For our 40th birthdays, myself and three of my closest friends decided to do something special, a Mediterranean cruise aboard P&O Azura. We’ve all been friends since college, and after booking the trip a couple of years ago and paying it off monthly, the cruise finally became reality this year.
I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had.
Our cruise departed from Valletta in Malta and stopped at Corfu, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Catania over the course of a week. Alongside the beautiful destinations, it was the atmosphere onboard, the food, the entertainment and the feeling of safety and relaxation that made the trip so unforgettable.
Flying From Manchester to Valletta
Our holiday started with a very early 6 am flight from Manchester. By around 11:30 am, we had already arrived on board P&O Azura, which felt incredibly smooth and organised considering the number of passengers boarding.
If we had cruised before, we probably would have explored Valletta before departure, but as first-time cruisers, we were all slightly paranoid about somehow getting left behind! Instead, we stayed onboard and started exploring the ship while settling into holiday mode.
I had also booked myself a haircut in the onboard salon for 3 pm. It felt like the perfect way to start the cruise and properly treat myself. I realised during the appointment that it had probably been around two years since my last haircut, so it felt extra special. The hairdresser was so lovely and professional, and really helped make the first day feel luxurious.
Originally, the ship was scheduled to depart Valletta around 6–7 pm, but due to a fireworks championship that evening, the departure was delayed until after 11:30 pm. Rather than being annoyed, it turned into one of the highlights of the holiday because we had the most incredible view of the fireworks display directly from the ship. Another perfect way to start our holiday.
First Impressions of P&O Azura
As first-time cruisers, we had no idea what to expect from P&O Azura, but we absolutely loved it from the moment we stepped onboard.
The ship felt clean, spacious, and surprisingly relaxing, considering the number of people on board. There were multiple pools, bars, entertainment areas, and restaurants, and we quickly found our favourite spots to relax on sea days.
One of our favourite spots was the adults-only pool area with jacuzzis, which felt much quieter and calmer than the main pool areas. We also discovered the steam room and sauna were completely free to use, which surprised us because we had assumed they would cost extra.
One thing that really stood out to all of us was how safe we felt on board. One of us would happily walk alone to the buffet restaurant at midnight to get a mug of Horlicks without thinking twice. If we had been staying in a normal resort, none of us would have felt comfortable doing that alone at night. There was something really relaxing about knowing you could safely wander around the ship at any hour.
Our Inside Cabin on P&O Azura
We booked inside cabins for the cruise, with two of us sharing each room, and the cabins were much bigger than we expected.
We had rooms next door to each other on Deck 5, which made it really easy to meet up quickly throughout the week. Considering P&O Azura has around 15 decks, the ship itself felt absolutely enormous, like a floating village.
Before travelling, I worried an inside cabin might feel cramped or dark, but it actually worked perfectly for us because we spent so little time in the room itself. There was enough storage space for everything we needed, and the beds were really comfortable after long days exploring or evenings enjoying the entertainment onboard.
Food on P&O Azura
The food on board completely exceeded our expectations.
Before travelling, we assumed we would mainly eat in the buffet restaurant, but we quickly realised there were so many included dining options available.
The buffet itself had different food options throughout the day:
- Breakfast: approximately 7 am–10 am
- Lunch: approximately 11 am–2 pm
- Afternoon tea: approximately 2:30 pm–4 pm
- Children’s tea: approximately 4 pm–5 pm
- Evening meal: approximately 5 pm–9 pm
- Supper: approximately 10:30 pm–1 am
There was always something available, no matter what time you were hungry, and the variety was brilliant.
We also discovered that there were two included sit-down restaurants onboard where we could enjoy proper waiter-service meals. To dine there, we joined an online queue anytime after around 5:45 pm and received a notification once our table was ready. We then had 15 minutes to make our way to the restaurant.
The standard menu included three courses, while the two black-tie celebration nights featured five-course meals, all included within the cruise price.
