MS Azura
.jpg) Azura in Stockholm | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Azura |
| Owner: | Carnival PLC[1] |
| Operator: | P&O Cruises |
| Port of registry: |
2010 Hamilton, Bermuda |
| Builder: | Fincantieri, Italy |
| Yard number: | 6166[2] |
| Laid down: | October 27, 2008 |
| Launched: | June 26, 2009 |
| Christened: | April 10, 2010 |
| Completed: | April 1, 2010 |
| Maiden voyage: | April 12, 2010 |
| In service: | 2010 |
| Identification: |
Call sign: ZCEE2 IMO number: 9424883 |
| Status: | In service |
| Notes: | [3] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Grand-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | 115,055 GT |
| Length: | 290.0 m (951 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 36.00 m (118 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in) |
| Decks: | 19; 14 passenger accessible |
| Installed power: | Six Wärtsilä diesel engines |
| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Capacity: |
3,096 passengers 1,557 berths |
| Crew: | 1,226 |
| Notes: | [1][2][4] |
MS Azura is a cruise ship operated P&O Cruises and owned by Carnival PLC. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. At 115,055 tonnes, Azura is the second largest of seven ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. She is also the sister ship of MS Ventura. She officially entered service with the company in April 2010 and was named by Darcey Bussell.[5]
Delivery
Azura is a Grand class ship, with a modified design which distinguishes her from early ships of the same class. Construction of Azura began in 2008 when her keel was officially laid on 27 October 2008.[6] A ceremonial float out took place on Friday 26 June 2009, in which she was blessed by a priest, with Amanda Dowds, wife of the ship's captain, acting as her Godmother.[7] The formal handover took place on Friday 26 March 2010.
Maiden voyage
Azura's maiden voyage began on 31 March 2010, when she departed from the Fincantieri shipyard en route to Southampton. She arrived in the UK on 7 April 2010 at 9:12am. Azura's cruise with passengers began on 12 April 2010.[8][9]
Christening
Azura was christened at 08:20 pm on Saturday, 10 April 2010, by godmother Darcey Bussell. As well as performing the traditional bottle breaking ceremony, as a former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, Bussell presented a dance performance by Royal Ballet School as part of the celebrations. Azura was originally registered in her homeport of Southampton, UK, but on November 2011 she was re-registered to Hamilton, Bermuda, bringing her in line with her other P&O fleetmates and enabling wedding ceremonies to be conducted on board.[10]
Design
Azura is designed to appeal more to P&O's traditional client base and returning customers, whereas sister ship Ventura is more family orientated, and attracts new, often younger clients.[citation needed] For the first time in the P&O Cruises fleet, Azura features eighteen single staterooms, however sister ship Ventura received this feature after her 2013 refit. There are 900 cabins with private balconies and a number of spa staterooms with access to the Oasis Spa. Azura is the only Grand Class ship to feature a Duck Tail stern.
The ship also features a dance floor in the atrium, a New York styled show lounge and a modern interpretation on a London pub.[11] For the first time in the P&O Cruises fleet, Azura features an open air cinema screen similar to those found on Princess Cruises ships such as Caribbean Princess. The screen, known as the SeaScreen is situated in front of the funnel.[12]
Facilities
Azura features many rooms and facilities common on other ships in the fleet. Following a company tradition, the English style pub is named Brodie's, in tribute to Brodie McGhie Wilcox, co-founder of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.[13] The ship's main dining rooms are also given the traditional names of the Peninsular, Oriental and Meridian restaurants.
In total, the ship has eleven restaurants and eating areas, twelve bars and places to drink, four pools, a gym, two spas, outdoor cinema, a theatre and two show lounges.[14]
Select dining
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In common with other ships in the fleet, Azura has 'select dining'; premium dining venues with passengers paying a cover charge to dine. Sindhu is an Indian restaurant with menu devised by Atul Kochhar. The Glass House is a restaurant and wine bar concept devised by television wine expert Olly Smith. Seventeen serves classic and modern British cuisine with traditional silver service.[13]
Other
The ship's main entertainment is an 800 seat theatre known as the Playhouse Theatre.[14] She also features The Retreat, an outdoor spa terrace exclusively for adults. Azura also has the Oasis Spa and Thermal Suite which has couple and balcony treatment rooms.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "M/S AZURA." (in Swedish). Falta om Fartyg. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Cruise Ships > 6166". Fincantieri. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ↑ http://www.digital-seas.com/vessel_search/vessel_details/on/2cub5_azura_q2025628.html?tx_fleetmonportal_pi1
- ↑ Azura Stats
- ↑ http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Ships/Azura/Ship-Webcams/
- ↑ Hamilton, Keith (27 October 2008). "City's latest cruise ship to be named Azura". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
- ↑ http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3295
- ↑ http://www.bestcruisedeal.co.uk/news_detail.asp?newsid=497/po-azura-handed-over-today
- ↑ http://www.pocruises.com/en/Cruises-2009-2010/CruiseUploadFolder/Mediterranean-A002/?mode=overview&Search=true
- ↑ "Equasis - Azura". Retrieved 8 February 2011.
- ↑ "P&O Azura is to launch with Added Spice!". Go Cruise With Jane. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ↑ "P&O Azura: SeaScreen". Retrieved 1 March 2009.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/cruiselines/adtab3.cfm?aid=1
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Keaton, Rhona (1 April 2010). "P&O Cruises: Amazing Azura". The Daily Telegraph (London).
External links
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