P&O Azura is an older, more traditional ship than Arvia, and that difference shaped almost every part of our cruise. We found a ship with plenty of character, friendly staff and some beautiful spaces—but also a few areas where the age and wear were hard to miss.
Our Azura balcony cabin
The cabin was comfortable and gave us the storage and balcony space we needed. Compared with Arvia, the décor and fittings felt older. We noticed scuffs inside the room, visible wear on the balcony handrail and the familiar green balcony flooring rather than Arvia’s more modern finish. None of that stopped us enjoying the room, but it surprised us because the ship had recently received renovation work.
The air-conditioning also struggled to make the room feel properly crisp, even on its lowest setting. When the ship moved, a squeak developed above the cabin. We temporarily solved one noise by wedging an item against the offending panel—in true British fashion, Jordan said a few beer mats would probably have done the job. A separate knocking sound appeared later, so light sleepers may want to report noises early rather than hoping they disappear.
What is on Azura?
Azura has the familiar cruise essentials spread across its decks: the Meridian dining room, cafés, library, art gallery, shops, casino, theatre and several bars. Brodie’s has the feeling of an English pub, with pool, darts, sport and live music. Manhattan and Malabar host entertainment, talks, comedy and films, while the atrium connects the central decks with shops and seating.
Outside, there are several pools, bars, burger and pizza options, deck space, sports areas and places to walk around the ship. We certainly got our steps in while filming the tour. The darker wood and traditional styling gave Azura more character than some modern ships, and at night several of the venues looked genuinely lovely.
Food: the biggest difference from Arvia
Food was the area where Arvia clearly won for us. Azura’s buffet felt much more limited, often leaning towards Chinese, Indian or a roast dinner, while Arvia offered a broader range. We used the speciality restaurants to add variety and generally enjoyed them.
The Beach House served Lottie’s favourite steak of the cruise, followed by the Glass House. Sindhu was initially high on the list but our final visit went badly: a hair was embedded in one lamb dish, Jordan’s chicken was gristly and Lottie’s steak was heavily overcooked. Staff offered to replace the steak, but we are awkward people and did not want to make a fuss. We eventually mentioned the hair purely so the kitchen knew. That was one poor evening rather than proof that every Sindhu meal is the same, but it affected our final ranking.
Entertainment and finding a seat
Azura’s venues regularly became full. Unlike Arvia, we could not reserve the entertainment we wanted, so popular shows meant arriving around half an hour early. After dinner, bars were often busy enough that finding seats took time. People who enjoy a lively, sociable ship may not mind; anyone who dislikes waiting should plan their evening earlier.
The staff and atmosphere
Azura’s staff were one of its strongest points. The smaller scale seemed to allow more conversation, and people generally felt attentive and approachable. On Arvia, staff often looked as though they were racing between tasks. On Azura we had more chances to speak to them about their jobs and experiences, which made the ship feel warmer and more personal.
Azura or Arvia?
We would sail on Azura again. It is a beautiful ship with character, pleasant staff and several good restaurants. Our personal preference remains Arvia because it is newer, offers more choice and suited us better for food and entertainment. That does not make Azura bad—it simply means the two ships suit different priorities.
Choose Azura if you like a more traditional ship and a friendlier, smaller-scale atmosphere. Choose Arvia if modern facilities, broader food choices and bookable entertainment matter more. We enjoyed both, and the honest answer is that the itinerary and price would strongly influence which one we booked next.