britannia cruise line

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

• Southampton (England)
• Bridgetown (Barbados)

Britannia current position

Britannia current location is at Baltic Sea (coordinates 59.76770 N / 24.34685 E) cruising en route to Tallinn. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Britannia

Britannia current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Northern Europe And Scandinavia . The itinerary starts on 10 May, 2024 and ends on 24 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Britannia

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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

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Britannia ship related cruise news

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VIDEO: P&O Britannia crashes into oil tanker amid Mallorca storm

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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 refurbishments 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.

Drydock 2024 (conducted in April) included upgrades to various areas, including all public spaces, all passenger and crew staterooms, redesigned Lobby Hall (an extension of the Loyalty Desk and Cruise Sales Desk), enhancements to the Market Cafe, a substantial renovation of the crew areas. The children's splash pool zone was revamped with interactive water features. The Sunset Bar's capacity was increased with extra seating.

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).

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Britannia Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Aerobics Studio *
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Dance Classes
• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes
• Hot Tubs (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Hydrotherapy Suite *
• Late-Night Activities
• Oasis Salon *
• Oasis Spa *
• Organized Activities & Games
• The Retreat *
• Children's Play Area
• Scuba's
• Headliner's Theatre
• Nightly Live Music
• The Live Lounge
• The Crystal Room
• Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• Sunset Bar - Aft Bar *
• The Blue Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Brodie's - Beer Pub *
• Sindhu - British-Indian *
• Horizon Restaurant - Casual
• Beach House - Casual Steakhouse *
• Market Cafe - Coffee & Sweets *
• Java - Coffee Bar *
• Lido Grill - Fast Food
• The Epicurean - Gourmet *
• The Cookery Club - Interactive *
• Meridian Restaurant - International
• Peninsular Restaurant - International
• The Crow's Nest - Observation Bar *
• The Pizzeria - Pizza
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Riviera Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Live Lounge Bar - Showlounge Bar *
• The Limelight Club - Supperclub *
• Ice Cream Grab n Go - Sweets

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Tom Loves Cruising

Cruising has changed – come and sea…

REVIEW: P&O Britannia – British cruising is back

After a pause of nearly eighteen months cruising has restarted in the United Kingdom. How has the pandemic changed cruising, and what did I make of my first time sailing with P&O? Join me as I take one of the first cruises back on the seas.

As cruising restarts in the UK sailings have been limited to UK waters & ports only, although that is now beginning to change. Our cruise embarked in Southampton Thursday 5th August 2021 and was a 3 night, all sea days, sailing.

This would be my first time on P&O Cruises, a line I’d always been curious about but had not yet booked with. I suppose I had some preconceived notions of what a British branded, British marketed cruise would be like. I went into this cruise with an open mind.

Embarkation in Southampton

In the days leading up to the cruise I was able to complete an online check-in process on the P&O website that provided me with PDF copies on my cruise ticket, boarding pass, luggage tags and health declaration. These need to be printed out to bring with you.

Because of the changing public health situation you’re now required to have comprehensive cruise-specific travel insurance to sail, this should cover COVID care, medical bills up to £2m, and repatriation. Proof of cover should also be printed and brought along.

On arrival at Southampton Ocean Cruise Terminal we dropped our bags in the zone colour coded to our luggage tags and joined a moderate queue for COVID-19 testing.

Although there were a decent number of people in the queue it moved at a steady pace. Within 30 minutes of arrival we’d been able to drop off our luggage and had a COVID test administered. The test is a standard nasal swab, with results in 30 minutes. You’ll need a mobile phone with you to receive your results via SMS.

Once tested we were given a colour-coded wristband and shown our area of the terminal to wait in. In almost exactly 30 minutes we got our negative result SMS which meant we were allowed out of the waiting area and to proceed to the check-in desk. Because I’d completed check-in online this was as simple as showing the SMS, boarding pass and our passports – we got a ‘OK to board’ stamp and proceeded to the security area.

Unfortunately, security is where our so far smooth embarkation ground to a halt. We waited an hour in the security area whilst the team turned up and started setting everything up for the day. We’re not sure why it wasn’t ready ahead of passengers waiting, and given how slick everything had been so far we found this somewhat frustrating – as did many other, more vocal, passengers. But after that hour wait, and processing through standard security, we were on our way to the ship.

First impressions of Britannia

Entering through the atrium on Deck 5 you quickly get a good impression of how Britannia was designed. The decor is muted, there’s dark wood panelling, iron-effect railings – it says “upscale hotel lobby” more than cruise ship atrium. The atrium centrepiece is a starburst chandelier which rather than containing its own lights is lit from spotlights around the atrium, allowing it change colour and appearance depending on the time of day.

The darker, more intimate, upscale hotel feeling continues throughout the ship with well-blended choices of wood, marble, and blue accents – all with subtle lighting.

Britannia is a Royal-class cruise ship, weighing in at 143,000GT she’s one of the biggest ships to serve the United Kingdom. Britannia was launched in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II, and saw a comprehensive refit in 2019.

Our stateroom

At the time of booking we chose a ‘Guarantee Balcony’, which means that you don’t choose your specific cabin – just the grade of cabin you want. A couple of days before boarding we were told we’d be in A247, a HF grade balcony on Deck 15. This room is perfectly located right next to the forward lifts & stairs, with just one flight between you and the pool deck.

On arrival at the stateroom we saw that the room had been cleaned and a blue seal had been put across the door to show no-one had been in it since its cleaning – part of P&O’s ‘Sail With Confidence’ health programme. Our smart cards were waiting for us in the post box area just to the left of the door.

