DisabledHolidays.com cruise expert reviews new P&O cruise ship Britannia
In March 2015, Kay, one of our cruise experts, had the pleasure of sampling a two-night taster onboard P&O’s amazing new cruise ship Britannia.
Here are her findings:
After arriving in Southampton refreshed and raring to go, we unloaded our bags from the taxi and let the porters do their thing. We checked in relatively quickly and were ushered through security right onto the ship and into the stunning atrium.
The bar was calling. A couple of cheeky ciders later we decided to explore.
First call was our cabin. Our bags were waiting at our door and we couldn’t wait to get in. The cabin was very spacious and had a lovely balcony with two chairs for us to use - perfect for when the sun’s shining. Unpacking done, and with evening dress having pride of place on the hanging rail, we went on deck.
First stop: the snack bar for a light lunch. We decided to forego the new ‘Grab and Go’ option for a delicious burger which filled the gap and kept us going till dinner.
Deckchairs and deck space is plentiful and the pools were shimmering.
After a short rest in the sun and relaxing with a cocktail, we dressed for dinner. I have cruised many times on lots of different cruise lines but P&O definitely have my heart. I usually opt for club dining for first sitting because I like to sit at dinner with the same people each night to get to know them; however, on this occasion I was allocated freedom dining.
Initially I was a little bit unsure of this but I actually really liked it and I would prefer this in future. We had no problem getting a table when we arrived at the restaurant and sat with different people both nights which meant we got to know a lot more people. The food onboard was beautiful and it was a blessing that this cruise was only for two nights - any longer and I might not have fitted into my evening dress! We went into the restaurant each evening because being waited on makes you feel really special.
After dinner, the theatre is where it’s at, with a great Motown act, singing and dancing, although there’s lots of other entertainment too such as quizzes and karaoke - you can just wander from one venue to another, so there’s plenty of choice for people.
After the shows have ended and it’s down to the late night venue for dancing until the early morning to a resident DJ. Bed around 2 a.m. before it all started again on the morning of the second day with a gorgeous cooked English breakfast in the restaurant.
On the second day we dropped anchor and just sat out at sea for the whole day. It was fantastic; the sun was shining and those waiters just kept on bringing the cocktails! Later in the afternoon we set sail back to Southampton, giving us a chance to check out some of the other facilities and beautify ourselves with a well-deserved (if not needed!) manicure and hairdo before the formal evening. With sequins and tiaras at the ready, we sampled the beautiful Gala dinner created by telly chef James Martin.
That evening the Headliners Theatre Company were performing a ‘Round Britain’ show. Both the performers and stage effects were fabulous. This was followed by watching those in their ballroom attire dancing to an orchestra and lounge singer. It was so nice seeing lots of couples dancing, showing off their skills with their tuxedo tails and gowns wafting in the breeze. The pub next door had karaoke with a few crooners in the crowd who managed to get everyone to join in with the dancing and sing song and later we hit the Live Lounge, which had a great band and a disco.
Getting around the ship and access to all the facilities is incredibly easy thanks to the spacious corridors and doorways, and there are plenty of lifts to all the decks throughout the ship.
Before we knew it, the bell rang 3 a.m. and last orders were called. One final drink before returning back to our comfortable cabins. A sleep, an early morning breakfast and then we reluctantly disembarked this great ship Britannia at 8 the next morning. We would thoroughly recommend this fantastic ship to anyone whether you are seasoned or new to cruising.
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