There are very few times in my life when I’ve been lost for words and whilst of course it does happen occasionally – I wish it happened more. From that time we stayed in the most magnificent hotel suite in Venice hanging over the canal, the best meal we ate in our entire lives on the Belgium/Holland border, or perhaps when we visited three islands in the Maldives that completely changed our perspective on ocean hotels. But thanks to P&O, we now have a new addition to those memories and that’s Britannia.

Britannia is currently the largest ship ever built exclusively for the British market and impressive doesn’t even begin to begin to introduce this ship. Cruising on Britannia isn’t just cruising in the traditional sense – but a luxury 5 star hotel floating in the ocean. We boarded at Southampton, looking out into the distance of Portsmouth and had one of probably the most organised embarkations in cruise history. After dropping our bags off, we were on the boat enjoying a glass of wine within 45 minutes. It’s incredible really and a reason alone to cruise the world, instead of flying it. From the very moment that we sat down on the ship, we felt as if we were on holiday – ready to enjoy our 14 day cruise around The Baltics.

The Atrium

Once we boarded and waited for our room to become ready (which was accessible to us around 1:30pm), we took ourselves on a quick tour of the ship while it was still quiet and arguably the most impressive part of Britannia has to be the grand atrium which is the beating heart of this ship.

Home to relaxation, live music, choirs, pre-dinner cocktails and of course – shopping. Is this the most stunning atrium in cruise ship history?! I think it may well be! The spiral staircase, the royal blue velvet chairs and fresh floral displays – not to mention that colour changing chandelier which was the perfect backdrop for a professional photograph on those black tie formal nights, of which we had four of on our 14 night cruise. There’s also an art gallery onboard located downstairs in the atrium, reportedly worth millions and is one of the most valuable floating galleries at sea.

The Room

We were staying in room F628 which was located on deck 9, aft of the ship and we couldn’t have asked for a better location or cabin steward. Being slightly more mid-ship would have been a little better if we were being extra picky, but we enjoyed the short walk from the midship lifts after the evening’s entertainment. A very comfy queen bed, excellent on demand TV services, modern stylish decor, roomy wardrobe and a balcony, which some guests stated was small, we found perfectly fine. The only thing we felt was missing was a second bedside table as we did room out of room for certain pieces.

A welcome gift of English sparkling wine and Belgium chocolates was a nice touch on arrival and the tea/coffee facilities were replenished daily, though the mini bar and bottled water (bar the first two free bottles) is extra. We loved sipping our complimentary bubbles on the balcony, enjoying the endless blue ocean as the ship started to fill up and we waited for our muster drill, something that is mandatory for all guests. I also got rather excited at 6pm everyday when our entertainment itinerary was posted through the cabin door as I couldn’t wait to see what was on and plan my day ahead!

Bathroom was again clean and modern, with all of the amenities needed and I particularly liked the The White Company spa products. A full-sized all-over shower gel is provide and is regularly replenished so you really don’t need to pack too heavy in that aspect. The bathroom floor space was a little small, especially when getting out of the shower but overall it was perfectly suited to us and satisfied our needs for 14 days.

The Lido & Sun Deck

Perhaps the most important part of Britannia is the lido and sun decks. These are the main outside areas onboard Britannia and on a sunny sea day its likely you’ll spend most of your time here. Two large pools, The Riviera and The Lido Pool both have their own bars and both offer different snacks during the day, ranging from burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and ice creams. We loved sitting here daily with a slice of pizza and cocktail whilst watching the daily singers or entertainment team on sail aways.

There isn’t a full promenade on this ship, which means you’ll have to do a little more walking up and down stairs to get around it, but there is a small promenade on the sports deck where you can also stop for a drink in the sports bar or have a game of archery. Just below the promenade at the aft of the ship is the Terrace Pool which was almost always empty and is the perfect place on a really hot day, especially as its above the Sunset Bar for that all important cocktail! Between a drink and dip in the pool, why not take part in a game of deck quoits, shuffleboard or bridge? We had no idea how to play any of them so I’ve added to my list for next time!

My favourite area outdoor area on the ship was the sun deck, which was always slightly quieter and is home to two bubbly whirlpools. Sitting here whilst looking out across the ocean with a pina colada was simply perfect. Regarding drinks, it’s worth noting that not one time on this ship did we ever have to visit the bar and order as someone was always serving us at our sun lounger within a few minutes of sitting down. Cocktails start at around £6.15 and large 250ml glasses averaged at around £6.50 which I thought was very reasonable.

