p & o cruises britannia entertainment

Ultimate Guide to P&O Britannia

P&O Cruises has been a much-loved cruise line with British cruisers for decades and offers traditional cruises to popular destinations such as the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords. In this ultimate guide to P&O Britannia , I share everything you need to know about the flagship to make the most of your cruise holiday.

Key Facts about P&O Britannia

P&O Britannia was launched in 2015 and was last refurbished in 2019. The cruise ship was built by Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) and is a Royal Class ship, making it a sister to: Royal, Regal, Sky, Enchanted, Majestic and Discovery Princess.

Britannia has 1,836 cabins for up to 3,647 passengers and has 1,350 crew.

Where is P&O Britannia right now?

You can discover the exact location of Britannia cruise ship using this cruise tracker and take a look at the Britannia webcam from the Bridge.

Cabins on P&O Britannia

Britannia offers a range of cruise cabins to suit all budgets and preferences:

• Superior Deluxe Balcony (equivalent to a mini-suite)

Inside cabin

A standard inside cabin on P&O Britannia is 170 square feet, which is ample space for two people. This cabin has a TV, fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.

There is generous wardrobe space with shelves and drawers, which I found was plenty of storage for a fortnight’s cruise.

There is a security safe to store any valuables and it’s worth mentioning that we could fit an iPad easily into it.

The en-suite bathroom is stocked with toiletries from The White Company and a notably there was a shower door (instead of a shower curtain).

Pool towels are already in your cabin when you arrive so that you can use them on the ship or at the beach.

An inside cabin is a perfect option for those who like to spend their time enjoying the ship’s facilities and public areas. I also like how dark the room is if you want to sleep or take a nap during the day.

Balcony Cabin

A standard balcony cabin on Britannia is 212 square feet, which is a good size space for two people. This cabin has a TV, fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.

There is generous wardrobe space, shelves and drawers, which was the same amount of space as an inside cabin. The balcony has the addition of a small table and comfy chair.

The balcony has enough space for two chairs and a small table. I would say the size of the balcony is not huge but fine if you enjoy to sit outside and get some sea air.

The en-suite bathroom appears to be the same size as the inside cabin and is stocked with toiletries from The White Company. It has a shower with a door and pool towels are already in your cabin.

Superior Deluxe Balcony

A superior deluxe balcony cabin on Britannia is 281 square feet, which is a good option for families (sleeps up to four) or couples wanting a bit of luxury and inside space to relax. This cabin has two TVs, a fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.

The cabins amenities are very similar to those of inside and balcony cabins but has the added bonus of a separate sitting area, which can be curtained off if the settee bed is required.

I would compare this to a mini-suite on sister ships with Princess Cruises.

The bathroom has the addition of a bath with the shower head over it, I think this is a luxury that many would be happy to pay extra for.

Suite cabin

For passengers wanting the ultimate luxury cabin or want to cruise as a family with enough space for everyone, a suite offers 382-689 square feet.

There are four grades of suite on Britannia and are located forward, mid-ship and in the aft. As it’s the most expensive type of cabin on Britannia, I’d fully recommend doing plenty of research before booking so that you choose the right one for you.

Take a look at this guide to choosing the best suite on Britannia .

A suite comes with a long list of perks and benefits:

• Priority embarkation/disembarkation
• Access to an exclusive hospitality lounge with a selection of teas, coffees and fresh pastries while you wait to board
• Exclusive welcome reception with hot and cold canapés and complimentary alcoholic drinks
• Box of chocolates
• Fresh fruit
• Daily canapes
• Coffee machine
• Breakfast in an exclusive venue (Epicurean Restaurant)
• Inclusive room service
• Butler service
• Full-size whirlpool bath
• Priority tenders (where applicable)

Dining on P&O Britannia

There are plenty of dining options on P&O Britannia, with complimentary and specialty restaurants to choose from.

There are main dining rooms, casual dining venues and specialty dining restaurants.

Main Dining Rooms

You will be allocated the Oriental main dining room for traditional set time dining if you enjoy eating at the same time every evening.

Oriental Restaurant   Breakfast: 08.00 – 09.30 (Sea Day) 07.30 – 09.00 (Port Day) Dinner: 1st sitting from 18.30, 2nd sitting from 20.30.

If you prefer a bit more flexibility in the time you eat, I would recommend dining at the Meridian main dining room or Peninsular main dining room.

You can choose the style of dining you’d like when you book your cruise on Britannia.

The main dining rooms all offer the same menu, which changes each night.

In my opinion the food is of a good standard and features traditional British dishes such as Beef Wellington and Bread and Butter Pudding. I particularly recommend the fish dishes.

Meridian Restaurant Lunch: 12.15 – 13.45 (Light lunch option – Sea days only) Dinner: 18.00 – 21.30

Peninsular Restaurant Breakfast: 08.00 – 09.30 (Sea Day) 07.30 – 09.00 (Port Day) Lunch: 12.15 – 13.45 Afternoon tea: 16.00 – 16.45 Dinner: 18.00 – 21.30

Once a cruise, there is a special Gala Night menu that shouldn’t be missed. This is typically offered on the first formal night of the cruise. Please be aware that this may differ on summer 2021 UK cruises.

Each dish in the main dining room is nicely presented and portion sizes are not too large so you can enjoy all three courses. If you have a larger appetite you can always order extra portions of any course.

Casual Dining Venues

On P&O Britannia you can opt for more casual dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner with healthy and fast food choices, depending on what you fancy.

The buffet is open from 6am to 12 noon for breakfast. It can get very busy but signage at the entrances indicates peak times to avoid.

I would recommend leaving the main buffet dining area and finding a table outside for a peaceful start to the day, away from what can be chaos.

The buffet has a rolling menu so there is always food available between 6am and 2am, here’s a guide to times throughout the day in the Horizon Court Buffet:

Breakfast: 06:00 – 12:00 Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00 Afternoon snacks: 15:00 – 17:00  Children’s tea: 17:00 – 18:00 Theme dinner: 18:00 – 21:30 Late night snacks: 21:30 – 02:00

The themed dinners in the buffet change nightly and offers a wide selection of cuisines from around the world. You can find the schedule for the buffet dinner themes on you in-cabin TV.

Other complimentary casual food options include:

• Pizzeria on Lido Deck 16
• The Grill on Lido Deck 16
• Grab & Go on Lido Deck 16

I particularly like the Grab and Go option as there are freshly-made individually wrapped sandwiches and salads that you can take from the fridges. This is a healthy alternative to the pizza and burgers also on offer on the Lido Deck.

Specialty Dining Restaurants on P&O Britannia

For an additional charge, you can book a table at one of P&O Britannia’s specialty restaurants.

You can book in advance before the cruise or once you’re onboard but be aware that once you get on the ship, dining times may be limited.

The Beach House

The cheapest specialty dining option on Britannia is The Beach House at just £7.50 for a three-course meal. It’s a pop-up restaurant situated in a section of the Horizon Court Buffet and is only open in the evenings.

I dined at The Beach House twice on my last cruise on Britannia and liked it’s casual atmosphere and tasty food.

The menu takes inspiration from Caribbean and American cuisines to deliver menu choices that are sure to appeal to families and friends looking for comfort food and hearty dishes.

The Beach House menu has vegetarian options and limited vegan options so it can be enjoyed by all preferences.

The Glass House

Situated in the ship’s atrium, The Glass House meticulously pairs light, tapas-style dishes with a selection of wines that cannot be enjoyed anyway else on P&O Britannia.

British TV presenter and wine expert, Olly Smith, has had a hand in the menu so it’s fair to say that some thought has gone into the food and drink on offer.

I’d recommend reading my blog post, dedicated to The Glass House and its menu .

A popular specialty restaurant on P&O Britannia is Sindhu , located on Deck 7. This restaurant offers contemporary Indian cuisine and is open for dinner every night from 6pm to 9pm and a light lunch on sea days from 11am to 4.30pm.

Sindhu has a cover charge of £20 per person, which is excellent value given the quality of the dishes. It can seat up 140 covers per night but beware, this still gets booked up in advance.

It has its own bar and lounge area in front of the restaurant that is a chilled area for pre or post-dinner drinks.

The Epicurean Restaurant

The Epicurean Restaurant offers modern, British fine dining and is located near the Crow’s Nest on Deck 16. This specialty dining venue is open for breakfast for suite guests and dinner for any passengers with an advanced booking.

The menu features a selection of classic and contemporary dishes, along with an extensive cheese menu, hand picked by cheese expert Charlie Turnbull.

You can also enjoy Eric Lanlard’s afternoon tea at The Epicurean on sea days but should be pre-booked.

The Limelight Club

If you enjoy dinner and a show, The Limelight Club offers just that. A variety of acts perform during the cruise, which differs depending on your dates and itinerary but can be pre-booked before your cruise.

I would say 80s and 90s musical acts are the main theme of the Limelight Club.

Four menus are rotated throughout the cruise so if you decide to watch more than one act, you won’t be stuck with the same menu.

The menu is limited and I personally think that there are a few strange combinations and textures but the performances certainly make up for that.

The cover charge varies according to the performers but expect to pay between £25 and £35 for a three-course meal.

Entertainment on P&O Britannia

Throughout the day on board P&O Britannia, there is entertainment and activities to get involved in.

I’d recommend watching my tour of Britannia to help you become familiarised with the entertainment venues on the ship.

You can also take a look at the 50 free things to do on Britannia included in your cruise fare.

Live music can be found in most of the bars and lounges in the evenings. If you particularly enjoy dancing, I’d recommend heading to The Crystal Room for big band music and ballroom dancing.

Headliners Theatre

The Headliners Theatre is a two-tier theatre seating 936 cruise passengers.

