On our recent cruise along the Norwegian Fjords we visited four ports all with plenty of different things to offer. Our first port of call was Stavanger, a large city with a big harbour for cruise ships like ours was. Stavanger is nicknamed the Oil Capital of Norway because of the boom the country experienced when the Oil Fields in the Norwegian Sea and North Sea were found. Here are a few things you can do whilst in Stavanger to make the most of your time visiting this city. It’s key to note that Norway is really expensive, so if you aren’t cruising like we were and had all our food included, bare this in mind. You’ll need a lot of spending money.
Coming into Stavanger is just beautiful when approaching by boat. Plenty of little islands and mountain backdrops surround the city. It’s completely different to being on the south coast of England which is why we went there in the first place, to experience something completely new.
If you are cruising I really do recommend booking one of the excursions as it is a great way to see much more of Norway than staying in the city centre, however if you would prefer to do it yourself then here are a few things you can book alone.
Visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum
Visit Stavanger Cathedral
Cruise through the Lysefjord
Visit Swords in Rock
Olre Holmegate – really colourful street in the centre that takes you down to the waterfront
Go on a boat tour
See the pulpit rock
Each of these attractions comes at a cost but really do help to make the most of your trip in Stavanger and will help to keep the kids entertained. A lot of the guides are English speaking or have an option for you to listen to an English speaking guide. If you do want to wonder around the city there are plenty of historical buildings to see. Museums are not free to enter like they are here so bare in mind that you can’t just walk in and visit. Also bare in mind that visiting public toilets requires, typically, 10 Norwegian Kroner. Some may take a Euro. Some however, might not take cash, and will require you to pay for using the facilities by credit card.
Introducing Azura – A larger, family friendly ship
After a week long cruise along the Norwegian fjords and coastline I can say wholeheartedly that Norway is a beautiful country and one I will be returning to in the future. This holiday has been long awaited having booked in June 2015 and when the day finally came to board we were so excited.
We had booked our P&O cruise with Thomas Cook after speaking with a very experienced cruiser who really had enthusiasm for the company and, for the ship Azura, which would be the one we would sail on. Months went by with Adam and I peering through reviews, pictures and deck plans of the ship to help us get familiar before we boarded. However, we had no idea how a cruise would work so we decided to book a mini cruise with P&O to give ourselves a chance to learn procedures. Even though our first cruise was on a different ship we had a much better idea of what to expect and I think it really helped us to prepare for the embarkation and security checks for our longer break this August.
Azura is the third biggest ship in P&O’s fleet behind the current flagship Britannia and my gosh is it large! Getting around on Azura is fairly simple though with plenty of places to dine, drink and dance during your adventure. She regularly sails along the fjords, the med and the Caribbean and for our voyage was captained by Robert Camby who was a fantastic captain, alongside the crew. They lead to us having a fantastic trip filled with beautiful sights. His thoughts of the day were very entertaining.
The choice of food and drink was exquisite and served by friendly waiting staff each evening in the Oriental restaurant. We were part of the 2nd sitting club dining which meant we dined at the same table each night at the same time. The 2nd sitting starts at 8.30 which gives you plenty of time to explore a port, relax and get dressed up for the night. Here are some of my favourite plates throughout the duration of our seven night cruise.
I recommend a visit to the Glass House to try the small plates which come at an extra cost of £5.75 for three. These were delicious and very filling. We snacked and shared with a delicious glass of red.
There are plenty of drinks, cocktails and spirits onboard available in the bars and cabin. Each day a cocktail of the day is recommended alongside a specially selected bottle of red and white wine with the menu. I loved my tropical frozen daiquiri!
Entertainment
There was a great amount of entertainment on board both during the day and evening. We enjoyed seeing both comedians who were really funny in both shows. I love to laugh and it’s a great way to spend an evening with a cool drink after a delicious meal. From what I could read on the Horizon newspaper there were plenty of sports and fun activities for families, children and quizzes for adults. Each night had a different show from musical theatre to singers and bands. The entertainment went on into the early hours of the morning however we didn’t hear a thing when we got back to our cabin and were able to sleep soundly.