As you enter the stateroom, there’s a large dressing area & wardrobe immediately to your left. This is easily the biggest wardrobe I’ve seen on a cruise ship. I liked how it kept all the clothes, bags, shoes etc out of sight from the main room. There are also shelves, cubby holes and a safe big enough for an iPad.

The bathroom is accessed through this dressing area and is compact, but has just about enough room for anything you’d need. The only real pinch-point was entering/exiting the shower. The glass shower door opens outwards into the bathroom – you kind of have to stand right next to the toilet to open & close it as the door passes (and occasionally knocks) your knees – but it’s fine. A bar of hand-soap is provided, as well as shower-gel and shampoo from The White Company.

On this particular sailing I was travelling with a friend, as my partner couldn’t get time off work, so we had our cabin set up with twin beds. The same room is reconfigurable as a double if you submit your preference ahead of time, or ask your stateroom attendant. We found the bed and pillows incredibly comfortable, if a little soft for my personal preference. We both slept well.

The main room is of a decent size. Plenty for two adults to move around and co-exist without getting in each others way. Aside from the beds there are was one bedside table, a small desk with mirror and chair, an arm chair and matching side table. There were also two full length mirrors in the room, which is always welcome when more than one of you is trying to get ready for dinner.

Our only slight disappointment with the room was that there were no USB sockets for charging devices. For a ship built in 2014 and refurbished in 2019 this seems an odd omission.

Balconies on Royal-class ships are known to a be a little shallow, and Britannia is no exception. It was a bit snug out there, but room enough for two chairs and a small drinks table. We found the balcony to be well shielded from the wind, with plenty of privacy from the cabins either side of us.

Bars and Lounges

Compared to other ships her size Britannia has fewer bars than you might expect, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be short of places to drink. Here’s a quick tour of the places you can grab a drink onboard.

The Blue Bar & Market Café in the atrium on Deck 5 is the the place to see and be seen on Britannia. These two venues sit starboard and port of the atrium seating area respectively, with The Blue Bar serving champagne and cocktails whilst the Market Cafe serves Costa Coffee and cakes. This space often hosts live music such as pianists and saxophone players throughout the day and into the night.

Moving up to Deck 6, just off the atrium you’ll find Brodie’s Bar. Brodie’s is the traditional British pub featured across the P&O fleet. Here you’ll find a wide range of beers and ciders, both on tap and by the bottle or can. This venue is also home to the daily trivia and quiz events – as well as where you can watch live sport onboard. During our cruise the 2021 Tokyo Olympics were shown in Brodie’s. There’s extra seating and pool tables just outside of Brodies on the port side, to the starboard side you’ll find the small casino area.

Heading up to Deck 7 aft you’ll find the Live Lounge which is one of the Britannia’s show lounges, host to nightly musical performances and gameshows. Live Lounge is a dark but elegant venue and offers table service of cocktails, champagne and wines. Seating is limited for the shows, so if there’s something you want to see – turn up early.

Walking forward on Deck 7 you’ll find the Sindhu Bar. Whilst officially part of the Sindhu Indian restaurant the bar was open to all passengers who wanted an evening drink. This venue was not open during the day on our cruise.

Now back in the atrium on Deck 7 you’ll find yourself with The Glass House on the port side and Java on the starboard. The Glass House is a wine bar styled and curated by Olly Smith of the BBC, here you can pick from a variety of wines not seen elsewhere onboard, as well as wine flights for the adventurous wine explorer. Java is another coffee shop, serving Costa Coffee in a similar fashion to the Market Cafe on Deck 5. Both The Glass House and Java have access to an outdoor promenade seating area – though due to the weather on our sailing this wasn’t used.

Continuing forward on Deck 7 you’ll find The Crystal Room . This light and elegant venue was used for talks, seminars, ballroom dancing lessons and in the evening – karaoke. Much like The Live Lounge this venue filled up fast and more than once we had to change our plans. There are benches outside The Crystal Room on the port side, but you won’t get drinks service sitting there.

Decks 8 through 15 are purely staterooms, so let’s hop in an elevator and head up to Deck 16 forward. Here you’ll find The Crows Nest. This is Britannia’s observation bar. During the day it offers 270º views from the front of the ship, you’ll find books and boardgames along with an extensive gin menu. When evening comes around it turns into an elegant piano bar – our pianist onboard, Paul Cassidy, was excellent. Due to limited seating and the size of the venue we had trouble getting in here a few times on our cruise. Sensing a theme yet?

Leaving The Crow’s Nest and heading outside you’ll come to the main pool, or lido, deck. There are two bars one either side of the pool area. The Lido Bar and the Riviera Bar both serve this main pool area with seating areas and sun lounger service.

Heading aft, through the Horizon Buffet you’ll find the Sunset Bar . This aft-facing bar both serves drinks and provides an outdoor seating area for the buffet. There’s plenty of table and sofa seating on both sides of the bar, with the port side being a permitted smoking area. In the centre the main bar is styled like a beach hut with quirky seaside styling and faux foliage. This was a great place to experience sail-away, find a quiet spot during the day, and to stargaze at night.

Finally, if we take the steps either side of the sunset bar and follow the jogging track all the way to the front of the ship you’ll stumble upon the adult’s only Serenity Pool & Bar. This space is exclusively for the use of passengers 18 years of age and over. Comfortable seating, loungers, and attentive table service make this a great place for a peaceful drink in the sun.

Complimentary Dining

Whilst the Britannia has no shortage of places to eat, due to COVID safety measures choices were often quite limited and we didn’t feel quality was up to par with other cruise lines. Let me explain.

