Live from Azura Cruise 12th October - 28th October positioning to Tenerife

[carlanthony24]

This is our 2nd cruise this year having previously done the repositioning in March 2023. We booked this cruise back in October 2022. 

 

Ports this cruise include overnight in Malta till 5am, sea day, Catania departing 5PM, Palermo departing 5PM, Cagliari departing 6PM, sea day, Palma De Mallorca departing 10PM, sea day, Malaga departing 11PM, sea day, Cadiz departing 10PM, 2 sea days, Lanzarote departing 5PM then 3 days in Tenerife. 

 

We are staying at Premier Inn Manchester Airport North as usual. Even at employee rate it was originally going to cost £115 for 2 rooms but kept checking and eventually paid under £90. 

 

Parking the car at Manchester Airport West car park like we did in March, 2 bookings have had to be made. We don’t like anyone else taking our car keys and moving the car around plus it’s undercover. Along with parking for the 17nights its cost about £136 pound saving about £30 using honey codes.

 

Since we booked over a year ago we were able to have Manchester flights. We are flying Jet2 LS931 on one of their brand new A321 Neo’s. The good thing is since it’s a scheduled flight we can use the twilight checkin and check our luggage in the night before running from 4:30PM-9PM then in the morning we can head straight through security. Talking of security Manchester is so bad we purchased fast track, instead of being £20 for 4 people it cost £16 when using honey codes.

 

We were able to access the Jet2 cruises portal 60 days before to prebook flights seats and any meals we would like and 14 weeks to prebook seats for the return flight on the P&O Cruises portal. 

 

Two weeks prior to departure bookings for speciality restaurants opened at midnight and we decided to book the Beach for the 14th October and cost £7.60 each. We will just risk going again once onboard. The Glasshouse is only bookable onboard.

 

Early start for us in the morning Taxi is booked for 3:45am Flight is due to depart 6:55AM arriving into Malta around 11:25AM local time since they are 1 hour ahead of the UK. 

 

We already know we have to collect our cases after passing through passport control then head out to the coach parking area to hand over our luggage that will be delivered to the ship before the 20 minute transfer to the port.

[zap99]

51 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

This is our 2nd cruise this year having previously done the repositioning in March 2023. We booked this cruise back in October 2022. 

 

Ports this cruise include overnight in Malta till 5am, sea day, Catania departing 5PM, Palermo departing 5PM, Cagliari departing 6PM, sea day, Palma De Mallorca departing 10PM, sea day, Malaga departing 11PM, sea day, Cadiz departing 10PM, 2 sea days, Lanzarote departing 5PM then 3 days in Tenerife. 

 

We are staying at Premier Inn Manchester Airport North as usual. Even at employee rate it was originally going to cost £115 for 2 rooms but kept checking and eventually paid under £90. 

 

Parking the car at Manchester Airport West car park like we did in March, 2 bookings have had to be made. We don’t like anyone else taking our car keys and moving the car around plus it’s undercover. Along with parking for the 17nights its cost about £136 pound saving about £30 using honey codes.

 

Since we booked over a year ago we were able to have Manchester flights. We are flying Jet2 LS931 on one of their brand new A321 Neo’s. The good thing is since it’s a scheduled flight we can use the twilight checkin and check our luggage in the night before running from 4:30PM-9PM then in the morning we can head straight through security. Talking of security Manchester is so bad we purchased fast track, instead of being £20 for 4 people it cost £16 when using honey codes.

 

We were able to access the Jet2 cruises portal 60 days before to prebook flights seats and any meals we would like and 14 weeks to prebook seats for the return flight on the P&O Cruises portal. 

 

Two weeks prior to departure bookings for speciality restaurants opened at midnight and we decided to book the Beach for the 14th October and cost £7.60 each. We will just risk going again once onboard. The Glasshouse is only bookable onboard.

 

Early start for us in the morning Taxi is booked for 3:45am Flight is due to depart 6:55AM arriving into Malta around 11:25AM local time since they are 1 hour ahead of the UK. 

 

We already know we have to collect our cases after passing through passport control then head out to the coach parking area to hand over our luggage that will be delivered to the ship before the 20 minute transfer to the port.

Have a great cruise. We were very tempted by this one , but as we have done 2 Azura cruises this year we did something else.

[carlanthony24]

Thank you 

[Harry Peterson]

Looks good - have fun!

[carlanthony24]

Arrived at terminal 2 for 4am taxi cost £13. Dad realised he left a bag at the hotel, so back to the hotel and found the bag still in the room. Taxi driver drove me back and charged £20 instead of £25 for return journey.

 

Fast track security took 10minutes and dad again got stopped for something showing in his leg, happens every time same place.

[carlanthony24]

Boarding commenced on time and looks like we will be pushing right on time

[Interestedcruisefan]

Have a great holiday!!!

 

Feels like we are going with you!