The Serenity Pool

If you’re the type of person who likes to relax and be away from the noise a little – The Serenity Pool is going to become your new home. It’s so peaceful here away from the music by the main pool and service is always prompt, meaning you’ll never be left with an empty glass. I also noticed that this pool is significantly warmer than the main pools. I don’t know whether that’s because it was smaller, but either way it was bliss on a windy sea day.

The Retreat

The Retreat onboard Britannia was my absolute favourite spot on a sea day. In fact we only experienced it once, but we wished we’d book it more – though the £25 a head daily fee could easily rack up. One day towards the end of our cruise we experienced winds strong enough to almost blow you overboard, but not in The Retreat.

You can stay here from the early morning until 6pm and all of your food is included within the £25 fee so you don’t have to leave. A light breakfast in the morning, buffet style lunch, through to a selection of afternoon tea and snacks. We spent most of our time soaking up the sun and enjoying a few too many cocktails in the hot tub. There are two hot tubs in the retreat, extra plush towels provided and the comfiest sun loungers on the ship, plus it never is or ever feels busy. If you unlucky enough for a cold day on the ship, then head inside to the Oasis Spa which I’m informed is a tranquil and rather beautiful place to spend the day.

The Sunset Bar

Now, The Sunset Bar was one of my favourite places (yet another favourite!!!) on the ship and for many reasons, mostly because it was located close to the lift up from our floor. Service was always immaculate, snacks were put on offer during the day and it was a fantastic place to watch the sunsets or sunrise over a cup of coffee or cocktail. One side of this bar is also reserved for smokers, though unless walking through it directly you rarely notice.

Entertainment

If there was one thing I got perhaps a little addicted too, aside from the food (and cocktails) – it was the entertainment. Spectacular performances which at points were even better than shows in the West-End. Being able to select your own seat right at the front with a space to put down your glass of wine or even a little singing around the poolside on a sea day. If there is one thing Britannia does best – it’s entertainment!

Headliner’s Theatre

When it comes to big, West-End style shows – The Headliner’s Theatre is where it happens. Raising the curtain on the digital era, Britannia has introduced a new era of on-board entertainment with a stunning LED backdrop wall which provides instant changes of scenery and immersive experiences. A giant spider even appeared from nowhere above the audiences heads much to our surprise during one of the evenings shows and created much talk between our fellow cruisers!

One of the best shows for us was The Sound of The Underground, which took us on a tube ride saluting cultures, music and history with a cool Britannia soundtrack. We also really loved Once Upon a Time, filled with modern hits and a fantasy theme which took us on a journey through our favourite fairytale stories; featuring fantastic costumes and some stellar performances.

Talented comedy acts, solo singers and even a ventriloquist made for something different when the Britannia entertainment team wasn’t performing. A group named The 4Tunes was for us the best on the ship who were incredible! Our least favourite show was Gravity, a high-tech how set to an eclectic mix of musical styles. We found it very disjointed and the weakest of the shows we experienced. When we though we’d seen the best during our first week, the second surprised us with P&O’s new show Astonishing by Stephen Mulhern. I won’t give anything away – apart from saying that it really was astonishing!!!

The Crystal Room

The Crystal Room was yet another stunning place and became the venue for dance glasses during the evening or bingo in the afternoon room. For us it wasn’t a place we spent much time in as dancing isn’t really for us, but it was great to watch before an evenings show.

The Casino

I promised myself before the cruise I wouldn’t spend any money in the casino, but of course I failed that promise miserably. It’s particularly addictive in that the more you play, the more the rewards. As you continue tap the illuminated buttons, your drinks bar fills up against your cruise card, ultimately rewarding you with a free drink. I also played by hand at blackjack a few times which I ended up really enjoying.

The Live Lounge

Late night disco, some or the best ship comedy and incredible singing acts – The Live Lounge is open till late and with its relaxed dress code the venue is a popular choice amongst cruisers. We were lucky enough to have front row seats to watch Jenna Lee-James, best known for her part as Scaramouche in the West End version of the hit musical We Will Rock You and as you could imagine she was incredible!