Breakfast in the Main Dining Rooms. Preferring a more relaxed a la carte breakfast we ate in The Meridian Restaurant on two out of our three mornings. Booking a table was slightly chaotic, we’ll get to that later, but once we were seated we found the service attentive and polite. Our Eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked and came out quickly, the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the coffee perfectly acceptable.

Celebration (Formal Night) Dinner in the Main Dining Rooms. I’m eager for any excuse to dress up, so formal night aboard a cruise always gets my vote. Once again we had trouble securing a table to eat at, more on that later, but eventually we were seated in Britannia’s other main dining room – The Peninsula Restaurant.

Due to the chaos getting a table we were seated fairly late into the evening by which point it felt like presentation and service had gone out of the window somewhat. We opted for the Marco Pierre White recommended menu and ordered a bottle of wine to match.

The ‘Amuse bouche’ didn’t arrive, instead we were offered another bread roll. My Crab & Scallop Ceviche, whilst tasty, was both very small and offputtingly warm, my companion’s Smoked Duck looked a better choice and he seemed to agree.

For our soup course I opted for the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup and my companion chose the Cream of Artichoke Soup. Neither had any real flavour and there was soup down the side of both bowls. Disappointing.

Onto the main courses. Here things started to look up. I opted for lobster, as I do any time it’s on offer, and my companion went for the Beef Tenderloin. The half lobster was well cooked and the Mornay sauce was rich, the creamed potatoes were perfectly smooth – unfortunately the greens were cool to the touch and limp. The beef tenderloin was served medium-rare as requested, the jus was rich, the cauliflower delightful – but again limp and cool greens.

Finally, for dessert I opted for the Mango & Pink Peppercorn Sorbet, which was incredibly refreshing and delightfully picante, it felt like it could have used some flair or garnish however. My friend picked the Biscuit Glace which he enjoyed – especially the variety of textures.

All in all it was an enjoyable meal, it just felt like that because we’d been seated so late (due to issues outside our control), that we weren’t seeing the best of Britannia. We didn’t see our waiter after we ordered, just other team members who delivered our food, presentation was sloppy, courses were missing, sides were cold and everything felt a little… rushed.

The Horizon Restaurant (Buffet). Deck 16 aft is where you’ll find Britannia’s buffet. The space is bright and airy, with many tables next to or facing a window out to sea. The buffet stations are arrange in a grid fashion in between the two seating areas – with drinks stations peppered throughout.

To try and better facilitate social distancing and safer cruising P&O have divided the buffet stations in four quarters – serving only the area of seating closest to those stations. Unfortunately, what this means is that the food choices were vastly reduced from what we were used to – with maybe only three or four hot options and a salad bar for lunch. This was by no means a disaster, and we understand why it was necessary, but if you cruise during a time of COVID restrictions it’s something to be aware of.

Pizza, Hotdogs and Burgers – oh my. The pool area on Deck 16 is home to some grab and go hot food options throughout the day and early evenings. On the port side you’ll find a pizzeria offering three options of pizza for you to take away, on the starboard is the grill where you can get made to order burgers, hotdogs and fries. Due to the issues with virtual queuing for restaurants, I’ll get to it I promise, and limited choice in the buffet these two venues were very busy on our sailing. We ate here most days and were never disappointed with the choice or quality.

Speciality Dining

We had the pleasure of dining at two of Britannia’s Speciality restaurants on our short sailing, we ate at the Glass House on night one and the Epicurean on night three. We didn’t have a chance to eat at Sindhu, the ship’s Indian restaurant – a guest favourite, and due to buffet space issues the Beach House wasn’t open during this sailing.

The Glass House overlooks the atrium from Deck 7 and serves up small, tapas style, plates. The cuisine is very international, from scotch eggs to tempura, and steaks to Sicilian stew. Each course has a recommended wine, or as mentioned earlier, you can choose a flight of wines to accompany your meal.

I won’t go into every plate we ordered, or we’ll be here all night. The stand out plates for us were the curried scallops, polenta fries and the sticky oxtail bonbons. The dishes came out as they were ready, and with the possible exception of the beef salad (which felt more like a stir-fry without rice or noodles) everything was excellent. Plates are priced individually or 3 for £6.95.

The Epicurean is P&O’s top-tier specialty dining experience and it certainly lives up to its reputation. We dined at The Epicurean on the last night of our cruise after managing to bag a last minute booking.

Bright, airy, with pastels and plenty of glass, The Epicurean feels upmarket and at the same time comfortable. On arrival we were given two glasses of Tattinger Rosé whilst our table was prepared.

When we were seated we were offered a choice of multicoloured breads with flavoured butters and we chose ourselves a bottle of wine whilst we perused the menu.

The menu is small enough that you know each dish is going to be made with care, but large enough that there’s something for everyone.

For starters I opted for an Alaskan Snow Crab, Langoustine and Caviar cocktail which came with a pea custard and shot of mojito, Craig chose 24-hour slow cooked ox cheek with a parsley sponge. Both were incredible, both in terms of flavour, presentation and variety of textures.

On to the mains. Even with the good portions of the starters my stomach was rumbling – because it knew what was coming next. As mentioned earlier in my review, if I see lobster I physically cannot not order it – so with that in mind I chose the Black Cod and Cold Water Lobster with a Caviar Gratin, Craig picked the Beef Fillet with Confit Bacon and Mushroom Pureé. Our sides were thick cut chips, tenderstem broccoli and a garden salad.

I cannot put into words just quite how succulent and tender my fish were, I’ve never had lobster quite like it in my life – and I’ve eaten a lot of lobster. Craig’s steak was perfectly cooked and it now feels wrong if bacon isn’t confit’d.

