Cruising

For our first P&O Azura cruise, we wanted to try one of the largest ships in their fleet perfect for families. The P&O Azura cruise offers a wide range of restaurants, spas, sports facilities, and family-focused activities, making it an ideal choice for both adults and children.

The Heart of the Ship

The central area of Azura is stunning, reminiscent of the Celebrity Eclipse. From the glass lifts, you can see a couple of floors at once. This section houses shops, a library, a bookshop, an art gallery, and cafés.

Although it looks beautiful, it doesn’t feel as open as Celebrity Eclipse, where you can see nearly every deck from the lift. Families will enjoy spending time together here. Adults seeking quiet time can relax at the alfresco spa terrace, reserved for adults only.

Dining on Azura

Food is a highlight on Azura, and the staff take excellent care of guests. We enjoyed the buffet most nights. It offered fast service, a huge variety of dishes, and high-quality meals.

The main dining room did not impress as much as those on Independence of the Seas or Celebrity Eclipse, which had open layouts overlooking the floors below. The buffet worked well, but evening meals felt less special without the formal atmosphere of a main dining room.

Specialty Restaurants

For a refined dining experience, we recommend paying extra for specialty restaurants. They are classy and attentive, though some families may skip them after paying for the cruise itself.

• Sindhu – Indian cuisine by Atul Kochhar. Even if your family avoids spicy food, the mild Korma works for everyone. Presentation on flat plates and mats made every meal memorable.

• Verona – Italian cuisine for a cozy night out.

• Seventeen – Elegant fine dining.

• The Glass House – Perfect for drinks and quick bites. Creative dishes reminded us of Qsine on Celebrity Cruises. Seafood and steaks stood out, and the small fee felt worthwhile.

Family-Friendly Entertainment and Casino

Azura’s casino has a practical layout for families. Children cannot enter, but a nearby area allows them to stay under supervision. Parents can enjoy games while keeping kids close.

Small touches enhance the experience: toddy for kids, palm trees, and a relaxed evening atmosphere during shows. P&O’s British charm shines through in sail-away parties and onboard events.

Final Thoughts

P&O Azura suits families seeking fun, relaxation, and excellent dining. While it lacks the open, airy feel of Celebrity Eclipse, it makes up for it with family facilities, specialty restaurants, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Planning to get married in paradise? Virgin Islands Cruise Weddings with Fantasia Weddings are fun, easy, and completely hassle-free. When you book directly with Fantasia, you’ll save money and time while enjoying exceptional service and stunning wedding photos no cruise-line middleman required.

Why Choose Fantasia Weddings

We proudly cater to all cruise ships arriving at the port of St. Thomas on the Eastern Caribbean schedule. When you book through us, you avoid the cruise lines’ inflated costs and limited packages. Instead, you receive personalized attention, flexible options, and professional photo coverage designed around your wishes.

Many couples don’t realize that most cruise lines charge high prices for wedding photos—and often, you don’t even receive the digital files unless you pay extra. At Fantasia Weddings, we believe your memories should be yours. That’s why we offer affordable custom photo and video packages at clear, reasonable rates.

The All-Inclusive Cruise Wedding Experience

Join the latest destination wedding trend the all-inclusive cruise wedding. Celebrate with your family and friends and say “I do” on the soft white sands of Emerald Beach Resort.

All you have to do is arrive. We’ll handle everything else!

As your independent wedding coordinator, I’ll organize every detail of your cruise ship wedding—without the hassle of working through large cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Costa, Princess, Cunard, or Disney. You’ll get a custom experience, not a cookie-cutter package.

Relax and Enjoy Your Perfect Day

Whether you’re planning a wedding or vow renewal, your day should feel peaceful, joyful, and effortless. My goal is to make sure you enjoy every moment. Even if the wind catches your veil or a light sprinkle falls, your day will still be perfect for both of you.

After all, the real purpose of this day is simple to celebrate your love and begin your forever together.

How I Help Bring Your Vision to Life

From shipping your dress ahead of time to arranging hair styling, floral décor, guest transport, and seating, I’ll take care of it all. I’ll also discuss prices and design ideas with trusted vendors, ensuring your event reflects your style, personality, and budget.