Shopping
Not something for us but there was a few shops close to the Atrium which sold a variety of goods including clothing, perfume and alcohol.
Swimming Pool, Spa and Health Club
Features we didn’t use, due to lack of confidence on my part and money on my banks part but there is a gorgeous adults only spa terrace, adults only pool and gym. There are also three further pools and whirlpools for passengers and families to enjoy 24 hours unless under maintenance. All are surrounded by bars with food and drink offered throughout the day, deck chairs, tables and the fabulous sea screen outside cinema which shows around three films per day. You can ask a staff member for a seascreen blanket if it’s particularly cold and the sea screen deck chairs have comfy pads.
Children’s Splash pool
Overall experience
The ship was beautiful with so much to see and do. It was comfortable and tastefully decorated. The staff were friendly and professional and the Horizon newspaper which was delivered nightly to the cabin was incredibly helpful. I have loved my week long holiday on the Azura and sailing through the Norwegian fjords. If you’re interested in the ports I visited you can read all about Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger & Geirangerfjord and, finally, Bergen.
Azura FAQ’s
Is it suitable for families?
Yes, Azura is a family friendly ship.
Is there a kids club on board Azura?
Yes, the Kids Club is located on deck 17, named The Reef, at the back of the ship. It is open daily and the times are in the Horizon newspaper. The kids club closes at midnight and the night nursery closes at 2am. It is fully staffed with members having an enhanced CRB check.
Are all the restaurants suitable for children on Azura?
I have seen children in the dinner restuarants however I am unsure if there is a catered menu for them. However, Venezia, the buffet restaurant, serves kid-friendly dining options from 5pm, there is Ice cream, pizza and sandwiches available too. I would go with your gut and if you think your children will like the menu there’s no harm in trying them with something new. Everything is cooked to order so you could always ask for plan chicken or salmon with the available side dishes such as vegetables, rice or chips.
What is the dress code on Azura?
During the day you can wear what you like however swimwear is only for the decks. If you enter any of the bars you must be wearing suitable clothing and from 6pm there is a smart casual dress code throughout the ship. Children can wear smart casual dress every night, including black tie, if they do not wish to dress up. You will find out each evening’s dress code the night before from your Horizon paper or by using the interactive TV services which details the buffet theme and dress code. Does Azura have WiFi?
Yes, but the signal is terribly slow and it’s very, very expensive. Check your phone provider to see if you have service in the country you’re visiting or if they have any offers or bolt ons. You should be able to get basic signal at sea for phonecalls but the reception relies on satellite and can incur expensive charges. When in port, you should be able to connect to the local providers and this will be your best chance for internet connections. My advice – when on ship or at sea, switch to plane mode.
Is the Azura a good ship?
Personally, yes, I think it’s a lovely ship with plenty of places to eat, drink, socialise and plenty of entertainment venues. It takes a bit of time to get your bearings but there are plenty of maps around the ship to help you.
Does Azura have a covered pool?
There is no indoor pool on Azura that I could tell however with the few showers we had it didn’t stop people from swimming or using the facilities. The pools are open 24/7 however there is no lifeguard on duty so you must keep an eye on the children if they choose to swim.
How much are the drinks on Azura?
A 250ml of red or white wine is around £5.50-£6 with small glasses being over £4 on average. A pint of Pepsi or Lemonade is £2.50. Filter coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water are all complimentary throughout the day. Juices are available for free at breakfast but cost throughout the day and evening. Cocktails start from around £5.50. The prices are all in pounds making it easy to keep track of your spend. Yes, there are drinks packages on board too available for wine, coffee and soft drinks.
Have you cruised with the Azura? What did you think?
Our Cabin: R246, On board P&O’s Azura Ship – August 2016
You may remember the last cruise we did in November 2015 on board Oceana. This time we sailed for a week along the Norwegian coastline.
Booking Your Cabin
We booked our cabin with Thomas Cook on board the P&O Cruise Ship Azura in June 2015 to sail alongside the beautiful Norwegian Fjords. When you book with P&O you have the choice of Select or Standard price, with the prior having a few more features and benefits. We went with the select price as it meant we could choose the exact cabin we wanted. A balcony cabin seemed like the obvious choice and the best way to see the Fjords as we sailed by in the early morning and late afternoon. It is really lovely to be able to have your own private outside space.
