the onboard toilet facilities; ‘It’s best to decide what you hope to do in there and orientate yourself accordingly before you go through the door.’

[Ray B]

One thing I forgot to mention about Azura, I don't know if it applies to the other ships, is there is no 'Duty Free' bottle or baccy shop now, on the odd occasion there was a chap sat at a table promoting their Gin. As I didn't require any bottles I didn't enquire further about this.
We purchase baccy for a friend at Stanstead Airport and it was the cheapest price, cheaper than any ports we went to.

[barney]

I hope you used a TA like Bolsover Pompey, and not a feeble high street one,

Yes I did, I use a cruise agency but my friends used an ordinary high street travel agent.
As they booked first we had to follow and book the cabin next door, we haven't been on a cruise with them before but they like to be in charge of arrangements. As we fly out together it will be interesting to find out what seats on the plane going to Tenerife they pick

We've done many fly cruises and have never paid extra to choose seats.
We have always been either together or at worst, across the aisle from each other.
P&O with Jet2 charge £20 per person each way.
There is no way that I'm paying £80 to guarantee sitting together on a relatively short flight.
I usually fall asleep anyway.

I would also add that they use 737s so four of your cannot sit together anyway.
I checked in online last week for our Jet2 scheduled from Bristol and we were allocated row 21 seats E&F (middle and window) no charge.
I'll check in next week for the return flight and see what we get.
If I'm not happy, I check out and then check in again a few hours later and it's usually different seats.

[Ray B]

Barney , we flew Jet2 from Stanstead and did not book seats as it's only about three hours and not long if you couldn't sit together. As it happens on both outward and return flights we were allocated seats together.

[barney]

Barney , we flew Jet2 from Stanstead and did not book seats as it's only about three hours and not long if you couldn't sit together. As it happens on both outward and return flights we were allocated seats together.

Mrs b might think it's worth £20 NOT to be sitting next to me
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Ray B]

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