There is a selection of tribute acts, cabaret-style shows and guest performers throughout the cruise with P&O’s magic show, Astonishing, also making an appearance.

There are two or three performances per night to accommodate cruisers with different dining times so it’s very unlikely you’ll not be able to find a seat for one of the performances each evening.

The tiered seating means that you will always be able to see the stage and accessible seating is located near the Deck 7 entrance to the theatre.

Bars and Drinks on P&O Britannia

There are 13 bars onboard P&O’s Britannia so there’s no chance of going thirsty!

Beer lovers will find plenty of choice on the menu in Brodie’s, whilst wine connoisseurs should feel at home in The Glass House. Both of these venues offer drinks flights so that you can sample a selection of beer and wine before finding your favourite.

Brodie’s is P&O Cruises’ onboard pub, a hub for live music, sport and entertainment. This venue is named after P&O’s co-founder, Brodie McGhie Wilcox. You can expect British bottled beers, spirits and wine here.

This venue can get quite busy, particularly in the evenings when there are quizzes and games being hosted.

There are some quieter ‘break-out’ spaces along one side with comfy seating and the casino is situated on the opposite side. There is waiter service or you can order directly from the bar.

For classy cocktails, martinis and bellinis, I would recommend a visit to the Blue Bar in the atrium with the added bonus of people-watching.

It’s the main bar situated in the atrium and is a great place to meet friends and family before dinner. It’s very popular on formal nights as the place to sip your champagne or bellini. It gets quieter after dinner as passengers head off to the other venues so for a drinks with friends it’s a nice spot.

Live Lounge

On Deck 7 aft, the Live Lounge is an entertainment venue that offers live music and doubles as the ship’s nightclub.

On some occasions, this venue was completely empty and we popped in to get a quick drink at the bar. This is where the 80s night is held but don’t worry, fancy dress is not required or encouraged.

The Crow’s Nest

For fantastic front-facing views during the day and elegant drinks at night, The Crow’s Nest is a bar that can be found across the P&O fleet.

The bar isn’t open all day but in the evening it turns into a sophisticated piano bar for after-dinner drinks. This venue can be quite popular on formal nights.

If you enjoy sipping a cocktail and watching the wake view, the Sunset Bar on Deck 16 is a perfect spot. This is my favourite bar on Britannia and we enjoy spending some time here in the late afternoon, during sailaways.

Drinks prices are fairly reasonably and are no more than what you would pay on the high street. You can see the full list of drinks on Britannia with prices to give you an idea of what’s onboard and how much you should budget for.

A drinks package may be worth purchasing for your Britannia cruise but be aware that drinks packages are not available to purchase on short cruises.

There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks packages as well as a child’s package, which I think is excellent value. Take a look at the options so you can decide for yourself.

It’s important to note that drinks packages cannot be shared and therefore, P&O Cruises will not allow just one person sharing a cabin to buy a drinks package.

Laundry on P&O Britannia

I’m sure that when you’re planning your cruise on Britannia, laundry services are furthest from your mind but it’s useful information to know, especially for longer cruises.

The good news is that the launderettes found on the cabin decks are free to use, all you need is washing tablets. Check my complete P&O laundry guide for all the information you need.

P&O Britannia FAQs

What is the dress code on p&o britannia.

During the day, casual holiday clothes can be worn such as shorts, t-shirt and summer dresses. You should avoid pool wear in the inside, lounges, bars and restaurants. Footwear must be worn inside.

Evening casual wear can be worn on non-formal nights of your cruise. This is best described as outfits you would wear to a nice restaurant. Smart dark denim can be worn with a nice top or open neck shirt.

Tracksuits, sports wear and trainers are not permitted in the evenings. If you are cruising in the Caribbean, tailored shorts can be worn in the buffet.

On Gala Evenings and Black Tie Nights you should wear something special. Typically on P&O Cruises, passengers choose to dress very formally with black being the overriding choice for many.

Many men decide to wear a dinner jacket and bow tie but don’t be put off by this. A dark business suit and tie is perfectly acceptable. Cocktail dresses, jumpsuits and ball gowns are worn by women.

How many swimming pools does Britannia have?

P&O Britannia has five swimming pools in total. There are two main pools on the Lido Deck, an adult-only pool in the Serenity area, a small terrace pool on the Sun Deck and an indoor hydrotherapy pool in the Spa.

Are you allowed to take alcohol on a P&O cruise?

Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in US ports) and older is allowed bring up to 1 litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirit, or liqueur on board as they embark the ship for the first time only.

Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest before the end of the cruise. If this alcohol is consumed in the dining rooms, bars, restaurants or lounge areas, it will be subject to a corkage fee of £20 per bottle, per occasion which will be charged to the guest’s on-board account. 

Any alcohol purchased in port must be declared once you return to the ship. It will be stored safely for you and returned by the final evening of your cruise.

Is tea and coffee free on P&O Britannia?

Tea and coffee is free of charge on P&O Britannia except specialty teas and coffees from Costa Coffee. There is tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin, which are replenished daily.

Can I take bottled water on P&O Britannia?

Yes, an unlimited amount of water and soft drinks can be brought on board with you for your P&O cruise. There is one small bottle of water per person in your cabin on arrival.

How much is WiFi on P&O Britannia?

WiFi is not included in your cruise fare with P&O Cruises so if you want to be able to connect a device to WiFi on your cruise, you will need to purchase one of three WiFi packages available, starting at £7.75 per day. These packages are cheaper if you pre-purchase them at least three days before your cruise, using your My P&O Cruises account.

I opted for the Browse Package and found it allowed me to do did everything I needed such as social media and Googling port information.

P&O Britannia Tips and Advice

I hope that you’ve found this guide useful. If you have any questions about Britannia, I would be happy to help with any queries you may have. You can either use the Contact Me page or simply use the comment section below to ask your question.

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

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P&O Britannia – 8 free ‘must do’ activities (MV Britannia)

If you are considering a cruise onboard p&o’s britannia or maybe you’ve already got one booked, this is the post for you..

Below are 8 FREE things you MUST do onboard Britannia to make the most of your cruise.

1 – P&O Captains welcome drinks

Don’t miss the captains welcome drinks in the atrium! If nothing else you’ll get a free glass of wine or prosecco. Who doesn’t love that? We were lucky enough to have captain Wesley Dunlop onboard who is hands down my favourite cruise ship captain. I don’t really care for meeting the captain normally but Wesley is brilliant.

Wesley and me!

At the welcome drinks the captain will let you know all about your cruise route and the weather to be expected. Wesley joked that “It’s going to be 24 degrees tomorrow… 12 in the morning and 12 in the afternoon!’. That was about right, we had rain every single day of out Norwegian Fjord cruise. Not what you’d expect from June really but Norway is notoriously wet.

2 – P&O Britannia’s crows nest!

The crows nest is located at the front of the ship and is THE best place to watch a sail in or sail away. It does get very busy as some people tend to ‘set up camp’ here and stay all day. We would sometimes start at the bar and then graduate towards the view as more seats became available… I imagine that the crows nest would be even more invaluable if you were staying in an inside cabin. During our cruise it did rain a lot so the top decks weren’t really an option for watching many of the sail ins/outs. The Norwegian Fjords have some of the most amazing views that I have ever seen so make sure you grab a good seat!

3 – Have a drink in the atrium

I would recommend this one for most cruises but it is even more important on a ship like Britannia. Britannia has a HUGE atrium which spans 3 levels and has various locations where you can sit down and grab a drink. It truly is the heart of the ship and is the best place to sit back and watch the world go by.

I would suggest you grab a drink and find one of the comfy blue chairs that remind me of the Graceland guesthouse (very gold and velvet). From there you can get your bearings and work out which way is front and back.

HINT: The main staircase is at the front so if you are stood in the atrium feeling confused head to the staircase if you want to go to the front. 

I found the layout of the Britannia really confusing. It doesn’t take much to confuse me but I don’t think I’m alone with this one! If you get confused just head to the atrium and you’ll be able to get everywhere from there! It’s a full proof plan.

What activities happen in P&O Britannia’s atrium?

Most of the time nothing but they do have things here sometimes like fruit carving demonstrations and bed making competitions… yep you heard me correctly! We also bought our drinks package from the atrium on the first day when they have stalls set up to let you know about the drinks packages and speciality restaurants.

4 – Table share at dinner! (WITH STRANGERS)

Some people love table sharing and some hate it. I’ve always avoided it but I did do it onboard Britannia. We had freedom dining which meant that we could show up to the dining room whenever we fancied. Perfect! We shared a table with 8 people and we got on so well that we decided to meet up again on the last night of our cruise.

I think it is due to the fact that most passengers are British that the table sharing thing works so well. I’ve honestly never been on a cruise where the fellow passengers were so polite and friendly! On other cruise lines, we have often been placed with people who didn’t speak the same language as us which made things a little difficult…

Do you have to table share on P&O cruises?

No, you don’t HAVE to. We selected anytime dining and often had a table for two. If you book the cheaper ‘select’ fair you have less priority when it comes to dining although I’ve never found anybody who was unhappy with the dining arrangements that they were given. You can request a table for 2 at the time of booking.

Even if you are hesitant about table sharing I would recommend you try it at least once.

To learn more about the dining options available onboard Britannia click here: P&O Cruises Website – Food and Dining.

Do P&O Cruises have Formal nights?

I will be writing more about this at a later date but I was seriously impressed with the formal nights onboard Britannia. P&O really provides a good opportunity to try formal nights without strictly enforced ship-wide dress codes. Most other guests did dress up and I loved seeing some of the other passenger’s outfits! There are plenty of other dining venues if you don’t want to do the formal dining thing.