When booking with the select price you are able to choose the type of cabin, the deck and the cabin number. I believe when you use the standard option you select the type of cabin you want and then it is allocated to you nearer the time you set sail.
P&O’s Free “Upgrade” Option
This is a tricky one. Personally, I do not recommend that you keep this box ticked if you are happy with your cabin. We believe this option was mis-sold to us by basically telling us if we selected yes to a complimentary upgrade, we may get a bigger room, perhaps even a mini suite or some extra amenities in the room. This was not the case and around seven weeks prior to our cruise we were upgraded to a cabin mid-ship and with an overlooked balcony. We specifically said we didn’t want an overlooked balcony as I would feel a bit self-conscious with people looking down on us.
The balconies are partially covered, lower down on the ship and ideal for those that need a bit more space. When we asked about this as we couldn’t really see how an overlooked cabin was an upgrade we were told that it was a higher grade balcony but they couldn’t explain how. There was no mention that it was slightly bigger in the cabin. We were also told that we would be unlikely to get seasick or feel much of the ship’s movement on this deck midship.
However, my partner and I do not get seasick so this seemed irrelevant. After speaking through Twitter with the very helpful Francesca who answered all my concerns promptly and politely she was able to move us back to our room and un select the upgrade option on our behalf.
I have also read and heard complaints that guests have had this option to upgrade for free selected and in fact been moved to a smaller room. My recommendation would be to select the upgrade option if you are in an inside or outside cabin with the hopes of being moved to a balcony. In future, if we decide to cruise again with P&O we will only select this option in those instances.
Cabin R246
Our cabin was situated on Riveria, Deck 14, in the front of the ship, port side. We had a clear few of the bridge and excellent views when coming in and out of the port from our balcony. The room is very spacious and was plenty of room for the two of us during our week away.
Features – Two single beds that can be made up into a king size bed. Very comfortable and a really good size considering Adam is 6’5” and I am a chunky lady. We both felt comfortable and had enough space between us. The beds are made up daily with white linen, a bed runner and two cushions. Each night there is a turn down service by the cabin steward who left us with little bedtime chocolates. A lovely touch.
This cabin has an ensuite with shower. The bathroom is very compact with plenty of shelves for toiletries. Included is a bottle of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soap all from The White Company and is a jasmine and rose scent. They smell lovely and will last a couple quite a while before they run out. A shower cap is also included for those that need to use it and above the shower is a small line for hanging clothes. There are plenty of towels in the bathroom including two big blue towels for you to take to the pool. I believe in a port where you may visit a beach, these blue towels can also be taken ashore to use there. Close to the ensuite bathroom is the walk in wardrobe which had so much space. If you’re wondering on what you should pack for a cruise I wrote a post about that here.
The cabin has three British style plug points, one American plug point and a shaving plug point in the bathroom. There is plenty of lighting including lamps and a light on the balcony too. A travel kettle and regularly replenished tea and coffee is available for that morning cuppa. However, if you like a decent cup of coffee or even a hot chocolate to wake up to, you can fill out a ‘wake me up’ card and hang outside your door for the next day, or simply call the 24-hour room service.
The cabin also benefits from a desk and two chairs, mini fridge and two bedside cabinets. Azura also has a lovely walk in dressing area with plenty of space to hang your clothes and a tall cupboard which contains a safe for any valuables, money or passports you may wish to keep locked up. This is controlled by a pin that you choose so you are the only person that can access the safe. There is also a mini fridge where you may find a mini bar on longer cruise journeys alongside your bottle of mineral water. This is one bottle of mineral water per person for the duration of the cruise. These can be filled with the tap water in the cabin which is safe to drink.
The cabin also has a television. Azura benefits from having a selection of movies and television shows for you to watch at your leisure however, the better films do come at a cost of £2.99 each. If you are wanting to listen out for announcements then keep the television tuned to the navigational channel which is full of useful information.
