Written by Chris Scott. All images taken by Chris. Follow @awaydaysandholidays and @liverpoolshots for more
We have just returned from our second Caribbean cruise and it was so good to see people travelling and exploring the outside world again.
In order to travel the cruise company (P&O), stated that everyone onboard had to be fully vaccinated and to have a negative Antigen test (at no cost), at the airport before departure. Barbados regulations also required all visitors to the Island to have a negative PCR test 3 days before flying out of the UK.
By doing so this in effect created a huge ‘bubble’ and it did make us feel more comfortable and safer in travelling, it was a small price to pay to see some fabulous Islands.
After arriving at Barbados Airport, we were transferred to the cruise ship (Azura), berthed in Bridgetown and we set sail later that evening to start our journey to the Islands of Saint Vincent, St Kitts, St Maarten, Turks & Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Antigua, St Lucia and Grenada before returning to Barbados where we had a day at port before flying home.
There were a few new stops for us and both Turks & Caicos and British Virgin Islands were just stunning.
There were COVID restrictions to adhere to both onboard and onshore, and whilst moving around the ship you needed to wear a face mask, but free to remove these by the pool, bars, restaurants and sun decks.
The restrictions were different between the Islands, some you could go and explore on your own and others you needed to book an organised tour or take an official taxi from within the port area. The daily updates from P&O explained the next ports COVID protocols so we knew what was required each day.
Despite the restrictions we were so glad we went, we felt perfectly safe and appreciated the ships advice and efforts to make this a memorable and enjoyable cruise.
Here are some of our highlights from our trip, with the famous (albeit a bit random) red telephone box on the beach in Dickensons Bay, Antigua, the stunning Baths National Park & Devils Bay on Virgin Gordo and the amazing SunRay beach on Grand Turk (where the ship berthed literally metres from the beach).
We enjoyed the sail away at St Maarten where six cruise ships were in port that day and Azura’s big Sister, The Britannia was alongside us and we saw many beautiful sunsets over the Caribbean Sea from the Terrace Bar at the back of the ship, with a nice cold drink.
Can’t wait to go back!
