Despite the recent launch of megaships Iona and Arvia—two of the biggest ever cruise ships to sail regularly from Britain—Britannia remains the flagship of the P&O Cruises fleet.
Since its launch in 2015 when it was christened by none other than Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia has been the P&O Cruises vessel with the highest number of returning guests.
It’s clearly a ship beloved by its regulars, but after nine years in operation any vessel needs a refresh, so early in 2024 Britannia was given a thorough makeover. Take a look at how the refreshed flagship stands up against P&O Cruises’ more recent, bigger cruise ship Arvia.
Atrium
As with most cruise ships, the atrium is the beating heart of Britannia, with a striking light installation at its heart.
The three-level atrium is lined with bars, lounges, boutiques, and provides the ideal space for pre-dinner live music by way of a pianist, and the captain’s welcome address.
On the lower level, the refreshed Market Cafe offers a new range of premium cakes together with a full menu of barista coffees, while across the floor the Blue Room serves up pre-dinner drinks.
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In one corner, the relocated art gallery managed by Clarendon Fine Art presents a collection of mostly modern pieces that rotates throughout the cruise.
More seating is available on the highest level of the atrium in the Java coffee bar, which turns into a regular bar during the evenings.
With seating available in quieter corners and on a small outside terrace, it’s one of the more popular spots on the ship, rain or shine.
Guest Accommodation
As part of the refit, guest accommodation has been given a makeover with new carpets in many rooms and a lighter color palette in keeping with the newer ships in the P&O Cruises fleet.
Unusually for larger cruise ships, there are no oceanview cabins on Britannia. Of the 1,837 staterooms, all feature a balcony except for the 448 inside cabins. Power outlets are a mix of U.K. and EU type, with an in-room fridge, safe, and TV provided as standard.
Dining Venues
Britannia features three main dining rooms, with guests offered fixed seating or anytime dining for dinner depending on their fare class. At least one dining room is open for breakfast and lunch.
Casual dining options are limited to the vast buffet restaurant and the poolside grill and pizzeria. There’s lots of seating available in the buffet, but a little patience is needed at peak times such as lunchtimes on sea days.
One area in which Britannia excels is its specialty dining options. Epicurean adds a touch of modern French flair to a fine dining experience with the best selection of wines available on board, while Sindhu presents the best of British Indian cuisine in stylish surroundings.
The Limelight Club offers a three-course meal in a stylish cabaret club setting. Regardless of performer, this experience tends to sell out quickly.
Back down in the atrium, the Glass House features a mouthwatering menu of tapas designed by the London-based, Spanish chef José Pizarro, who makes occasional appearances on board.
Tucked away at the top of the ship, the Cookery Club is a vast open kitchen built for cookery classes and demonstrations. Although not a restaurant in the typical sense, hosted dinners are held here on selected evenings.
Entertainment Venues
Evening entertainment on Britannia is focused on the Headliners Theater. The onboard theater company perform here alongside guest acts. During the day, guest speakers and gameshows are also presented here.
Refreshed with new furnishings, Brodie’s pub is the venue for trivia, live sports on TV, and the occasional guitar-vocalist, with a small casino located to one side.
The pub offers a wider selection of beers than anywhere else on the ship, and is a popular spot throughout the day.
The Live Lounge plays host to a house band who play most evenings, while an auditorium hosts smaller seminars and movies each day. The beautifully renovated Crystal Room is the venue for traditional ballroom, sequence, and latin dancing, and performances from the resident orchestra.
Also on the lower levels, the Oasis spa has been refreshed with a relocated spa shop that provides pop-up treatments throughout the cruise.
At the front of the ship, the Crow’s Nest is an observation lounge with a dress code in the evening, perfect to enjoy a sophisticated pre-dinner co*cktail or to relax and listen to the live pianist well into the evenings.
Outdoor Space
At first glance the outdoor deck space on Britannia seems quite limited. Of the four pools, two are located in the popular pool deck, which is also home to the poolside grill, two bars, and an ice-cream bar. With all these facilities in one place, the main pool deck does fill up quickly.
However, invest some time exploring the top decks of the ship and it soon becomes apparent that there are many quieter outdoor spaces.
Six generously-sized hot tubs are dotted around the ship, while a tiered aft sundeck above the Sunset Bar offers the very best views on the ship.
Here you’ll also find an outdoor games court, a walking track, and more deck space on various levels, with far more available sun loungers than down on the main pool deck.
The adults-only pool at the Serenity Bar offers a peaceful retreat with regular bar service and a variety of seating including sun loungers, and cabanas providing some shade.
Who ‘Britannia’ Is For
With the lack of a central staircase, no lower promenade deck, and a main dining room that’s sectioned-off from the rest of the deck, Britannia’s physical design isn’t to everyone’s tastes.
However, the refit has done a terrific job of freshening up the look and feel of many of the public areas and staterooms. It no longer feels like an older ship, and it’s in good shape to celebrate its tenth anniversary in June 2025 with a 14-night British Isles sailing.
If you want to get a taster of a modern cruise ship like Arvia, but don’t like the idea of being on such a big vessel, Britannia could be for you.
With a capacity of 3,647 passengers, Britannia is by no means small, yet its design offers a lot of smaller spaces that, more often than not, give a far more intimate experience than its size suggests.
It’s also a good option for young families as there are children’s clubs available at useful times, allowing parents to enjoy a quiet dinner together, for example. Features such as children’s afternoon tea in the buffet with special guest appearances are a nice touch.