Where to Eat & Drink

There are so many placed to eat & drink on Britannia (over 10 restaurants and 8 bars) that writing about them all was never going to be an easy task which is why I chose to write about them in a separate article which you can read HERE. Below are just some of my absolute favourite places to eat and drink on this incredible cruise ship, with an in-depth look into their sumptuous interiors.

The Glass House

Love wine? Then The Glass House will be your new best friend! Wine varieties from all four corners of the globe, by the glass, by the bottle – accompanied by some delicious plates of food or delectable tapas. Headed up by the award-winning wine expert Olly Smith, The Glass House is the perfect location for a light bite, lunchtime feast, afternoon apéritif or evening out. We fell in love with this place for many reasons, but most for its gargantuan fish & chips and al fresco terrace for some relaxed lunchtime dining.

The Blue Bar & Brodie’s

I probably don’t need to tell you why this bar is called The Blue Bar, but it most certainly became a highlight and our go-to pre-dinner bar whilst waiting for a table at dinner times. The service was always swift, the cocktails perfectly executed and the big windows looking out across the ocean, particularly on a choppy evening were incredibly tranquil to watch.

If The Blue Bar was ever busy, we’d pop upstairs to Brodie’s, the onboard traditional pub which had a great vibe, free jukebox and pool table which we found ourselves playing most nights.

The Limelight Club

Both a place to eat and enjoy relaxed entertainment is The Limelight Club. A first for P&O Cruises, The Limelight Club is a venue exclusively for adults that combines delicious food (some of the best we had) with dazzling entertainment. The dining room is absolutely gorgeous and the modern European menu will suit even the fussiest of eaters. Dinner and a show here is £25pp which I think is a bargain as you can get up close with famous singers and performers in an intimate setting. Later in the evening, The Limelight Club turns into a late-night dancing venue and I loved the dress code which matches the laid-back atmosphere. Smart casual every night, even on a black tie evening.

Sindhu

By far the best dining experience on the ship, Sindhu was somewhere we frequented as much as we could with two menus changing throughout the cruise. Backed by celebrity chef Atul Kochhar, P&O seem to be rolling Sindhu out across their fleet and you can see why. Traditional Indian favourites with the occasional British twist such as steak with masala mashed potatoes or familiars such as butter chicken laced with cardamom. Sindhu has a cover charge of £20pp but you get so much food for your money and you’ll only want to come back the next day and we did exactly that.

Allocated & Freedom Dining – Meridian/Peninsular/Oriental

Now if you’re unsure as to how dinner works in your included a la carte restaurants or what is included, it’s very simple and all I can say is apart from the speciality restaurants, it pays to eat in your included restaurant. Each room is allocate a specific restaurant to dine in (ours was Meridian) throughout the cruise for dinner (lunch and afternoon tea will be in one of the three restaurants and is also included in your package) and each night you can enjoy a five-course menu or six-course dinner on gala nights.

Before cruising you can select either a sitting of 6:30pm or 8:30pm and subject to availability, if you’d like to share with others or request a table for two. We choose freedom dining which meant we could dine almost anytime between 6-9pm and throughout the 14 nights we never had a problem getting a table for two. You may have to wait occasionally when you’re given a buzzer to alert you to when you table’s free, but that never took more than 15 minutes.

Horizon & The Beach House

Horizon is your go to buffet restaurant (included within your cruise package) onboard the ship and surprisingly the selection and quality was rather good. Yes, there was lot of fried foods, but alongside it were plenty of fresh salads, seafood and fruits. There was even live cooking stations for pancakes, omelettes and noodle dishes. One of the greatest things about Horizon is that you dine around the clock with late night snacks available from between 10pm and 6am and the menus change daily, though you may see a few of the dinner options churned out again. Indian on some nights, Spanish on others – it was always changing at dinner. During the evening part of Horizon is cordoned off and becomes The Beach House. It was one of our favourite restaurants onboard and you can read more about it HERE.

Epicurean

Epicurean is Britannia’s flagship fine-dining restaurant and with a cover charge of £28pp, it’s worth every penny. The finest jamon carved table-side, Australian Black Angus steaks and desserts to leave you salivating. Read all about my Epicurean experience and the food we ate on the ship HERE. Be warned, you will be booking your next cruise after reading so have the credit card ready!

