On Sunday 8th March, P&O Cruises invited UK travel agents on board their newest ship Britannia to provide a first-look into what the luxury ship has to offer. Agents were greeted with a tour of the ship, this was followed by a champagne drinks reception in the Atrium and a 6-course gala dinner in the Peninsular Restaurant.
Some of our Sovereign team members that visited the stunning ship on Sunday have written about their experience on board, in order to give our clients an amazing insight into the most talked about ship this year.
Jessica
The overnight stay on Britannia was an incredible experience. I was most impressed with the contemporary décor that is consistent throughout the whole of the ship, making it feel like we were in a five-star hotel. I have been fortunate enough to view various luxury cruise ships that have been docked in Southampton and Britannia is by far the most glamorous ship I have ever witnessed.
The Britannia has become my new favourite ship. She has come along and taken the modern cruising experience to a whole new level whilst oozing class and sophistication. I expected to find myself comparing the ship to my recent experience on board Ventura, however that is not possible. Britannia is in a league of her own and is completely different in so many ways.
For most people the Atrium is the highlight with it being the hub of the ship, but for me it was the spa. I have been lucky enough to experience some of the best spas in the world so my expectations are always high, however the Oasis Spa on Britannia ranks in my top 3. The spa consists of the hydro pool boasting seats emerged in the water and three different types of saunas… your only choice is to relax.
There truly is something for all age ranges on board. P&O have managed to capture the perfect cruise experience from the grandparents wanting a quiet day by the pool enjoying the sunshine and cocktails, to the parents wanting to take part in activities, like the outdoor sports bar with a full sized basketball court or a cookery class with famous chefs, to the children where they will have the most amazing kids club experience at sea, with every game and fun activity imaginable right at their fingertips – And when you’re done with all that in the day, the ship really does come to life at night and will offer you so much fun, full stomachs and luxury entertainment. I guarantee you will not want to disembark!
Samantha
I was lucky enough to recently sail on board the new P&O ship Britannia for an overnight stay. Since recently sailing the Queen Elizabeth with Cunard my expectations were extremely high and I am happy to say that ship herself exceeded those expectations, I have to say she was spectacular.
Once we had embarked on board the ship we headed straight to the Pizzeria, which served the most amazing pizza. This allowed us to get our initial feel for the ship. The view of the pool with the fountain feature in the centre was beautiful, the greenery decor was stunning and the background music surrounding the area really created a fantastic, relaxed atmosphere.
In order to experience the Britannia we then went to tour the ship herself. I was particularly impressed with The Reef, the children’s area. Equipped with a light up dance floor, plenty of board games, game consoles and even play dough! There is definitely enough to ensure any child has an eventful holiday! Although I was extremely disappointed to find out that I was too old to enjoy the games within the children’s area! This was just one instance of how the Britannia has been made to meet any guest’s needs. With a retreat area made exclusively for adults, basketball courts, a fantastic gym, even cookery rooms equipped with the latest equipment and cook books to make a chef out of any passenger on board. This was extremely impressive as I could not think of any demographic who wouldn’t have plenty to do on board this beautiful ship.
Dining on board was fantastic. With a menu filled with rich flavours suited to a variety tastes, there was something to suit everyone. The Peninsular Restaurant was superb and again did beat my initial expectations. My personal favourite part of the meal had to be the raspberry ripple ice cream I had for dessert!
In order to get a full overview of the facilities on board in regards to evening entertainment we were lucky enough to go into The Headline’s Theatre, The Crow’s Nest, The Atrium and The Live Lounge. These were all fantastic. Atmospheres ranged from a quiet sociable area to live music in the Live Lounge. Again this has demonstrated just how much thought has gone into ensuring that the Britannia has a range of facilities to suit anyone who is lucky enough to experience her.
Overall the experience I had on board the Britannia was amazing, I know that this will not be the last time I sail on her as she has so much to offer. With the consistent decor throughout the ship, there is a real sense of British tradition with a modern twist. She exceeded every expectation I had for her and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to cruise as she has something to offer every demographic.