Between our main and our dessert our waiter brought over some liquorice lollipops. Whilst I appreciate the thought, if there’s one flavour in the world I cannot stand it’s liquorice – but Craig assured me it was delicious.

Much like my obsession with lobster, I cannot say no to a crêpe. So Grand Marnier crêpes were a no brainer for me. Wonderfully light with a sauce that perfectly straddled sweet and cheekily alcoholic. Craig picked a deconstructed Jaffa cake that came with handmade vanilla ice cream – and to finish were got some little novelty truffles.

I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that this was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had on a cruise, and close to the best meal I’ve ever had – period. The service was attentive and friendly without being too much, the space was upscale whilst still being comfortable and the food was simply divine. If you’re sailing P&O I’d heartily recommend you treat yourself to The Epicurean.

Entertainment and Leisure

P&O has never been the go-to line for over the top gimmicks and amusements, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be bored. The daily planner, in paper form, delivered to your stateroom each evening is packed with things do – there are quizzes, enrichment lectures, dance classes and films throughout the day, as well as mixers with your fellow cruises – that said we were surprised not to see an LGBT mingle event.

Pools & Hot Tubs

We found the ratio of pools to hot tubs slightly confusing on Britannia. There are three full sized swimming pools and a small wake view pool, but only two hot tubs – with a further two in the for-fee Retreat area. Compare this to another Royal-Class cruise ship, such as the Sky Princess, which has nine publicly accessible hot tubs. It just didn’t make sense to us, and was another comment several people I spoke to made. The three swimming pools are of a decent size and depth.

Music & Performers

We enjoyed the fact that no matter where you went on Britannia that there always seemed to be live music. This is something quintessentially cruise. The atrium almost always had a pianist, guitarist, sax player or even a sea-shanty band playing. The Crows Nest, whilst quiet during the day, hosted the excellent pianist, Paul Cassidy in the evenings. Live Lounge was home to the onboard band, Pulse, who blew me away with their excellent covers of well known songs split into three themed nights. The Crystal Room hosted karaoke and dance classes.

On the last night of the cruise the onboard DJ hosted a silent party on the pool deck. Everyone gets a set of wireless headphones, and can choose between three simultaneous stations – each of which is playing a different style of music but somehow mixed together so it felt like we were all dancing to the same beat. Really good fun.

We didn’t have time to see any of the onboard theatre shows but having spoken to many of our fellow cruisers they could be summed up as follows: ‘Mr Tickerton’s Clockwork Circus’ was excellent and people wished it was on multiple nights, the comedian was awkwardly unfunny and several people we spoke to left.

Cruising during COVID

Running cruises during COVID is no small feat, the fact we’re able to cruise at all is a true joy, that said there were definitely highlights and pitfalls during our short three night sailing. These can be broken down into 3 categories:

The MyHoliday “app”

Whilst P&O refer to MyHoliday as an app, it’s actually just a mobile website you visit through your phone’s browser. MyHoliday is essential for booking tables in restaurants, queuing for the buffet, booking seats for theatre performances, and buying WiFi packages. Unfortunately we rarely found it worked as advertised.

For example, queuing for breakfast – not all the restaurants would show up on my phone, but they would on my friends – we waited for nearly an hour for our buffet spot when we somehow fell out the queue and had to start the process all over again. The page frequently logs out too, leaving you unsure if you’ve lost your progress.

Because you can’t book in the main dining rooms, you have to join a queue. We waited over 90 minutes for a table on Celebration Night – which as mentioned earlier meant we got seated super late and we felt that our meal & service suffered as a result.

There were several missing features that would seem a no-brainer and super simple to implement. There’re no deck plans to find out where you are, or where you’re going. You can’t see the daily planner either, a simple link to a PDF copy would keep people happy.

The concept is sound, even if it seems already outdated compared to Princess’ OceanMedallion app, but there’s a lot of work to be done.

Social Distancing and Mask Wearing

Conditions of this cruise were that all guests were double vaccinated, were tested at the terminal before boarding, wore a mask when moving around the ship and observed social distancing instructions where necessary.

We found all guests onboard to be respectful and following the requests without complaint. Simply having to wear a mask is a very small trade off for being able to safely cruise once again – we wouldn’t hesitate to take another cruise during this time at all.

Britannia was spotless. From our staterooms, to the stairwells and the bars everything was super clean. It was very notable that there were an army of cleaners all diligently keeping every area of the ship clean and tidy. When a table in a bar was vacated it was immediately disinfected and the soft furnishings fogged. We felt very safe sailing with P&O onboard Britannia.

Final Thoughts

When we booked onto Britannia I freely admit I had concerns that P&O wouldn’t be the cruise line for me. Several of our friends referred jokingly to the cruise as the HMS Brexit. I very much viewed this cruise as an experiment and went in with an open mind – and I’m glad I did.

We were definitely some of the younger guests aboard, but we never felt unwelcome or out of place. I was worried about all the over-the-top patriotism and flag waving but we managed to successfully avoid any of that.

Britannia is a handsome ship with some elegantly designed spaces but we did notice that in some areas, such as the Crow’s Nest and Crystal Room, that some of the furniture was looking a little worn and tatty – something we thought would have been addressed during the many months of inactivity.

We were disappointed that P&O don’t offer beverage packages on their shorter sailings (below five nights), which puts them out of step with most lines offering UK short sailings these days. Drinks prices onboard certainly aren’t terrible, but they’re not cheap either, with bar bills quickly adding up. As UK consumer tastes and expectations change towards all-inclusive sailings it feels like P&O needs to catch up here.

