MV Britannia is a cruise ship for P&O Cruises, entered service on 14 March 2015. Britannia features a 94 metres (308 ft) Union Flag on her bow, the largest of its kind in the world. Britannia is the flagship of P&O Cruises UK, taking over this honour from Oriana. Britannia’s first captain is Paul Brown.
Britannia was ordered in 2011 and was laid down on 15 May 2013. The ship was built at the Fincantieri yard in Monfalcone, Italy. The ceremonial float out took place on the afternoon of 14 February 2014, with the traditional champagne bottle smashed against the vessel’s hull.
The name Britannia was announced on 24 September 2013 and has historical importance for P&O, as there have been two previous ships named Britannia connected with the company. The first entered service in 1835 for the General Steam Navigation Company, which went on to become the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company and the second, which entered service in 1887, was one of four ships ordered by the company to mark the golden jubilee of both Queen Victoria and P&O itself.
Britannia departed the Fincantieri ship yard on 27 February 2015 for Southampton via Gibraltar. Britannia was officially named on 10 March 2015 by Queen Elizabeth II at the Ocean Terminal. On board, Britannia will feature 13 bars as well as 13 restaurants and cafés.
It has been announced that TV chef James Martin will develop The Cookery Club on board Britannia and will feature celebrity chefs/cooks such as Mary Berry, James Tanner, Antonio Carluccio, Paul Rankin and Pierre Koffman. Eric Lanlard will have his own patisserie in the ship’s atrium called Market Café and is also creating an upgraded afternoon tea service at the Epicurean restaurant, Atul Kocchar will feature his own restaurant Sindhu (as also seen on fleetmates Ventura and Azura) and Marco Pierre White will also have a restaurant aboard. The ship features a 936-seat theatre.
Britannia has a total of 1,837 cabins on board with 27 of those being single cabins (inside and balcony), in addition to conventional inside and balcony as well as 64 suites. For the first time on a P&O Cruises ship, all outside staterooms will have balconies.
Britannia will have four pools with a dedicated pool for teenagers and the Oasis Spa.Britannia’s Maiden voyage is planned to take place 14-28 March 2015, and will take in Spain, Italy and France.
During her summer season, Britannia will sail to the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, the Baltic, Canary Islands and Atlantic Islands. In winter, the ship will sail 14-night Caribbean itineraries.