The Glass House by food hero Olly Smith is the home of fine wines and some very nice steaks. A great place to relax and 'people watch'. Azura was the first ship in the fleet to have this concept and due to great success for P & O, they are in the process of extending this throughout the fleet.

This was my last view from the ship, which was berthed at the Ocean Terminal, after arriving back in Southampton. We had left here, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. The last port of call being Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, on 02/08/2011, leaving there around 17:15 hrs. We had arrived back here at around 05:30 hrs. and were to disembark around 08:45 hrs.

Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. Photo taken on 05/08/2011. © Peter Steel 2011.

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This was my last view from our cabin on P&O Cruises Azura - IMO: 9424883, which was berthed at the Ocean Terminal after arriving back in Southampton. We had left here, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. The last port of call being Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, on 02/08/2011, leaving there around 17:15 hrs. We had arrived back here at around 05:30 hrs. and were to disembark around 08:45 hrs. In view is the River Test, before it leads into Southampton Water and the Marchwood/Dibden area of Hampshire. The tug berthed at the quay is Svitzer Marine owned Svitzer Bentley which was built in 1996 by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands with a GTW of 381 and has a home port of Felixstowe.

Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. Photo taken on 05/08/2011. © Peter Steel 2011.

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Southampton Ocean Cruise Terminal was opened on the 29/05/2009 by ABP Ports with a £19 million price tag funded by Carnival UK who operate cruise lines including Cunard, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. It is the first purpose-built cruise facility to be built at the port in over 40 years.

At berth, on the Council Quay, above left of centre, is Tug TSS T/T Calshot. Built in Southampton at John I Thorneycroft in November 1929 with a GTW of 684 and operated by Red Funnel Towage from 1930 - 1964, she has been restored by the Tug Tender Calshot Trust and is one of three remaining classical tender ships.

The Town Quay, top left of the photo, is the terminus for the Red Funnel services from the Isle of Wight and the Hythe Ferry.

This photo was taken from the port side of P&O Cruises Azura - IMO: 9424883, on 05/08/2011, after arriving at Southampton at around 05:30hrs. We had left Southampton, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. The last port of call being Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, on 02/08/2011, leaving there around 17:15 hrs.

Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. © Peter Steel 2011.

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In the distance can be seen what I think is the ship Anvil Point, definitely one of the 'Point' class. The 'Point' class is a class of six Roll-on/Roll-off Sealift ships procured under PFI and available for use as naval auxiliaries to the British armed forces. They are designed for the strategic transport of military cargoes and vehicles in times of need. The UK Ministry of Defence has purchased a 22-year charter from Foreland Shipping who own, operate and crew the ships, utilising them as merchantmen when they are not required for military service. She was one of two being built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, the other four ships of the class built by the German company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. All are named for British points and headlands. She is seen at berth at Marchwood. The 'dome' visible just to the right of the ship is Marchwood ERF, or Marchwood Energy Recovery Facility, as is known. It is a waste incineration plant situated beside the estuary of the River Test where it meets Southampton Water, opposite the Port of Southampton. It burns municipal waste and produces electricity for the National Grid.

This photo was taken from the starboard side of P&O Cruises Azura - IMO: 9424883, at the Ocean Terminal, on 05/08/2011, after arriving at Southampton at around 05:30hrs. We had left Southampton, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. The last port of call being Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, on 02/08/2011, leaving there around 17:15 hrs.

Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. © Peter Steel 2011.

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The Retreat is a luxurious open-air spa terrace, offering the ultimate in sophisticated pampering. Here you'll find luxury sun loungers, airy cabanas for al fresco spa treatments, personal waiter service and panoramic views. This photo was taken from near the forward end, looking forward, on 04/08/2011, skirting the Bay of Biscay when cruising back to Southampton across the North Atlantic Ocean.

Azura had left Lisbon, Portugal, at around 17:00 hrs. on 02/08/2011. We had left Southampton, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. Next stop was Southampton, on 05/08/2011.

Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. © Peter Steel 2011.

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