As mentioned previously the MyHoliday portal used to manage dining, view your account and make bookings really isn’t quite up to scratch and caused plenty of headaches for us and our fellow passengers. Combine this with poor WiFi speeds and we found ourselves frequently frustrated by the lack of onboard tech.

The crew onboard were a credit to P&O and themselves. Everyone was always friendly and smiling, drinks service was swift, and if we ever looked lost onboard someone always came up and offered to help.

The question I always ask at the end of a cruise is “Would I sail with this line/ship again?” – and I think the answer has to be a “yes”. I don’t think the product is entirely right for me, based on my demographics, but this didn’t stop us having a really enjoyable cruise. Britannia is a handsome ship with some great staff and stunning venues, and P&O should be very proud.

I’m already eyeing up a trip on P&O’s newest ship, Iona, so that should tell you all you need to know.

If this was interesting to you consider sharing it using the buttons below. Have you sailed on on Britannia? What do you think of the P&O product? Got a question I haven’t answered here? Feel free to leave a comment, or contact me on twitter at  @CruisingWithTom or Instagram at @TomLovesCruising

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2 Comments Add yours

Thanks for sharing the blog Tom. Having sailed on Britannia about 6 years ago, it’s is surprising and slightly disappointing to see that some things seem to have slipped. Eating in the main dining areas wouldn’t have been like this. It has been crying out for some kind of smart technology for passengers, to keep up with other cruise lines but despite having had 18 months to trial and perfect, it doesn’t appear to work effectively and lots of people have commented on it.

I’m travelling at the end of September, could I ask how you found their communications or if you needed to contact the customer services, as I’m finding it difficult to get any info out of them!!

Glad you enjoyed your trip. The photos are fab!!

Hi Alison, thanks for checking out the review and taking time to comment. I agree, given how far Princess have progressed with tech (on their identical ships) it’s odd that P&O haven’t kept up.

I did struggle to get hold of P&O during the lead up to the cruise. I could tweet and send them direct messages via Twitter, but getting hold of them on the phone often involved a one-hour wait. There’s definitely some work to be done in the customer contact area for P&O.

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Britannia Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Aerobics Studio *
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Dance Classes
• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes
• Hot Tubs (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Hydrotherapy Suite *
• Late-Night Activities
• Oasis Salon *
• Oasis Spa *
• Organized Activities & Games
• The Retreat *
• Children's Play Area
• Scuba's
• Headliner's Theatre
• Nightly Live Music
• The Live Lounge
• The Crystal Room
• Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• Sunset Bar - Aft Bar *
• The Blue Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Brodie's - Beer Pub *
• Sindhu - British-Indian *
• Horizon Restaurant - Casual
• Beach House - Casual Steakhouse *
• Market Cafe - Coffee & Sweets *
• Java - Coffee Bar *
• Lido Grill - Fast Food
• The Epicurean - Gourmet *
• The Cookery Club - Interactive *
• Meridian Restaurant - International
• Peninsular Restaurant - International
• The Crow's Nest - Observation Bar *
• The Pizzeria - Pizza
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Riviera Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Live Lounge Bar - Showlounge Bar *
• The Limelight Club - Supperclub *
• Ice Cream Grab n Go - Sweets

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Ship Specifications

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Britannia itineraries, 14 night scandinavia and baltic sea, 7 night norwegian fjords, 14 night british isles, 7 night spain and france, 14 night canary islands, 14 night mediterranean, 15 night caribbean, 14 night caribbean, p&o cruises fleet.

Cunard cabins and suites guide: Everything you need to know

In its more than 180-year history, Cunard Line has evolved from offering essential transatlantic transportation to leisure travel. Its current fleet offers several classes of cabins with plush furnishings and modern comforts that still evoke nautical ocean-liner style. Although the options might seem confusing at first, they're fairly easy to understand once broken down.

Across inside, outside, balcony and suite categories, Cunard offers four accommodation classes, each with its own dining room. Regardless of cabin type, passengers have access to the same public areas — including pools and sun decks, gyms, theaters and spas. Although, some categories do have their own lounges and outdoor spaces.

Here, we'll go through the types of cabins available and what they include in the way of amenities, square footage and dining experiences.

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Cabin square footage varies by ship and location on the ship. Cabin configurations also vary by vessel. Multiple configurations can exist within the same cabin type, which accounts for differences in square footage. Accessible cabins are larger than standard cabins, and those measurements are included in the ranges given. Contact your travel agent or cruise line representative for specific details before booking.

Cunard cabin primer

Cunard ships feature four main categories of cabins: inside (no window or balcony), outside (a window or porthole), balcony (with a small, semi-private outdoor space) and suites. They fall into four experience tiers — Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill — each with different perks, inclusions and dining assignments. (See below for more details, or check out Cunard's amenity comparison chart .)

Britannia cabins come only in inside, outside and basic balcony categories, while Britannia Club rooms are available only in the balcony category. The latter rooms are a step up from basic Britannia balcony accommodations. Cruisers booked in these categories will be assigned to either the Britannia Dining Room or Britannia Club Restaurant, respectively.

Passengers wanting an elevated experience — complete with more space, lots of added perks and more expensively outfitted accommodations — will want to look to the Princess Grill Suites and Queens Grill Suites. Standard rooms feel more like any cabin on a mass-market vessel, while Grill accommodations are outfitted with more elegant furnishings, richer colors (think regal hues like purples and reds), and more plush linens and furniture.

