P&O Cruises is confident its new vessel is the ‘ship for the British public of tomorrow’. HOLLIE-RAE MERRICK reports from Britannia’s launch in Southampton
BRITANNIA IN NUMBERS
£473m The ship is
1,350 crew 1,082ft
3,600 CARRIES PASSENGERS
The ship weighs 14 times as much as the Eiffel Tower
long cost to build
P&O: ‘We covet agent and public approval’
P&O Cruises chairman David Dingle is confident Britannia will get the seal of approval from the British public. Dingle said it was important
that feedback from agents and passengers validated the new look and direction for the company. Britannia arrived in Southampton last week and was named by the Queen on Tuesday during three nights of inaugural celebrations. More than 3,000 agents joined
THE HULL BOASTS LARGEST DEPICTION OF THE UNION FLAG IN THE WORLD
Britannia to find out more about P&O Cruises’ new flagship. Dingle claimed the line was the only cruise company that could stake claim to being the “best of British and best for British”. “The moment of truth will be when we show the ship to the British public,” he said. “We’re confident we have the ship for the British public of tomorrow, and obviously, we need to get the feedback that we’ve succeeded. “That’s what we’re looking
forward to. But we are confident that this ship strongly delivers everything we set out to achieve. “This is the most vibrant ship
that we have ever built and we think it reflects the vibrancy that
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travelweekly.co.uk — 12 March 2015
The whole approach to this ship, and the whole design, is taking its cues from what reflects Britain of now and the future
we have in Britain today. Britain is an incredibly different place from when my first ship, Oriana, was built 20 years ago. “When we designed Oriana, the best of British was often what happened in the past. But the whole approach to this ship, and the whole design, is taking its cues from what reflects Britain of now and the future. We are much more forward-looking.
“No other cruise company has permission to be the Britain of today – and that is what we are.” Dingle said his favourite
elements onboard Britannia were the atrium’s Starburst chandelier – which he described as “a leap of faith in the designers” – plus the Crow’s Nest and Blue Bar and the Epicurean restaurant.
David Dingle (left)
Food Heroes enjoy first taste of flagship
Wine expert Olly Smith believes Britannia will attract new customers because of its “five- star hotel feel and design”. He told Travel Weekly he was
impressed with the line’s new flagship and said the vessel “blew him away” when he first stepped on board.
The Glass House, Smith’s
venue on the ship, serves wines he has selected as well as two new beers he has created. Chef James Martin agreed the ship was like a luxury hotel and added: “It’s meticulous in the design and that goes for the food too.”
SPECIAL REPORT
Britannia bids to be best of British
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