The Destinations

Rostock, Germany

After enjoying our first full two days at sea, we arrived into our first destination at around 8am – Rostock in North Germany. The city is most famously known for its university which was founded in 1419, but we decided to explore more of its food and colourful buildings during our time here. The beautiful Neuer Markt (New Market Square) is a must even just for a photograph and the high street is perfect time to stock up on your cruise essentials for the rest of the trip. You can literally find anything here and the antique markets are well worth a browse.

After you’ve explored the city, which isn’t very big so you won’t miss a thing gladly, I highly recommend lunch at Braugasthaus Zum alten Fritz which is by the water’s edge just a 10 minute walk south of the city. Here you’ll find some of the best German beers and cuisine Rostock has to offer and on a sunny day the restaurants terrace is perfect. We ordered the beer tasting flight, a bargain at €6.50 and and cooked meat platter, before taking the free coach transfer back to Britannia for our 17:00 sail away.

Helsinki, Finland

Now I don’t know if it was the weather (it was a little overcast) but the one place we didn’t quite fall in love with on our trip was Helsinki. By no means was it not enjoyable, but in the rank of the places we visited I just couldn’t quite connect. The city is home to some seriously stunning churches, beautiful cobbled streets and even heated outdoor pools perched on the ocean which even on the coldest days I’m told are busy. One place you mustn’t miss is the Uspenski Cathedral, a stunning piece of architecture.

We arrived to a day of military marches, Helsinki Pride and the city really goes all out with its rainbow flags. We also visited the most stunning Rock Church which is built into the side of a rock face and ate delicious seafood whilst people watching close to the main market square which is located at the harbour. The coach stops directly in the centre of the city and you can really walk to almost every attraction or site within 30 minutes meaning no rushing back or missing out on too much of anything.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

For most St Petersburg was the reason people cruise to the Baltics, but actually Tallinn was our goal and so during the day when everyone was off the ship I took that as my opportunity to enjoy a quieter side of Britannia and enjoy St Petersburg in the evening. We booked one of the P&O excursions and I must say it was very well organised. Within leaving the ship, we were on our coach and had left within 15 minutes, passing through the city and arriving in the city 30mins later for our Swan Lake ballet booking which was such an exquisite experience. The dancers were more understudies rather than the real deal, but they were still very good and all in all it was a wonderful evening which we’ll never forget.

Tallinn, Estonia

There was one place on this journey which has been on my bucket list since I can remember and words couldn’t begin to describe how excited I was, despite the rather damp weather. It was everything I imagined and more and I can’t wait to plan a return in the future. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, is the country’s cultural hub with eye-wateringly beautiful architecture dating back to the 13th century, notably the town hall and main market square which is home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe.

The city still retains its walled, cobblestone old town which is home to shops and restaurants and all of the streets are filled with craft and souvenir shops. We even climbed the city’s wall for a few euros, taking in the sights of the streets below and seeking out the many viewing platforms Tallinn has to offer. For lunch we stopped at the old medieval restaurant, Olde Hansa, located just next to the town hall and whilst it is a bit of a tourist attraction now, the food is heavenly and so is the service.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm will most certainly be one of those places that a day is never enough to explore and you’ll be wanting to return shortly after you leave. Once we arrived in the centre of the city, taking the commuter boat it was still a little early before everything opened up so we visited a hotel I’ve always had on my wish list, The Grand Stockholm. It’s set right across from the Royal Palace and the harbour Strömkajen, with seriously beautiful interiors inside to match so stay for a coffee and enjoy the views, before heading out into the cobbled streets and old town which is full of history.

There are so many beautiful building in Stockholm and I can’t wait to return someday, with a plan of exploring Stockholm Palace in much more depth. The Royal Palace is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch so if you’re lucky, you may even spot a royal or two! As we sailed out of Stockholm lots of lush green islands were dotted around and people waving us off as we sailed back out into the sunset. There was even a theme park on the water’s edge.

Copenhagen, Denmark

We wasn’t quite blessed with the sun on our visit to Copenhagen which was our sixth stop, yet it was one of the most spectacular during our Baltic cruise. I’m not sure what I expected from this city exactly but it reminded me of London a lot, especially in terms of its different districts and diverse range of people and cultures. One place you must visit is the absolutely stunning Nyhavn, which is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district, stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse. Colourful, full of atmosphere and the seafood is a must.

