Firstly this is only my second cruise, so therefore I can only compare with the one previous cruise I have done which was on the Oceana (P&O) through the Panama Canal.
The Ship
Azura is a new ship only 18 months old, however it still shows signs of wear and tear. This is to be expected considering it is in service 365 days a year with no rest. However the crew are constantly maintaining it by either painting, varnishing or hosing down on a daily basis. She is a lot bigger than the Oceana carrying over a 1000 more passengers and does take a while to get your bearings.
On Azura I would recommend getting a cabin on C deck if wanting a large balcony.