Malta’s capital, Valletta is steeped in history and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. A simple stroll through the Baroque-style streets will take you back in time to 1566 when the city was completed, while a range of museums and monuments provide an in-depth retelling of the past. Its intimate size makes it easy to explore the highlights on foot and discover many hidden gems such as botanical gardens, boutiques and eateries.
Things to do in Valletta:
Malta 5D
This new-generation theatre provides an immersive journey through the history and culture of Malta, featuring 3D films, moving seats, water and air blasts and even leg ticklers. Fun for all ages, Malta 5D is the most unique way to discover Malta!
Manoel Theatre and Palazzo Manoel
Tucked away on a quiet street, the Manoel Theatre is a hidden gem of fascinating history and beautiful architecture. Whether you’re taking a tour of the theatre or enjoying a musical performance, visitors will fall in love with its elegance and grandeur.
St Johns Cathedral in Valetta
St John’s Co-Cathedral is considered one of the best examples of traditional Baroque architecture in Europe and features memorials dedicated to knights covering the floor and ceiling as well as the stunning Caravaggio’s painting.
Grand Master's Palace
Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Grandmaster’s Palace is an iconic piece of Maltese heritage, housing the President’s office and a museum where visitors can enjoy an audio guide to get to know the history behind the impressive armoury.
National Museum of Archaeology
Covering the history and mythology of Malta, the National Museum of Archaeology is a must visit for those looking to discover ancient artefacts. This highly informative museum is where you’ll find the renowned Sleeping Lady, Venus of Malta and more.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
At the end of a busy day of exploring, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are just what you need to wind down and relax in the capital. Offering unrivalled views of the city, these gardens date back to 1661 and are home to beautiful statues and plaques.
Bari
DAY 318 May 2024
Found on the southeast edge of Italy, Bari has long been a large and bustling port town which boasts some fascinating history. There are plenty of religious buildings to see which house the relics of various saints – including those of St Nicholas (Santa Claus), and Saint Columba of Ireland. It’s also worth exploring the Old Town and Piazza Mercantile, to get a flavour of traditional Bari life complete with fresh Italian cooking, children playing football, and of course plenty of wine. In the piazza is also the ‘colonna infame’, which dates back to the first century AD. It’s here where criminals were held in years gone by to be ridiculed and punished.
Things to do in Bari:
St. Nichola's Basilica
Dating back to the 12th century, Basilica di San Nicola, was originally built to house the remains and relics of St Nicholas (popularly known as Santa Claus), which were stolen around that time from Myra in Turkey. The arrival of the important relics is re-enacted every year in May, when locals arrive to the port by boat with an icon-style painting of the saint. This basilica is an important pilgrimage among Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
Bari Cathedral
Although less famous, many say that Bari Cathedral is actually a more important building than Basilica di San Nicola in Bari. It was built in the 12th-13th centuries, on the site of another cathedral that was destroyed by King William I of Sicily in the mid-12th century. It is dedicated to San Sabino, whose relics were brought to the area in the 9th century and are now stored in the cathedral. Some relics of Saint Columba of Ireland are also kept here.
Castello Svevo
It’s believed that the original castle structure was built around 1130-1135, by the Norman King Roger II of Sicily, only to be destroyed by William I of Sicily in 1156. Then King Frederick II of Sicily rebuilt it in the 13th century. Today visitors can explore some of the castle, where art exhibitions and events are often held. There is also a permanent collection of plaster cast replicas of 11th to 17th century artefacts.
Bari Old Town
Known locally as Bari Vecchia, the old part of the city is full of quaint streets and charming architecture. It provides the quintessential Italian atmosphere of narrow roads, children playing football, laundry hanging overhead, and the smells of delicious food being prepared. The streets of Old Bari can lead you to or away from the main square (Piazza Mercantile), where attractions such as the Basilica di San Nicola are located.