P&O Food Review

I thought that the quality of the food was REALLY good. At no point could I find fault with anything in any venue. I will be bringing you a full food review with loads of pictures so please keep your eyes peeled for that one. We used freedom dining and it worked really well for us.

Below is a photo of lunch in the main dining room.

5 – Buffet lunch

Make sure you head to the buffet. Even if you are not a ‘buffet person’ make sure you stop by for a snack. They have iced buns for breakfast and Yorkshire puddings for lunch. That is my DREAM. The buffet itself is absolutely huge and although it did get busy we never had any trouble getting a seat.

The buffet is also open for snacks UNTIL 2 am. 2 am!!

Special Diets

The ‘special diets’ corner of the buffet was really impressive, they have gluten free, dairy free and sometimes vegan options. I can’t eat dairy but I managed to find myself an amazing pudding which definitely competed with my mums dairy version. I will be bringing you a full food review so watch this place!

6 – Grab and Go

I’m not sure if this is a new feature because I’ve never heard it mentioned before… Up by the pool deck they have a couple of ‘grab and go’ fridges. They have a variety of sandwiches/wraps and puddings/fruits available for you to take away. Think about it like a boots meal deal, but free! I would definitely recommend you head to the top decks at some point and pick up a sandwich to enjoy. It’s a great alternative to the buffet if you don’t want to fight the crowds at busy times.

7 – Go to the Theatre

Head to the theatre as much as you can. I usually like to go each evening but unfortunately, there was so much to do onboard Britannia that we probably only made it about half the time.

The quality of the productions and singers was really good. My personal favourite was the ‘4 tunes’ who are a four piece male group. The singers all have a musical theatre background and sung a variety of songs.

My only complaint about the theatre is that you can only get into the rows from one side. So if you’re on the edge you’d have to walk past a lot of people to get out. I like to have escape routes!

To learn more about the entertainment available on Britannia click here: P&O Cruises Website – Entertainment. 

P&O Britannia Astonishing review

There is a lot of hype about the show ‘Astonishing’ at the moment and rightly so! It is a magic/singing/dancing show produced by Stephen Mulhern and Jonny Wilkes.

We were onboard for the premiere of the show where they gave us lots of champagne before the showing. We went back later in the cruise to watch the show again and it was really interesting to see it again when not under the influence of champagne… it was still really good but definitely different.

Astonishing had a good mix of magic, singing and dancing which I appreciated. I have a very short attention span but i was entertained for the full 45 minutes.

8 – P&O sail away party!

The sail away parties onboard P&O are not to be missed. I have never seen quite like it before. You’re all given a flag and they play british pop tunes. Everybody gets up and has a dance and it’s loads of fun. Very very cheesy but I enjoy that. Some passengers had obviously bought clothes for the occasion. One man had a full union jack suit!

Should do’s:

These ones are things that I think would massively add to your cruise if you can but of course, I understand they aren’t for everybody!

1 – Try out a speciality restaurant (or 2 or 3 or 4)

Onboard Britannia I tried out: Epicurean, Sindhu, the Beach House and the Limelight club. I usually don’t try out speciality restaurants but I’m glad I did. Each one provides a unique experience. I didn’t necessarily think that the food was any better than in the main dining room (it was really good in the main dining room) but each one had very different food.

P&O Epicurean review

Epicurean was more of an experience than a meal. Everything was very theatrical and I had some ‘parsley bubbles’. At one point we were given a pipet of gin and this weird jelly eyeball to create some type of food. I have no idea!

P&O Sindhu review

I am not really a fan of Indian food but I really loved Sindhu. Mums only complaint was that the restaurant was too dark for her to read the menu. Very atmospheric!

P&O The Beach House review

The beach house is the cheapest (£7.50ish) but it was my favourite! They turn part of the buffet into a restaurant and serve things like burgers and ribs. Mum and I had a chocolate fondue dessert with churros and marshmallows. Yum.

P&O The limelight club review

The limelight club is a dinner with a show experience. You have your pre-starter, starter, main and then watch a preview performance of whoever you are watching. After this you have dessert and then watch the full show. The food was good although I felt the evening dragged on a little (literally took 4 hours). I am more of a grab and go kinda girl!

2 – Try a cooking lesson in the cookery club

Okay, this is on the should do list because it is kinda expensive. The morning that I spent with Marco Pierre White learning how to cook costs £100. But it was SO much fun and if you have the money I would definitely recommend it. Even if you don’t like cooking (I don’t).

The Cookery Club on board Britannia is a hands-on cooking school at sea. Create your very own culinary masterpieces under the guidance of the best in the business, including the Godfather of British cooking, Marco Pierre White and other Food Heroes (on selected cruises).

Photography by Christopher Ison. www.christopherison.com

Photography by Christopher Ison.

Are you cruising on Britannia?

Any cruise ship can be overwhelming and one as big as Britannia can leave you thinking ‘where do I start?!’ I hope this post gives you some ideas. I had the most amazing cruise onboard Britannia as we cruised around the Norwegian Fjords. It was my first P&O cruise and I was really impressed with the quality of the food and service onboard.

Please leave me a comment letting me know if you’ve cruised with P&O before and if you’ve got any booked where you are going?

To learn more about Britannia on P&O website click here: Britannia Cruise Ship.

If you’ve previously cruised with Royal Caribbean and are wondering how P&O cruises compare you’ll find everything you need to know here, including which has better food:

7 HUGE Differences Between P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean

P&O Cruises Menus

FURTHER READING:

10 REASONS TO CRUISE WITH P&O    –   CRUISING  ISN’T JUST FOR OLD PEOPLE

WHY CHOOSE A P&O CRUISE – HOLIDAYS AT SEA 

CRUISING WITH FRIENDS, OUR P&O CRUISES OCEANA ADVENTURE – ENGLISH MUM

P&O Britannia Cabins (Tour & Review 2019) – Emma Cruises

Saturday 17th of October 2020

[…] guests onboard were so lovely that I even suggested table sharing in my ‘8 free ‘must do’ activities onboard Britannia‘ post. Table sharing is something that I very rarely do but it was such a positive […]

Emma Le Teace

Friday 12th of April 2019

Of course, very welcome! :)

Wednesday 3rd of April 2019

Thank you Emma for sharing this information with us. We’re on her for the first time for seven nights on 1st June. We’ve been on Ventura three times, Azura once and Oriana once.

Thursday 4th of April 2019

Hey Mary, thanks for your comment. Have an amazing time! If you ever have any questions you know where to find me. :)

Martin Humble

Thursday 28th of February 2019

Hi Emma thanks for info we are thinking of booking our 1st cruise for next June... Britannia Spain and Italy from Southampton go 14 days

I understand yoy pay for your drinks... Are drinks include with your meals or charged... THANKS

Saturday 2nd of March 2019

Hey Martin, there are no drinks included they are all charged (apart from tea/water in the buffet).

You've picked a great cruise for a first cruise! P&O make everything so simple. Have a great time :)

Wednesday 11th of July 2018

Thank you so much Chris!! Glad you found it useful.

Have an amazing time that all sounds amazing.

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The spectacular Britannia is certain to wow you with her striking décor and breathtaking interiors, not to mention the one-million-pound art collection on board. The Britannia boasts 13 bars and 13 restaurants, four pools and magnificent accommodation all spread over 13 decks.

The entertainment on board is some of the finest at sea. Experience live entertainment at venues such as The Limelight Club, which offers show-stopping live performances; do the Cha-Cha-Cha with Strictly pro dancers or catch a West End-style show at Headliners Theatre.

A large, family-friendly ship, the Britannia offers dedicated children’s and teen’s clubs along with a night nursery to provide parents with some much-needed rest! As well as enjoying the classic European cuisine by Marco Pierre White, you can try your hand at creating your own culinary masterpieces with renowned British chef, James Martin, in the Cookery Club.

• Occupancy 3647
• Tonnage 143,000 tons
• Length 1,083 ft (330.00 m)

Life on Board Britannia

Relax in elegant surroundings, dine at first-class restaurants, escape into opulent spaces, and be dazzled by captivating entertainment.

With multiple dining venues, including six speciality restaurants, you’ll find a menu and a venue to suit every mood.

• Horizon Buffet
• Poolside pizzeria and grill
• Market Café
• The Glass House
• The Limelight Club
• The Cookery Club
• The Epicurean

Bars & Lounges

• Sundaes ice cream
• The Crow’s Nest
• The Live Lounge
• The Crystal Room
• Riviera Bar

From cooking demonstrations to spending time with guest speakers, relaxing by the pool to immersing yourself in moving music recitals, your days can be as leisurely as you like.

• 4 whirlpool spas
• Spa and Salon
• Hydrotherapy Suite
• The Retreat
• Art gallery
• Sports court
• Fully equipped gym
• Fitness classes
• Dance classes

entertainment

Experience live entertainment at venues such as The Limelight Club, which offers show-stopping live performances or catch a West End-style show at Headliners Theatre.

• Headliners theatre

Cabins & Suites

From a simple space to rest your head, to something a little more extravagant, P&O Cruises’ accommodation offers something to suit all travellers.

P&O Cruises Suite cabins epitomise luxury and comfort. These spacious accommodations offer elegant interiors, separate living areas, and private balconies with breathtaking sea views. Suite guests enjoy exclusive amenities, such as priority embarkation, a personal butler, and access to private lounges and dining venues. It’s the perfect choice for those seeking a lavish and indulgent cruise experience.

