.jpg) Britannia in Rotterdam in 2019 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Bermuda | |
| Name | Britannia |
| Owner | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Operator | P&O Cruises |
| Port of registry |  Hamilton, Bermuda |
| Ordered | 2011 |
| Builder | Fincantieri,Monfalcone,Italy |
| Cost | £473 million |
| Yard number | 6231 |
| Laid down | 15 May 2013 |
| Launched | 14 February 2014 |
| Christened | 10 March 2015 byQueen Elizabeth II |
| Completed | 26 February 2015 |
| Maiden voyage | 14 March 2015 |
| In service | 14 March 2015 |
| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Royal-classcruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 330 m (1,082 ft 8 in)[3] |
| Beam | 38.4 m (126 ft 0 in)[3] |
| Height | 70.67 m (231 ft 10 in) |
| Draft | 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in) (max)[3] |
| Decks | 15 passenger decks |
| Installed power | Total 62 MW (83,000 hp)[3] |
| Propulsion | Wärtsilä 12V46F x 2 & Wärtsilä 14V46F x 2 & propulsion electric motors - 2 x VEM Sachsenwerk GMBH |
| Speed | 21.9knots (40.6 km/h; 25.2 mph) at 136 rev/min |
| Capacity | 3,647 passengers |
| Crew | 1,398 |
MVBritannia is a cruise ship of theP&O Cruises fleet. She was built byFincantieri at its shipyard inMonfalcone, Italy.[4]
Britannia is theflagship of the fleet,[5] taking the honour fromOriana. She officially entered service on 14 March 2015,[6] and was named by QueenElizabeth II. Her firstcaptain was Paul Brown.
Britannia features a 94-metre (308 ft)Union Flag on herbow, the largest of its kind in the world.[7]
Britannia was ordered in 2011 and waslaid down on 15 May 2013.[8] The ship was built at theFincantieri yard atMonfalcone in Italy.
The nameBritannia 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[9] for theGeneral Steam Navigation Company, which went on to become the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company.The second, which entered service in 1887, was one of four ships ordered by the company to mark the golden jubilee of bothQueen Victoria and P&O itself. The ceremonial float out of the thirdBritannia took place on the afternoon of 14 February 2014, with the traditionalchampagne bottle smashed against the vessel's hull.Britannia departed theFincantieri ship yard on 27 February 2015 forSouthampton viaGibraltar.Britannia was officially named on 10 March 2015 byQueen Elizabeth II at the Ocean Terminal.
On board,Britannia features 13 bars as well as 13 restaurants and cafés.[10]
TV chefJames Martin developed "The Cookery Club" on boardBritannia. The venue features celebrity chefs/cooks such asMary Berry,James Tanner,Antonio Carluccio,Paul Rankin andPierre Koffman.Eric Lanlard has his own patisserie, Market Café, in the ship's atrium. He also created an upgraded afternoon tea service in the Epicurean restaurant.Atul Kochhar, of theMichelin-starred Benares restaurant in London, supervises menus inSindhu (as also seen on fleetmatesVentura andAzura).Marco Pierre White creates menu items served in the main restaurants on gala nights.[11] The ship has a 936-seat theatre.[12]
Britannia has a total of 1,837 cabins with 27 of those being single cabins (inside and balcony), in addition to conventional inside and balcony cabins; 64 of the cabins are designated as suites. For the first time on a P&O Cruises ship, all outside cabins have balconies.Britannia has four pools including a dedicated pool for teenagers, and the Oasis Spa.
In October 2019,Britannia entered dry dock to undergo a major refit and refurbishment. The changes included the addition of a new art gallery, new shopping outlets and a redesigned Atrium.[13]
Britannia's maiden voyage took place 14–28 March 2015, and included visits to Spain, Italy and France.
During her summer season,Britannia sails to the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, the Baltic, Canary Islands and Atlantic Islands. In winter, the ship operates 14-night Caribbean itineraries.
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway was recorded and shown live on board as the final show of the 13th series, on 2 April 2016.
In 2013,Princess Cruises began operating the lead vessel in itsRoyal class,Royal Princess.[14]Britannia is built to the same template, but its character and exterior appearance is tailored for P&O.[15] The second ship of theRoyal class,Regal Princess, was delivered 11 May 2014 to Princess Cruises.
In 2019, there was a brawl on board. Six people, including a member of staff, were injured in the late-night fight in one of the restaurants.[16][17]
On 27 August 2023,Britannia broke her moorings while docked inPalma de Mallorca, Spain, during a sudden storm. She drifted across the harbour and collided with a moored oil tanker, theCastillo de Arteaga.[18][19] It was reported that a small number of people onBritannia had sustained minor injuries, and were being cared for by the onboard medical centre.[20]
