P&O Cruises has been a much-loved cruise line with British cruisers for decades and offers traditional cruises to popular destinations such as the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords. In this ultimate guide to P&O Britannia, I share everything you need to know about the flagship to make the most of your cruise holiday.
Key Facts about P&O Britannia
P&O Britannia was launched in 2015 and was last refurbished in 2019. The cruise ship was built by Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) and is a Royal Class ship, making it a sister to: Royal, Regal, Sky, Enchanted, Majestic and Discovery Princess.
Britannia has 1,836 cabins for up to 3,647 passengers and has 1,350 crew.
| Length (LOA) | 330 m / 1083 ft |
| Beam (width) | 47 m / 154 ft |
| Gross Tonnage | 143730 gt |
Where is P&O Britannia right now?
You can discover the exact location of Britannia cruise ship using this cruise tracker and take a look at the Britannia webcam from the Bridge.
Cabins on P&O Britannia
Britannia offers a range of cruise cabins to suit all budgets and preferences:
- Inside
- Balcony
- Superior Deluxe Balcony (equivalent to a mini-suite)
- Suite
Inside cabin
A standard inside cabin on P&O Britannia is 170 square feet, which is ample space for two people. This cabin has a TV, fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.
There is generous wardrobe space with shelves and drawers, which I found was plenty of storage for a fortnight’s cruise.
There is a security safe to store any valuables and it’s worth mentioning that we could fit an iPad easily into it.
The en-suite bathroom is stocked with toiletries from The White Company and a notably there was a shower door (instead of a shower curtain).
Pool towels are already in your cabin when you arrive so that you can use them on the ship or at the beach.
An inside cabin is a perfect option for those who like to spend their time enjoying the ship’s facilities and public areas. I also like how dark the room is if you want to sleep or take a nap during the day.
Balcony Cabin
A standard balcony cabin on Britannia is 212 square feet, which is a good size space for two people. This cabin has a TV, fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.
There is generous wardrobe space, shelves and drawers, which was the same amount of space as an inside cabin. The balcony has the addition of a small table and comfy chair.
The balcony has enough space for two chairs and a small table. I would say the size of the balcony is not huge but fine if you enjoy to sit outside and get some sea air.
The en-suite bathroom appears to be the same size as the inside cabin and is stocked with toiletries from The White Company. It has a shower with a door and pool towels are already in your cabin.
Superior Deluxe Balcony
A superior deluxe balcony cabin on Britannia is 281 square feet, which is a good option for families (sleeps up to four) or couples wanting a bit of luxury and inside space to relax. This cabin has two TVs, a fridge and tea/coffee making facilities that are replenished daily.
The cabins amenities are very similar to those of inside and balcony cabins but has the added bonus of a separate sitting area, which can be curtained off if the settee bed is required.
I would compare this to a mini-suite on sister ships with Princess Cruises.
The bathroom has the addition of a bath with the shower head over it, I think this is a luxury that many would be happy to pay extra for.
Suite cabin
For passengers wanting the ultimate luxury cabin or want to cruise as a family with enough space for everyone, a suite offers 382-689 square feet.
There are four grades of suite on Britannia and are located forward, mid-ship and in the aft. As it’s the most expensive type of cabin on Britannia, I’d fully recommend doing plenty of research before booking so that you choose the right one for you.
Take a look at this guide to choosing the best suite on Britannia.
A suite comes with a long list of perks and benefits:
- Priority embarkation/disembarkation
- Access to an exclusive hospitality lounge with a selection of teas, coffees and fresh pastries while you wait to board
- Exclusive welcome reception with hot and cold canapés and complimentary alcoholic drinks
- Box of chocolates
- Fresh fruit
- Daily canapes
- Coffee machine
- Breakfast in an exclusive venue (Epicurean Restaurant)
- Inclusive room service
- Butler service
- Full-size whirlpool bath
- Priority tenders (where applicable)
Dining on P&O Britannia
There are plenty of dining options on P&O Britannia, with complimentary and specialty restaurants to choose from.
There are main dining rooms, casual dining venues and specialty dining restaurants.
Main Dining Rooms
You will be allocated the Oriental main dining room for traditional set time dining if you enjoy eating at the same time every evening.
