31 May 2020

[emam]

Hi, trying to book a cruise and it's a choice between Azura and Britannia. Azura going on 31May 2020 is dearer than Britannia going  a week later. Does anyone know of any particular reason for this. I believe the school holidays are the week before the 31st, but wanted to check in case they differ by area. Would there be any other reason or is it just down to fluid pricing.

 

Also I know it has been mentioned before (tried a search but can't find it) how easy is it to get to the front of the ship from prom deck. We have been on Ventura so know that you go up the steps to access the front from the prom on there.

 

Has the sea screen been fixed. If so what type of things are played on it, how often is it on and how far away can you hear it. What is the area like outside of the buffet next to the pool. Is it an open deck. I'm looking for somewhere quiet to sit in the shade but not completely indoors. Can you hear the sea screen in this area?

 

On Britannia is there a way to get to the front of the ship that we might have missed. On the lido deck the retreat takes that pleasure away.  The lido deck though is a lovely place to sit on a warm night. We spent two weeks on the lovely Britannia and I'm sure we didn't see all of it. 

[Josy1953]

1 hour ago, emam said:

Hi, trying to book a cruise and it's a choice between Azura and Britannia. Azura going on 31May 2020 is dearer than Britannia going  a week later. Does anyone know of any particular reason for this. I believe the school holidays are the week before the 31st, but wanted to check in case they differ by area. Would there be any other reason or is it just down to fluid pricing.

 

Also I know it has been mentioned before (tried a search but can't find it) how easy is it to get to the front of the ship from prom deck. We have been on Ventura so know that you go up the steps to access the front from the prom on there.

 

Has the sea screen been fixed. If so what type of things are played on it, how often is it on and how far away can you hear it. What is the area like outside of the buffet next to the pool. Is it an open deck. I'm looking for somewhere quiet to sit in the shade but not completely indoors. Can you hear the sea screen in this area?

 

On Britannia is there a way to get to the front of the ship that we might have missed. On the lido deck the retreat takes that pleasure away.  The lido deck though is a lovely place to sit on a warm night. We spent two weeks on the lovely Britannia and I'm sure we didn't see all of it. 

These cruises don't have identical itineraries so it may be as simple as port charges.  On Azura you do not access the front of the ship from the promenade deck, you access it from E deck by walking as far forward (either side) as possible and you will see that there is a door to that looks like it opens to the outside, go through that door and you will be in a small area that has another door facing you that opens on to the front of the ship. We didn't get to get to the front of Britannia so I don't know if/how you can get out there.

[emam]

Thanks for your reply. I didn't know the ports would make a difference as most of them are similar. At least now we know how to get to the front if we choose Azura. Do you know anything about the sea screen. That might end up being the deciding factor.

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, emam said:

Thanks for your reply. I didn't know the ports would make a difference as most of them are similar. At least now we know how to get to the front if we choose Azura. Do you know anything about the sea screen. That might end up being the deciding factor.

Do you want to enjoy the seas screen, or avoid the noise.

The former depends on whether P&O have fixed the perennial problems with dead areas of pixels, the latter is really only noticeable around its pool area, although it can leach out a little into the aft part of the forward pool area. 

[Josy1953]

9 hours ago, emam said:

Thanks for your reply. I didn't know the ports would make a difference as most of them are similar. At least now we know how to get to the front if we choose Azura. Do you know anything about the sea screen. That might end up being the deciding factor.

When I took a look at the itineraries I noticed that the price difference was quite small but Azura was going to Monaco and on one of our cruises the officer who hosted our table at the Baltic lunch told us that he was surprised that Monaco was so popular with the cruise lines because it cost more to visit.  The other thing that I noticed was that Azura  was going slightly further than Britannia because Britannia is going to Livorno (Florence) and Azura was going down to Naples.

 

We always avoid the sea screen so I can't comment on it though I have not  noticed any particular noise from it elsewhere on the ship.  We don't spend much time around the pools because I don't sunbathe and my OH is self conscious about taking his shirt off in public because he has a number of large surgery scars.

 

Whatever you choose enjoy your cruise.

Edited October 18, 2019 by Josy1953

[emam]

It's a bit of both with the sea screen, the main bit being avoidance of the noise, to be able to read quietly. However it would be nice to give it an odd try one night to watch a film. I do have the radio on at home, but at a level I am comfortable with. I imagine the sea screen will be very loud. Though Josy has she hasn't noticed it around the ship.