Copenhagen was the one place on this cruise where I took the most photos and so trying not to include all 100’s of them was a hard task, but at least I’m not giving too much away for you to explore yourself. Rosenborg Castle to the north of the city was again eye-wateringly beautiful and the Tivoli Gardens which opened in 1843 and is home to one of the oldest wooden rollercoaster in the world. It’s still even operated by a brakeman! Something most people will never see again in their lifetime.

Skagen, Denmark

Well, all I can say is – what a fantastic port of call for our last day! I’d never even heard of Skagen before taking this cruise and while it does feel like it’s been almost purposely built for us cruise goers, it was such a tranquil way to end everything. Once we left the ship after yet another incredibly quick disembarkation, the silence of Skagen fell all around us. The sun was shining, a light breeze was in the air and everywhere was so clean and picture perfect with the centre of the town being about 15 minutes walk or a short coach journey. Cobbled streets, yellow building, arts & craft shops, STUNNING churches (note the boats hanging from ceiling) and beautiful windmills.

Now I’m not going to lie here, I’m not the most active person in the world unless my blog is involved, otherwise I’m stuck in front of the TV with a glass of wine, but when I go away I seem to develop this ability to want to explore everywhere and anywhere on foot and my partner, well – let’s just say the lies are constant when he asks me “how long left?”. Obviously I always just say 5 minutes on repeat. But walk north of the island and 40 minutes later you’ll arrive at a lovely lighthouse with a cute cafe for snacks, coffee or a refreshing beer whilst enjoying the views over the dunes.

Another 15 minutes walk onwards and you’ll realise it was worth the wait. There’s a fantastic restaurant on top of the hill called Restaurant De 2 Have which serves up the finest mussels we’ve ever eaten and with the combination of a warm ocean and golden beach is was the perfect place to relax. Take the Sandormen (around £4 return per adult) sand bus right out to Grenen, the most northern point of the island where you can jump into the sea and excitingly put your feet in two oceans at the same time – the Baltic and the North Sea.

The Sunsets

I think a special mention really has to go out to all the sunsets we were so blessed to experience on our cruise. From the illuminating lights of Britannia as the sky started to turn red, plateau of islands drenched in orange sun as we sailed away from Copenhagen or simply just leaning over the edge of the back of the boat with a cocktail in hand as the skies started to turn dark.

One of the most memorable sunsets had to be the evening we passed underneath The Øresund Bridge. It’s the longest bridge in Europe and connects both Copenhagen (where we were heading), the Danish capital city, and the Swedish city of Malmö. Just before we passed it the sky turned bright orange and only a glow remained as we got to the other side. Another thing you’ll notice is the closer you sail north and towards Saint Petersburg, standing out on your balcony gone midnight and it’s still bright. It’s a strange feeling.

The Great British Sail Away

Sailing out of Skagen, our last destination we begun what everyone was looking forward to most, the last of and most important – The Great British Sail Away! Cocktails were flowing, Champagne was price cut to celebrate, flags were handed out (or can be collected the night before) and then the great British classics were boomed out across the ship. An incredible atmosphere and a wonderful way to near the end of our journey.

Well what can I say other than what an amazing trip we had onboard Britannia! Cruising around the Baltics for 14 days wasn’t just a holiday, but a completely eye-opening experience to P&O. I honestly only ever remembered the brand from my childhood ferry crossings to Calais but now a market leader in cruise holidays, you can really see why. Britannia isn’t just an incredible ship, but one which will make memories to cherish for a lifetime. Would we stay on Britannia again? In a heartbeat!

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Scandinavia and Russia, 14 nights, from £1,199pp
P&O Cruises is offering a 14 night cruise on Azura (A915) from £1,199 per person for an inside cabin. Departing 8 June 2019, the price includes kids’ clubs, full board meals and entertainment on board.  Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Warnemunde, Helsinki, St. Petersburg (overnight in port), Tallinn, Stockholm and Copenhagen (evening in port).
To book, visit www.pocruises.com, call  03453 555 111 or visit your local travel agent.
Link to cruise: http://www.pocruises.com/a915

READ MORE ABOUT MY BRITANNIA FOOD EXPERIENCES HERE