Your comments

Thank you for your many comments, I have enjoyed reading them and wanted to take the opportunity to reply. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding, and for the fact that I will not get the chance to reply to all comments - I have been kept busy re-working our cruise entertainment programme due to the disruption of flights!

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

Dear Nicole, thank you very much for the message - you will have a great time here on Azura, she is beautiful!!

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 Azura.
Jan

Dear Jan, my parents are still in Essex but no longer in Chelmsford - I often visit when I am on leave. One of my favourite places is the Antique place in Battlesbridge on the way to Chelmsford (you may know it).

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 instalment.
Regards Geoff Witts Perth

Dear Geoff, I am still trying to get some shots together - but you must come and cruise on her as she is already becoming some of our passengers' favourite.

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 places with 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 weren't able to come down for the viewing.
Norma & Peris

Dear Norma and Peris, it only seems yesterday that I saw you both in Southampton. Please send my regards to the rest of the Gang.

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)

Dear Elaine, I love the name!!! I am so pleased that you saw Bennie. The good news is that she has been promoted to Cruise Director and will cover my leave in May.

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

Dear Jane, great to see you too and please say hi to Lizzie and tell her that it is not the same without her.

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 technical assistance when I'm on board (A006) ... only joking!!
Anita & Mary Anderson

Dear Anita and Mary, thanks for the offer of the technical assistance - YOU NEVER KNOW!! There is also a wonderful traditional element here too.

Hi
Well what a fantastic ship we have been following her arrival Southampton and maiden voyage departure.
We can't wait for our Cruise in October with our Choir.
Clarity

Dear Clarity, I should be here in October and look forward to meeting up - and here on the Maiden Cruise we have had 65 passengers wishing to partake in the choir. Jemma Legg (Entertainment Officer) is doing a grand job!

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

Dear Ros, I have spoken to Pat and sent on your best wishes. Shame you are not all on together.

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

Dear Sara, you have a good memory, I did the last year there and have some great memories. Just for the record I am still helping in the Muster Stations. Let me know when you are coming and I will look out for you at drills!!

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!!

Please - no need to worry. Azura rides the waves beautifully, your wife will soon forget about weather when she comes onboard. Azura has so much Entertainment and wonderful facilities she will not have time to think about anything else.

We have friends on board this beautiful ship and only wish we had been able to join them, and can't wait to hear all about the trip. I am sure it will be delightful. ERK Glasgow

Dear Elizabeth, if I only knew your friend's names, I would give them a quick call to say hello. I am sure they are having a great time.

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.
Geoff

Dear Geoff, I will get the website checked, I can confirm we definitely have Southampton on the stern. If I am onboard the next time you travel with us I will let you have one of our prizes that we give to our passengers when they win the quiz.


Thank you again, and keep the comments coming!

All the best,

Neil