• Butler service
• Free room service
• Daily breakfast in an exclusive restaurant
• Priority check-in and boarding (from Southampton)
• Full-size whirlpool bath+
• Daily steward service
• Free in-cabin TV, including comedy, movies, box sets, documentaries and news
• Beds convertible to twin or king-size bed to suit your needs*
• Toiletries from The White Company
• Hair dryer and safe
• Tea and coffee making facilities + Coffee machine
• Air conditioning
• Vanity/writing desk and chair
• Canapés on embarkation and Celebration Nights
• White Company gift
• Champagne and chocolates on arrival
• Fruit basket (preferred fruit request to Butler)
• Main dining in cabin
• Pillow menu
• Atlas & binoculars

Super Deluxe Balcony Cabins

There’s nothing quite like opening your patio style doors onto your own private balcony, especially to take in the fresh morning air or to enjoy a spectacular sail in to your next destination.

• Floor to ceiling glass doors*
• Champagne and chocolates on arrival*
• Canapés delivered once a week*
• Two flat screen TVs*
• Tea and coffee facilities
• Vanity writing desk and chair
• Mineral water on arrival

*some exceptions apply

Balcony Cabins

Inside Cabins

These spacious cabins are perfect if you want a more economical way to travel and prefer to be out and about experiencing the ship or reclining up on deck by the pools.

• Free in-cabin TV

Single Balcony Cabins

Single Inside Cabins

Britannia Image Gallery

Browse Britannia’s fabulous image gallery below and discover more about life on board.

Britannia FAQs

How many passengers does britannia carry.

Britannia operates at a normal capacity of 3,647 guests and 1,350 crew.

Are tips expected on Britannia?

Great service comes as standard. Tipping isn’t needed on board P&O Cruises’ ships.

Are there formal nights on Britannia?

There are usually four formal nights on two-week cruises (usually on sea days) and for cruises over seven nights there is a black and white themed ball.

What is the dress code on Britannia?

The dress code during the day is just your typical holiday wardrobe. Think t-shirts, shorts, and sundresses. There are no strict dress codes for our restaurants. Comfy smart casual is best, and we recommend dark denim, trousers, skirts, shirts, or dresses.

How many decks does Britannia have?

Britannia has 13 guest decks.

What class of ship is Britannia?

Britannia is a Royal-class cruise ship.

Is Britannia Adult Only?

No, Britannia is a family-friendly ship and offers age specific children’s clubs on board.

What are the cabin grades on Britannia?

P&O Cruises’ ship Britannia has eight different cabin types: Single Inside, Single Balcony, Inside, Larger Inside, Balcony (with obstructed view), Balcony, Superior Deluxe Balcony, and Suite

When was Britannia last refurbished?

Britannia was last refurbished in 2019.

Can I take alcohol on Britannia?

Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to 1 litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirit, or liqueur on board as they embark the ship for the first time only. Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise.

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• CruiseMapper
• P&O Cruises

Cruise line P&O UK (P&O Cruises)

• Bridgetown (Barbados)
• Southampton (England)

Britannia current position

Britannia current location is at North Sea (coordinates 51.89304 N / 4.28674 E) cruising en route to Rotterdam. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Britannia

Britannia current cruise is 5 days, round-trip Belgium France And Netherlands . The itinerary starts on 21 Apr, 2024 and ends on 26 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Britannia

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Britannia Itineraries

Britannia review, review of britannia.

The 2015-built MV Britannia cruise ship is the largest vessel in the P&O UK's fleet. From this Royal-class are also the Princess Cruises liners Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Sky Princess (2019), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). These are the ever biggest cruise vessels constructed by Fincantieri (Italy).

The vessel (IMO number 9614036) is currently UK- flagged (MMSI 235106595) and registered in Southampton .

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. P and O is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 3700-passenger ship Britannia is the biggest ever cruise liner built especially for the British source market. The £500 million new-build is a result of four years of planning. P&O Britannia is 25,000 tons heavier than Azura and Ventura sister ships (previously the largest vessels in the P&O fleet). The Britannia ship alone boosts the capacity of the P and O line by almost a quarter – 24%. Britannia impresses with her Union Jack livery and offers British-style cruising with modern look and feel. Her homeport is Southampton .

Britannia has the most popular features of the P&O fleet, such as The Crow's Nest Bar, Atul Kochar's Sindhu restaurant, Olly Smith's The Glass House, as well as brand new amenities. P&O says that Britannia cruise ship engine power output (MAN diesel engines) is equivalent to 70 Challenger tanks’ power or 86 supercars Bugatti Veyron. Britannia cruise ship is also the greenest yet and designed to deliver greater levels of environmental and operational efficiency. The new form of the hull is expected to reduce fuel consumption by approx 20%. Along with the hull design, P and O changed the hull art as well – with the Union Jack flag 94 m / 308 ft long.

The Britannia ship is the eighth vessel to join P&O UK's fleet and named "to resonate with the forward-looking mood in Britain". Britannia is considered to be the most fitting name because of its famous long heritage, so suitable for the newest P&O addition – the favourite cruise line of Britain. Apparently, HM The Queen gave her permission to P&O use the name.

Two ships connected to the company have been previously named "Britannia". The first one entered service for General Steam Navigation Company in 1835. The second one, together with three other boats, was ordered to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary of her accession to the throne) and entered service in 1887. The "Golden Jubilee ship" had passenger capacity 410 (160 second-class plus 250 first-class) and cargo capacity 4000 tons. In 1888, on this Britannia sailed (to Bombay India ) Winston Churchill, with his hussar regiment, and then fought on India's North-West Frontier (present-day Pakistan's KPK-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province/occupied by the British between 1849-1947 via the East India Company).

Royal Yacht Britannia was the vessel decommissioned in 1997 by John Major government, but the name has been associated with P&O for a long time. In June 2013 a management shake-up at Carnival UK operations later saw the exit of Carol Marlow- the former managing director, and Peter Shanks – ex-boss of Cunard brand. Britannia is the first vessel for P&O Cruises since then. These departures were linked to boosting younger cruisers’ proportion at the UK arm of Carnival Cruises. Everyone who believes in the growth of the cruise industry now expects the new P and O cruise ship Britannia to mark a new era of success.

Her Majesty The Queen (1926-2022) was the royal godmother. She named the ship on March 10th, 2015, at Southampton's Ocean Terminal. HM The Queen was accompanied by Prince Philip and The Duke of Edinburgh. After the royal words "May God bless her and all who sail in her", The Queen pressed the button that released a Nebuchadnezzar wine (a giant bottle of sparkling wine, the equivalent of 20 regular bottles) to be smashed against the hull. This most special event was also marked by live band music performances – Her Majesty's Royal Marines band, and the Irish Guards’ Regimental Band. Also present at the naming ceremony were the Carnival Corporation's front men Micky Arison (chairman) and Arnold Donald (CEO), and also David Dingle (chairman of Carnival UK).

Decks and Cabins

MS Britannia staterooms (a total of 1837 total, in 35 grades) include 64x Suites, 1298x Balconies, 448x Inside and 27x Studios (single-occupancy cabins). The ship has no Oceanview cabins. Most staterooms are Balcony (sized 175-290 ft2). Cabin balconies are rather small (sized 35 ft2 / 3 m2). The largest accommodations are the Owner's Suites (470 ft2/44 m2, with terrace sized 210 ft2/20 m2).

The boat has 17 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The rise on the world stage of British cooking is reflected in Britannia's dining options. The Epicurean Restaurant specializes in fine dining and molecular gastronomy. It features both contemporary and traditional dishes. The Glass House is home to nearly 40 different wines from all around the world, including labels from Greece, Croatia, and Japan. Wine expert Olly Smith pairs wine with food from the menu, featuring dishes like a Wagyu burger, sea bass ceviche with lime, lobster buns, Morecombe Bay and Devon crab sliders. The first British ship to offer cooking lessons at sea, The Cookery Club provides guests an opportunity to hone their cooking techniques under the watchful eye of food experts and chefs. Aboard the Britannia, passengers can cook alongside baking queen Mary Berry and TV chef James Martin. Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar teaches guests how to make dishes from Sindhu - his signature restaurant. Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White also runs a class, demonstrating his famous dishes whilst passengers cook alongside him.

While P&O UK has already linked up with celebrity chefs for Cookery Club school, Britannia will also act as a backdrop to the first at sea celebrity-led TV cooking contest, Battlechefs, from April 4. On April 2, 2016, the ship will be the setting for another first as she will host live Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway from the top deck.

Follows the complete list of Britannia restaurants and food bars.

• The Limelight Club (supper club for specialty dining; offers live performances and the 3-course dinner menu)
• Meridian Restaurant (aft Dining Room; for Breakfast 7:30-9 am, and Lunch 12:15-1:45 pm/3-course menu; Afternoon Tea 4-4:45 pm.; club dinner dining at 6:30 or 9.30 pm)
• The Oriental Restaurant (aft MDR, with fixed seating dining at 6:30 and 8:30 pm)
• The Peninsular Restaurant (forward MDR, with fixed seating dining at 6:30 and 8:30 pm, open-seating breakfast and lunch; also serving Afternoon Tea 4-4:45 pm)
• Sindhu (Indian specialty restaurant, by A. Kochhar)
• Ocean Grill (specialty, by chef Marco Pierre White)
• The Glass House (steakhouse/seafood specialty restaurant and wine bar, by Olly Smith)
• Java Cafe (buffet-style restaurant)
• The Cookery Club (specialty restaurant and cooking club by James Martin)
• Fine Dining Restaurant (Epicurean Restaurant - specialty, dinner-only, by the Michelin star Marco Pierre White)
• Horizon Restaurant (Lido buffet; complimentary, self-service; with several food stations and floor-ceiling windows)
• Beach House (casual dining venue, dinner-only)
• Poolside drinks and fast-food bars – The Pizzeria, Lido Bar, Lido Grill, Riviera Bar, “Grab and Go”.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MV Britannia ship design is a masterpiece created by Richmond International – London-based architects, who anticipate today's Britain tastes. They are well known for creating “flowing” coherent interiors but with each area having an individual identity. While the Britannia ship may be a large vessel, every inch of the interior was carefully considered as to become breathtaking and striking. MV Britannia was designed to make guests feel special, and all of her was planned with flair and imagination. The Britannia ship offers the very best of Britain's contemporary design and an unprecedented number of facilities for passengers.