Many couples believe skipping a coordinator saves money. However, most venues require one to ensure everything runs smoothly. By having a professional manage the logistics, you can relax, smile, and enjoy your special day.

Wedding Protection and Packages

To safeguard your celebration from unexpected delays or weather issues, I recommend getting wedding insurance through Fireman’s Fund at 1-800-ENGAGED.

Our pre-arranged wedding packages include full coordination services for up to 25 guests. For larger events or custom weddings, we offer extended support, pre-wedding interviews, and vendor coordination for an additional hourly on-site fee.

For the best results, please book vendors through Fantasia Weddings. This ensures seamless communication and top-quality service. If you wish to bring a personal photographer or minister, we can make exceptions with prior approval and a small coordination fee.

Every year, hundreds of travelers experience cruise ship illness, often caused by viruses that spread quickly in crowded environments. Among them, the Norwalk virus (also known as Norovirus) is the most common and feared. It can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, turning an exciting trip into an uncomfortable experience.

Why the Norwalk Virus Scares Travelers

The Norwalk virus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that last for two to three days — not exactly a fun vacation experience.
However, this illness isn’t limited to cruise ships. About 23 million Americans catch a Norwalk-type virus each year, making it the second most common illness after the cold.

You often hear about it on cruise ships because cruise lines must report an outbreak when more than 3% of passengers fall ill. Once reported, the news quickly spreads and gains attention.

How the Virus Spreads

You can catch the Norwalk virus through hand-to-mouth contact or by eating contaminated food. Cruise lines take strict precautions to keep food safe because they know that sick passengers and bad publicity can harm their business.

Food contamination is rarely the issue. The real danger comes from infected passengers or contaminated surfaces. For example, if a sick person touches a handrail and you touch it next, then eat without washing your hands, you can easily get infected.

How to Protect Yourself on a Cruise

Any surface people touch door handles, elevator buttons, tables, and chairs—can carry germs. This isn’t just true on cruise ships but also in public places on land.

To stay healthy, wash your hands often, especially before eating or touching your mouth. When you can’t find a sink, use a small bottle of hand sanitizer like Purell. Make a habit of sanitizing your hands before every meal or snack.

By following this simple rule clean hands before food or face contact you’ll greatly reduce your risk of illness and enjoy your cruise with peace of mind. After all, cruise travel remains one of the most exciting and memorable ways to explore the world.

We joined the Cuba cruise on the Panorama on 24 January, fairly early in the day, giving us time to explore Cienfuegos before boarding. To our delight, we found an old friend on board Stefanos, who had been the hotel manager on our first cruise.

Meeting the Crew and Planning Adventures

We were also happy to meet Vilim, the Tour Director. His knowledge of Cuba and his attentive care made the journey even better. With his help, we arranged a taxi to Santa Clara, the site where the revolution triumphed in December. The next day, Panorama set sail at 3:00 a.m., and by the time we woke up, we were already at sea.

Discovering Trinidad

We arrived in Casilda around 9:00 a.m. and took a bus to Trinidad. There, we admired the city’s beautiful colonial architecture, especially around Plaza Mayor, and enjoyed an excellent lunch at Don Antonio’s. After a pleasant day of sightseeing, we continued to Cayo Largo following a slightly choppy passage.

Adventure at Cayo Largo

We disembarked around 10:00 a.m. to visit a turtle breeding ground, go snorkeling over coral reefs, and relax at Playa Sirena, where dolphins offered a delightful surprise. The next day, 28 January, we anchored off Maria la Gorda, famous for its diving center.

Challenges at Sea

A delicious barbecue lunch awaited us on the beach, but later the sea grew rough. Boarding the tenders became tricky. Only two experienced yacht sailors managed to get on safely, while the rest of us had to be evacuated via the ship’s Zephyr (zodiac) under Captain Evangelos’s command.

We were impressed by how calmly and efficiently everyone responded. Vilim showed great leadership, first taking control of the dive boat handlers, then requesting the Zephyr, and finally preparing a backup plan to drive us to Havana if needed. Thanks to Captain Evangelos’s seamanship, we all made it back safely and dry.