Piazza Mercantile
The main square of the old town, Piazza Mercantile is a vibrant social hub of eateries and bars and has been since medieval times. In around the 14th century traders came here to sell their wares – although today’s marketplace is not located here – and it quickly became the place to eat, drink, and be merry. There is some important architecture surrounding the square too, such as the 13th Colonna Infame, and the 16th century Palazzo del Sedile (old town hall and clock tower).
Column of Justice
Otherwise known as the Colonna Infame – or infamous column – this menacing lion statue and column are situated in one corner of Piazza Mercantile. The lion wears an inscribed collar reading ‘Custos Iusticiae’ – or ‘Keeper of Justice’, and represents law and order, and protection of the city. The lion dates back to around the first century AD, but the column was not installed until the 16th century. It is believed that debtors and other small-time criminals were once tied to the column to be publicly shamed and ridiculed.
Split
DAY 419 May 2024
As Croatia’s second-largest city, Split is an integral tourist hotspot in the Adriatic Sea. The unique setting of coastal mountains and bright blue ocean makes for the perfect backdrop to a cruise holiday, while the city itself has a very homely, local feel. Stroll past high-rise, rustic apartments and discover the many hidden gems and highlights such as Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that will leave you in awe.
Things to do in Split:
Diocletians Palace
As one of the most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world, it’s no wonder this fortress is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now home to many shops, restaurants and apartments, the palace is a beautiful place to wander, day or night.
Krka National Park
Home to breath-taking waterfalls and lush, thriving forest, Krka National Park is a must visit for lovers of the outdoors. Discover over 800 species of plant life, over 200 species of bird and 18 species of bat, as well as the tiny island of Visovac.
Peristil Square
The central square of the palace, Peristil Square was once the perfect space for opera theatre and now provides the scenery for a delicious cup of coffee. Towering above is the 57-metre belfry where, once climbing the steps, visitors will find gorgeous views across town.
St Duje's Cathedral
This excellent example of beautifully-preserved ancient Roman architecture is where you’ll find the bell tower, treasury and even a crypt. Built in the 4th century, it houses many artefacts, sculptures , carvings and murals.
Marjan Hill
For breath-taking views out across the city, Marjan Park is the place to be. The walk up from Old Town Split is fairly easy, and visitors will find a café as well as the lookout point. From here, you can continue the hike to the Church of St Nicholas, a beautiful, small stone church.
Campanile Bell Tower
Built in 1100 AD, this beautiful Romanesque bell tower stands at 60 metres tall with sweeping views of the city and mountains. Though this landmark may not be for the faint of heart, climbing the many steps is well worth it to admire the landscape at the top.
Klis Fortress
A must visit for fans of the hit series, Game of Thrones, Klis Fortress is well worth a visit just for the spectacular views alone. With over two thousand years of history, the ruins are fascinating to explore for all ages and provide fantastic photo opportunities.
Kotor
DAY 520 May 2024
Nestled among the mountains, Kotor provides the setting for a picturesque cruise holiday. A walk around Old Town Budva will take you past timeless architecture, while San Giovanni Castle has the best photo opportunities. Kotor is not just for relaxing and scenic strolls though, with Aquapark Budva providing a fun-filled day for all the family. Don’t forget to stop by the many charming eateries in between for an authentic taste of Kotor cuisine too.
Things to do in Kotor:
Jaz Beach
If you are looking for a secluded beach tucked away in serenity by beautiful rock coves, head to Jaz Beach where you’ll be able to sunbathe and relax.
St Tryphon’s Cathedral
After being restored numerous times following earthquakes, St Tryphon’s Cathedral continues to represent the expertise of Roman architecture. With many stunning artefacts and decorations, this cathedral is well worth exploring.
Lovćen National Park
A short drive from Kotor, Lovćen National Park is home to imposing mountains including the spectacular Mount Lovćen standing 1,749 metres high. With no shortage of outdoor adventures to discover, visitors will love quad biking and zip lining in particular.