The vessel provides the best classic features of Aurora and Oriana , and a wide choice of the contemporary variety of Azura and Ventura. 13 cafes and restaurants, 13 bars, 15 passenger decks, 4 swimming pools, 9 jacuzzis – what more of all these could a traveler wish for? Another good decision on a practical level is the greater number of single cabins - more than on any other ship. Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi access, supervised kids program, laundry/self-serve laundromats, nursery.

Follows the complete list of Britannia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Britannia Atrium (3-decks central open floor area and social hub); Atrium Shops (Regalia - clothes, souvenirs, gifts; The Wardrobe - brand fashion, watches, bags, hats); Chic - fashion boutique; Emporium - candy shop; Eternity - jewelry, Essence - perfumes)
• Market Cafe (Atrium patisserie by Eric Lanlard), Blue Bar (Atrium piano bar), Sunset Bar
• Brodie’s Pub; The Studio (multi-purpose lounge); Marlow Suite (multifunction room, doubles as Card Room)
• Headliners Theatre (836-seat, 2-decks, featuring grand scale productions, live performances, game shows)
• The Crystal Room (Lounge and Bar; daily dance classes, grand evening balls)
• The Live Lounge (music-dedicated venue; disco at night)
• The Crow's Nest Lounge (dance floor, a stage for live music; with floor-ceiling windows for panoramic views; hosts art classes, quiz games, cooking demos during the day)
• Casino; Ivory Suite (vow renewal and wedding services)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery; The Library (with Internet computers)
• Terrace Pool (adults only area, served by Terrace Bar); Riviera Pool area; Aqua Pool and Bar; Coral Pool and Bar
• adults-only relaxation areas ("Retreat" /VIP Spa terrace with private cabanas, and "Serenity")
• Oasis Spa complex (Treatment Rooms, Steam Rooms, Thermal Suite, Thalassotherapy pool, Beauty Salon)
• Gymnasium (complimentary equipment, Fitness classes; Yoga and Pilates at surcharge)
• Childrens' Facilities (Kids Play Area, The Reef Kids Programming Rooms, Nursery)
• Promenade (Walking Lane and Jogging Track); Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, football, cricket, tennis); Table Tennis; four Golf Net cages.

Itineraries

P&O Britannia itinerary program is based on homeporting in Southampton England and Bridgetown Barbados . The roundtrips include Caribbean Islands (from Barbados), ex-Southampton voyages along the Atlantic Coast, Baltic, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, "mini-cruises" to Guernsey (Channel Islands), Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Britannia returned to the UK/Southampton on March 25, 2016 (a year after the naming ceremony led by HM The Queen) being homeported in Barbados throughout winter 2015-2016. From the UK, the ship operated short-breaks to Northern Europe and longer cruises to the Mediterranean (during summer). For the Caribbean winter 2016-2017 season, the ship was homeported in Saint Lucia (Castries) .

On June 27, 2021, Britannia became P&O UK's first liner to restart operations (following the 15+ months pause due to the Coronavirus crisis) leaving roundtrip from Southampton on a 4-night "Short Break" ( cruise to nowhere ) in the English Channel/along Devon's coast.

Britannia - user reviews and comments

Photos of britannia.

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Other P&O UK cruise ships

Britannia wiki.

MS Britannia is currently P&O UK's largest liner, as well as the ever-biggest built specifically for the UK market, Fleet's next largest vessels are  Azura and Ventura . The interior was designed by "Richmond International" - UK-based hotel design company. On February 22, 2015, the vessel was delivered at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard . The ceremony was attended by Enrico Morando (Italy's Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance), Micky Arison (Carnival Corporation's Chairman), David Dingle (Carnival UK's Executive Chairman), David Noyes (P&O UK's CEO), Vincenzo Petrone (Fincantieri's Chairman) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

P&O Britannia (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 6231) is powered by Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 12V46F and 14V46F) generating total power output 62,4 MW.

First Mediterranean cruise (2015, March 14) was a 14-day roundtrip from Southampton to Gibraltar , Barcelona , Monaco , Civitavecchia-Rome , Corsica , Cartagena , Cadiz . First Transatlantic cruise crossing (2015, October 23) was a 14-day itinerary from Southampton to Bridgetown Barbados , visiting Madeira (Funchal), St Maarten, St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada. First Caribbean cruise (2015, November 6) was a 14-day roundtrip from Barbados to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Jamaica (Ocho Rios), BVI (Tortola), St Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada.

During winter, the ship cruises in the Caribbean on roundtrips from Barbados . The ship was homeported in Port Castries (St Lucia) during winter 2016-2017 season. It also offers fly-cruise deals from UK ( Southampton England ). P&O UK's "flight and cruise" deals to the Caribbean are inclusive of discounted airfare to and from Barbados or St Lucia.

P&O Britannia refurbishment 2019 review

The ship's first drydock refurbishment was in 2019 (October 8-22) at Damen Shipyard Brest (France) . During the drydock works were implemented the following changes:

• All interiors were refreshed (shipwide).
• ( Landing Deck 5 / midship Lobby) a permanent Art Gallery was added (adjacent to Blue Bar / Atrium bar)
• (deck 5 midship) The Atrium was redesigned with new color schemes and relaxed live entertainment (music, informal acts).
• (deck 5 midship) Market Cafe's menu upgraded with new gourmet sweets (recipes by Eric Lanlard / French patissier and celebrity chef)
• (deck 5 forward) To Oasis Spa and Salon (ship's wellness complex) were added two express pods for treatments - one for high-tech spa massages, the other for express skin treatments and LVL lash lifting.
• ( Tween Deck 6 ) The onboard shopping was upgraded with new luxury brands - Jo Malone London (candles), Tom Ford (designer fashion), Michael Kors (designer clothing and accessories, handbags, watches, shoes), Clifton (custom design clothing), Edinburgh Gin (alcohol).
• ( Main Deck 7 midship-starboard) Java Cafe (buffet restaurant's) menu was upgraded with alcoholic beverages.
• (deck 7 midship-aft-starboard) Photo Gallery upgraded with Dixons Electronics Hub selling gadgets (imaging, computing, audio) from premium brands like Amazon, Apple (electronics, computer software), Microsoft (software), Sony (electronics, gaming), Canon (imaging and optical products), Fitbit (trackers, wireless wearables), GoPro (action cameras), Bose (audio devices / headphones, speakers, wearables).

On MS Britannia, P&O also introduced a try-before-you-buy program with consultant-managing tasting tables in the ship's beauty and make-up areas.

Fun ship facts

During its first year of service (March 10, 2015 - March 25, 2016), the Britannia cruise ship:

• sailed more than 90000 nautical miles (103570 ml / 166680 km)
• hosted 730 theater shows
• served 94457 meals
• operated 43 itineraries (visiting 31 different countries and calling on 61 seaports).

During that time, the ship carried 116900+ passengers, who consumed ~375000 cocktail drinks, ~2,8 million cups of tea, 292000+ scones.

The vessel was laid down in 2011, its name was announced in 2013. P&O Britannia features a 308 ft / 94 m long Union Jack flag on hull's bow - world's biggest of its kind. The vessel is the first Monfalcone -made cruise ship with 2 funnels. The last ocean liner with 2 funnels (SS Eugenio C) was delivered by Monfalcone shipyard in 1966.

For the naming ceremony was used a nebuchadnezzar British Brut NV (from Winston Estate Winery, England's Sussex region). For the cruise ship's christening event, thousands of bottles "Rose Vintage 2011" and "Brut NV" were delivered.

MV Britannia ship's godmother was Her Majesty The Queen of Great Britain (Elizabeth II/1926-2022). On the naming ceremony, she was accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Philip. The event took place in Southampton on March 10, 2015. The list of other P and O cruise ships named by British Royals includes Oriana (April 6, 1995, by HM The Queen), Aurora (April 27, 2000, by HRH Princess Royal) and the ships Oceana and Adonia (both named on May 21, 2003, by HRH Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Phillips).

The cruise ship's namesakes are the ferries Spirit of Britain (P&O FERRIES) and Stena Britannica (STENA LINE).

• Bungy Jumping
• Horse Riding
• Ice-Climbing
• Kite-Surfing
• Motor Sport
• Rock Climbing
• Scuba Diving
• Shark Diving
• Snowboarding
• Stand Up Paddle-Boarding
• Wakeboarding
• White Water Rafting

Travel , Video

Caribbean cruise on britannia: honest review with p&o cruises.

Page Contents

If you haven’t observed this already, I love the concept of taking a cruise. Waking up in a new destination with a list of activities to chose from and fresh islands ready to explore. At least that’s what you get a Caribbean cruise with P&O Cruises , together with gorgeous sunshine, crystal clear waters, wildlife and rum punch.

In my view it’s also the best way to see as many destinations as possible in the Caribbean on a reasonable budget. You get a feel for each island, and if you like them enough, you can go back. And you don’t have the expense of hotel costs. Cruises often work out remarkably reasonable compared to Caribbean package holidays.

This article will run you through my experience on a two-week cruise on Britannia. I’ll talk through the islands, what I did, what other options you have and my thoughts on the islands. I’ll start with talking about Britannia herself.

If you like to watch videos of the trip rather than reading, skip down to the videos section at the bottom of my article!

