Britannia

The 2015-built MV Britannia cruise ship is the largest vessel in P&O UK's fleet. Other Royal-class sisterships from the Princess Cruises brand include the Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Sky Princess (2019), Enchanted Princess (2021), and Discovery Princess (2022). These are the largest cruise ships ever constructed by Fincantieri (Italy).

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

History - Construction and Ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, operating under two brands: P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became part of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. P&O is the world’s oldest cruise company, having started passenger operations in 1822 on routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 3,700-passenger Britannia is the largest cruise ship ever built specifically for the British source market. The £500 million newbuild was the result of four years of planning. Britannia is 25,000 tons heavier than Azura and Ventura (previously the largest P&O ships), increasing the fleet’s capacity by almost 24%. Britannia stands out with her bold Union Jack livery and offers a modern British cruising experience. Her homeport is Southampton.

Britannia incorporates popular features from other P&O ships such as The Crow’s Nest Bar, Atul Kochar’s Sindhu restaurant, and Olly Smith’s The Glass House, alongside newly introduced amenities. Her engine power output (MAN diesel engines) is said to equal that of 70 Challenger tanks or 86 Bugatti Veyrons. Designed with environmental efficiency in mind, the new hull form helps reduce fuel consumption by approximately 20%. A 94 m / 308 ft Union Jack decorates the hull—the largest of its kind.

Britannia is the eighth ship to join the P&O UK fleet and was named to reflect a forward-looking national sentiment. The name "Britannia" was chosen for its strong heritage and was approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Two earlier ships bore the name Britannia. The first entered service in 1835 for the General Steam Navigation Company. The second was commissioned in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and had capacity for 410 passengers (250 first-class, 160 second-class) and 4,000 tons of cargo. Winston Churchill sailed to Bombay, India on this ship in 1888 with his regiment, later serving on the North-West Frontier (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).

Though the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, the name has long been associated with P&O. Following a management shake-up at Carnival UK in 2013, the introduction of Britannia marked a renewed focus on attracting younger UK cruisers. The ship symbolizes a new chapter in the line’s evolution.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) served as the ship’s godmother, naming her in a ceremony on March 10, 2015, at Southampton’s Ocean Terminal. She was accompanied by Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. During the christening, The Queen pressed a button that released a Nebuchadnezzar of sparkling wine, smashing it against the hull. Music was provided by Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band and the Irish Guards’ Regimental Band. Also in attendance were Carnival’s Micky Arison (Chairman), Arnold Donald (CEO), and David Dingle (Chairman of Carnival UK).

Decks and Cabins

MS Britannia staterooms (1,837 in total, across 35 categories) include 64 Suites, 1,298 Balcony cabins, 448 Inside cabins, and 27 Studios (single-occupancy). The ship has no Oceanview cabins. Most staterooms are Balcony (175–290 ft²). Standard balconies are compact (35 ft² / 3 m²). The largest accommodations are the Owner's Suites (470 ft² / 44 m² with 210 ft² / 20 m² terrace).

The ship has 17 decks, including 14 accessible to passengers and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

Britannia reflects the global rise of British cuisine with a range of gourmet dining venues. The Epicurean Restaurant offers fine dining with molecular gastronomy. The Glass House features nearly 40 international wines and a curated menu by Olly Smith with dishes such as Wagyu burgers and crab sliders. The Cookery Club is the first at-sea cooking school on a British ship, offering guests the chance to cook with renowned chefs including Mary Berry, James Martin, Marco Pierre White, and Atul Kochhar (of Sindhu).

Britannia also served as the backdrop for “Battlechefs,” a celebrity-led TV cooking contest (starting April 4, 2016), and hosted “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway” live from the top deck on April 2, 2016.

Complete list of Britannia restaurants and food bars:

• The Limelight Club (specialty supper club with live entertainment and 3-course meals)
• Meridian Restaurant (aft dining room; breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and club dinner)
• The Oriental Restaurant (aft MDR with fixed seating)
• The Peninsular Restaurant (forward MDR; open-seating for breakfast/lunch and fixed dinner)
• Sindhu (Indian cuisine by Atul Kochhar)
• Ocean Grill (specialty by Marco Pierre White)
• The Glass House (wine bar and steakhouse/seafood venue by Olly Smith)
• Java Cafe (buffet-style)
• The Cookery Club (specialty dining and cooking school by James Martin)
• Epicurean Restaurant (fine dining by Marco Pierre White)
• Horizon Restaurant (Lido buffet with self-service stations)
• Beach House (casual dinner-only venue)
• Poolside venues: The Pizzeria, Lido Bar, Lido Grill, Riviera Bar, and “Grab and Go”

Shipboard Entertainment Options – Fun and Sports

Britannia’s elegant design, by London-based Richmond International, offers a refined yet vibrant ambiance. Every space is individually themed while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic throughout. With 13 cafés and restaurants, 13 bars, 15 passenger decks, 4 swimming pools, and 9 Jacuzzis, the ship caters to diverse tastes. She also features more single cabins than any other ship in the fleet.

Additional amenities include 24-hour complimentary room service, Wi-Fi, a supervised kids’ program, self-service laundromats, and a nursery.