Oriental Restaurant
Breakfast: 08.00 – 09.30 (Sea Day) 07.30 – 09.00 (Port Day)
Dinner: 1st sitting from 18.30, 2nd sitting from 20.30.
If you prefer a bit more flexibility in the time you eat, I would recommend dining at the Meridian main dining room or Peninsular main dining room.
You can choose the style of dining you’d like when you book your cruise on Britannia.
The main dining rooms all offer the same menu, which changes each night.
In my opinion the food is of a good standard and features traditional British dishes such as Beef Wellington and Bread and Butter Pudding. I particularly recommend the fish dishes.
Meridian Restaurant
Lunch: 12.15 – 13.45 (Light lunch option – Sea days only) Dinner: 18.00 – 21.30
Peninsular Restaurant
Breakfast: 08.00 – 09.30 (Sea Day) 07.30 – 09.00 (Port Day)
Lunch: 12.15 – 13.45
Afternoon tea: 16.00 – 16.45
Dinner: 18.00 – 21.30
Once a cruise, there is a special Gala Night menu that shouldn’t be missed. This is typically offered on the first formal night of the cruise. Please be aware that this may differ on summer 2021 UK cruises.
Each dish in the main dining room is nicely presented and portion sizes are not too large so you can enjoy all three courses. If you have a larger appetite you can always order extra portions of any course.
Casual Dining Venues
On P&O Britannia you can opt for more casual dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner with healthy and fast food choices, depending on what you fancy.
The buffet is open from 6am to 12 noon for breakfast. It can get very busy but signage at the entrances indicates peak times to avoid.
I would recommend leaving the main buffet dining area and finding a table outside for a peaceful start to the day, away from what can be chaos.
The buffet has a rolling menu so there is always food available between 6am and 2am, here’s a guide to times throughout the day in the Horizon Court Buffet:
Breakfast: 06:00 – 12:00
Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00
Afternoon snacks: 15:00 – 17:00
Children’s tea: 17:00 – 18:00
Theme dinner: 18:00 – 21:30
Late night snacks: 21:30 – 02:00
The themed dinners in the buffet change nightly and offers a wide selection of cuisines from around the world. You can find the schedule for the buffet dinner themes on you in-cabin TV.
Other complimentary casual food options include:
- Pizzeria on Lido Deck 16
- The Grill on Lido Deck 16
- Grab & Go on Lido Deck 16
I particularly like the Grab and Go option as there are freshly-made individually wrapped sandwiches and salads that you can take from the fridges. This is a healthy alternative to the pizza and burgers also on offer on the Lido Deck.
Specialty Dining Restaurants on P&O Britannia
For an additional charge, you can book a table at one of P&O Britannia’s specialty restaurants.
You can book in advance before the cruise or once you’re onboard but be aware that once you get on the ship, dining times may be limited.
The Beach House
The cheapest specialty dining option on Britannia is The Beach House at just £7.50 for a three-course meal. It’s a pop-up restaurant situated in a section of the Horizon Court Buffet and is only open in the evenings.
I dined at The Beach House twice on my last cruise on Britannia and liked it’s casual atmosphere and tasty food.
The menu takes inspiration from Caribbean and American cuisines to deliver menu choices that are sure to appeal to families and friends looking for comfort food and hearty dishes.
The Beach House menu has vegetarian options and limited vegan options so it can be enjoyed by all preferences.
The Glass House
Situated in the ship’s atrium, The Glass House meticulously pairs light, tapas-style dishes with a selection of wines that cannot be enjoyed anyway else on P&O Britannia.
British TV presenter and wine expert, Olly Smith, has had a hand in the menu so it’s fair to say that some thought has gone into the food and drink on offer.
I’d recommend reading my blog post, dedicated to The Glass House and its menu.
Sindhu
A popular specialty restaurant on P&O Britannia is Sindhu, located on Deck 7. This restaurant offers contemporary Indian cuisine and is open for dinner every night from 6pm to 9pm and a light lunch on sea days from 11am to 4.30pm.
Sindhu has a cover charge of £20 per person, which is excellent value given the quality of the dishes. It can seat up 140 covers per night but beware, this still gets booked up in advance.
It has its own bar and lounge area in front of the restaurant that is a chilled area for pre or post-dinner drinks.