Britannia at a Glance

One of the most famous ships in the P&O fleet, Britannia holds 3657 guests and 1350 crew. That felt like a considerable size to me, but I quickly found my way around onboard and it’s small enough that you’ll bump into people you’ll met on your holiday.

Britannia has 10 dining options, 7 entertainment places and 8 bars or cafes. Featuring some of the usual P&O staple venues such as Sindhu, the Glass House, The Crow’s nest, Beach House and Epicurean. My experience dining in Sindhu on Britannia was one of the best I have had on cruise, the food and staff were fantastic.

If you’re not familiar with how dining works on P&O Cruises, then you have a number of restaurants included in your full-board package, and a few restaurants that are extra. You can eat for free at the Horizon buffet more of less any time of day, which has great food. For a sit-down experience, you can book in at the Peninsular and Oriental restaurants, also included in your standard package. The latter features a menu and waiter service, so a lovely dining experience.

To step things up, certain restaurants are extra, but they are well worth it in my opinion. These include Sindhu, Epicurean, The Glass House and Beach House which is just a small fee.

There are 3 choices of room onboard which I like because it doesn’t overwhelm you with options and price difference. I had a suite, which included a balcony. This gave me space to work (yes, I was working!), and that game-changer of a balcony. I absolutely love a balcony, those sunset beers of waking up for sunrise and watching us sail into a new destination. You honestly cannot beat that feeling. You can also get inside cabins or balcony cabins.

Finally, you of course have all the expected entertainment options. You can usually find me at the Headliners Theatre for the daily shows, the sports bar of Brodie’s which usually has acoustic music, or partying at my favourite, the Live Lounge.

Caribbean Cruise on Britannia

Now that we’ve discussed the essentials about Britannia cruise ship , let’s go through all the stops that you’ll have on the Caribbean Cruise. Spoiler alert: You won’t be disappointed!

You’ll start and finish this cruise in Barbados, so make sure you check the immigration and Covid requirements for entering Barbados. I wrote an article on this, and also check Cruise with Confidence  page on the P&O Cruises website.

Depending on which day you arrive, you’ll either have a free day in Barbados at the start of the cruise, or at the end. Mine was at the start, and if you want a relaxing day head to the Boatyard . It’s within walking distance of the ship and for $30 you can use their inflatables, rope swing, free Wi-Fi and snorkel with turtles.

Top tip : get an e-SIM that covers with whole Caribbean with Airalo and get $3 free using the code  SCOTT801  or signing up from  this link.

I set Airalo up on the free Wi-Fi as you can’t set it up on the Cruise Wi-Fi. For $10 I got 1GB for a week and was valid for all the islands we were visiting, it was brilliant.

If you don’t want to head to the beach, there are plenty of Shore Experiences in Barbados. These include a sunset cruise, a 4×4 adventure, the best of Barbados and of course beach hopping. A lot of the combined trips include snorkelling with turtles and a couple of beaches. Or why not hop in a taxi and to go the Mount Gay Rum distillery? I did that on my 2017 visit to Barbados .

After a sea day we arrived at the beautiful Dutch-Caribbean island of Curaçao, and you’ll certainly notice the Dutch influence. The ship docks at the capital Willemstad , which is well worth exploring for an hour or two.

I picked an island explorer tour, which was a whistle-stop tour of the island. I picked this one as I’ve never been to Curaçao, so wanted to see as much as possible. It also finished around 2pm, giving me a couple of hours to explore Willemstad.

The tour started with snorkelling with turtles at Playa Grandi on the northwest of the island. What a way to introduce the group to the island! Perfectly crystal-clear waters and some epic shots. After that we went to the caves and viewpoint of Shete Boka Park , followed by Playa Kenepa ; one of many stunning beaches on the West Coast. Our final stop was to see the wild flamingos at Saliña Jan Kok . That really was a wonderful way to finish the tour.

Other shore experiences I was considering were the Hato Caves and beach and the Ultimate Island Experience. There aren’t any beaches within walking distance of the port, and I really recommend seeing the flamingos in the wild as that’s something quite unique to Curaçao.

Our second port was the island of Aruba, and like Curaçao it’s another Dutch territory close to Venezuela. I’d heard mixed reviews about Aruba so as I’d just done an island experience tour I decided to go it alone and rent a car.

You dock in the town of Oranjestad , which feels busy a bit like Miami. It wasn’t that easy to find a car rental, but I did find a Hertz office inside a hotel. The car was small and a bit beaten up, and cost $60 for 24 hours. I had a list of places to visit, here are my thoughts.

My first stop was the California Lighthouse , a viewpoint where everyone stops at. It was busy and honestly not worth it; however, the trip north was made worthwhile by my stop at Hadicurari Beach , a stunning kitesurfing spot on the West Coast. I then headed south to a hidden gem of a beach called Mangel Halto (a nice insider tip I got). It’s small and you can find your own private beach hidden in the mangroves, if you’re looking for a secluded beach escape, I’d recommend taking a taxi here.

My next stop was to see the beautiful street art of San Nicolas . A good starting point is Charlie’s Bar , which certainly attracts the tourists but is fascinating. From there you can wander the streets and admire the artwork. Close to San Nicolas is Baby Beach , a popular stop with several of the tours. But this was far too busy for my liking, which is a shame as it’s a stunning spot.

I then hightailed it to the East of the island for two more stops. The first was the Natural Bridge and the second Bushiribana Ruins . I was more impressed by the ruins, and these were popular spots for the UTV tours.

The Shore Excursions I was tempted by were the Jeep Safari, Catamaran Sail and snorkel or the UTV adventure. I don’t think an island highlights trip would be brilliant here, and the UTV did look fun however keep in mind you very much follow other UTVs in a line and don’t go off-road much.

St Vincent & the Grenadines

St Vincent was the first of the island that had further Covid requirements in place. Whilst I understand this is a bit inconvenient, please keep in mind that often these islands do this to protect their population, which have lower vaccination rates than the UK. St Vincent required a PCR test done onboard at an addition cost of £25.

The PCR test was extremely easy and organised by P&O, giving me an allocated timeslot the day before, with my results added to the ship’s manifest. Once you’re in the dock you meet your tour and stay in that tour “bubble”.

I decided to get out at sea today and picked a catamaran tour of the West Coast and Volcano viewing. It was only in April 2021 when the volcano last erupted! Sadly, the unpredictable Caribbean weather meant that we couldn’t view the volcano and headed back south for blue skies. We still stopped at a secluded beach and drank rum punch. The island is absolutely stunning from the ocean, so this was a great morning. Just watch out for the rum punch, the rum was 85%!

If I’m honest I had some regrets at not exploring St Vincent by land. I had a good feeling from the island and the people and remember it as one of my favourites from when I was younger.

Shore Experiences on land that would have tempted me were the Vermont Nature Hike or the 4×4 Safari. And other options by sea were the Dolphin and Whale Adventure or the Northern Grenadines Sail away. Possibly one of biggest frustrations on this cruise was trying to choose the best adventure and FOMO (fear of missing out) if you pick the wrong one! First world problems…

It’s not very often in life you get to return to a place you really love, but Grenada was one of those. I spent a week here in 2017 and felt a connection with the island and always wanted to come back.

Grenada (pronounced Green-aida) also has restrictions in place which mean you can’t leave your tour bubble, but there was no requirement for another Covid test. Because I’ve already seen a lot of this island, I picked an experience I hadn’t done, and one that looked like a lot of fun, River Tubing!

This experience was brilliant. We drove to a spot in the rainforest (even the drive is brilliant, but I do love this island), and after a safety briefing, we were given our tubes and away we went. For a couple of hours, we floated down the river, with some calm bits and some less so. But there were a group of brilliant guides there to help us through and entertain us. Their energy was brilliant. The tour ended with the chance to jump into the river and of course a rum punch!

If you haven’t been to Grenada however, I recommend something that will show you more of the island. There are a few options like the Grenada Highlights, Island Drive and Annandale Falls, or the Eco trek to Bamboo Falls.

Grenada is also famous for the Rhum Runner boat trip, following a famous pirate route. It’s basically a very boozy boat party! Watching the Rhum Runner return to port was entertaining to say the least (check out the video below!).

Ahhh coming back to St Lucia after 21 years away. I promise it won’t be as long next time! St Lucia holds a special place in my heart because one of my travel memories as a teenager was exploring St Lucia alone. I left my family to do their thing and felt the buzz of a rainforest trek, meeting locals and pushing myself.

Okay it’s not exactly the most intrepid thing I’ve done, but at that age it planted a seed for travelling along. 10 years later I went backpacking, and 5 years after that I started this travel blog.

In St Lucia I recommend anything which includes the stunning Pitons . I picked the tour Pitons and Lunch with a Local. It was a quite easy short hike for the Pitons, and I wanted to eat Caribbean food. Sadly, as you’re on a cruise where food is included you don’t get to enjoy the food as much as I’d have liked, and I was craving some good Caribbean grub. I wasn’t disappointed!

The hike was the Tet Paul Nature Trail , which was easily signposted if you want to find it yourselves. It took under an hour with a 10-minute climb which certainly raised the heartrate but wasn’t too testing, you don’t need a guide for this hike. Once you get to the top you can walk the circular route to see both Gros Piton and Petite Piton, and fantastic views over St Lucia including the tallest mountain on the island.

Following the hike, we went to lunch and ate fantastic Caribbean food, for what was included you’ll have to watch the video below but let me tell you it was delicious, especially the plantain!

There are plenty of good tours available on St Lucia, but I really recommend anything that include the Pitons, as they are such a spectacular sight. If you don’t fancy them anything that includes the rainforest of plantations are also a great bet.

