For our latest cruise we stepped out of our comfort zone of Celebrity and Fred Olsen to join P&O's Azura in Barbados for a Caribbean cruise. After twenty-five cruises this was our first time with P&O.

The embarkation process was great. We handed over our luggage at check in at Gatwick Airport, and we got it back in our cabin on the ship. We walked off the aircraft in Barbados, straight onto a bus which took us directly to the ship, and whilst I'm on the subject of aircraft, we had the massive bonus of flying on the Dreamliner. Anyone with an interest in airplanes will know what a bonus that is, more space, larger windows, mood-lighting, quieter engines, healthier air conditioning. In fact, you don't have to have an interest to appreciate those benefits.

Boarding the ship was a fairly speedy process, given that many of us arrived on buses from the airport at the same time, but we were disappointed that for the first time in nearly twenty-five cruises, we were not greeted by an officer, nor were we offered a welcome aboard drink. First impressions are important, and this was not a good one, we were also unimpressed by the attitude of the staff on guest services. Read more