The Epicurean Restaurant
The Epicurean Restaurant offers modern, British fine dining and is located near the Crow’s Nest on Deck 16. This specialty dining venue is open for breakfast for suite guests and dinner for any passengers with an advanced booking.
The menu features a selection of classic and contemporary dishes, along with an extensive cheese menu, hand picked by cheese expert Charlie Turnbull.
You can also enjoy Eric Lanlard’s afternoon tea at The Epicurean on sea days but should be pre-booked.
The Limelight Club
If you enjoy dinner and a show, The Limelight Club offers just that. A variety of acts perform during the cruise, which differs depending on your dates and itinerary but can be pre-booked before your cruise.
I would say 80s and 90s musical acts are the main theme of the Limelight Club.
Four menus are rotated throughout the cruise so if you decide to watch more than one act, you won’t be stuck with the same menu.
The menu is limited and I personally think that there are a few strange combinations and textures but the performances certainly make up for that.
The cover charge varies according to the performers but expect to pay between £25 and £35 for a three-course meal.
Entertainment on P&O Britannia
Throughout the day on board P&O Britannia, there is entertainment and activities to get involved in.
I’d recommend watching my tour of Britannia to help you become familiarised with the entertainment venues on the ship.
You can also take a look at the 50 free things to do on Britannia included in your cruise fare.
Live music can be found in most of the bars and lounges in the evenings. If you particularly enjoy dancing, I’d recommend heading to The Crystal Room for big band music and ballroom dancing.
Headliners Theatre
The Headliners Theatre is a two-tier theatre seating 936 cruise passengers.
There is a selection of tribute acts, cabaret-style shows and guest performers throughout the cruise with P&O’s magic show, Astonishing, also making an appearance.
There are two or three performances per night to accommodate cruisers with different dining times so it’s very unlikely you’ll not be able to find a seat for one of the performances each evening.
The tiered seating means that you will always be able to see the stage and accessible seating is located near the Deck 7 entrance to the theatre.
Bars and Drinks on P&O Britannia
There are 13 bars onboard P&O’s Britannia so there’s no chance of going thirsty!
Beer lovers will find plenty of choice on the menu in Brodie’s, whilst wine connoisseurs should feel at home in The Glass House. Both of these venues offer drinks flights so that you can sample a selection of beer and wine before finding your favourite.
Brodie’s
Brodie’s is P&O Cruises’ onboard pub, a hub for live music, sport and entertainment. This venue is named after P&O’s co-founder, Brodie McGhie Wilcox. You can expect British bottled beers, spirits and wine here.
This venue can get quite busy, particularly in the evenings when there are quizzes and games being hosted.
There are some quieter ‘break-out’ spaces along one side with comfy seating and the casino is situated on the opposite side. There is waiter service or you can order directly from the bar.
Blue Bar
For classy cocktails, martinis and bellinis, I would recommend a visit to the Blue Bar in the atrium with the added bonus of people-watching.
It’s the main bar situated in the atrium and is a great place to meet friends and family before dinner. It’s very popular on formal nights as the place to sip your champagne or bellini. It gets quieter after dinner as passengers head off to the other venues so for a drinks with friends it’s a nice spot.
Live Lounge
On Deck 7 aft, the Live Lounge is an entertainment venue that offers live music and doubles as the ship’s nightclub.
On some occasions, this venue was completely empty and we popped in to get a quick drink at the bar. This is where the 80s night is held but don’t worry, fancy dress is not required or encouraged.
The Crow’s Nest
For fantastic front-facing views during the day and elegant drinks at night, The Crow’s Nest is a bar that can be found across the P&O fleet.
The bar isn’t open all day but in the evening it turns into a sophisticated piano bar for after-dinner drinks. This venue can be quite popular on formal nights.
Sunset Bar
If you enjoy sipping a cocktail and watching the wake view, the Sunset Bar on Deck 16 is a perfect spot. This is my favourite bar on Britannia and we enjoy spending some time here in the late afternoon, during sailaways.
Drinks prices are fairly reasonably and are no more than what you would pay on the high street. You can see the full list of drinks on Britannia with prices to give you an idea of what’s onboard and how much you should budget for.
A drinks package may be worth purchasing for your Britannia cruise but be aware that drinks packages are not available to purchase on short cruises.