Our Experience of Cabin R246
We were well looked after by Glenn, the cabin steward, who was very polite, friendly and kept our room looking clean. Everything was always kept in good order and we felt very looked after throughout the cruise. The room was very spacious and the addition of a balcony was truly lovely. The only thing that was a bit frustrating was the size of the shower in the bathroom however it was fine just to get cleaned up after a day exploring the port.
There is plenty of space to store your clothes and belongings and keep the cabin looking clean and tidy. The chairs, bed and balcony seats were all very comfortable and made us feel we could relax without constantly have to sit on the bed in a tiny space. There was plenty of room to move around at our leisure without getting in each other’s way. The balcony was very private however when leaning against the edge it was easy to speak to the people next door, very handy if you’re travelling together in a group.
I do not really have any complaints about our cabin during the cruise, it was the upgrade option prior to us which we feel was mis sold a little however it all turned out well in the end.
Apparently in some homes children are seen and not heard. I know it’s a completely antiquated idea but I have to admit that a tiny part of me finds it quite aspirational. My boys are SO loud. Off the scale loud. Grizzly took Big Bear to a football match last week and people were turning to look due to the volume of his shouts. At a football match! They were surrounded by noisy horns, yet still Big Bear’s voice boomed out. Little Bear is no quieter. He is very excitable and likes to squeal and scream. Unfortunately he is also going through a phase of shouting rude words at the top of his voice (and not just at home).
I seem to say “don’t say bum-head” a lot more than can possibly be healthy. I’m pretty sure we haven’t done anything en famille where we have been seen but not heard. We can usually be heard before you see us, probably at about 50 paces. Yesterday we were wandering beside a boating lake where a group of older model-boat building enthusiasts were sitting. Big Bear chose the moment we were passing them to start singing “I see you baby, shaking that ass” with about half his might, which is plenty enough to ensure that all the hearing aid users amongst the group had caught it.
The thing is that I’m not a noisy person. I’m chatty but at a normal volume. I think I have a fairly quiet voice as I can’t project it at all. I always struggle when I’m running training courses and I ask people to work in a group – I can never get their attention back again and usually have to call on a louder voiced friend to help me. When I shout, Grizzly says I sound like a mouse whispering (though as you can tell he does exaggerate).
Big Bear has a tendency to get into trouble now and again at school and I’m sure it’s because the teacher can hear his voice over everyone else’s, even if they are being just as silly. His sizeable lungs come into good use in assemblies though, as he’s very good at public speaking and a microphone is always surplus to requirements. Although I like fun and messing about as much as the next mum, my quieter nature can mean that I sometimes (often) find the incessant noise a little over-stimulating.
We have recently completed a renovation project at our house so we now have an open-plan family room. I love how it looks and being able to keep a close eye on the boys. However, in auditory terms it’s much worse: noise levels have sky-rocketed and I can no longer hide in the kitchen. Usually it starts with two boys watching TV (perfectly normal and bearable) then one will lose attention and switch on his I Pad. The other will then want their I Pad, increasing noise levels to a little confusing but just about ignorable. Big Bear will proceed to play some music on his before also switching on his football game, which has its own sounds. Then, to tip me over the auricular edge, Big Bear will begin commentating as he plays (in his aforementioned none too dulcet tones). Little Bear has been to know to then want his music playing too. That is 5 or 6 different sound streams assaulting my brain at the same time! At this point, a cat usually saunters in and starts mewling plaintively and I feel as though I may drown in the cacophony.
The TV goes off and at least one child is handed a pair of headphones, though unless I start doling out gags I can’t quell the noise storm completely. I have literally no idea how people manage more than 2 children. The noise alone would keep me locked in the bathroom most of the time. That said, I’m well aware that other children are not AS noisy as mine. I reckon in volume terms my 2 are equal to approximately 4 typically-voiced children. And it is not as though my 2 are shy and retiring creatures. They are both outgoing, opinionated and chatty (“spirited” if I’m feeling euphemistic). I shouldn’t complain about them speaking: as a Speech and Language Therapist communication is kind of my thing. It’s just that, now and again, maybe if they were quiet for just 5 minutes, my brain would really appreciate it.
