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

[zap99]

22 hours ago, carlanthony24 said:

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

A few more ribs would have been acceptable.

[carlanthony24]

At 4:45am cabin started to shake has the side thrusters came on for departure. This does not bother us, it’s always nice seeing us arrive and depart. Myself and my sister went out onto the balcony and watched our departure. We were out in open ocean around 5:05am after the ferry had gone past us. 

 

Around midday we tend to go to Java the coffee place onboard. One couple went and sat down and the guy decided to head up to the bar area after only a few minutes and have a go at one of the waiters saying he had been waiting ages. Uncalled for when they work so hard and can only do so much at a time. Couple people moaning at reception both cabin issues but one guy was moaning about no water and his cabin steward had only reported the issue half an hour before. Impatient springs to mind.

 

Midday announcement the sea depth was 2000 metres temperature of 29 degrees. We are due to pick up our pilot up at 7am and docked by 8am with the all onboard time of 16:30PM. Atrium entrainment was bar staff juggling bottles and making drinks for people to judge them on. A lot of people stopped to watch.

 

At an average speed of 8 knots Azura headed east before doing a 180 towards Catania later that evening. A lot of jellyfish were seen throughout the day.

 

Formal night well attended. 

 

Freedom dining we always go for roughly 19:30. Given a pager and we thought we would go and attend the captains speech but within 5 minutes it went off. We prefer to have our own table we have already found waiters we can have a laugh with so have requested the same ones each night.

 

Starters included gravel axe salmon and tomato soup. Mains include grilled Chicken Breast, Lamp and Beef Wellington.

 

Today we are in Catania arrival 8am all onboard is 16:30 no shuttle bus is needed and is around a 15 minute walk into the centre. 

 

Azura is currently taking on fuel and we will be docking in Palermo tomorrow.

 

We are eating at the beach house today table booked for 19:30PM. 
 

We have also seen the cruise we would like to do in 2025 which will bring us back onboard Azura for the repositioning to Tenerife the first week sailing around Rome and France before heading to Spain, Tangier. Holding off booking and will wait for a good deal. 

[carlanthony24]

[purplesea]

Will look out for you as you sail past out of Palermo tomorrow as we are not far from there!

[carlanthony24]

[carlanthony24]

We found doing Catania on our own quite boring so if we come back again we will do an excursion 

[Gettingwarmer]

3 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

We found doing Catania on our own quite boring so if we come back again we will do an excursion 

Syracuse is a great excursion. 

[carlanthony24]

Mount Etna

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 hour ago, carlanthony24 said:

Nice menu

 

Is that a celebration night?

 

[purplesea]

23 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

We found doing Catania on our own quite boring so if we come back again we will do an excursion 

I didn't think much of Catania when we were taken on a tour of the island years ago by family.

[carlanthony24]

3 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Nice menu

 

Is that a celebration night?

 

It is. Tomato soup was also available 

Edited October 14, 2023 by carlanthony24

[FatBoy20]

2 hours ago, carlanthony24 said:

It is. Tomato soup was also available 

And the famous P&O Green Beans are back in abundance!.

[carlanthony24]

We had to wait for a ship excursion to return but one person still missing Captain has blew the horn.

[carlanthony24]

20:15Pm we are due to pick up the Messina Strait pilot and will take 1hr to complete the transit. Palermo arrival due to be 8am another hot and sunny day expected. No news about the missing passenger.

[lincslady]

You definitely sailed without them?  I understand that if that happens their luggage, passport etc. are left with the  Port Agent.

[carlanthony24]

Not sure heard on the radio strike the gangway and security came back onboard. Port agent had been on the phone and security were waiting while he was. We did have to take passports ashore today.

 

We use to just leave the passports with the agent nothing else

Edited October 14, 2023 by carlanthony24

[carlanthony24]

Sunday 15th October Horizon

[carlanthony24]

[carlanthony24]

Sailing close to land so still have signal. The Era Boys were fantastic in the Playhouse Theatre they are back on Tuesday for another show. People did say the first show was full and when we went for the 2nd show it was full around 15 minutes before start time. 
 

The sign saying we are sailing full is still showing outside reception. This cruise does seem to have more people compared to March
 

Tomorrows menu 

[carlanthony24]

Arrived into Palermo 8am all onboard 16:30pm we are in port with MSC Poesia who are also going through a full crew drill. Only felt the side thrusters for a few seconds, went onto the balcony and could see we were still approaching the island, went back to bed next minute alarm going off at 10am. 

[carlanthony24]

Wonder what they are loading.

[carlanthony24]

Cannoli

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, carlanthony24 said:

Wonder what they are loading.

Looks like furniture, maybe for one of the bars.

[terrierjohn]

10 minutes ago, carlanthony24 said:

Cannoli

Always wondered what they were like, as Americans seem to eulogise about them. But was very disappointed when I had one at our local Italian restaurant recently.

[carlanthony24]

44 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Always wondered what they were like, as Americans seem to eulogise about them. But was very disappointed when I had one at our local Italian restaurant recently.

Sister mentioned it was very sweet but good.

 

Palermo was very nice better than yesterday would be happy to come back. Only downside Taxis’s, and people offering tours kept begging you.