There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks packages as well as a child’s package, which I think is excellent value. Take a look at the options so you can decide for yourself.
It’s important to note that drinks packages cannot be shared and therefore, P&O Cruises will not allow just one person sharing a cabin to buy a drinks package.
Laundry on P&O Britannia
I’m sure that when you’re planning your cruise on Britannia, laundry services are furthest from your mind but it’s useful information to know, especially for longer cruises.
The good news is that the launderettes found on the cabin decks are free to use, all you need is washing tablets. Check my complete P&O laundry guide for all the information you need.
P&O Britannia FAQs
What is the dress code on P&O Britannia?
During the day, casual holiday clothes can be worn such as shorts, t-shirt and summer dresses. You should avoid pool wear in the inside, lounges, bars and restaurants. Footwear must be worn inside.
Evening casual wear can be worn on non-formal nights of your cruise. This is best described as outfits you would wear to a nice restaurant. Smart dark denim can be worn with a nice top or open neck shirt.
Tracksuits, sports wear and trainers are not permitted in the evenings. If you are cruising in the Caribbean, tailored shorts can be worn in the buffet.
On Gala Evenings and Black Tie Nights you should wear something special. Typically on P&O Cruises, passengers choose to dress very formally with black being the overriding choice for many.
Many men decide to wear a dinner jacket and bow tie but don’t be put off by this. A dark business suit and tie is perfectly acceptable. Cocktail dresses, jumpsuits and ball gowns are worn by women.
How many swimming pools does Britannia have?
P&O Britannia has five swimming pools in total. There are two main pools on the Lido Deck, an adult-only pool in the Serenity area, a small terrace pool on the Sun Deck and an indoor hydrotherapy pool in the Spa.
| Pool | Location | Access |
| Riviera Pool | Outside Lido Deck, mid-ship | 2 ladders with 7 steps |
| Lido Pool | Outside Lido Deck, mid-ship | 10 downwards steps, 1 ladder |
| Serenity Pool | Serenity area, Sun Deck forward | 1.2 – 1.8m depth, 2 ladders, adult-only, hoist available |
| Terrace Pool | Sun Deck aft | 1.1m depth, 7 steps to pool, 1 ladder with 5 steps This pool is reserved for teens during school holidays |
| Hydro Therapy Pool | Oasis Spa, Landing Deck forward | 3 steps up to pool, 9 steps into pool Charges apply to access spa |
Are you allowed to take alcohol on a P&O cruise?
Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in US ports) and older is allowed bring up to 1 litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirit, or liqueur on board as they embark the ship for the first time only.
Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest before the end of the cruise. If this alcohol is consumed in the dining rooms, bars, restaurants or lounge areas, it will be subject to a corkage fee of £20 per bottle, per occasion which will be charged to the guest’s on-board account.
Any alcohol purchased in port must be declared once you return to the ship. It will be stored safely for you and returned by the final evening of your cruise.
Is tea and coffee free on P&O Britannia?
Tea and coffee is free of charge on P&O Britannia except specialty teas and coffees from Costa Coffee. There is tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin, which are replenished daily.
Can I take bottled water on P&O Britannia?
Yes, an unlimited amount of water and soft drinks can be brought on board with you for your P&O cruise. There is one small bottle of water per person in your cabin on arrival.
How much is WiFi on P&O Britannia?
WiFi is not included in your cruise fare with P&O Cruises so if you want to be able to connect a device to WiFi on your cruise, you will need to purchase one of three WiFi packages available, starting at £7.75 per day. These packages are cheaper if you pre-purchase them at least three days before your cruise, using your My P&O Cruises account.
| Package | What it includes | Price per day |
| Connect Package | Access to social media services including WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram | £7.75 |
| Browse Package | Connect Package + web-based email browsing (such as Gmail and Outlook), as well as general browsing on search engines such as Google | £12.50 |
| The Works Package | Browse Package + app downloads and updates, streaming of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and internet calling services such as Skype and FaceTime | £24.95 |
I opted for the Browse Package and found it allowed me to do did everything I needed such as social media and Googling port information.
P&O Britannia Tips and Advice
I hope that you’ve found this guide useful. If you have any questions about Britannia, I would be happy to help with any queries you may have. You can either use the Contact Me page or simply use the comment section below to ask your question.
