Azura’s cruise to Iceland called at Belfast and Stornoway on the way North and then when returning to Southampton called first at Lerwick and then Kirkwall.
The cruise had a number of firsts. This was Azura’s maiden call at five ports; Belfast, Stornoway, Isafjordur, Lerwick and finally Kirkwall. Plus she was the largest ship to have called at Stornoway.
Out of curiosity I have noted the concierge postal rate for sending postcards from each of our ports of call so that I could compare these costs with the app on my smartphone.
Day 1 Sunday 19th June 2016 Southampton
Azura sailed out of Southampton with accompanying low lying cloud.
In our cabin we had the new P&O service to pre-fill the room’s refrigerator, just like any hotel room (all returned to housekeeping on first day untouched).
The safety drill passed off with no surprises and we were soon able to visit the Blue Bar, midships, for our first on-board drink. From the cruise documentation the casino would not be open tonight (regulations) and the shops appeared to have joined in with the holiday.
On the way out through Southampton Water we passed some interesting other ships in particular the SS Shieldhall who gave us lots of toots on her horn as she passed us.
The Steamship Shieldhall is the largest working steam ship in Britain. Once out of the Solent and into the late evening we were back to the mist.
We were on a table for six this cruise and as is usual for the first meal there was a queue as we all forget that the meal starts 15 minutes later on the first evening.
Tonight I had venison liver as a main with potato soup and whipped blue cheese as starter.
The casino was closed due to ‘regulations’. So after dinner we stopped in at the Manhattan to watch JetSet, who are the house band on Azura. They were excellent and have entertained us before on earlier cruises on Azura.
Day 2 Monday 20th June 2016 In transit to Belfast
We woke up to rain and lots of cloud. The ship had sailed slowly down the Channel and at 8 am was South of Fowey. As we went for breakfast her speed increased from 12+ knots to 17+ knots.
After breakfast spent chatting with a very friendly table I went to the Facebook group meeting listed in the Monday edition of the Horizon paper. I had missed the event group that had been set up for this cruise in one of the many P&O related Facebook groups. It appears that a phone call to head office to the events organiser allows a group to have a room booked on-board. The slight confusion was that the ship planned to prepare the room for 11 despite the time set in Horizon for 10 am.
At noon we went to watch the film, The Lady In the Van, about Alan Bennett’s relationship with a lady who slept in a van in his driveway for over 15 years.
Lunch was a chicken curry in the Venezia restaurant followed by 3 miles backwards and forwards on the Promenade deck. By now the sun was out and it was a lovely afternoon.
Dolphins and whales in the Irish Sea
I did manage to catch a pod of dolphins swimming towards the ship during the walk.
Back on our balcony another pod of dolphins appeared in the distance as well as spouts from whales. Unfortunately the whales were too far away to get a closer look.
Our paths also crossed an Irish Ferry on its way home.
It was a formal dress evening with a Marco Pierre White menu and we were all queuing again for the second sitting in the Oriental on deck 6.
This evening I had the lamb, which honestly was rather tough and not great. Continuing with theme of the day before there was no casino again in the evening due to ‘regulations’.
Way after sunset this was the sky from our balcony looking at the coast of Ireland as we sailed North.