Old Town
With countless boutiques, authentic eateries, and bars as well as a quaint museum teeming with ancient artefacts, Old Town Budva is a delightful place to explore. Enjoy dessert from a charming bakery, admire the view from the citadel and bask in the peace and quiet.
San Giovanni Castle
After climbing 1,350 stairs to a height of 1,200 metres you’ll find this impressive fortress built between the 9th and 19th centuries. With Byzantine and Venetian roots, this structure is beautifully preserved and teeming with fascinating history to discover.
Aquapark Buvda
Nestled in lush surroundings with views over the town nearby, Aquapark Budva is perfect for spending a hot afternoon cooling off. The park features multiple pools and waterslides to suit a range of ages, as well as a restaurant, bars, shops and lockers.
Corfu
DAY 621 May 2024
One of Greece’s most verdant islands and perfect for a family holiday with charming architecture, an impressive fort and a 16th century church, Agios Spyridhon. Mount Pantokrantor rears up in the north of the island and all around the edges are sandy beaches and small villages. Whether you’re here to top up a tan on the stunning Loggas Beach or eager to discover the gorgeous monuments, Corfu has something for everyone.
Things to do in Corfu:
Agni Bay
This hidden gem will provide the perfect getaway from bustling crowds. If you’re looking to relax in a quaint fishing village, enjoy traditional Corfiot cuisine on the waterfront and take a dip in the vibrant waters, Agni Bay is the place for you.
Loggas Beach
Surrounded by imposing cliffs, Loggas Beach – otherwise known as Sunset Beach – is one of the most beautiful spots in Corfu. You won’t find wild water sports here, instead you’ll witness breath-taking sunsets and take a dip in the warm, gentle water.
Saint George Church
Built in 1840 for British troops serving in Corfu, the Church of St George now hosts only two services each year, as well as occasional exhibitions. With views out over Garitsa Bay, this church resembles an ancient Greek temple and provides great photo opportunities.
Vlacherna Monastery
Found on a tiny islet close by to the airport of Corfu, Vlacherna Monastery dates back to around the 17th and 18th centuries. The beautifully preserved building is a great photo opportunity particularly at sunset, and the perfect place to take a romantic stroll.
Valletta
DAY 823 May 2024
Malta’s capital, Valletta is steeped in history and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. A simple stroll through the Baroque-style streets will take you back in time to 1566 when the city was completed, while a range of museums and monuments provide an in-depth retelling of the past. Its intimate size makes it easy to explore the highlights on foot and discover many hidden gems such as botanical gardens, boutiques and eateries.
Things to do in Valletta:
Malta 5D
This new-generation theatre provides an immersive journey through the history and culture of Malta, featuring 3D films, moving seats, water and air blasts and even leg ticklers. Fun for all ages, Malta 5D is the most unique way to discover Malta!
Manoel Theatre and Palazzo Manoel
Tucked away on a quiet street, the Manoel Theatre is a hidden gem of fascinating history and beautiful architecture. Whether you’re taking a tour of the theatre or enjoying a musical performance, visitors will fall in love with its elegance and grandeur.
St Johns Cathedral in Valetta
St John’s Co-Cathedral is considered one of the best examples of traditional Baroque architecture in Europe and features memorials dedicated to knights covering the floor and ceiling as well as the stunning Caravaggio’s painting.
Grand Master's Palace
Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Grandmaster’s Palace is an iconic piece of Maltese heritage, housing the President’s office and a museum where visitors can enjoy an audio guide to get to know the history behind the impressive armoury.
National Museum of Archaeology
Covering the history and mythology of Malta, the National Museum of Archaeology is a must visit for those looking to discover ancient artefacts. This highly informative museum is where you’ll find the renowned Sleeping Lady, Venus of Malta and more.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
At the end of a busy day of exploring, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are just what you need to wind down and relax in the capital. Offering unrivalled views of the city, these gardens date back to 1661 and are home to beautiful statues and plaques.
