Hello,
Everyone has been working hard since they joined Azura in the ship yard and now she is finally ready to sail on her maiden voyage. Our Naming ceremony was absolutely superb and wherever you turned there seemed to be another celebrity. Our godmother looked stunning, as you can see above. The weather has so far been very kind and up to now no rain which is great as our passengers are already wondering around the ship and preparing for a sailaway. Everyone seems very excited about this special cruise. The champagne sailaway will start shortly and already the masses are gathering on the open decks.
Azura has just been blessed by The Arch Deacon of Bournemouth on the quayside along with a speech from our Managing Director Carol Marlow. The brass band has started to play - Wish you were all here to be a part of this great atmosphere.
Azura has just been blessed by The Arch Deacon of Bournemouth on the quayside along with a speech from our Managing Director Carol Marlow. The brass band has started to play - Wish you were all here to be a part of this great atmosphere.
Tonight we look forward to our first evening on board as all of our public lounges, bars and restaurants come alive with colours, aromas, music and entertainment!
It’s now late in the evening and it has been a fantastic first night. Adrian Walsh, a great comic, was brilliant this evening and everyone enjoyed the show. The entertainment in Manhattan and Malabar also went very well. I’m now going to head down to Manhattan and see how our DJ, Michael is getting on with his busy venue.
Neil
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18 comments:
Hello Neil.
It was lovely to see you on Sunday and we look forward to sailing on Azura in June. Until then I shall be following your blog.
Best wishes from Nicole
Hello Neil,
I have been avidly following James' blog all the way from here in Australia. I shall be very interested to hear your tales from the beautiful new Azura.
My father, up until the early 1980's, worked for P&O here in Australia so I have grown up with a substantial love of ships and cruising.
My mother was also born in England and her family lived in various parts of Essex, including her brother, my uncle, who lived with his family in Chelmsford where, I noticed, you were born.
Looking forward to reading more of your tales from Azure.
Jan
Hallo Neil
Great that you are continuing now James is about to go on leave, Azura certainly looks a great ship, hoping you will post some interior shots, so we in blog land can dream of one day perhaps cruising on her, and enjoy what she has to offer.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Regards Geoff Witts Perth
Hi Neil,
So pleased that you've taken over James's blog, which we've followed since he started.
I know that he's left it in capable hands.Looking forward to seeing new placeswith you, we've booked on Azura for the Summer 2011, but are on Oriana this Summer.
Good luck with the blog, and Azura, she looks wonderful.Unfortunately we wern't able to come down for the viewing.
Norma & Peris
Hello Neil
Welcome to the blog.
I too have been following James's blog since it started sometime ago. I too am looking forward to your input on the blog. Looking forward to hearing all about Azura and your ports of call.
She is a beautiful ship and I think she will be our kind of thing (as you will see from my forum name)!
From what I've seen of her so far, she is very classy! My time onboard went by so quickly on Saturday night. I feel like I wasn't able to absorb everything. Only one thing for it - I'll have to book a cruise on her.
It was lovely to see lots of familiar faces. It was nice to see Bennie, I haven't seen her for ages. Such a shame as I only saw her briefly.
So again I will just have to book a cruise on Azura.
Anyway, hope all is going well with maiden cruise.
Bye for now
Elaine (aurorabore)
Neil
Lovely to catch up with you on Friday evening. Goes without saying that I fell in love with Azura, so we will be back!!
Wish I was at Captains Gala Reception this evening - pics please!!
Jane, Mr C & Lizy x
Wonderful to see that you're settling into your new home Neil.
We're looking forward to joining you in June, she looks more our sort of ship than Ventura - you could say we should be related to Elaine (see above) a.k.a. "Aurorabore" as we love the more traditional style.
Can't wait to read your next instalment .... if you need some techical assistance when I'm on board (A006) ... only joking!!
Anita & Mary Anderson
Hi
Well what a fantastic ship we have been following her arrival Southampton and maiden voyage departure.
We cant wait for our Cruise in October with our Choir.
Welcome on board Neil - James is hard act to follow but if anyone can do it you can, look forward to your blogs on Azura she is certainly a beautiful ship we were able to visit on Thursday and thoroughly enjoyed the day hopefully we will be able to travel on her in the near future, if you see our friends Jackie & Pat Dacey who are travelling with you on the maiden voyage give them our love, All the best
Ros
Well, well, well - Neil Oliver - so good that you are taking over from James, I remember you from Canberra (you helped me at my muster station!!) - Hope all is going well so far and will follow your blog with interest.....
Regards for now,
Sara
Looking forward to hearing how Azura copes in rough weather. We are due to sail with you in June for our first ever cruise and my wife is still nervous!!
We have friends on board this beautiful ship and only wish we had been abe to join them, and cant wait to hear all about the trip.I am sure it will be delightful.ERK Glasgow
Hello Neil
I was wondering why does it show on the P&O site Azura registry Hamilton, Bermuda, when on the back she shows Southampton, where as Ventura clearly has Hamilton on her Stern.Hope you can answer this.
Regards
Geoff Witts Perth
Thought you must still be in the Solent but no sign of the ship!
Hi Neil, Thoroughly enjoyed James' blog, looking forward to your contribution. We were on the maiden voyage of Ventura which was lovely and will be joining you on Azura in July. Look forward to reading your future entries. Marg B.
We went down to Hamble to watch Azura sail out....we waited...& waited & eventually she loomed up round the corner!! We also saw her from the IOW ferry, wanted to check out our cabin for Xmas.
Hi Neil
Really enjoying reading your blog as my family and I are joining Azura for the Baltic cruise in July. This will be our first time on a P&O ship and are really looking forward to our cruise. My daughter is thirteen and although I know this isn't a designated family cruise we are hoping there will be pleanty to keep Victoria happy.
Kepp up the good work
Gary, Jane and Victoria Evans
Have arrived home today from Azura's maiden cruise Neil did a fantastic job also I liked Azura's theme tune which we did on sail away days.
To my amazement I was chosen from the audience to help the wonderfully talented magician Bret Sherwood I was presented with a rose by magic of course I assured passengers after that I was not a plant [ part of the act ] as some did ask a night to remember a cruise to remember must say I would certainly sail on Azura again perfect
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