Like about 98% of the passengers on this cruise, we had booked it in April 2009 at a price that you would pay for a cruise of half the duration, and we had upgraded flights. As we had already been on the Ventura and we knew that the Azura was very similar in layout, we had no misgivings about what we were in for regarding the size and style of the ship and we were looking forward to the cruise immensely, even though we had not previously spent so long on a ship.
Our flight from Manchester to Barbados was good and check in to the ship was fine. Our luggage arrived without too much delay. So we had a quick look around the ship, something light to eat and then bed.
Our balcony cabin was on B deck, port side. It was virtually the same as that on the Ventura. Tons of storage space and we had 62 coat hangers!!!! Comfy bed and quiet - you could not hear anything from next door or the corridor. Our cabin steward, Moses, efficiently kept the room clean and tidy, serviced twice a day. We hardly ever saw him.