When booking tables, you could either request a private table for your group or choose to share with other guests. We actually chose to share a couple of times because it reduced the waiting time and gave us the chance to meet new people, which ended up being a really lovely part of the experience.
Our Favourite Meals and Dining Experience
Honestly, every meal onboard felt special.
The five-course celebration night meals were especially incredible and felt really luxurious. These menus were curated by Marco Pierre White, which made the whole experience feel even more impressive.
The quality of food throughout the cruise genuinely exceeded all our expectations.
Activities and Entertainment Onboard
There was always something happening onboard P&O Azura.
Different bars and areas around the ship hosted activities throughout the day and evening, so there was never a risk of getting bored. Every morning, we would have a newsletter delivered to our room saying what was on and when during the day.
Some of the activities we took part in included:
- Line dancing classes
- Pub quizzes
- Bingo
- Deal or No Deal
- Gym bootcamp classes
The line dancing class and pub quizzes were free, while the bootcamp session in the gym cost us £15 each. The gym, however, was free and open 24 hours a day.
One of our favourite moments onboard was winning the pub quiz, which earned us a bottle of wine and a Deal or No Deal ticket.
Throughout the week, we watched:
- a magic show developed with Stephen Mulhern
- comedy acts
- a London music show
- a 70s music show
- a performance from an Irish singer who was on board for the week
The atmosphere on board throughout the week felt incredibly friendly and sociable, especially during the evenings.
The only thing I would change is that the dancing classes took place in The Atrium, which was quite a small dance floor. I think these classes would have been much better suited to the bar, Manhattan, which would have given more space to move and also made the instructors slightly more visible by using the stage.
Embarkation and Disembarkation Process
The boarding and leaving process was far easier than we expected.
Staff members were posted everywhere and were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, both when embarking in Valletta and when leaving the ship at the end of the holiday.
As first-time cruisers, we had expected everything to feel stressful and confusing, but P&O had the organisation down perfectly.
Corfu Excursion Review
For our day in Corfu, we had pre-booked the “Leisurely Corfu” excursion.
The tour included a scenic drive around parts of the island, and our guide was extremely knowledgeable and pointed out some beautiful areas along the way.
One reason we booked the excursion was that it mentioned free time to explore independently, so we imagined we would have time to wander around a village or town. Unfortunately, this part was slightly disappointing because the “free time” turned out to be around 30 minutes at an overpriced café on top of a hill rather than somewhere with shops or places to explore.
After this, we visited a kumquat factory where we learned more about the fruit that Corfu is famous for. We were able to sample kumquat sweets, marmalades, liquors and other local products, and there was also an opportunity to buy gifts and souvenirs.
Although parts of the excursion were enjoyable, we probably would choose something different next time.
Visiting Dubrovnik and Cavtat
Dubrovnik ended up being one of my favourite days of the cruise.
Ann-Marie and I had booked an excursion which first took us to Cavtat, and it was absolutely stunning. It felt like a proper, picturesque fishing village, with children fishing by the harbour while their parents sat drinking coffee in cafés nearby. It had such a relaxed and authentic atmosphere.
We had free time to wander around independently and stop for a drink before heading back towards Dubrovnik itself.
Once back in Dubrovnik, we had a short walking tour before deciding whether to return to the ship or stay longer in the city. Ann-Marie decided to head back on board, but I met up with Zoe and Kate near Dubrovnik harbour, and we walked up to a nearby beach for a while before getting an Uber back to the ship later on.
Exploring Zadar
For our day in Zadar, we decided to explore independently.
We got an Uber into the town centre, wandered around the old town and stopped for drinks and pastries before later getting another Uber to the beach.
The water was unbelievably clear and beautiful, and we spent an hour or so relaxing by the sea before heading to a nearby beach bar, which was surprisingly reasonably priced.
Zadar had a really relaxed atmosphere and ended up being one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable stops of the cruise.
