Should you sail on P&O Britannia? 🇬🇧🚢

P&O Britannia: A Detailed Review Overall Impression: My first P&O cruise on the Britannia left me with a sense of disappointment, making me feel it was "very overrated" for the price I paid. While some aspects of the ship were commendable, significant drawbacks, particularly in entertainment and staff conduct, marred my experience. I noted a general sentiment among repeat guests that the cruise line has cut back on offerings.

The Positives: What Shone Brightly

Ship Maintenance: Despite its age, the P&O Britannia has been exceptionally well-maintained, appearing clean and spotless throughout. This dedication to cleanliness was a standout feature, something a lot of people overlook, but they did an amazing job.

Cookery Club: The Cookery Club was outstanding, and I truly believe it's something all guests should try. It clearly provided significant value and enjoyment.

Staff Friendliness (General & Bar Staff): The majority of staff members around the boat were all welcome and friendly. The bar staff in all bars particularly stood out for their excellent service.

Spa Treatments: The treatments at the spa were greatly priced, and the team always knew a lot about what they were doing, which was great to see on board.

Food (Overall Acceptable): While nothing really stood out, the food on board was alright overall. I do think the presentation of the food could have been a lot better.

The Negatives: Areas for Significant Improvement

Entertainment: This was a major point of contention for me. The entertainment was boring and very dull around the ship, with only one thing on at a time. The headline shows were barely worth going to, indicating a clear cutback in this area compared to previous years, as noted by other guests I spoke with.

Staff Conduct: A concerning issue was hearing multiple staff members openly talking negatively and rudely about each other in front of guests, which seemed to lean into bullying of other staff members.

Captain's Demeanor: The Captain's perceived unfriendliness was a notable negative. Two times we tried to make conversation, and both times he walked past. We knew he heard us as he turned and saw us both waving. Even over the mic during the two weeks, he didn't sound bothered or excited to have us on board.

Room Cleaning & Amenities: This was a significant letdown.

Poor Cleaning Standards: I found poo around the loo, floss in the bedroom, and needed to call other members of staff due to finding blood on my sheets three times during the 14 days. This points to a severe lack of training for the cleaning staff when joining other boats.

Lack of Replenishment: For a British cruise line, the cleaning staff for the room also never filled my room with extra tea, sugar, or milk during the two weeks. How is this even possible to happen?

Day Trip Pricing: The prices for the day trips were out of price. Charging £45 for a walking tour for only two hours is crazy!

Food Flavor: While the food overall was good, I wish there were more flavors and spices.

Morning Noise: Staff during the morning were very loud, and I found it hard to have a lie-in. They would just slam staff doors and doors to clean rooms while not thinking of other guests.

Conclusion & Recommendation

For what we paid, I think the cruise was very overrated. Talking to a lot of guests who have traveled with this ship before in previous years, they have said a lot of things have been cut back, and you can see a clear cut in the entertainment area. For my very first P&O cruise, it didn't leave me wanting more, and I'm left wondering where I can get my money back!

My recommendation: If you are wanting to disconnect from the world (meaning no Wi-Fi) and to be left alone, then it's perfect. But if you want amazing theatre, gal nights, and memories of sail away parties, then I would give this a big miss.