Azura - A708 - April 2017
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Hi all
We're booked on a 2 week Med cruise this Easter and are very excited! By 'we' I mean myself and my husband and our 4 children 11-17. We have been on a cruise before but not P&O. We didn't chose our cabins (not knowing this would be slightly detrimental to our dinner times and paying for tender trips!) and one of the cabins is next to a lift. So my questions are:
-Does anyone know if the lifts are noisy and what are our chances of changing cabins?
- I've put in a request for freedom dining, but does anyone know what our chances are of getting this?
- does anyone have any advice on the ports (Valencia, Rome, Barcelona, Cannes, Corsica, Gibraltar, Cartagena) and what the weather may be like
- does anyone have any advice about the ship in general about anything at all? All advice very much appreciated!
I'm sorry if I've posted in a wrong area but this seemed to be the only place I could post to.
Thanks all
We're booked on a 2 week Med cruise this Easter and are very excited! By 'we' I mean myself and my husband and our 4 children 11-17. We have been on a cruise before but not P&O. We didn't chose our cabins (not knowing this would be slightly detrimental to our dinner times and paying for tender trips!) and one of the cabins is next to a lift. So my questions are:
-Does anyone know if the lifts are noisy and what are our chances of changing cabins?
- I've put in a request for freedom dining, but does anyone know what our chances are of getting this?
- does anyone have any advice on the ports (Valencia, Rome, Barcelona, Cannes, Corsica, Gibraltar, Cartagena) and what the weather may be like
- does anyone have any advice about the ship in general about anything at all? All advice very much appreciated!
I'm sorry if I've posted in a wrong area but this seemed to be the only place I could post to.
Thanks all
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:44, edited 1 time in total.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8946
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Lifts should not be a problem, our accessible cabin is as close to the lifts as you can get and we rarely hear a thing.
Freedom dining is the most popular so you might need to wait until on board then see the restaurant manager and ask to be changed, but you may be on a lengthy wait-list.
Gibraltar, Catagena and Corsica, if that's Ajaccio, or all easy DIY ports so you won't need a shuttle, Cannes will be a tender so should drop you off in the port area. The others will need shuttles or shore excursions to get you to the touristy areas.
Azura is a Grand Princess class ship, very similar to Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess, it has lots of bars, lounges and entertainment venues, as well as excellent kids club facilities for your children.
There is a host of info on the P&O website in their help & Advice area found using the Q on the home page.
Freedom dining is the most popular so you might need to wait until on board then see the restaurant manager and ask to be changed, but you may be on a lengthy wait-list.
Gibraltar, Catagena and Corsica, if that's Ajaccio, or all easy DIY ports so you won't need a shuttle, Cannes will be a tender so should drop you off in the port area. The others will need shuttles or shore excursions to get you to the touristy areas.
Azura is a Grand Princess class ship, very similar to Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess, it has lots of bars, lounges and entertainment venues, as well as excellent kids club facilities for your children.
There is a host of info on the P&O website in their help & Advice area found using the Q on the home page.
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:49, edited 1 time in total.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5607
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Lifts are generally no problem
Valencia is quite a long way from the port and needs the bus (chargeable) as is Barca, you cannot walk it from the ship.
Rome is worth a P&O trip is you can do it. The others are walkable.
You should be ok getting Freedom, but is not guaranteed.
Just go with an open mind and the intention to enjoy yourselves
Valencia is quite a long way from the port and needs the bus (chargeable) as is Barca, you cannot walk it from the ship.
Rome is worth a P&O trip is you can do it. The others are walkable.
You should be ok getting Freedom, but is not guaranteed.
Just go with an open mind and the intention to enjoy yourselves
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:48, edited 1 time in total.