A Day in Catania, Sicily
In Catania, we decided to walk from the port into the town centre ourselves.
One of the best things we did there was take the tourist train, which gave us a great overview of the city and let us see lots of sights in around an hour.
Naturally, while in Sicily, we all wanted proper Italian food, so we stopped for pizza and pasta at a local restaurant before heading back towards the ship.
Sometimes the simplest port days end up being the most enjoyable.
How Much Our P&O Azura Cruise Cost
Our cruise, including flights from Manchester and transfers, cost £879 each, which we felt was incredible value considering how much food, entertainment and travel were included.
We also received £30 onboard credit each.
One of the biggest extra costs for us was WiFi, which cost £252 for four devices for the week. Although expensive, we still decided it was worth having internet access throughout the cruise. We also split the cost, so we each just had our phones connected to the WiFi. On port days, I could catch up on work on my laptop using my mobile hotspot to get online.
Drink Prices and Whether the Drinks Package Is Worth It
Before the cruise, we looked into the drinks packages but decided not to purchase one, and we didn’t feel like we missed out.
Tea, coffee and water were available throughout the day in the buffet restaurants, while fruit juice was included during breakfast service. During the late-night supper service, you could also get Horlicks and hot chocolate, which became one of our favourite bedtime routines onboard.
When I fancied a drink, I usually ordered mocktails or Heineken 0%, which cost £4.50 each. Alcoholic cocktails were around £9.
For us personally, paying individually worked out much better value than buying a drinks package.
Did We Get Seasick?
One thing all of us were slightly nervous about before cruising was seasickness.
Surprisingly, none of us felt seasick at all during the cruise, even on a couple of occasions when the sea was slightly rocky. The ship felt incredibly stable most of the time.
The only strange feeling came after the holiday had ended. For a few days afterwards, I still felt like I was gently rocking or slightly dizzy, almost as if I was still on board the ship. Apparently, this is really common after cruises, but it definitely felt strange at first.
Did P&O Azura Feel Crowded?
Not at all.
This was actually one of the biggest surprises of the whole cruise. Even though there were thousands of passengers on board, the ship was so huge that it rarely felt busy or overcrowded.
There was always somewhere to sit, somewhere quiet to relax and plenty of room around the ship. It genuinely felt like a little village floating in the middle of the sea.
What I Packed for a Mediterranean Cruise
One thing I learned very quickly is that you probably need far less than you think for a cruise.
I actually took around half the amount my friends packed and still had plenty of outfits for the week. During the daytime, I mostly wore shorts and t-shirts, while evenings were mainly dresses for meals and entertainment onboard.
Towels, bedding, hand wash, shower gel and shampoo were all included in the cruise. The toiletries had a beautiful fragrance from The White Company.
Would I Cruise With P&O Again?
Definitely.
This cruise completely changed my opinion on cruising and genuinely became one of my favourite holidays ever.
The only thing I wish is that P&O Cruises offered more departure options from France, because travelling back to the UK for flights adds extra travel time for me personally.
Currently, P&O departures are mainly from Southampton, Valletta, Tenerife and Barbados, but despite the extra travel involved, I would still happily book another cruise with them in the future.
More than anything, this cruise reminded me how important it is to make memories with the people you love. Celebrating our 40th birthdays together after years of planning made the whole trip even more special, and it’s a holiday I know we’ll talk about for years to come.
If you’re considering booking P&O Azura, especially as a first-time cruiser, I honestly couldn’t recommend it enough.
P&O Azura FAQs
Is P&O Azura good for first-time cruisers?
Yes, we were first-time cruisers and found the ship really easy to navigate and very relaxing.
Is the P&O Azura drinks package worth it?
For us personally, no. We found buying drinks individually worked out cheaper.
Are inside cabins on P&O Azura too small?
Not at all. We were surprised by how spacious the cabins felt.
Did we get seasick on P&O Azura?
No, none of us felt seasick during the cruise.