We have recently tried to introduce the idea of turn-taking in conversations as both tend to speak over the other. Frequently I have Big Bear giving me a very detailed account of what happened in Star Wars in one ear whilst Little Bear is chanting “Mum! Mum! Mum!” in the other without so much as pausing for breath. It is a situation compounded by me sometimes trying to speak to another grown up (can you imagine?!) or, God forbid, having a sensible phone conversation. I have realised that the secret to it all must be having well-honed ignoring skills. Grizzly has it down to a T. World War 3 could be breaking out but he’d still be happily snoozing. Unfortunately, I’m completely rubbish at it. Grizzly takes advantage of my poor ignoring if we are going to play a competitive board game like Scrabble or Boggle: he puts music on in the background knowing I won’t be able to think straight. It’s an affliction! During term time I cope by making sure I have a quiet morning at least once a week to give my jangled senses a rest. Now it’s the holidays, well, bring on bedtime! I love my boys so much but maybe sometimes, just for 5 minutes, they could be seen and not heard.
Do your children have a voice like a foghorn? Do you have trouble ignoring the cacophony of
parenthood? I’d love to hear how you cope with it.
As many of my regular readers will know for the last few months I’ve been talking about my upcoming holiday to Norway. We’re spending a week aboard P&O’s Azura and cruising along the stunning Norwegian Fjords. This is our second cruise, you can read all about our first one here. We have waited fourteen months for this holiday and I am so glad it’s finally just around the corner. One thing I have been thinking about is the type of clothing I need to pack.
Unlike most holidays, when cruising you need a lot of clothing options because there are usually dress codes on board the ship. You also need to think about where you’re going. Many cruises go to several different countries, some with different climates and so I would say that when it comes to selecting you cruise clothes, layers are your best friend. We are away, as a couple, for seven nights and during the cruise we’ll be visiting four ports, have two full days at sea and two black tie events. There are also facilities such as a sauna, steam room, pools and a gym onboard and if you plan to use these facilities, you’ll need appropriate clothing too.
As a rule of thumb and in line with P&O’s guidelines, a 7 night cruise will typically have two formal nights and a 14 night cruise will probably have around four. This is a really helpful tip when you’re considering what to pack. The rest of the evenings will most likely be smart casual and during the day, the rules around clothing are pretty relaxed. You should consider the types of ports and excursions you’re planning to do whilst you’re away. If you’re going to be hiking, you’ll need layers, comfortable clothing and a decent pair of shoes. You might be doing more daring activities such as riding in a RIB boat or even Kayaking. Do your research on the places you’re visiting before you go which will really help when planning to pack.
The great thing about cruising with P&O and departing from Southampton is that there’s no baggage restrictions. You can take as many bags as you like on board however they do have a standard weight restriction for health and safetly. I love this because it means I can pack as many dresses as I like and plan my outfits on the day rather than in advance however it’s good to have an idea of the types of outfits you’ll need.
We’re taking 2 suitcases, 2 backpacks and a suit bag for two people which (I hope!) will contain enough clothing for the duration of our cruise. I’ve packed two formal dresses and several casual dresses for our black tie evenings. When cruising, the dresscode is typically applied to all area’s of the ship so it’s really important to find out from your cruise operator how many formal nights you’ll need to dress for. Swimwear is only acceptable attire in the pool areas so it’s important to back cover ups to have by your sun bed if you fancy a bite to eat. For men, a good suit, a couple of casual shirts, dark denim jeans, trousers and shoes are pretty much the staples for any cruise. Shorts and sports clothing is usually not allowed in the evening but fine for casual day wear. I really recommend taking a suit in a separate carry on bag.
Even though we know that there will be two black tie nights on board, we have no idea which days these are. The last time we went the first evening was a black tie which surprised me a little however now I’m prepared for the fact that our first night on board may be an occasion to dress up! The important thing to remember when packing clothes for your cruise is to select clothing that you feel comfortable wearing. Be bold and daring if you wish, be as glamorous as you want but make sure you feel comfortable in what you take. Also, do not be afraid to bring more than you need if you’re not flying, make use of all that baggage space.
Do you have a top cruising tip you’d love to share?