Finally whichever tour you end up on, if you fancy a few more drinks and a wonderful atmosphere head to Rum Therapy bar at the port. It’s a fantastic spot for sunset right with views overlooking the ship. However, females attending alone should be warned the bar staff here are not discrete with their attention and intentions, which was a real shame and, in many ways, let down the island. I would advise against solo females going alone.

St Kitts & Nevis

Another stunning island and without doubt one of my favourites is St Kitts (Shh don’t tell the others). It’s another port that required you to be on an organised tour or take a licensed taxi to and from the port. There is so much to explore on St Kitts, but I decided to get active and did Nature Kayaking . The bonus part was this also included snorkelling which was the best part.

Our trip was only a couple of hours and first headed to Discovery Beach where we picked up our kayaks. We kayaked for around 20-30 minutes to a small bay (there were no other people), so it was suitable for people that haven’t kayaked before.

From the bay we put on our snorkels, and it was here that the real surprise of the trip. We saw turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, octopus and a shoal of squid! Look out for the video for at least that part, as it blew me away just how much we saw in around an hour.

After a quick rum punch (yes this really is part of every tour), we headed back to the port via the Timothy Hill Overlook , a fantastic viewpoint that most tours will stop at. The Port is also lively with a few nice bars if you have time. Our tour finished by 12pm, so I was on the look out for something else to do!

Top recommendation : I met up with a few people from the cruise, and decided to head to a fantastic bar, and tip from my friend Esther; Spice Mill Restaurant . This restaurant is a rustic gem on the white sands of Cockleshell Beach , which overlooks the island of Nevis. It’s also home to Hibiscus Spirits where the owner Roger distilled local rum (which I can verify is amazing).

The website describes Spice Mill as “Caribbean dining, liming and indigenous architectural experience.” What more could you ask for? If you do end up there following this article, please say hello to Roger for me, and grab me a bottle of Hibiscus Spiced Rum.

The other Shore Experiences that tempted me were the Rainforest Discovery, Discover Nevis Island or the Jeep Safari. St Kitts is definitely somewhere I’ll be coming back to for longer.

Next up was Antigua, one half of the nation Antigua and Barbuda. Known for having one beach for every day of the year (yes it has 365 beaches!) and its famous naval history. The ship docks in the capital St Johns , and as far as I could see there isn’t a beach within walking distance.

My tour was a Segway tour of Fort Worth, and this is also where you do the Horse-Riding Tour. We headed along the beach finding our balance before a couple of beach stops. After that we stopped for some fruit at Fort Worth and wandered around.

The tour leaves you for an hour at Runaway Beach , enough time for a swim and a local beer. It’s easy to see the appeal of the beaches in Antigua, picture-perfect.

Nonetheless, if I came back, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend my tour, there wasn’t really enough to see in the area. I’d look into the Island Safari, Stingray Sensation or the Best of Antigua.

Antigua is famous for the swimming with Stingrays, and although some people frown upon experiences like this one, I’ve only heard good things! Book this one fast though as it could sell-out.

Finally, friends of mine headed to Dickerson Bay Beach in a taxi. You can also take a tour there. And they went to the floating Kon Tiki Bar , which looked like great fun and a unique experience! Antigua, I’ll just have to come back for more of these experiences.

The final stop on the cruise and the moment when you realise just how fast the second week goes! St Maarten is another one where you have the choice between a beach day or a tour. This is a port where you can walk to Great Bay Beach , and there are no Covid rules restricting you to an organised tour.

It’s also home to Maho Beach , positioned right next the Princess Juliana Airport and famous for the low flying planes. I’ve felt like this is a bucket list place to go myself, so decided to get a taxi to it. There is a taxi rank right on the port and a return cost $16 per person, they give you a wristband, so they know you’ve paid for the return journey.

I arrived around 10:30 and there weren’t too many people, but as the day went on it got busier and busier. It’s a surreal experience, to watch these planes flying in so low. And every hour or so you get a quite large one come in. Sadly, nothing really huge landed when we were there.

It’s the take-off that provides the most entertainment, as the blast from the jets caused some powerful wind. So much so that people have been seriously injured. Thankfully now it looks like the bigger planes use the runway from the other side, meaning people cannot go and stupidly hurt themselves. It was still powerful enough to blow people’s stuff across the beach, so I chose to sit away from the blast. I do not need to get sand blown in my face for an adrenaline rush.

If neither of these are for you then the tours that tempted me were the Snorkel, beach and RIB experience. And anything that took to the water, as the island looks beautiful from the ocean.

Videos of my Caribbean Cruise on Britannia

I hope that gives you an insight into my experience with P&O Cruises in the Caribbean and has given you some ideas if you are planning your holiday. There are some fantastic deals with P&O Cruises right now, and not all the ships will be full.

If you have any questions at all about my experience, please drop them in the comments below.

This article was supported by P&O Cruises but as always, the opinions and photos in the article are all my own, and I think it’s clear to see I loved every minute of my time in the Caribbean!

Founder & Editor of Intrepid Escape, a huge lover of adventure, adrenaline, sport & fitness. After travelling extensively for the last 12 years, Scott started to document his travels before fulfilling an important lifelong goal by starting Intrepid Escape. He has since become a full-time Travel Writer, Videographer, Presenter and Producer.

8 thoughts on “ Caribbean Cruise on Britannia: Honest Review With P&O Cruises ”

Looking to book Britannia January 23, definitely want to (respectfully) interact with Stingrays & snorkel to see Turtles. Found your site by accident but wow how informative for us to get the best from the Caribbean! Thank you

Hi Scott, and thanks for your extremely informative review. We are taking this cruise on 28th January 2023 and the excitement is building already! Regarding the shore excursions is it particularly sensible to take the P&O excursions for security and ensuring you get back to the ship on time?

Hi, really informative page, thank you. Is it easy to book tours and things to do when you arrive on the islands? Or do you have to book the P&O ones? Thanks.

I will be going on the Caribbean cruise for my honeymoon november 2023, how much do the excursions cost? Thanks

The only thing I cannot find, is what time you have to be back on the boat???

Yes, that’s the first thing anybody would want to know. I don’t like when ships dock at you’ve finished your breakfast then you feel you have to leave and tour the whole country and be back before 5pm which is way too early. Turns into a working day and you can’t relax for clock watching. Also in Grenada by the waterfall young local can hassle you to pay them to watch them dive into the waterfall – very offputting.

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Impeccable service: The staff were friendly, attentive, and always went the extra mile to ensure a flawless experience.Cleanliness & hygiene: The ship was spotless, and the crew maintained high standards of hygiene throughout the voyage.

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P&o cruises unveils 2026 programme with solar eclipse sailings.

P&O Cruises will host two webinars on Tuesday (16 April) to bring agents up to speed on its newly launched 2026 programme, which features new sailings to Rome and chances to catch a solar eclipse at sea.

The first webinar at 10am will centre around the finer details of the new programme and the second at 11.30am will be about how agents can pre-register their clients. 

Both webinars will be hosted by P&O Cruises’ training and engagement manager Stephanie Adams. Further details about the webinars can be found on the line’s trade loyalty platform, Shine Rewards Club. 

Cruises booked before 4 June and departing between 20 March and 31 October 2026 will include a 10% early-bird discount and a low 10% deposit offer on selected Select Price or Early Saver holidays. 

The line usually asks for 15% deposits before confirming a booking. 

In the programme, Arvia will operate five sailings featuring calls to Civitavecchia (Rome) for the first time. Prices start from £1,149 per person. 

Passengers sailing on Ventura’s 14-night Atlantic Coast cruise will call into the Spanish city of El Ferrol to potentially see a total solar eclipse on 5 August. The lead-in price is £1,499pp. 

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While guests on Arcadia will have the chance to witness the eclipse on the Iceland & British Isles cruise departing from Southampton, when it calls into Isafjordur. Prices start from £1,840pp. 

Britannia, which is currently in dry dock, will make maiden calls into nine ports, including Corfu, Aarhus and three ports in Iceland. 

Starting from Southampton on 19 August 2026, Aurora sailing will call into Istanbul which is the first time the line has visited the Turkish city since 2015. 

Ruth Venn, P&O Cruises sales director, told TTG the line had seen its highest new-to-cruise levels ever last year. 

To attract more new-to-cruise passengers, P&O Cruises has increased the number of seven-night sailings for 2026.

Both 5,200-passenger ships – Arvia and Iona – will offer four new seven-night Southern Mediterranean sailings, calling into Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo and Cherbourg. Prices start from £649. 

In addition, Iona will operate eight seven-night Norwegian Fjords departures during the school holidays, offering families the chance to sail together. 

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Moscow Nights

Award-winning Musical Ambassadors from Russia, Moscow Nights is an exciting, versatile trio of world-recognized, prize-winning musicians who have established themselves as one of the fastest rising folk groups in the U.S. Presenting authentic Russian folk traditions and culture, their lilting Balalaikas, dynamic Bayan Accordion, humorous dances and superb vocals create an exhilarating, educational performance for all ages.

Formed in the late 1980’s at the Kaluga Music Conservatory in Kaluga, Russia and the St. Petersburg Academy of Music and Culture, the group has been touring the U.S. since 1996.  

Predominantly authentic, traditional Russian folk music (tuned to historical perfection through personal interviews with the eldest members of villages deep in the Russian countryside), their concerts offer audiences an entertaining glimpse into Old Russia through music, song and dance (with optional Russian dancers). 

Their lilting Balalaikas , dynamic Bayan Accordion , humorous dances and superb vocals create an exhilarating, educational performance for  all ages, brimming with vigor, mischievousness and vibrancy.

