Azura leaves Barbados to sail home with no guests... #wewillbeback Thank you to Captain Turnbull, officers, crew and gue

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Azura leaves Barbados to sail home with no guests... #wewillbeback Thank you to Captain Turnbull, officers, crew and guests



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Source: https://www.facebook.com/179746530781_10157960208725782

[Ray B]

I will second that. That song was playing in the background in the Theater as a tribute was given to the crew from all areas who paraded down the aisles to the front of the stage and Captain Turnbull made a moving speech. A cruise to remember, not just for the missed ports but the friendly atmosphere shown by the pasengers and most of all the crew. Being at Anchor for five days off Barbados in the hot sun did help.

[screwy]

Hopefully we will be Ok for the 4 October.?

[Stephen]

I'm hoping we'll be ok for the end of May.
There's been no mention yet of it being cancelled by P&O. I guess it depends on several factors, one being if ports on the itinerary will be open. We won't hold our breath.

[towny44]

I'm hoping we'll be ok for the end of May.
There's been no mention yet of it being cancelled by P&O. I guess it depends on several factors, one being if ports on the itinerary will be open. We won't hold our breath.

I imagine all cruise lines will follow Clia guidelines now and probably just keep adding 30 days to their cancellation period as they approach the end of the current period.

[Kendhni]

We are just back from the last Azura cruise - what an adventure. Everything was going great, but then, as we headed for Grand Turk, we were told the port was closed so we turned around and headed towards Antigua, but as we approached it was obvious all the ports were closing. The Captain even struggled to find somewhere to take a sick patient (nobody wanted a cruise ship docking), but in the end an air ambulance lifted the patient of the ship. We then sat off the coast of Barbados for several days before heading out to sea for 'Operational' reasons and then back into Barbados - where we got docked, but could not leave the ship.

Finally each flight was loaded onto a convoy of buses that were given a police escort directly to the plane (security was done as we got off the ship). Anything that keeps Julie away from duty free is a good thing.

At one point there had been a rumour that we would be going back to the UK on Azura (based on P&O saying, on their web page, that all passengers currently on a cruise would return to Southampton). I think many would have liked that option.

A big thanks to Captain Turnbull and the entire crew of Azura for keeping us informed and delivering what they could. Also to the entertainers like Tucker, Jon Clegg, Silk'n Beats, Pulse etc. who gave additional shows and workshops (since we obviously could not bring new entertainers on - I had been really looking forward to the UB40 tribute - but alas). A big call out to Girley (our cabin steward) - I hope she gets home safely to her kids; and also to Jorge and RIta on the reception desk.

[Ray B]

Kendhni, lucky you, direct to the plane. We were sent to the airport on the Friday (should have been returning on next cruise to Southampton) on single busses to the airport terminal. It was packed, mixing with god knows who, getting rite up your a*se, no social spacing and the aircraft two hour delay.
So glad you enjoyed the cruise, it was like being in a bubble while the rest of the world was going mad. A cruise to rember when all this virus concern is over.

[Gill W]

Sounds like it was a cruise to remember Ken. It must be a shock to be back, and see how much has changed in two weeks

[Gill W]

Hopefully we will be Ok for the 4 October.?

I'm hoping we'll be ok for the end of May.
There's been no mention yet of it being cancelled by P&O. I guess it depends on several factors, one being if ports on the itinerary will be open. We won't hold our breath.

Realistically, it;s going to be a long time before cruises get running again. The 'shielding' for 12 weeks ends in June, and even then, the virus isn't just going to go away. It'll be widespread by then. The FCO will unlikely be changing it's advice regarding cruise ships and passengers over 70 and the vulnerable for some time - many P&O cruisers are in these categories.

When the cruises get going again is anyone's guess.

[Kendhni]

Kendhni, lucky you, direct to the plane. We were sent to the airport on the Friday (should have been returning on next cruise to Southampton) on single busses to the airport terminal. It was packed, mixing with god knows who, getting rite up your a*se, no social spacing and the aircraft two hour delay.

The thought of that really concerned me so I was glad we went straight to the plane. Sounds like the advice changed between Friday and Saturday (when we left). You weren't one of the people sunbathing up on deck 17 outside the retreat? Nearly everyone I talked to up there seemed to be on the cruise back to Southampton - I really felt sorry for them because for a while they seemed to be up in a state of limbo, not knowing how they would get home, which flight, which airport etc.

My big problem was that at 10PM on the Thursday night I got an email telling me my connecting flight from Gatwick had been cancelled. The email said 'click here to manage your booking' but the site was unavailable. We had no idea how we were going to get home from Gatwick, whether or not there were any hotels available or even if the ferries were still running. I went to the reception desk to try to get help and was told by one receptionist 'that is your problem not P&Os' (fortunately rest of the staff on the desk were much more helpful). I then spent much of the early hours on Friday morning trying to get access to the EasyJet site and trying to find and book alternative flights.

So glad you enjoyed the cruise, it was like being in a bubble while the rest of the world was going mad. A cruise to rember when all this virus concern is over.

I agree totally. When we left the worst news seemed to be that we could not get hand gel, then all of a sudden the world seemed to go mad. We felt safe on the ship knowing that it was coronavirus free ... plus we had no issues with hand gel or toilet rolls

Not the cruise we signed up for, but hopefully you still enjoyed it as much as we did.

[Kendhni]

Sounds like it was a cruise to remember Ken. It must be a shock to be back, and see how much has changed in two weeks

It really is scary. While we were away we were meant to be getting a new kitchen in so we had been running down all the food in our house. We came back to a half finished kitchen and virtually no food in the house. We do have plenty of toilet rolls, bleach and soap though, I had stocked those up just before we left (simply because we didn't have to buy any food). Fortunately my brother did a shop for me so that will keep us going for a couple of weeks.

[Ray B]

You weren't one of the people sunbathing up on deck 17 outside the retreat? Nearly everyone I talked to up there seemed to be on the cruise back to Southampton - I really felt sorry for them because for a while they seemed to be up in a state of limbo, not knowing how they would get home, which flight, which airport etc.


Yes we were, the two end loungers, Port side of the semi circle, friendly bunch up there.