CRUISING newbie Alexa Copeland falls in love with life on board her P&O liner

CRUISING is like Marmite – you either love it or hate it. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, some hate the idea of it.

There are swathes of people who have never even tried cruising yet dismiss it outright over fears of being stuck on a floating retirement home with nothing but cheesy entertainment and canteen food for sustenance.

I didn’t exactly fall into the latter bracket, but being in my mid-thirties I didn’t feel that I was P&O’s target audience and I had never considered it as a holiday option before. And I confess to having bought into some of the more negative connotations about cruising; it is fair to say that my mum, in her sixties, was far more excited about the prospect than I was. But after two weeks sailing the beautiful Canary Islands on board P&O’s stunning Azura ship, I was ready to kiss the deck and beg forgiveness for any negative thoughts I’d ever had about cruising. Quite simply, it is a marvellous way to holiday, whatever your age.

Our 13-day cruise left from Southampton and took in Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Lisbon. It started off with three sea days which provided a great opportunity to familiarise oneself with Azura. In those early days, there were plenty of ‘which floor are we on?’ and ‘which way is forwards?’ moments as we tried to navigate the seemingly endless corridors of the grand ship.

Azura is the third largest of P&O’s fleet and although the size can feel a little overwhelming at first, it is surprising how quickly the ship feels like home. As well as exploring Azura’s bars, restaurants and shops, the sea days also enable you to get involved in the many activities onboard. If you haven’t line-danced to ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ on a rolling ship with 200 similarly wobbly people, then frankly, you haven’t lived.

For those who prefer more sedate activities, there's a wealth of talks, quizzes, bingo games and outdoor film screenings to enjoy. We signed up to the six-session art class and although we can’t claim to be masters, we learnt a lot and it was a thoroughly relaxing way to spend a part of each sea day.

One of the best things about cruising is that even if the weather isn’t kind, there is still plenty to do, and at least you’re actually heading somewhere. We were blessed with bright blue skies, but unfortunately the wind whipped round the open decks making it almost impossible to soak up the rays on all but one of the sea days.

Having a balcony room was a definite bonus and there was nothing more gratifying than flinging open the curtains to be greeted with the sight of a whole new island every port day. I was under the misconception that the likes of Tenerife, Lanzarote et al were resort islands full of bars selling full English breakfasts. And perhaps there are parts like that, but Azura enabled us to see a completely different side to them. There was a multitude of excursions on offer, from camel riding in Lanzarote, to wine tasting in Madeira and a trip to the alien-esque landscape of Tenerife’s Mount Teide National Park. There really is a trip or activity to suit every taste and wine expert Olly Smith adds his particular palate-based expertise to the excursions to Blandy’s vineyards in Madeira.

Olly is best known for his appearances on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and he is currently one of P&O’s Food Heroes. The Glass House restaurant on Azura is Olly’s domain and his food and wine pairing talk was as illuminating and amusing as the food was delicious – a must for wine tasting novices and experts alike.

Food is something the Azura excels at. From the select dining restaurants Sindhu serving authentic Indian cuisine and the silver service at Epicurean, right through to a beach bar grill and relaxed buffet-style restaurants, there is something to suit all palates. There are also nice extras such as fresh pizzas, salads and fruit available around the main pool area. Parents are also well catered for, with kids' clubs running throughout the day and it was gratifying to see so many young families enjoying all the Azura had to offer.

The evening shows were another highlight, with an 800-seat theatre showing everything from West End singers, to Sixties tribute acts and amateur dramatics. Live performances also took place in bars across the ship throughout the night, with Frank Sinatra tributes proving popular.

After two-weeks on board Azura it is fair to say that I am a cruising convert. There really is no holiday quite like it, with so much choice of how to spend the days and all the while being transported from country to country at leisure. Now, whenever I hear cruising mentioned with any hint of derision, I jump to its defence. If I could spend all my days cruising through life, I’d pack up and jump aboard right now.

Travel facts

  • Canary Islands and Portugal, 12 nights, £839pp.
  • P&O Cruises is offering a 12-night cruise on Azura (A907) from £839 per person for an inside cabin. Departing March 26, 2019, the price includes kids’ clubs, full board meals and entertainment on board.
  • Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Lisbon. 
  • There are options to have coach travel to Southampton included in P&O packages, with coaches departing from a range of Northern towns and cities.
  • To book, visit www.pocruises.com, call 03453-555-111 or visit your local travel agent. Link: http:// www.pocruises.com/a907/