Hard to be fair with this review but I will try. The Azura is poorly designed and badly staffed, due to not being enough staff to cater for the customers. Staff are on the whole pleasant and hardworking but never smiling! Spent four weeks unable to use our balcony to the full potential due to chain smokers on both sides constantly smoking. Made the trip a nightmare. Tried to change cabins twice but ignored, wrote to P & O on our return only to be informed that smokers had rights to smoke. Now taking up the matter with European Commission, may as well use up the hours I now have after just retiring. Cancelled my next cruise with them and will never travel with them again.

On the plus side the meals were of good quality although we have had better. The entertainment was good and the crews company Headliners were brilliant. Some of the other acts were however very poor. Sunbed situation on board is dire. They say that belongings are removed by staff but none of our table of eight ever saw any staff doing it. Reservations of theatre seats strictly banned but every night it is done as no-one is controlling it. Customer service is virtually non-existent. Heard more than one person call it Butlins at sea and that is quite an accurate description. With regard to this review I am a fair person we have had eight cruises with other cruise lines and have never had reason to complain about any and that includes two "cheapie" cruises with Thomsons. I try to live and let live while on holiday but that was extremely difficult on the Azura.

I heard many complaints while on board although surprisingly some commend the ship. Seasoned cruisers who have used other cruise lines seem to realize that P & O give poor value overall. Read more