Depending on the suite booked, you'll find walk-in closets, separate living and sleeping areas, and bathrooms with higher-quality amenities (such as marble countertops and mirrors with built-in makeup lights). These rooms provide access to either the Princess Grill Restaurant or Queens Grill Restaurant, as well as the Grills Lounge, which is exclusive to travelers staying in suites.

Cunard offers a variety of accessible rooms in all cabin categories, from inside cabins to suites. They are designed for passengers who use wheelchairs, walkers, scooters and other mobility devices or who otherwise require features like wider doorways, flush zero-entry thresholds, extra square footage for maneuvering, and wet bath-style bathrooms with grab bars and pull-down shower seats. (You can find more accessibility specifics on Cunard's website.)

Cunard was one of the first cruise lines to offer accommodations for one — something that has become standard on many cruise lines' newest vessels. You'll find a selection of solo cabins in inside and ocean-view categories under the Britannia experience if you're traveling alone and don't want to pay a single supplement. The former range from 152 to 243 square feet; the latter come in between 133 and 201 square feet.

All rooms, no matter the category or type, feature rich furnishings in nautical colors like bright blue, sunny yellow and deep red. Each room provides passengers with a king-size bed that can be converted into two singles on request; bedside tables with lamps; a vanity area with a desk, chair, mirror and both 220-volt U.K.-style outlets and 110-volt North American-style ones ( Queen Anne also has USB ports); a closet and drawers for storing personal items; a TV, safe, hair dryer, phone, refrigerator, minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities; bathrobes and slippers; and an in-cabin bathroom with a shower and Penhaligon toiletries.

Each cabin also includes 24-hour room service options and the daily services of a room steward who will clean up and provide you with any items — like ice, extra towels and the daily activity schedule — you might need. More expensive cabins come with additional or upgraded amenities, extra space and more furniture. Details about inclusions, square footage and more can be found below.

Inside cabins on Cunard ships

Britannia insides range from 152 to 243 square feet and include all of the amenities listed above, plus a half-bottle of sparkling wine at embarkation. Passengers booked in these cabins are assigned to eat in the Britannia Dining Room, which is basically a standard cruise ship main dining room but with ornate art deco touches.

On Queen Mary 2 — known for its iconic transatlantic voyages between New York City and Southampton in the U.K. — cruisers can also choose from special inside cabins that overlook the ship's atrium.

Outside cabins on Cunard ships

Britannia ocean-view rooms provide between 133 and 201 square feet of space. Passengers in these cabins also take meals in the Britannia Dining Room.

Outside cabins include the same amenities as inside ones. The most obvious difference is that you'll have a window to look at the ocean as you sail.

Balcony cabins on Cunard ships

Britannia balconies.

Ranging from 228 to 472 square feet, these cabins feature the same general furnishing style as insides and outsides but with semi-private balconies. These balconies offer passengers their own outdoor space, where they can enjoy fresh air from the comfort of their room, complete with chairs and a table.

These accommodations include the standard amenities listed above and dinner in the Britannia Dining Room. On Queen Mary 2, passengers can select cove-style balconies; they offer a bit of shelter from the wind since they're more akin to an enclosed pod with an open window than a balcony open on all sides.

Britannia Club balconies

Britannia Club rooms, a step up from Cunard's Britannia balcony accommodations, come in the balcony category only. In addition to slightly more square footage (248-470 feet), they include additional amenities.

All previously mentioned features come with these cabins. They also include upgraded tea and coffee makers, a pillow menu, velour bathrobes, a full bottle of sparkling wine at embarkation, daily fresh fruit on request, and priority embarkation and disembarkation. Cruisers booked there can dine in the Britannia Club Restaurant, which is a bit more understated and refined than the Britannia Restaurant but offers similar food.

Suites on Cunard ships

Princess grill suites.

Princess Grill Suites are the first-tier of suites on Cunard ships; they offer access to an exclusive restaurant, Princess Grill, featuring elevated food options. Guests can also order menu items from the Grill via room service and order off-menu in the restaurant with advance notice. Passengers in Princess Grill Suites share a dedicated Grills Lounge or Concierge Lounge (found on Queen Mary 2) and sun deck with passengers booked in Queens Grill suites (see below).

The 335- to 513-square-foot Princess Grill Suites feature separate living and sleeping areas and private balconies. Passengers can enjoy all above-mentioned inclusions, plus elevated perks like an in-cabin atlas, dedicated concierge service, sparkling wine and chocolates at embarkation, complimentary spring water, afternoon tea in the Grills Lounge, and a bathroom with a bathtub and a shower. (Note that bathtubs aren't available at the Princess Grill level on Queen Anne.)

Queens Grill Suites

The most lavish rooms on board Cunard's vessels are the Queens Grill Suites, featuring 484 to 2,249 square feet of space. They come with all of the above perks, plus additional in-cabin books, binoculars for use on board, fresh flowers, complimentary minibar items, a bottle of Champagne and chocolates at embarkation, and priority tendering where applicable. (Note that Queen Anne offers bathrooms with tubs and showers at the Queens Grill level.)

Passengers booked in these accommodations have access to the Queens Grill Restaurant in addition to the shared spaces — Grills Lounge, Concierge Lounge (where available) and sun deck — that cruisers booked in Princess Grill Suites also can use. Each suite's butler will deliver in-cabin canapes daily prior to dinner.

Queens Grill Suites are impressive, especially the duplex-style suites found only on Queen Mary 2. Three 1,566-square-foot Duplex Apartments (Windsor, Buckingham and Holyrood) and two 2,249-square-foot Grand Duplex Apartments (Balmoral and Sandringham) are all the way aft on decks 9 and 10. These accommodations — some of which are larger than land-based apartments — offer stunning wake views via two-story windows.

