Cruise News P&O Cruises new ship Azura is flotaed out to prepare for 2010 launch

Well, it appears preparations are well under way for P&O Cruises Azura's launch in April 2010 in Southampton and all looks to be going well. Everyone here at The Cruise Village is excited.

3,100-passenger Azura will be named in Southampton in April 2010 and depart on her maiden voyage on April 12.

She will be 115,000-tons and is being built at Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste.

Amanda Dowds, wife of Azura’s Captain, Keith Dowds acted as ‘godmother’ for a symbolic ceremony in which a newly-minted two pound coin and a new euro are welded at the foot of the ship’s mast for good luck.

Azura was then blessed by a priest as a bottle of Italian Prosecco smashed against the hull.

P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale, said: “The float out ceremony is a significant event in the build of a new ship. Azura is designed with traditional cruise values of service and quality combined with the flexibility and choice that today’s contemporary customer expects and the high level of early bookings proves this demand.”

The ship will have an open-air cinema-at-sea, an open air spa terrace and single cabins.

You can read all about Azura in one mof my previous blogs....but for all the best P&O Cruises offers, make sure you visit the website www.podeals.com where you will find all the best deals online.

This is a cruise blog entry by Phil