P&O Cruises Managing Director Nigel Esdale talks exclusively to the Cruise Village about Azura.

Those who follow my cruise blog know will find my exclusive interview with Nigel Esdale quite interesting, especially as some of my questions are a direct result of conversations I have had with you.

I must say that after speaking with Nigel, it is clear that Azura will be a very popular addition to the P&O Cruises fleet for a great many traditional Cruise Village P&O Cruises customers. Have a read.....

Nigel Esdale P&O Cruises Managing Director  

Hi Nigel.

I understand that you are extremely busy at this time, but I would like to thank you on behalf of my clients and my team for taking time out to answer questions about Azura the  latest addition to your P&O Cruises fleet.

There has been a lot of talk recently about going back to the future with Azura, can you explain what you mean by this?

Nigel: The last 15 years in particular has been a very celebrated era in P&O Cruises history, seeing the most growth with the launches of what have become iconic superliners.

And now we set out to launch another. And it is with our history and heritage very firmly in mind that we set out on the path to create Azura.

For Azura we have gone ‘Back to the Future’ –

‘Back to the Future’ is a philosophy.

·         It’s about building on our rich heritage.

·         It’s about looking back at what it once was to travel by sea and celebrating the romance of cruise travel.

·         It’s about harnessing 172 years worth of experience, and fine cruising tradition and fusing it with forward-thinking, contemporary design and innovation, to create the ultimate cruising experience.

That is what makes P&O Cruises so special, so unique - the ability to hold fast to those enduring elements of cruising, whilst fully embracing new innovations.  No other cruise line does it quite as well as us.

Azura is borne out of this philosophy, effortlessly combining the past, the present and the future of cruising.

For our past passengers she will have all the elements of classic cruising which they love. We have set out to tailor  her very specifically to the needs of our past passengers, which will become evident as we go along.

But also, with one foot planted firmly in the future, she will also showcase some very exciting features that are new to the fleet.

Phil: I guess you are talking about your decision to adopt the movie screen above the pool which has been so successful with Princess Cruises clients?

Nigel: Yes, our own version is called SeaScreen. This is Azura’s open air cinema screen, located in the inspiring surroundings of the ship’s Aqua Pool. During the day, it will be a fun and exciting addition to the entertainment programme, and passengers will be able to enjoy the novelty of catching a film in the pool.

The screen will also be used to bring activities such as game shows and quizzes to life, as well as screening sports, concerts, documentaries and much more. During the evening however, is when SeaScreen will really come to life, as it takes on the atmosphere and excitement of the cinema. Soft cushions will be brought out to cover sun loungers and the enticing smell of popcorn will fill the air ahead of the evening’s showing. That might be anything from a recent blockbuster, to a British classic, or the audience may even be encouraged to sing along to their favourite musical.

On formal evenings they will be welcomed Oscar-style on the red carpet before taking their seats. It promises to be a truly magical experience, lying under the night sky and watching a good film. And of course it provides even more entertainment choice to our passengers.

Phil: You have continued with your theme of Speciality Restaurants onboard Azura, and in particular Michelin star chefs. Is there any reason for this?

Nigel: We are very proud to be collaborating with Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar onboard Azura. Of course at P&O Cruises, we are falling over ourselves for Michelin starred chefs! But it is important to remember that those little stars are awarded very sparingly, out of the 4,500 restaurants listed in the 2009 Michelin guide, a little over 100 restaurants are awarded.

You really do have to be something very special, and Atul is indeed that.

His star was awarded for his stunning Mayfair-based restaurant Benares, which serves up a unique blend of authentic Indian flavours, using familiar British ingredients. On a quest for Michelin star number two, Atul has also recently opened a restaurant called Vatika at Wickham Vineyard in Botley.

Atul’s restaurant on board Azura will be named Sindhu; Sanskrit for ‘borne of the sea’. This will be one of three Select Dining restaurants on board Azura, so a cover charge will apply. Although there will be a more casual bar menu for those wanting a light bite, make no mistake that Sindhu will offer a premium quality, fine dining experience – you don’t get the accolades that Atul has achieved by serving Chicken Tikka Massala! Atul really is the ‘Posh Spice’ of Indian food.

Phil: The British people as we all know, have a huge appetite for Indian food. Was this something that influenced your decision to work with Atul?

Nigel: P&O Cruises of course has a long standing affiliation with India going back over 100 years, so when trying to infuse our heritage into Azura, it felt very much like a natural option. And what’s more, the popularity of our Indian themed buffets are testament to our passengers’ love of Indian food, so a restaurant dedicated to Indian food is directly tailoring to their tastes.

P&O Cruises have always been renowned for the authenticity of our Indian food – we do it extremely well, so by bringing in Atul we are taking it to the next level.

If you’re wondering where you may have seen Atul before, it’s because he is a regular on such shows as the BBC’s Great British Menu, where he was a finalist, and Saturday Kitchen on which he is a regular face. He’s sure to become more of a household name in the coming year, as he has his own TV show in the pipeline.  This is one ambitious chef with big plans – and a true gentleman and a thoroughly nice chap to boot – and we are very proud to be a part of his continuing rise to fame.