Into Havana

That night, Panorama sailed through heavy seas and strong headwinds. Captain Costas later gave us a fascinating tour of the bridge, reassuring us that he had faced far worse conditions. Once we passed the fortresses at the entrance to Havana Harbor, the sea calmed. We docked at Sierra Maestre Cruise Terminal, opposite Plaza de San Francisco, on 29 January.

A Memorable Farewell

That evening, the Captain’s Dinner was a joyful occasion. The next day, we explored Old Havana, just steps away from the terminal. In the evening, we enjoyed a final barbecue aboard, highlighted by a lively Greek dance performed by Stefanos and the chef.

When we disembarked for our hotel the next morning, we couldn’t help but feel grateful. The entire crew had looked after us wonderfully. Our Cuba cruise with Variety remains the best voyage we’ve ever taken.

After spending many years in cruising, I became fascinated by documenting Helsinki Cruising History as web pages began gaining popularity. I eagerly searched online for pages about this exciting event, but to my surprise, no one had created any dedicated content for such a big occasion.

At first, I didn’t think I’d make the pages myself. I waited for someone else to take the initiative. However, even after a few years, nothing appeared. The idea of creating my own pages slowly began to grow in my mind. Eventually, I took the step and built them myself.

The first version of the website was simple but real. Due to my busy schedule, it remained unattended for a while. Later, a new wave of enthusiasm led to a refreshed, more functional version. These first working pages served well for nearly seven years.

As time passed, the old layout began to feel outdated, so I decided to rebuild everything with a new structure. Lack of time and motivation caused delays, but eventually, the new pages went into production.

The Challenge of Designing the Logo

Creating a logo turned out to be one of the toughest and most time-consuming tasks. I initially considered using a cruise picture, but I didn’t want the logo to favor any specific cruise brand.

I explored various ring and rim designs, but none fit perfectly. Then I asked myself—what could represent cruising in a neutral, timeless way? One day, I came across a photo of a pin-up girl throwing dice on an old cruise poster. That image sparked an idea.

After searching online, I found a flaming dice image that captured the spirit of cruising perfectly. I tracked down the original creator to request permission to use it. After a long search, I finally reached him, and he gladly granted me the rights to use his artwork for this project.

The Beginning of Cruising History

Cruises weren’t invented—they simply happened. In Helsinki, Yankee car enthusiasts began gathering at the “Union” station on Pirkkolankatu every first Friday night during summer. Initially, it was a small insider meeting, with only a few cars participating.

No one could have imagined how large these gatherings would become. Today, almost every Helsinki resident knows that the first Friday of each summer month means Yankee Cruising Night.

One major factor behind its growth was Radio City (FM 96.2). The station launched the “Cruising Show,” sponsored by V8 Magazine. At first, it was just background music for the event, but soon it became Radio City’s most popular show and an essential part of the cruising evening. Even after the show ended, its influence continued.

The growing publicity turned the cruises into a massive event. By early evening, crowds gathered in the Helsinki Ice Rink parking lot. As night fell, people formed a “lane of glory,” where cars drove slowly while spectators cheered. By ten o’clock, the lot and nearby streets were packed, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Other popular meeting points included the Ursula parking lot in Kaivopuisto and the legendary Hamburger Heaven, both favorites among cruising enthusiasts.

Cruising Today

Today, crowds still gather at the Ice Rink area, and entry is free. The main attraction here is the Burn Out Zone, where roaring V8 engines, burning rubber, and festival-like energy dominate the scene.

Cruising culture now has two main groups: those who enjoy the thrill of loud, smoky action and those who prefer a calmer, classic experience.

The quieter crowd often heads to the Market Square, where you’ll find Mustangs, Cadillacs, and vintage Mopeds. Down at the South Harbor, Corvettes and other American classics line the streets for scenic sea tours. Private insider meetings are still common, though their locations vary each time.

The Spirit of Helsinki Cruising

The Helsinki Cruising Evening offers something special for every car lover. Imagine driving a classic Yankee on a warm summer night, surrounded by others who share your passion. The music, the nostalgia, and the community spirit make it unforgettable.

Nothing compares to the thrill of seeing hundreds of chrome-lined classics gliding under city lights while rock’n’roll fills the air. Cruising Night isn’t just an event it’s a living tradition that grows stronger every year.