Bottom line

Although Cunard's cabin experience types might seem confusing at first, they're fairly straightforward. The relatively small number of cabin types and categories makes the booking process easier to navigate while still offering enough variety to cater to many tastes and budgets.

Whether you choose to sail in a basic Britannia inside cabin or the most swanky Queens Grill Suite, you're sure to enjoy Cunard's upscale nautical vibe.

Curious about Cunard? The Points Guy has you covered:

• A guide to the Cunard World Club loyalty program
• The best destinations you can visit on a Cunard Line ship
• Why Cunard is excellent for solo cruisers
• Inside Queen Anne: A peek at Cunard's first new ship in a decade
• Cunard proved me wrong about transatlantic cruises
• Cunard's steakhouse is one of the best at sea; here's why

Cunard added a 4th luxury cruise ship to its famous fleet — see what it'll be like on the new Queen Anne

• Cunard  welcomed its fourth ship and newest in 14 years, the 2,996-guest Queen Anne.
• The 114,000-ton vessel has amenities like an Indian restaurant and pool under a retractable glass roof.
• Queen Anne's 2024 itineraries, primarily in Europe, start at $300 per person for a two-night cruise.

Cunard has operated 249 ships throughout its 184 years in operation, including the famous Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2. But it's been 14 years since the cruise line has launched a new vessel — until now.

Luxury cruisers , meet Queen Anne. It's Cunard's latest 2,996-guest ship, replete with 4,300 art pieces, archery, and the company's signature high-end flair. Its arrival was so highly anticipated that every cabin on its May 3 maiden voyage was fully reserved in minutes, the BBC reported.

The Carnival Corp. brand may be storied, but that doesn’t mean it’s past its prime.

Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, recently told the BBC that its bookings have grown 25% since the beginning of 2024 and are now the best they've been in a decade.

So it should come as no surprise that several of Queen Anne's 2024 itineraries are almost sold out.

Cunard isn’t in the business of building bigger.

Luxury cruise lines are beloved for their small-ship experience. Cunard is no different.

The new 114,000-ton cruise liner is the company's second-largest, although it can carry more guests than any of its other ships.

However, at a 2,996-guest and 1,225-crew capacity, Queen Anne is still tiny compared to the mass-market cruise industry's newest ships , the largest of which can carry 10,000 people.

Queen Anne's cabins are divided into four categories, listed from most to least luxurious: Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia Club, and Britannia.

Despite being the cheapest option, the Britannia accommodations have high-end amenities like sparkling wine, Penhaligon toiletries, and tea and coffee machines.

That's nothing compared to the most luxurious Queens Grill suites, where guests get amenities like pillow menus, stocked mini-bars, a butler, fruit, and pre-dinner canapes.

Forget the sparkling wine — Queens Grill travelers get a bottle of Champagne.

Cabin categories are especially important for Cunard, not for reasons you might expect.

Besides how luxurious your hotel room at sea is, your cabin influences where you have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Guests in the Princess Grill suites dine at the Princess Grill restaurant, while Britannia Club guests stick to the Britannia Club restaurant, and so on.

Guests in the higher-end Princess and Queens cabins also get a pretty sweet bonus: an exclusive lounge with infinity hot tubs.

Regardless of your cabin, the 14-deck ship has plenty of areas for all guests to relax under the sun.

For example, the Pavilion. It's one of Queen Anne's go-to places for an afternoon swim, nighttime movie viewing, silent disco, and not-so-silent live music, all under a retractable glass roof.

The ship's pool club also has plenty of lounge seats for a more traditional pool deck experience. For something indoors, head to the drawing and game rooms instead.

Like every new cruise ship, Queen Anne has a pickleball court.

But unlike every new cruise ship, it also has archery — coaches, bows, and arrows included.

Travelers looking for a less intense afternoon can instead try their hand at the putting green, shuffleboard, or quoits.

Not confident in your athletic abilities? Don't worry — there's a bar nearby, too.

If you lose your pickleball match, you can retail therapy your pain away at Queen Anne’s high-end stores.

Travelers have been splurging big on their cruise vacations . On Queen Anne (and with help from one of the ship's personal shoppers), this could include a Bremont watch or Chanel makeup.

Or, do as cruisers do: Eat and drink the pain away.

The ship has 15 eateries. Unfortunately, you'll have to pay extra for the Mediterranean, Indian, Japanese, steakhouse grill, alfresco, and British restaurants.

Thankfully, the food hall-style buffet, room service, and cabin-assigned dining rooms are included in the fare.

Feeling peckish in the afternoon? Afternoon tea is held in the Queens Room, the same venue that hosts events like ballroom dancing and Cunard's signature black-tie galas.

Of course, a cruise wouldn’t be complete without a casino, spa, and nighttime shows.

Queen Anne is showing two new productions, including an adaptation of the classic British film "Brief Encounter."

For more casual entertainment, the ship also has a "show bar" helmed by a variety of musicians and entertainers.

For a more relaxing afternoon, try the spa's cryotherapy, "experience showers," and salt saunas.

Afterwards, to keep the wellness trend going, grab a healthy bite at the veggie and "sustainably sourced protein"-forward Wellness Cafe. Its kombucha bellinis are technically good for you, right?

Cunard is beloved for its regular transatlantic cruises on its Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.

In 2025, Queen Anne will embark on its first three-month around-the-world cruise. However, for the most part, it's not scheduled for repeat long-haul journeys .

Instead, in 2024, the ship will be homeported in Southampton, UK and travel on two- to 19-night itineraries across Europe.