Empty vessels .. and all that
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Thanks so much. We've booked a tour for Barcelona and Rome and hope to make our own way in the other Ports. Do you know whether the buffet is open for dinner too? I did ring P&O but my lady was slightly officious and told me that the buffet restaurant would be closed from 7pm. She also told me I couldn't buy and icecream/drink pack for the kids until I pointed out it was in their brochure!towny44 wrote: ↑09 Mar 2017, 23:24Lifts should not be a problem, our accessible cabin is as close to the lifts as you can get and we rarely hear a thing.
Freedom dining is the most popular so you might need to wait until on board then see the restaurant manager and ask to be changed, but you may be on a lengthy wait-list.
Gibraltar, Catagena and Corsica, if that's Ajaccio, or all easy DIY ports so you won't need a shuttle, Cannes will be a tender so should drop you off in the port area. The others will need shuttles or shore excursions to get you to the touristy areas.
Azura is a Grand Princess class ship, very similar to Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess, it has lots of bars, lounges and entertainment venues, as well as excellent kids club facilities for your children.
There is a host of info on the P&O website in their help & Advice area found using the Q on the home page.
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:48, edited 1 time in total.
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Thanks so much, yes we will indeed go with an open mind, we're really looking forward to the holiday. I think I was unfortunate with the lady I spoke to at P&O who was probably busy and flustered.barney wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 11:35Lifts are generally no problem
Valencia is quite a long way from the port and needs the bus (chargeable) as is Barca, you cannot walk it from the ship.
Rome is worth a P&O trip is you can do it. The others are walkable.
You should be ok getting Freedom, but is not guaranteed.
Just go with an open mind and the intention to enjoy yourselves
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8946
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Azura - A708 - April 2017
The buffet on most P&O ships is open most of the day, and well into the night, serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, kids special tea and dinner, sometimes only one side will be open while they prepare the other. So I have absolutely no idea which script your contact was reading from, or maybe she was a Royal Caribbean secret agent!Burrowshse wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 20:35Thanks so much. We've booked a tour for Barcelona and Rome and hope to make our own way in the other Ports. Do you know whether the buffet is open for dinner too? I did ring P&O but my lady was slightly officious and told me that the buffet restaurant would be closed from 7pm. She also told me I couldn't buy and icecream/drink pack for the kids until I pointed out it was in their brochure!towny44 wrote: ↑09 Mar 2017, 23:24Lifts should not be a problem, our accessible cabin is as close to the lifts as you can get and we rarely hear a thing.
Freedom dining is the most popular so you might need to wait until on board then see the restaurant manager and ask to be changed, but you may be on a lengthy wait-list.
Gibraltar, Catagena and Corsica, if that's Ajaccio, or all easy DIY ports so you won't need a shuttle, Cannes will be a tender so should drop you off in the port area. The others will need shuttles or shore excursions to get you to the touristy areas.
Azura is a Grand Princess class ship, very similar to Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess, it has lots of bars, lounges and entertainment venues, as well as excellent kids club facilities for your children.
There is a host of info on the P&O website in their help & Advice area found using the Q on the home page.
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Azura - A708 - April 2017
Busy and flustered is no good - it's their job to advise you properly. Sadly, any company is only as good as the voice on the end of the 'phone in the call centre and this kind of attitude from that lady does the image no good at allBurrowshse wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 20:39Thanks so much, yes we will indeed go with an open mind, we're really looking forward to the holiday. I think I was unfortunate with the lady I spoke to at P&O who was probably busy and flustered.barney wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 11:35Lifts are generally no problem
Valencia is quite a long way from the port and needs the bus (chargeable) as is Barca, you cannot walk it from the ship.
Rome is worth a P&O trip is you can do it. The others are walkable.
You should be ok getting Freedom, but is not guaranteed.
Just go with an open mind and the intention to enjoy yourselves
By the way, welcome Borrowshse, There are loads of people around here with loads of experience who will be able to answer any questions from cruising to computing to the best pub in Huddersfield !!
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1839
- Joined: June 2014
Azura - A708 - April 2017
I have experienced the buffet being open 24hrs! That was on board Azura and Ventura.
