Riding the Waves

We’d booked a mini-cruise over the Easter Weekend on-board P&O Azura.  At the moment, it’s the newest ship in the fleet and a little taster of what we can look forward to in the Summer Holidays.

My nephew, Daniel, came with us – good company for Callum as there’s only two months difference in age. 

We arrived in Southampton to a “WOW – it’s huge” from Callum and Daniel.  After waiting to check in, we dropped our bags off in the cabin and grabbed a bite to eat.  Lunch done, there was just enough time to wander about the pool decks to try and gather our bearings before Muster Drill.  Callum and Daniel loved trying on the lifejackets (just had to stop them from testing out the whistles!).

After Muster Drill, it was time to set sail.  We pulled away from Ocean Terminal about 4.45pm with the band playing and passengers waving flags.  In the distance we could see Azura’s Sister Ship Ventura leaving Mayflower Terminal.

Whilst we were heading down the Solent, we headed inside for Kids’ Tea followed soon after by the Kids Club briefing. Loads of activities planned for the kids on the three full days and four evenings aboard!  Our problem would be how to get them out of Frontiers and ashore to look around!

The boys went to Kid’s Club in the evening leaving Jon and I to have dinner in peace.  We ate in the Meridian Dining Room on the Freedom Dining so you just turn up whenever you’re ready.  We were taken straight away to a table of 8 and met some fellow passengers – 2 gold, 2 nearly gold and 2 newbies.  Food was OK – nothing exciting.  Afterwards we signed the boys over to Slumbertime and tried our hand at the quiz.  The Quiz Room is the furthest distance-wise it could possibly be from the Kid’s Club and just made it back in time to pick the boys up.  We did OK … a couple of points behind the winners.  However, timings probably won’t allow us to take part that often (or we’d need to leave early).

Saturday 23rd April

The boys slept in until about 8am the following morning.  We decided to have a more civilised breakfast in the Oriental Dining Room, rather than do battle in the self-service area.  As we sat down, the ship entered the River Meuse.  Rotterdam was still a couple of hours away.  The boys loved their breakfast smoothie and followed this with bacon, hard boiled egg, fried bread, sausage and beans (Callum also had tomato and mushrooms!).

After breakfast, they headed off to Kids Club for a couple of hours whilst we watch Azura wend her way down to Rotterdam.  We docked about 11.30am so we headed to the Glass House for an early lunch.

We chose a couple of dishes to share before heading off to explore.  The boys were brilliantly behaved in the restaurant and even had compliments from the couple sat next to us (they must have been expecting trouble!).

We got off Azura and decided to just to have a wander around Rotterdam.  The shuttle bus dropped us off at the Town Hall and from there we headed over to the outdoor market.  It was huge.  It was also really hot and the boys were starting to wilt and it wasn’t long before they started begging for Ice-Cream.

At the end of the market, we hadn’t found Ice-Cream yet did did spy some very cool “cube” houses.  Daniel commented that if you went to the toilet, the wee would end up in the bottom!  Breaking away from the market and heading back to the main street, we found ice-cream shops and the boys were happy.  We headed back to the shuttle bus stop and got back on-board.  The boys headed straight back into Kids Club … and when we picked them up, they’d been transformed into Aliens!

The usual routine of kids tea, bath and back to kids club which meant Jon and I could get ready for our meal in Sindhu.  Atul Kochhar was unexpectedly on-board with his family so we were secretly hoping he would be in the kitchen too.

It was a fabulous meal – totally unlike an Indian at your local curry house.  The food was delicious – a combination of carefully balanced spices (not hot, just extremely flavoursome).  I had chicken tikka to start whilst Jon had the Beef Skewers.  This was followed by a small cup of mushroom soup – I thought my mushroom soup was good – this was another level completely!).  We both had lobster as our main course and then our palettes were cleansed with a little Banana and Passion Fruit sorbet before pudding!

Amazing … and we’ll certainly be eating here again on our next cruise!

We collected the boys from Kids Club after dinner and took them back to our cabin.  We were due to set sail from Rotterdam about 10.30pm so we all went out on our balcony to watch the sailaway.  There were a fair few people lining the quayside to wave us off – guess they don’t get too many cruise ships in port.  We pulled away to much cheering, waving and camera flashes going off.  There were lots on people on Azura’s balconies waving farewell and the locals were out in force all along the river for the next hour or so.