The cheapest way to experience the new ship is a two-night summer cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany, which currently starts at $300 per person.

But if money is no problem, the 18-night roundtrip Hamburg cruise during Christmas and the New Year might pique your interest — and your wallet. The itinerary's luxurious Queens Grill suites start at $19,350 per person.

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Cunard’s New Queen Anne Ship Has the Largest Collection of Artwork at Sea

I n its 180 years the storied Cunard line has carried across the seas the likes of Winston Churchill, a hippopotamus named Jimmy, Rita Hayworth, and my mama. Add to that all 705 survivors of the Titanic, thousands of troops during wartime, and the Muppets. Not me, alas (and I’d like to remedy that), but meanwhile I did spend a night on the newly launched and pretty fabulous Cunard Queen Anne days before her maiden voyage in May. She is their first new ship in fourteen years, holding 3,000 passengers and 1,225 crew.

As guests of Cunard, our group of journalists, travel execs, and selfie-taking influencers were invited to sample the ship’s many diversions, from fourteen dining venues and “clubs,” to various musical acts and theatrical revues, to games ranging from pub quizzes to party bingo. It was dizzying to the uninitiated like me, but fun, with a prevailing and communal sense of curiosity and adventure that I imagine to be part of most cruises.

Other activities would include spin classes, open-air yoga, archery, pickleball, dance, and swimming in the stunning blue-and-white Pavilion with retractable roof. The spa offers everything from cryotherapy to micro-needling to pain management, complete with on-staff physician. There is even a sauna encased in Himalayan salt. By the look of it, no extravagance is spared.

Not to mention, the ship looks wonderful. Designers Adam Tihany , Sybille de Margerie , and David Collins Studio’s Simon Rawlings have created sleek, sophisticated and colorful spaces punctuated by more than 4,300 specially commissioned artworks, the largest collection at sea.

With de Margerie and David Collins collaborating under the direction of Tihany, the staterooms, like the ship’s public spaces, are inspired by Cunard history and rich with archival references deploying a streamlined Deco vibe to feel modern but timeless, in honey-toned wood, gleaming brass, and tactile, multi-textured fabrics in strong, classic colors.

All three firms were new to maritime design. Britannia cabins were steered by de Margerie and are dressed in deep blues and yellows, with the windowless Britannia Inside cabins being the most budget-friendly. De Margerie also did the Princess Grill suites, where I stayed. Each has a private balcony and is schemed in warm ambers, bronzes, and autumn reds, with sleeping and seating areas divided by a dressing table/desk and bar/bookcase.

When I went to adjust the position of the decorative objets (as one does), I giggled to discover that they are firmly epoxied to the shelves (duh). Collins Studio helmed the top level Queens Grill suites, which have palettes in emerald, blush, gold and champagne, some embellished with marble floors and furnishings, pendant lights, and bespoke drinks cabinets with starburst veneer fronts and interior gold leaf mirrors.

The Queens Grill Master and Grand Suites have an extra room that may be made into a private dining room or guest bedroom. The trick, says Rawlings, was to avoid the predictable while warding off what might become dated by keeping things “fresh, unique, and bold.”

With thoughtful design, sumptuous materials, and a massive art collection, the public spaces, restaurants, and lounges feel less like you're on a cruise ship and more like you're hanging out in someone's well-appointed living room.

Fun facts: Not only is the ship captained by a woman, Inger Klein Thorhauge, but the uniforms were designed Kathryn Sargent, the world’s first female master tailor.

To book, go to cunard.com or call 1-800-728-6273. On June 23, an 11-day cruise through the Norwegian fjords embarks from Southampton (about $4,700 for a balcony suite) As a cruise ship and not an ocean liner, per se , the Queen Anne primarily covers environs of Europe, though she will make a maiden global voyage for 111 days early next year, embarking Southampton January 9.

How to visit Australia without flying: Holland America launches new Grand Voyage

The long-haul flight can be enough to keep some U.S. travelers from visiting Australia . But a new Holland America Line itinerary will offer an alternate route.

The cruise line’s Grand Australia and New Zealand voyage will sail round-trip from San Diego, California in 2026, taking guests down under and back over 93 days.

"Our Grand Voyages are renowned for connecting guests with the world's most fascinating places while sailing roundtrip from the United States," Beth Bodensteiner, the line’s chief commercial officer, said in a news release . "Our team crafted this itinerary to show guests the parts of Australia and New Zealand they expect to visit, but also included frequently asked for, but rarely visited, ports throughout Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands."

When is Holland America’s Grand Australia and New Zealand voyage?

The cruise will depart on Jan. 4, 2026 aboard the line’s 1,432-guest Zaandam ship.

Where will the cruise sail?

The ship will visit 44 ports in 10 countries. Passengers will make their way to Hawaii first before heading to the South Pacific. The ship will then visit Australia – almost circling the country – and New Zealand, followed by Tonga and French Polynesia on the way back to San Diego.

The itinerary features two days of scenic cruising at the Great Barrier Reef and four late-night departures in Adelaide, Australia and the French Polynesian islands of Moorea, Raiatea and Huahine. Guests will also stay overnight in six ports, including Honolulu, Sydney and Auckland, giving them ample time to explore.

Short vs. long cruises: Which one is right for you?

How much does the cruise cost?

The cruise currently starts at $17,699 per person based on double occupancy, according to Holland America’s website . Travelers who book by June 16, 2025 can get perks like a Surf Wi-Fi package, airport transfers in San Diego, a 3% pay-in-full discount and more thrown in (though they vary by stateroom category).

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].