Passengers sailing on P&O Cruises latest superliner Azura will be able to enjoy exotic Indian cuisine from Atul Kochhar in Port Everglades or sip fine wines chosen by Saturday Kitchen star Olly Smith in St. Petersburg.
These and many more unique experiences will be available on board the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet following her introduction in April 2010 and which will be listed in the Azura preview brochure available from 16 March 2009. Holidays on Azura can be booked from 30 March 2009.
Azura will be based in Southampton from April 2010 to October 2010, offering holidays of between two and 16 night duration in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Canary Isles. 15 night fly-cruise holidays from Barbados will be offered from October 2010 to April 2011.
P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said, “For Azura we’ve gone ‘back to the future’. We’re looking back at how travelling at sea really should be; sophisticated, relaxing, indulgent and exciting, whilst we are also looking forward at the same time. Our firsts for P&O Cruises will include an outdoor cinema, an exclusive al fresco spa retreat and single staterooms.”
Azura’s maiden voyage departs from Southampton on Saturday 12 April 2010 and is a classic 16 night central Mediterranean cruise featuring calls in Venice and Dubrovnik. Prices starting from £1,524* per person.
An Early Bird price tariff is valid for bookings made before 18th April 2009 whilst on board spending money and free car parking is valid on all bookings up to 30th June 2009.
Azura will feature an Indian fine dining restaurant, Sindhu, the creation of celebrated Michelin starred Chef Atul Kochhar. Sindhu means meeting point, amalgamation or fusion, and the menu will offer a fusion of fine British and Indian cuisine. Dishes such as pan-fried lobster tail in coconut milk and tamarind sauce will tempt passengers through the doors of this – just one of 11 – dining venues on board.
TV wine expert Olly Smith has also been enlisted to help create a new wine bar and restaurant concept – The Glass House. A must for wine lovers, The Glass House menu will feature different wines recommended with each course, all served by the glass and expertly matched by Olly.
The Saturday Kitchen star will act as consultant in the creation of the drinks menus for Azura’s other bars and restaurants and will travel regularly throughout the year to host light hearted tasting sessions in his own irreverent style.
Other highlights of the inaugural programme include:
14-night Baltic cruise, 26 May – 9 June 2010 including two full days in
St. Petersburg. Prices starting from £1,529* per person.
29-night Christmas and New Year cruise holiday, 10 December 2010 – 7
January 2011 which calls into Port Canaveral for tours to Orlando, Port
Everglades for tours to Miami and two days in New Orleans. Prices from
£1,999* per person.
7-night Fjords cruise, 25 June – 2 July 2010. Ports of call include
Stavanger, Olden and Geiranger. Prices start at £799* per person.
3-night cruise break, 14 – 17 October 2010 visiting Bruges (from
Zeebrugee) and La Havre for tours to Paris. Prices from £264* per person.