Sunday 24th April – Easter Sunday

The Easter Bunny had paid a visit during the night … it didn’t take Dan and Callum long to discover a large bunny on the side … and only a few seconds before they realised bunnies were hidden all over the cabin.

They spent a mad five minutes searching for bunnies and we managed to persuade them not to tuck in before breakfast.

We had arrived in Zeebrugge (for visits to Bruges) but we opted just to look around the local town of Blankenberge.  Being Easter Sunday, no one was really sure what would be open … and the trains were only running once an hour as well.

The shuttle bus dropped us off in near the station so we walked down to the harbour and around the coast until we hit the beach.  The boys were itching to go for a paddle.  It was a little cold but they enjoyed running away from the waves.

Back on-board, the boys decided they wanted to go swimming.  They’d been nagging us ever since they first clapped eyes on the pools.  We gave in, and Jon got in first.  He did think it was a little on the cold side!

Callum dunked his toes in and decided it was too cold for him … Daniel was eventually coaxed in … he did one rocket off the side and decided that was enough.  Funnily enough, they didn’t mention swimming for the rest of the weekend!

Sailaway from Zeebrugge was set for 4.30pm … but part way through the sailaway party, there was an announcement – several passengers were missing, presumed still ashore!  We’d missed our slot and it would be another hour or so before we could leave.

The boys enjoyed the Pomp and Circumstance of the Great British Sailaway … a selection of songs from all four corners of the British Isles.  The party was drawing to a close and we still hadn’t sailed so we headed up to Kids Tea.  Whilst up in the self-serve, we could see a taxi hurtling its way towards the ship and a couple of passengers were on the quayside waiting to meet the taxi.  A lady got out of the taxi, but alas it was too late.  The ship was about to leave and there wasn’t time to get them aboard.  We later found out six people had been left behind.

Tonight was form night and a chance to dust off posh frocks and DJ for a change.  Boys both wanted to go to Kid’s Club in the evening so Jon and I could get changed in peace and quiet.

The reception was busy … but alas the white wine tasted of paint-stripper so we lost the glasses and headed to The Glass House and a decent glass of bubbly.

Everyone must have timed their arrival for dinner at the same time – it was the longest we’d ever had to wait.  In the end we were sent up to the Peninsular Dining Room.  It was a nice meal and rounded off nicely with the port-soaked stilton.

Boys picked up from Kid’s Club and taken back to the cabin.  They were asleep as soon as they’re heads hit the pillow.

Monday 25th Sunday – Easter Monday

Monday morning and we woke up in Le Havre.  Another lovely sunny day.  There’s not a huge amount to see in Le Havre itself and we were expecting most shops/restaurants to be closed but we still decided to get off the ship and have a wander.

The shuttle bus drops you off at Le Volcan and Place de General Gaulle.  We walked the short distance up the main road to the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) to see the fab iron birds.  Just a shame the fountains weren’t working.

From here we headed West to the Marina and walked along the coastline before heading back to shuttle bus pick-up.  All shops in the town centre were closed, but the out-of-town shopping mall was open and people were saying that it was worth a visit if you were desperate to shop!

We headed back to the ship and took the boys for Nashta at Sindhu.  Neither Callum or Dan had tried Indian food before.  Both loved the Naan bread and tried all the dishes.  Callum loved the beef.

After lunch the boys wanted to go back to Kid’s Club and play in “The House” – the soft play area inside Frontiers.

There was a special treat in store for Kid’s Tea … Noddy and Mr Bump were joining in too!

 

Callum and Dan spotted an extra special guest at tea.   The Deputy Captain (#2) … or as Callum called him, the pretend captain!

For dinner this evening we joined another two couples, and had a really lovely evening.  They had a fabulous sense of humour and a lovely table to round off our mini-cruise.

Tuesday 26th April

Alas the final morning.  We felt really bad waking the boys up at 6.45am as they were completely zonked.

We had breakfast in the Oriental Restaurant once more so needed to be up early.  We had to be out of our cabin by 8am, and weren’t due to disembark until 9.45am.

There were plenty of free seats in the Glass House so waited until our disembarkation slot.  Tip … there are limited objects in here to play “I-Spy”!  How we dragged this out for an hour, I really don’t know.

All too soon, we were handing back our cards and joining the queue of passengers to collect their cars. Callum had loved having some company his own age on this cruise.