Complete list of Britannia’s entertainment venues for all age groups:

• Britannia Atrium (3-deck open area with shops and social space)
• Atrium Shops (Regalia, The Wardrobe, Chic, Emporium, Eternity, Essence)
• Market Café (by Eric Lanlard), Blue Bar (piano bar), Sunset Bar
• Brodie’s Pub, The Studio (multi-purpose lounge), Marlow Suite (also a Card Room)
• Headliners Theatre (836-seat venue with live shows and game productions)
• The Crystal Room (dance classes and evening balls)
• The Live Lounge (music venue by day, disco by night)
• The Crow's Nest (panoramic lounge with live music and daytime activities)
• Casino, Ivory Suite (wedding/vow renewal services)
• Photo Gallery & Shop, Art Gallery, Library (with internet stations)
• Terrace Pool (adults-only), Riviera Pool, Aqua Pool, Coral Pool
• Adults-only relaxation areas: The Retreat (VIP spa terrace) and Serenity
• Oasis Spa (thermal suite, thalassotherapy pool, salon, steam rooms)
• Gym (fitness equipment, yoga/Pilates classes)
• Kids’ facilities: play area, The Reef, nursery
• Promenade (walking/jogging track), Sports Court (multi-use), Table Tennis, Golf Nets

Itineraries

P&O Britannia’s itinerary program includes roundtrip Caribbean cruises from Barbados and ex-UK sailings from Southampton. Voyages cover the Caribbean, Atlantic Coast, Canary Islands, Baltic, and Mediterranean, along with mini-cruises to Guernsey and transatlantic repositioning voyages.

Britannia returned to the UK (Southampton) on March 25, 2016, after her inaugural year based in Barbados. In summer, she operated Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries. During winter 2016–2017, she was homeported in Castries, St Lucia.

On June 27, 2021, Britannia became the first P&O UK ship to resume operations post-COVID shutdown, with a 4-night "cruise to nowhere" from Southampton in the English Channel along the Devon coast.

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

P&O Britannia (hull number 6231, Monfalcone shipyard) is powered by Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 12V46F and 14V46F) with a total power output of 62.4 MW.

Her maiden Mediterranean cruise departed on March 14, 2015 — a 14-day roundtrip from Southampton visiting Gibraltar, Barcelona, Monaco, Civitavecchia-Rome, Corsica, Cartagena, and Cadiz. Her first transatlantic crossing began on October 23, 2015 — a 14-day voyage from Southampton to Bridgetown, Barbados, with ports of call in Madeira (Funchal), St Maarten, St Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada. The first Caribbean cruise departed on November 6, 2015 — a 14-day roundtrip from Barbados visiting Aruba, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Tortola (BVI), St Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, and Grenada.

In winter, Britannia sails Caribbean roundtrips from Barbados. During the 2016-2017 winter season, the ship was homeported in Port Castries, St Lucia. Fly-cruise packages from the UK (via Southampton) include discounted airfare to/from Barbados or St Lucia.

P&O Britannia refurbishments review

The ship's first drydock refurbishment was held from October 8–22, 2019, at Damen Shipyard Brest (France). Updates included:

• Complete interior refresh throughout the ship.
• (Landing Deck 5 / midship Lobby): A permanent Art Gallery was added adjacent to the Blue Bar (Atrium Bar).
• (Deck 5 midship): Atrium redesigned with new color schemes and relaxed live entertainment (music and informal performances).
• (Deck 5 midship): Market Café menu updated with new gourmet desserts created by celebrity French patissier Eric Lanlard.
• (Deck 5 forward): Oasis Spa and Salon added two express treatment pods — one for high-tech spa massages, another for express skin treatments and LVL lash lifting.
• (Tween Deck 6): Onboard shopping upgraded with luxury brands such as Jo Malone London, Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Clifton, and Edinburgh Gin.
• (Main Deck 7 midship-starboard): Java Café menu expanded to include alcoholic beverages.
• (Deck 7 midship-aft-starboard): Photo Gallery enhanced with a Dixons Electronics Hub offering premium gadgets from brands like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Canon, Fitbit, GoPro, and Bose.

P&O also introduced a try-before-you-buy program with consultant-led tasting tables in the ship’s beauty and make-up areas.

The 2024 drydock (April) included upgrades to all public areas and staterooms (passenger and crew), a redesigned Lobby Hall (extension of the Loyalty Desk and Cruise Sales Desk), Market Café enhancements, full renovation of the crew areas, revamp of the children’s splash pool with interactive features, and expansion of the Sunset Bar with additional seating.

Fun ship facts

In her first year of service (March 10, 2015 – March 25, 2016), Britannia:

• Sailed more than 90,000 nautical miles (103,570 mi / 166,680 km)
• Hosted 730 theatre shows
• Served 94,457 meals
• Operated 43 itineraries, visiting 31 countries and 61 ports

During this time, she carried over 116,900 passengers, who consumed approximately 375,000 cocktails, 2.8 million cups of tea, and over 292,000 scones.

The vessel was laid down in 2011, and her name was officially announced in 2013. Britannia features a 308 ft / 94 m long Union Jack painted on her bow — the world’s largest of its kind. She is the first Monfalcone-built cruise ship with two funnels. The last ocean liner with twin funnels built there was SS Eugenio C, delivered in 1966.

The naming ceremony featured a nebuchadnezzar of British Brut NV (Winston Estate Winery, Sussex). For the christening event, thousands of bottles of “Rosé Vintage 2011” and “Brut NV” were delivered.

MV Britannia’s godmother was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022). She was accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Philip during the naming ceremony, which took place in Southampton on March 10, 2015. Other P&O ships named by British royalty include Oriana (April 6, 1995, by HM The Queen), Aurora (April 27, 2000, by HRH Princess Royal), and Oceana and Adonia (both on May 21, 2003, by HRH Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Phillips).

The ship shares her name with the ferries Spirit of Britain (P&O Ferries) and Stena Britannica (Stena Line).