Phil: Let’s stay on the dining front and talk about yet another innovation! The Glass House is a wine bar and restaurant where aspiring wine buffs will find their cup will literally runneth over.

Nigel: Yes! The venue is dedicated to the love of fine wine, with vintages displayed in temperature controlled cabinets. A unique serving system also enables some fine, expensive wines to be sampled by the glass, so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to try something really special.

To accompany all the fine wine, The Glass House menu will offer premium grills and seafood. On some evenings, there will be a special menu with a wine matched to each course, so diners are able to get the very best out of the flavours on offer. Although the venue is very stylish, the atmosphere will be relaxed and informal, and will be welcoming both day and night.

Phil: You have chosen another well know TV personality to work with you in the development of The Glass House?

Nigel: We are working with TV wine expert Olly Smith to put the wine list together.

You may have seen Olly alongside Atul Kochhar on Saturday Kitchen, where he is the resident wine matching expert, or on Richard and Judy’s Channel 4 show. Or perhaps you saw his now infamous appearance on a celebrity version of The Weakest Link, which I’ll say no more about now, but is worth a view on You Tube!

If you have seen him, then you’ll know this is a man that exudes so much passion and exuberance for his art, that he could tempt the strictest teetotaller off the wagon. He earned the title of UKTV Food’s ‘Wine Idol’ in 2005, and has since been branded the “Jamie Oliver of wine”. His humorous delivery stems from his days as a stand up comedian and script writer, his career having been as colourful as the flowery shirts he’s obviously so fond of.

We are delighted that he will be joining Azura for several cruises during her maiden season to deliver wine tasting sessions and no doubt a few laughs along the way. Humour aside, he really knows his stuff so you can expect great things from the wine menu in The Glass House.

Phil: No doubt you will be acutely aware of the resentment within the travel industry of high supplement for single travellers, almost (if not) double on many sailings. I believe you have made a decision to try and address this onboard Azura?

Nigel: Yes, it’s yet another first for the fleet – Single Staterooms!

Single Staterooms they may be, but we have been very generous with the square metre-age. They will be roughly 2/3 the size of a regular twin stateroom, with oversized single beds and neat storage solutions. Every inch has been designed with a single traveller in mind. To boot, they are stylish, supremely comfortable and centrally located on deck 6.  Typically the supplement will be much lower, approximately 40%.

Phil:  Building on the popularity of Ventura’s Metropolis bar, I have read that The Planet Bar will feature a plasma wall along the whole side of the venue, for a unique visual experience, is this true?

Nigel: Yes, technology moves so very fast as you know, so the screens on Azura will take the experience to the next level – 6 103inch screens will ensure amazing image quality.

And, what exciting destinations to get lost in - Every night will feature a different continent, with spectacular scenes both natural and manmade.

Phil: How do you manage to get the footage for your video walls?

Nigel: That is a good question! The video wall is unique on it-s own, but what’s even more unique for your clients, Phil - is that we have sent a film crew out around the globe to get original footage. The footage – which is worthy of any David Attenborough series – will not be seen anywhere else in the world.

Phil: Sounds fantastic, I can’t wait!

Before we finish, our whistle stop tour of Azura, please tell me about Seventeen because this more than anything, appears to epitomise the dining standards P&O Cruises aspires to, and appropriately brings us back to the “Back to the Future” concept of Auzura.

Nigel: Thank you. Seventeen is Azura’s 3^rd Select Dining venue and it is here where

you will experience a very special and memorable evening. The Seventeen philosophy fully embraces the notion of ‘Back to the Future’ and we’re setting out to revive some of the lost art of grand-style dining. So expect a lot of showmanship and flair, as dishes are brought to you on a gleaming trolley and carved at your table.

A sense of occasion is permanently on the menu at Seventeen. The service is unhurried, allowing guests time to thoroughly enjoy each course, and revel in the special atmosphere. As with all good dining experiences, the surroundings play a key part, and Seventeen is named after its prized location high up on Azura's deck 17, affording stunning views out onto the ocean and the option to dine under the stars. The surroundings exude a both a sense of contemporary elegance and the romance of times gone by - picture beautifully set tables, fine linen, glistening silver, dark wood and soft, romantic lighting. Once again, Azura will deliver pure class.

Phil: Let’s not forget about our future P&O Cruisers! You will be looking after them onboard Azura?

Nigel: Of course! And no, we haven’t forgotten our youngest passengers. Yes, Azura is a very grown-up ship, but that doesn’t mean she won’t cater incredibly well for families. The large, dedicated children’s areas will run The Reef children’s programme, and there is the addition of a separate room – Game On! - dedicated to the latest video game technology.

So there we have it! A lot of detail, thought and passion has gone into the creation of Azura. I hope you’ll agree Phil that it’s inspiring stuff, both in terms of the concept and product. Azura will continue the fine tradition of P&O Cruises, and be a fantastic affirmation of our brand values. She will act as a reminder as to why P&O Cruises was, and still is, the pioneer of cruise holidays. 

Phil: Thank you Nigel for taking the time to speak to the Cruise Village. I am sure Azura will be a great addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.

This is a cruise blog entry by Phil