 

Lol

[carlanthony24]

LS931 ran on time arriving into Malta 10:30am which was on time or 11:30am local time. Passport control was fine taking around 5 minutes to get through. Cases already on the conveyor belt and straight out to the coach park. Journey to port took around 20 minutes. 

 

I thought the standard of driving was bad in the UK seems much worse here. Onboard the ship by 12:30pm shown to our muster station which is muster station E Manhattan. Cabins ready at 13:30pm. Straight up to the buffet for Chicken Tikka Masala both sides of the buffet are open.

 

Went up the Bararka lift 1euro return per person lifts close at 12am saw the cannon go off at 4pm and enjoying the 27degree heat. 

 

6pm all onboard time for new guests for the safety announcement from the Captain then we can get back off all onboard time is 2am for guests and crew before sailing at 5am for our sea day to Catania. 

 

Cruise personaliser did say we only had 3 formal nights but it is indeed 4 and the first one being tomorrow which is not what our personaliser said.

 

Hard Rock Cafe is booked for tonight, first time for the family requested out-door seating which they honoured. Yesterday they did send an email just to confirm we were still attending.

[carlanthony24]

Cannons

Edited October 12, 2023 by carlanthony24

[carlanthony24]

[carlanthony24]

[mklions]

Nice photos, love Malta,

Have a great holiday and look forward to some more of your reports.

[carlanthony24]

One of the waiters we met from Ventura a while ago very good friends with him and his wife surprised us in the Glass House he did tell us he was on back on Ventura. Couple of staff from when I was on Oceana are onboard so planning to dine with them one of nights. 
 

We are D deck Aft. Christopher is our cabin steward and was very welcoming. He noticed we had not received our cases even though we had only been on a couple of hours. He went and found  them within a few minutes and brought them inside and opened the interconnecting balcony divider.

[Interestedcruisefan]

I see you are in Taormina soon?

 

Always wanted to visit. There's an old amphitheatre there where they still do outdoor concerts and events. We had tickets to see Simple Minds there one summer but had to cancel 

 

Jim Kerr (lead singer of Simple Minds) has a hotel in Taormina and spends a lot of time there

[carlanthony24]

Catania is the closest we are going in two days time. First time for us. All ports we do our own things unless it’s something we really want to do and prefer to do via the ship so we have the reassurance of not missing the ship. 
 

I may be wrong but internet works well in the cabin can not remember if Azura has Starlink a new thing on the my holiday is the Horizon now shows on it. Today from what I can see no virtual queue in operation, presume this is because it is turn around day.

[crimson moon]

3 hours ago, carlanthony24 said:

 

 

.....I thought the standard of driving was bad in the UK seems much worse here....

Many years ago just before we made our first visit to Malta a friend warned me, "Beware their driving, they just seem to drive on whichever side of the road is in the shade." Never was a truer word said in jest

[carlanthony24]

We have decided to go for half Nachos, wings and sliders for starters. Mains we have decided the aromatic lemon and herb chicken, tupelo chicken tenders and chicken fajitas 

[carlanthony24]

Hard Rock Cafe is a must, expensive but portions are ridiculously big. 

[Megabear2]

2 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I see you are in Taormina soon?

 

Always wanted to visit. There's an old amphitheatre there where they still do outdoor concerts and events. We had tickets to see Simple Minds there one summer but had to cancel 

 

Jim Kerr (lead singer of Simple Minds) has a hotel in Taormina and spends a lot of time there

The hotel is Villa Angela.  We stayed there when we went to see Andrea Bocelli in September.  Lovely views from there.  Only offers b&b so no restaurant on site.  We only stayed 3 nights but would go back.

Edited October 12, 2023 by Megabear2

[Presto2]

Hope you have a great cruise. Always fancied a repositioning so looking forward to reading your updates:-)

[carlanthony24]

Friday 13th October Horizon. I know people have said they don’t get biscuits anymore but we have biscuits in both cabins unless it’s because we are in a superior Duluxe?

[carlanthony24]

37 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Hope you have a great cruise. Always fancied a repositioning so looking forward to reading your updates:-)

It’s what we always do. Sailing from Southampton has plus and negatives so does fly cruising. In my opinion I prefer the fly cruises since you are straight into the sun and don’t get as much bad weather.

[pete14]

Interested to read your reports. We are on Azura for the return trip from Tenerife to Malta in Spring 2024.

[purplesea]

Just picked up.on your thread, and am enjoying reading it. Hope you have a good cruise.

We're at the other end of the island to Catania, but land based at my SIL's apartment.

[Britboys]

17 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I see you are in Taormina soon?

 

Always wanted to visit. There's an old amphitheatre there where they still do outdoor concerts and events. We had tickets to see Simple Minds there one summer but had to cancel 

 

Jim Kerr (lead singer of Simple Minds) has a hotel in Taormina and spends a lot of time there

It is a really beautiful little town.