MS Azura
{{Short description|Cruise ship owned by Carnival plc}}
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{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Azura departing Port of Tallinn 12 June 2016.jpg | Ship caption = Azura in Tallinn, 2016. }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Bermuda | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Bermuda|civil}} | Ship name = Azura | Ship owner = File:Carnival Corporation house flag.svg Carnival Corporation & plc | Ship operator = File:P&O-house flag.svg P&O Cruises | Ship registry = * {{flagicon|Great Britain}} Southampton, U.K. (2010-2011)
| Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Fincantieri, Italy | Ship original cost = million | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 27 October 2008 | Ship launched = 26 June 2009 | Ship christened = 10 April 2010 | Ship completed = 1 April 2010 | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = 12 April 2010 | Ship in service = 2010 | Ship identification = *Call sign: ZCEE2
| Ship fate = | Ship status = In service }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Ventura-class cruise ship | Ship tonnage = {{GT|115,055}} | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|290.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|36.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|8.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 19; 14 passenger accessible | Ship deck clearance = | Ship power = Six Wärtsilä diesel engines, four 12V46C and two 8L46C, 67.2 MW total | Ship propulsion = Two 21 MW (28,350 HP) electric motors with two fixed-pitch propellers, three bow thrusters, three stern thrusters | Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn}} | Ship capacity = *3,096 double occupancy
| Ship crew = 1,226 | Ship notes = {{cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/azura_2010.htm |title=M/S AZURA. |publisher=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv |access-date=20 June 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Ships/Azura/Ship-Webcams/ |title=P&O Cruises | Azura Webcam | Azura Cruise Ship |website=Pocruises.com |access-date=2016-01-17}} }} |
MS Azura is a cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises and owned by Carnival plc. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. She officially entered service with the company in April 2010 and was named by Darcey Bussell.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Ships/Azura/Ship-Webcams/ |title=P&O Cruises | Azura Webcam | Azura Cruise Ship |website=Pocruises.com |access-date=2016-01-17}}
Delivery
Azura is a Ventura Class ship, a subset of {{sclass|Grand|cruise ship|0}}, with a modified design which distinguishes her from early ships of the same class. Construction of Azura began in 2008 when her keel was officially laid on 27 October 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3793831.P___O_reveal_name_of_new_Southampton_cruise_ship/ |title=City's latest cruise ship to be named Azura|last=Hamilton|first=Keith|date=27 October 2008 |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=5 November 2008}} A ceremonial float out took place on Friday 26 June 2009, with Amanda Dowds, wife of the ship's captain, acting as her godmother.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3295 |title=P&O Cruises Floats Azura in Italy - P&O Cruises |publisher=Cruise Critic |date=2009-06-26 |access-date=2016-01-17}} The formal handover took place on 26 March 2010.
Maiden voyage
Azura{{'}}s maiden voyage began on 31 March 2010, when she departed from the Fincantieri shipyard en route to Southampton. She arrived in the UK on 7 April 2010. Azura{{'s}} first cruise with passengers began on 12 April 2010.[http://www.bestcruisedeal.co.uk/news_detail.asp?newsid=497/po-azura-handed-over-today] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502030826/http://www.bestcruisedeal.co.uk/news_detail.asp?newsid=497%2Fpo-azura-handed-over-today|date=May 2, 2010}}[http://www.pocruises.com/en/Cruises-2009-2010/CruiseUploadFolder/Mediterranean-A002/?mode=overview&Search=true] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213213501/http://www.pocruises.com/en/Cruises-2009-2010/CruiseUploadFolder/Mediterranean-A002/?mode=overview&Search=true|date=February 13, 2010}}
Naming
Azura was formally named on 10 April 2010, by godmother Darcey Bussell. As well as performing the traditional bottle breaking ceremony, as a former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, Bussell presented a dance performance by Royal Ballet School as part of the celebrations. Azura was originally registered in her homeport of Southampton, UK, but in November 2011 she was re-registered to Hamilton, Bermuda to enable wedding ceremonies to be conducted on board.{{cite web | url=http://www.equasis.org/EquasisWeb/restricted/ShipInspection?fs=ShipInfo | title=Equasis - Azura | access-date=8 February 2011}}
Facilities
The ship's facilities include a dance floor in the atrium, a show lounge and an interpretation of a London pub.{{cite web |url=http://www.gocruisewithjane.co.uk/index.php/2008/11/po-azura-is-to-launch-with-added-spice/#more-323 |title=P&O Azura is to launch with Added Spice! |access-date=30 November 2008 |date=26 November 2008 |work=Go Cruise With Jane}}
An open-air cinema screen is situated in front of the funnel.{{cite web |url=http://www.pocruises.com/azura/#/azuraDays/seaScreen/seaScreenPage1 |title=P&O Azura: SeaScreen |access-date=1 March 2009}}
In total, the ship has eleven restaurants and eating areas, twelve bars and places to drink, four pools, a gym, two spas, outdoor cinema, a theatre and two show lounges.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/cruises/cruiseexperts/7543885/PandO-Cruises-Amazing-Azura.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=P&O Cruises: Amazing Azura | first=Rhona | last=Keaton | date=1 April 2010}}
Design, refits and COVID-19
File:MS Azura, Rear view..jpg Azura is the only Grand-class ship to feature a "Duck Tail" stern.
She completed a minor refit in April 2015 at Blohm and Voss's shipyard in Hamburg.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/po-cruises-azura-cancels-port-emergency-repairs/|title=Electrical fault aboard P&O Cruises' Azura delays return to…}} This included painting P&O's large Union flag design on to the bow, repainting the funnel in blue with P&O's "sunburst" logo plus minor interior updates.
Azura was berthed out of use at Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal, North Shields, Tyne and Wear from 21 January 2021 to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She left for Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 29 June 2021 at 06:45 BST where she remained until returned to service.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Azura went in for an extensive refit in March 2025 with updates to restaurants, bars, cabin decor and carpets, corridor carpets, lifts and outdoor furniture. {{Cite web |title=P&O ¦ Azura Refit In Focus |url=https://www.pocruises.com/blog/azura-refit-in-focus}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|IMO 9424883}}
- [https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/azura/ P&O Cruises official website for Azura]
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Grand class}}
{{P&O Cruises Ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azura}}
Category:Passenger ships of Bermuda