Flight departs
DAY 8
What's included
Included
Entertainment
Choose from a variety of things to entertain yourself including restaurants, bars, theatre, pools and much more.
Luggage
The checked baggage allowance will be between 15 - 23kg per passenger depending on your airline. This will be confirmed after your booking.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks from the buffet and main dining restaurants are all included. Meals from the specialty dining restaurants are additional.
Tips
P&O having a no tipping policy. Since May 2019 they removed the automatic daily service charge so you no longer have to worry about tips onboard.
Flights
Choose to fly from a variety of UK airports including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, London Airports, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne
Transfers (airport ↔ port)
A shuttle bus will be provided to get your from the airport to your ship.
Port taxes & fees
No suprises. All port fees and taxes are included in the price
Choice of fares
Inside Cabin
£891pp
Outside Cabin
£970pp
Balcony Cabin
£1,225pp
Inside Cabin
£1,336pp
Outside Cabin
£1,782pp
Early Saver
+ £0 pp
Saver fares are for people who want great value but don’t mind where your cabin is located or what time you’ll be dining.
£45 Onboard spend
Choice of cabin number and location
Priority for complimentary upgrades
First priority for dining time and table size
Flexibility to change your booking
Additional promotional offers
Complimentary use of shuttle buses in port ( where provided)
Some teas, coffees and soft drinks will be included but alcoholic drinks are extra. A drinks package can be added after booking. The cost is approx £40 per person per day.
Wifi
To browse the internet you can either pay-as-you-go or buy a Wi-Fi package. Wi-Fi packages cost between £6 - £25 per day. Contact us after booking to add this to your package.
Excursions
P&O offer a fantastic range of shore excursions. You can see which excursions are available after booking the cruise via your P&O account. Alternatively, check out our partner Venture Ashore.
Specialty Dining
Specialty restaurants allow travellers to enhance their dining experience during the cruise. This is a great way to add variety to your holiday or celebrate a special occasion. You can pay for meals in the special dining restaurants onboard.
Insurance
Have the peace of mind that you're covered. Contact us after you have made the booking if you would like us to add this to your package.
Visa
Visas are not provided by us or the cruise operator. Visas and other travel documents have to be obtained by the individual passengers prior to sailing.
Customer reviews for Azura
4.2
Based on 396 reviews
Cabin
4.2
Service
4.3
Excursions
4.1
Dining
4.2
Activities
4.1
Value for money
4.2
Entertainment
4.1
Great performance by all the crew.
Food very good.
Great atmosphere on-board.
Had a great time for our first one.
couple
1 cruiseBalcony
17 Sep 2023
It was great.
couple
1 cruiseInside
12 Sep 2023
Once again we sailed on the Azura. Lovely cruise on a great ship with a great crew and the Captain was lovely and had us laughing on a few occasions with his announcements.
The transfers to and from the airport to the hotel and from hotel to the port were seem less and punctual.
Everything about our trip was perfect.
couple
2-5 cruisesBalcony
10 Sep 2023
Good cruise and short break in Malta. Well organised by Iglu, flights all transfers, hotel in Malta (waterfront - excellent!) and cruise all worked perfectly so well done and thanks.
couple
10+ cruisesBalcony
10 Sep 2023
Further information
Onboard
On your cruise, you have two dining options - "Club Dining" and "Freedom Dining". If you book an Early Saver Fare/Late Saver, your dining time will be assigned and noted in your cabin upon embarkation. If you book a Select Fare, you can choose your dining time, but this option is not available on Iona, and only Freedom Dining is offered.
Freedom Dining allows you to dine at any time between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM, and tables are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, with sizes ranging from two to eight people.
Club Dining, on the other hand, has a fixed seating plan with two sittings - either at 6:30 PM or 8:30 PM. The same table, waiters, and fellow diners will be reserved for you every night for the duration of your cruise. This option is not available on Iona.