 

On Britannia we found there was always somewhere to sit whether in the sun for five minutes, part shade or full shade. The lack of the prom deck and not being able to get to the front of the ship, spoils it a little bit. Not enough to stop us going on again as I really enjoyed just spending time on deck on a night when it was really quiet.

 

Both ships have their good points (though I can only compare Azura with Ventura), and it's just hard to pick one.

 

Thank you both for your replies.

[H.Thorne]

I personally think that Azura is a nicer ship than Britannia as it isn’t as big and Britannia just looks a bit too modern for me. I would also look at the ports as some may appeal to you more than others. The price in cruise may differ due to popularity and port charges 

[stocktonmackem]

Emam we have just returned from Azura. It is a fabulous ship. Once you leave the seascreen deck you can't hear the noise.It has been fixed by the way and looks great if you like watching films. There are plenty of places to sit in the shade by the pool on deck 15. We like the fact that there is another entertainment section on deck 7 which Britannia doesn't have. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the fact you can't walk all the way round the ship on promenade deck because of the crew door at the end. (I know some people say they do but I didn't ). I'm sure whichever you choose you will enjoy. x

[P&O SUE]

I normally find the noise from the sea screen too much for me, I like to read too. If you go up a deck of two there’s normally plenty of loungers and it’s quiet too. 
The one time I wanted to watch a film on Azura I couldn’t get a seat! 
There are places down the side in the shade just along from the pool areas.

[emam]

3 hours ago, stocktonmackem said:

Emam we have just returned from Azura. It is a fabulous ship. Once you leave the seascreen deck you can't hear the noise.It has been fixed by the way and looks great if you like watching films. There are plenty of places to sit in the shade by the pool on deck 15. We like the fact that there is another entertainment section on deck 7 which Britannia doesn't have. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the fact you can't walk all the way round the ship on promenade deck because of the crew door at the end. (I know some people say they do but I didn't ). I'm sure whichever you choose you will enjoy. x

 

We have decided to go on Azura and just booked it, probably as you were posting. The promenade and the port of Naples against Livorno being the main factors also that we haven't been on that ship before. I think I would also prefer the theatre on Azura to the one on Britannia (we didn't go into that one as I didn't like the idea of being stuck in the middle of a row).

We have heard how to get to the bow deck, though we know it might be closed off due to the weather. I would like to give the seascren a go for a film one night. I quite enjoy sitting on the deck at night when it is warm. At home there always seems to be something to stop you from sitting out on a night. Glad you had a good time, I'm sure we will. x

 

Sue, thanks for the hints on where to sit for reading. Also if there is a particular film we want to watch I know now that we will need to be there early.

 

Each ship is different and have their good and bad points, we really enjoyed Ventura and Britannia both for different reasons and seemed to have a different experience of each of them. All we have to do now is to wait until Tuesday to book the coach (I would have thought that the specialist cruise agent  that was recommended by people would  have done that), then to look forward to the holiday.

 

thank  you everyone for your replies.

 

 

[Les_ldh]

59 minutes ago, emam said:

 

We have decided to go on Azura and just booked it, probably as you were posting. The promenade and the port of Naples against Livorno being the main factors also that we haven't been on that ship before. I think I would also prefer the theatre on Azura to the one on Britannia (we didn't go into that one as I didn't like the idea of being stuck in the middle of a row).

We have heard how to get to the bow deck, though we know it might be closed off due to the weather. I would like to give the seascren a go for a film one night. I quite enjoy sitting on the deck at night when it is warm. At home there always seems to be something to stop you from sitting out on a night. Glad you had a good time, I'm sure we will. x

 

Sue, thanks for the hints on where to sit for reading. Also if there is a particular film we want to watch I know now that we will need to be there early.

 

Each ship is different and have their good and bad points, we really enjoyed Ventura and Britannia both for different reasons and seemed to have a different experience of each of them. All we have to do now is to wait until Tuesday to book the coach (I would have thought that the specialist cruise agent  that was recommended by people would  have done that), then to look forward to the holiday.

 

thank  you everyone for your replies.

 

 

They will if you ask them to as they have booked the coach for my December 2020 cruise.

Les.

[emam]

4 minutes ago, Les_ldh said:

They will if you ask them to as they have booked the coach for my December 2020 cruise.

Les.

 

The local TA I previously used (the one that now has over 500 more shops) booked it for me. They did however have a couple of niggly problems (from my branch) that made me decide to go elsewhere. I was just surprised that from what everyone was saying about cruise specialists that it was something she told me to do myself.