Celebrate the incredible singing talent of these three world-famous artists in their tribute to some of the finest musical entertainment ever performed. Gary Anthony captures the stage presence and humor of “Old Blue Eyes”.

Thrilling fans of Dean Martin, Andy DiMino is a dynamic, professional entertainer. Louie Velez has been captivating audiences with his tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. since 1987, performing what many consider to be the most amazing impersonation ever seen on any stage.

JOE McElderry is the X Factor   "Golden Boy"  with the 24-carat voice and the diamond personality which has made him one of the most loved young singers in Europe.  Most artists only dream of mass appeal; however, Joe has been the sweet-singing hero and heartthrob of hundreds of thousands of fans aged from 5 to 95 since storming to victory in the 2009 X Factor final.

Celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birth at your theater with a tribute by the finest Frank Sinatra impersonator in the world. Hailed by critics because his voice, likeness, mannerisms and gracious style are reminiscent of the great Frank Sinatra, Gary has become the most requested Frank Sinatra impersonator of all time around the globe!

Formed in 2009 while performing together in the hit Broadway musical, BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story , The Rave-ons offer a wide range of 50’s rockabilly classics including songs by Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bill Haley & The Comets, Little Richard, Carl Perkins and others.  They offer a second show featuring the music of Buddy, Ritchie Valens , and the Big Bopper entitled “ The Night the Music Lived ” which they are currently performing at the iconic BB King Blues Club in New York City. The show commemorates their final concert on February 2nd, 1959, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa .

The world-renowned Siren electric string quartet is the industry leader in delivering high end, superbly entertaining and outstanding performances. The four glamorous and sophisticated Siren ladies are all award-winning graduates from the world’s leading music conservatories, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music . They have combined their classical talents, creative ideas and love of performing to develop a uniquely entertaining show that has been honed over time to create the perfect balance between musicality and entertainment.

These talented ladies were the featured quartet on Gnarls Barkley’s European Tours , performing for 9 weeks in a row on UK ’s Top of The Pops . They also starred in Mark Ronson’s music video for Valerie, recorded on the album by The Killers , and have been the support act for Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud, Rod Stewart and Jamelia .  As classical players they have worked with Sir Colin Davies, Maxim Vengerouv, Vladimir Ashkenazy, BBC Symphony Orchestra , and the London Philharmonic Orchestra . Siren have performed at Wembley Stadium with P. Diddy , at the Fuji Rock Festival (Japan), the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) and in the USA, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Korea, throughout Europe and the UK.

The Legacy entertains audiences with the classic Motown sound from Detroit, exciting, high-energy choreography and impressive showmanship.  The Legacy will take the audience back to the days of The Drifters, The Coasters, The Jacksons, Earth Wind& Fire, The Four Tops, The Okays, Isley Brothers, Kool and the Gang, Jackson Five, Chairmen of the Board, Pharrel Williams and the Temptations.

Rob Garrett has established himself as the world’s most popular and most frequently requested Neil Diamond tribute artist, earning the title “King of Diamonds”. He continues to set the standard in the industry by performing his tribute to the iconic singer/songwriter around the country in venues usually reserved for national/name acts.

He is North America’s most popular and sought after Neil Diamond tribute act. Rob manages to naturally capture the presence, passion and energy of the legendary performer in all his Jazz Singer glory. Those who have witnessed his performances testify that a performer simply can’t get any closer to the performance of Neil Diamond.

SeaSoundStudio is pleased to announce that MO5AIC from Las Vegas has have been added to its roster. Having worked with Jay Leno , Prince , Tony Bennett and other superstars, this interactive band presents an incredibly tuned show for all ages and demographics. At it's core, MO5AIC creates vocally driven music that holds it's own sonically with any full instrumentaion.  From Jazz and Big-Band to Hip-Hop and Opera , MO5AIC appeals to all ages. Recipient of "The Next Great A Cappella Group" Award from CBS , MO5AIC also on MTV's Top Pop Group

Invite your audiences to enjoy an evening with more than 40 legendary vocalists in one talent-packed show, starring extraordinary singing impressionist, Eric Kearns. You can customize the show for your audience by choosing from more than 60 vocalists to "perform" during your show.

Revisit the days of the popular Crooners with favorite songs by  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nat King Cole  and others.

If you seek a show of Pop Singers, Eric will thrill your audiences with outstanding renditions of the best songs of  Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen,Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Paul Anka, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Englebert Humperdinck, Tom Petty, Kenny Rogers, Billy Idol, Paul Anka, Temptations, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Joe Cocker, David Lee Roth  -- even  Cher  and "Kermit the Frog".

If your audience loves the sound of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, book Eric to entertain with the voices of  Fred Astaire, Jimmy Durante, Gene Autrey, Al Jolson, Gene Austin, Eddie Cantor, Ted Lewis, Vaughn Monroe  and the  Mills Brothers .

The top professional impersonator of Robin Williams in the U.S., David is the impersonator of choice for movies, TV and advertisements.   A clone of Robin in performance, sound, look and wit, he has performed at theaters, in movies, for conferences, at trade shows, and in television shows, including co-starring on NBC ’s hit sitcom Community , ABC ’s Next Best Thing , CBS ’s Family Feud , NBC ’s Access Hollywood , and NBC ’s Last Comic Standing . He has appeared in the films, Just About Famous and The Reinactors .

He received the Las Vegas Best Actor Award  and the Best Comedian Award from the Reel Awards in Las Vegas --the Academy Awards for tribute artists.  He has also received the Funniest Male Award from the Sunburst Convention in Orlando.  Containing adult comedy and topics, but no vulgar language or material, the Robin Williams Tribute Show contains a Robin’s Classics mixed with David’s original material to create a unique show experience, often incorporating local events and references.

A powerful and passionate performer, Rich Wyman energizes his audiences through commanding performances as a keyboardist and vocalist. Described as a combination of Billy Joel, Elton John and Phil Collins, Rich has won 8 ASCAP awards. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, Ireland, Holland, Austalia and the United Kingdom. "I’m blown away by his songwriting and performing” -Eddie Van Halen

David Howarth is a Piano Showman with a fresh approach to piano entertainment. David is one of the most versatile and exciting pianists in the world. Originally from England and now based in Dallas, Texas, he was trained at the Royal College Of Music in England.  His unique arrangements of the world’s favorite classical, jazz, movie and popular music will engage your audience, leaving them spellbound and asking for more.

Peter Paul and Mary “Now” is the premier tribute to Peter, Paul and the “late” Mary Travers.   The exciting instrumentation and tight vocal harmonies are as you remember them. Their music and message is as applicable to this generation as it was when they started their journey in 1962. Their performance is fun and enjoyable for the whole family!  You can hear them perform all their greatest hits including: If I Had A Hammer, Blowing In The Wind, The Times They Are A’Changin’, Jet Plane, Puff The Magic Dragon, Song Is Love, 500 Miles, I Dig Rock & Roll Music, Lemon Tree, Light One Candle.

Metropolitan Opera National Council Award Winner s, Gulley/Granner (tenors Ben Gulley and Nathan Granner) have established themselves as top classical artists with true vocal beauty.  With numerous critically acclaimed opera roles, competition wins, major television appearances, international tours and concert credits on their resume, operatic duo Gulley/Granner formed in 2012 after completing a national tour as a Sony Masterworks label group, The American Tenors . It was a great tour, with standing ovations in every venue.

A finalist on NBD's Sing-Off, North Shore Doo-wop impressed fans of all ages across the nation with their energy and consistent harmonies.  This special art of delivering music without instrumental accompaniment is what North Shore is all about. The award-winning group offers a continuously fresh repertoire of hundreds of popular hits that cover the last five decades. North Shore has appeared as the opening act for  The Temptations ,  The Platters ,  Ben E. King ,  Johnny Maestro ,  Al Jarreau ,  Roberta Flack ,  Frankie Vallie , and  Gene Pitney .

From the sultry strains of classic Jazz and Swing to the memorable tunes of Broadway and Pop Music, Patrice impresses audiences when singing the great American Standards with her rich, melodic 3-octave voice and vivacious personality.  Described as a blend of   Jo Stafford ,   Karen Carpenter   and Linda Ronstadt , Patrice has a multi-timbre, three octave vocal range and recently recorder her CD, At Last with the Todd Sullivan Orchestra of New York City and arranged by Lanny Meyers, a 10-time Emmy award -winning arranger and composer..

Powered by two national fiddle champions, a west coast flat-picking champion and 10 state fiddle championships, The Voetberg Family Band comprises 8 siblings ranging in age from early teens to late 20's who perform Irish, Scottish, American, Swing, Jazz and Classical music.  Coached by several world-class Grammy winners, the band transitions gracefully from blissfully vocal arrangements to power-house instrumentals.

More than a master guitarist and award-winning composer, Gladius has been called a miracle in the making.  He suffered a mysterious medical condition causing crippling nerve damage and greatly hindering the sensation and dexterity of both hands.  After 10 years, 4 surgeries, 8000 hours of physical therapy and countless prayers, Gladius now performs a unique blend of Classical, Flamenco, Spanish, Metal, Fusion, Standard and Progressive Jazz.

Direct from Harrahs Casino , Caesars Palace , Excalibur , MGM Grand , New York New York and other Las Vegas casinos, John Anthony’s Tribute to Rod Stewart is exceptionally dynamic and energetic. John Anthony is one of the mainstays with the world famous   Legends in Concert   show. He has toured America, Canada and Japan performing in countless casinos, corporate events, and for numerous fund-raisers. Acknowledged as one of the best impersonators in the business, John passionately covers the genius of Rod Stewart from the early   Maggie May   days to his current chart- topping revival,   Still The Same…Great Rock Classics of Our Time .

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