P&O offer various meal options to accommodate the dietary requirements of their guests. The following diets can be accommodated on all ships: Vegetarian, Pescatarian (fish), Low/No fat, Low salt/No salt, Lactose intolerant/Dairy-free, Gluten/Wheat-free/Coeliac, Low cholesterol, Diabetic, and Kosher, and Vegan. If you need any of these dietary options, please contact the Customer Contact Centre before your sailing date. Once on board, make yourself known to the Headwaiter or Restaurant Manager to ensure that your dietary needs are met.
Cruises in and out of Southampton have no restriction on how much baggage you take, although please bear in mind that your cases must be stored within your cabin. For handling purposes, please ensure that each piece of luggage weighs no more than 23kg. When flying to/from the ship, both the charter and scheduled flight luggage restrictions vary. Please visit the Flights page of your Cruise Personaliser online to confirm. If your airline allowance is greater than 23 kilograms, we ask that no individual item of luggage weighs more than 23 kilograms, in order to be safely handled by the ship’s crew.
P&O has a relaxed dress code during the day but there is a dress code in effect from 6 pm in bars and restaurants for those over 18. There are two dress codes - Evening Casual and Black Tie. The Cruise Personaliser will inform you of the number of nights for each dress code during your trip, so be sure to check beforehand. Men should wear a buttoned shirt or polo for Evening Casual, and a tuxedo, dinner jacket, dark suit, national dress, or uniform for Black Tie. Women should wear smart separates for Evening Casual and cocktail dresses or ball gowns for Black Tie.
Iglu Cruise has a team in place to provide necessary assistance to make your holiday run smoothly. If anyone in your party requires medical or mobility assistance, notify your Cruise Specialist at the time of booking or as soon as possible if circumstances change after booking. The Special Assistance Team will email a form 6-8 weeks before departure, which must be completed and returned.
Travel Requirements
All passengers (including all children), should hold their own full 10-year (5 years for children) British Citizen (GBR) passport. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months past your expected return date to the UK, as this is often a criteria for entry to certain countries.
All UK guests are required to purchase comprehensive travel insurance for their P&O cruise holiday. The policy must provide medical and repatriation coverage of at least £2 million, including cover for emergency evacuations and COVID-19 related medical expenses. The insurance must also cover travel, cancellation, curtailment, and any existing medical conditions, either globally or at minimum in the countries being visited. Travel insurance documents will be checked at the terminal and must be valid for the entire trip. Boarding will be denied without proper insurance coverage, at the guest's expense.
Select Fare promotion, Free Extra spend amount varies depending on sailing & cabin grade booked, Offer is not applicable to Inside cabins on cruises under 7 nights, Inside cabins on World Cruises, Classic Southern Hemisphere Journeys and Exotic fly-cruises, Early Savers or other promotional prices. Low deposit is available on selected sailings.
All offers and prices are subject to change and availability at time of enquiry. Prices are based on two passengers sharing unless otherwise stated and are subject to the Tour Operator's terms and conditions. Cabin and Flight supplements may apply. Other supplements may apply in addition to the price shown above. Flight details, timings and routing may be subject to alteration. Other tour operator charges may also apply. Any Onboard Spending money or drinks package value shown will be per cabin, again based on two sharing.
Note: On 13 January 2018, new European legislation is being adopted in the UK which as result will mean that we may change our required method of payment at our discretion, irrespective of how any deposit or prior payment was made.
Choice of fares
Choice of fares
Inside Cabin
£891pp
Outside Cabin
£970pp
Balcony Cabin
£1,225pp
Inside Cabin
£1,336pp
Outside Cabin
£1,782pp
Early Saver
+ £0 pp
Saver fares are for people who want great value but don’t mind where your cabin is located or what time you’ll be dining.
£45 Onboard spend
Choice of cabin number and location
Priority for complimentary upgrades
First priority for dining time and table size
Flexibility to change your booking
Additional promotional offers
Complimentary use of shuttle buses in port ( where provided)