Much better than Princess they closed by 11pm:( my husband was not happy with that!
Much better than Princess they closed by 11pm:( my husband was not happy with that!
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:46, edited 4 times in total.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
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- Location: Dorset
Azura - A708 - April 2017
I have moved it into an Azura Forum.
Regards and welcome .... MobyMod
Regards and welcome .... MobyMod
Last edited by Manoverboard on 11 Mar 2017, 14:49, edited 3 times in total.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Re: Azura - A708 - April 2017
Ha ha, I think you may be right! When I first asked about kids packages, she said "that's just Princess"...I thought she was referring to a ship name! I said I must have misunderstood the brochure and she said 'yes yes it's just Princess cruises"! When I said it was in the P&O brochure, she said "oh I've been off a week"!!! I said I'd had the brochure at least a month and it was a 2016 brochure too! Hence I didn't really believe her that the buffet closed! She told me that in the evenings there was no choice but the restaurants, which I was happy with but I was slightly worried incase we got 8.30 sitting and my 10 and 11 year old were hungry! Actually I was more concerned I'd be hungry!!towny44 wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 21:14The buffet on most P&O ships is open most of the day, and well into the night, serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, kids special tea and dinner, sometimes only one side will be open while they prepare the other. So I have absolutely no idea which script your contact was reading from, or maybe she was a Royal Caribbean secret agent!Burrowshse wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 20:35Thanks so much. We've booked a tour for Barcelona and Rome and hope to make our own way in the other Ports. Do you know whether the buffet is open for dinner too? I did ring P&O but my lady was slightly officious and told me that the buffet restaurant would be closed from 7pm. She also told me I couldn't buy and icecream/drink pack for the kids until I pointed out it was in their brochure!towny44 wrote: ↑09 Mar 2017, 23:24Lifts should not be a problem, our accessible cabin is as close to the lifts as you can get and we rarely hear a thing.
Freedom dining is the most popular so you might need to wait until on board then see the restaurant manager and ask to be changed, but you may be on a lengthy wait-list.
Gibraltar, Catagena and Corsica, if that's Ajaccio, or all easy DIY ports so you won't need a shuttle, Cannes will be a tender so should drop you off in the port area. The others will need shuttles or shore excursions to get you to the touristy areas.
Azura is a Grand Princess class ship, very similar to Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess, it has lots of bars, lounges and entertainment venues, as well as excellent kids club facilities for your children.
There is a host of info on the P&O website in their help & Advice area found using the Q on the home page.
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Re: Azura - A708 - April 2017
Thanks!Manoverboard wrote: ↑11 Mar 2017, 14:40I have moved it into an Azura Forum.
Regards and welcome .... MobyMod
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 4
- Joined: March 2017
Re: Azura - A708 - April 2017
Thanks for the welcome! When I'm next looking for a good pub I will be sure to post! Thanks for all the help....I'm sure I'll have more questions before we go!qbman1 wrote: ↑11 Mar 2017, 09:11Busy and flustered is no good - it's their job to advise you properly. Sadly, any company is only as good as the voice on the end of the 'phone in the call centre and this kind of attitude from that lady does the image no good at allBurrowshse wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 20:39Thanks so much, yes we will indeed go with an open mind, we're really looking forward to the holiday. I think I was unfortunate with the lady I spoke to at P&O who was probably busy and flustered.barney wrote: ↑10 Mar 2017, 11:35Lifts are generally no problem
Valencia is quite a long way from the port and needs the bus (chargeable) as is Barca, you cannot walk it from the ship.
Rome is worth a P&O trip is you can do it. The others are walkable.
You should be ok getting Freedom, but is not guaranteed.
Just go with an open mind and the intention to enjoy yourselves
By the way, welcome Borrowshse, There are loads of people around here with loads of experience who will be able to answer any questions from cruising to computing to the best pub in Huddersfield !!