Now we Know

Britannia cruises in 2015
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david63
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Now we Know

#1

Post by david63 »

Britannia's cruise season just announced

At first glance it looks totally uninspiring


CaroleF
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Re: Now we Know

#2

Post by CaroleF »

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw the itineraries this morning. I was looking for something different.

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#3

Post by royalprincess »

What did you expect?

I did notice that on cruise critic someone posted a question about new ports. This was not answered.

There are only so many ports that a ship of that size can get into as you all well know.

P & O have had an opportunity to improve themselves but they haven't.

I will not be trying this new ship not my style anyway.

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JenniC
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Re: Now we Know

#4

Post by JenniC »

I always said I would not fancy a ship as large as this, but loving the pictures so much I will give her a try, especially as she will be in the Caribbean ( my favourite place) in Jan 2016 when I celebrate a special birthday.
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Dancing Queen
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#5

Post by Dancing Queen »

Very uninspiring, I doubt I will be rushing to book :roll:
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Romig1
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#6

Post by Romig1 »

JenniC wrote:
I always said I would not fancy a ship as large as this, but loving the pictures so much I will give her a try, especially as she will be in the Caribbean ( my favourite place) in Jan 2016 when I celebrate a special birthday.
Jenni...I'm resisting the urge to comment further... :lol:

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JenniC
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Re: Now we Know

#7

Post by JenniC »

Romig1 wrote:
JenniC wrote:
I always said I would not fancy a ship as large as this, but loving the pictures so much I will give her a try, especially as she will be in the Caribbean ( my favourite place) in Jan 2016 when I celebrate a special birthday.
Jenni...I'm resisting the urge to comment further... :lol:
Not like you to hold back Romig...... :crazy:
Jenni

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Re: Now we Know

#8

Post by towny44 »

Wow they are offering a whole 5% extra discount for past passengers, how could anyone resist such an offer. :lol: :lol: :lol: :yawn:
I think if we are tempted to try this new class it will be on the Royal Princess, at least with them we know that any price drop will be honoured in full, and will reduce our final balance rather than be in OBC or upgrades, if at all.
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oldbluefox
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Re: Now we Know

#9

Post by oldbluefox »

Does anybody know yet whether Britannia has a promenade deck, wrap around or not?

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Re: Now we Know

#10

Post by david63 »

oldbluefox wrote:
Does anybody know yet whether Britannia has a promenade deck, wrap around or not?
Hopefully someone at Fincantieri does.


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Re: Now we Know

#11

Post by Quizzical Bob »

oldbluefox wrote:
Does anybody know yet whether Britannia has a promenade deck, wrap around or not?
We received a Brittania promotional brochure today. It certainly doesn't look as though it does. There are a couple of outside shelves but I expect they'll be for the Costa Coffee and the smokers :( there definitely isn't any shade area. The inside decoration is very muted, all varying shades of beige with maybe a bit of black and grey.

Not for us, I fear.

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Mervyn and Trish
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#12

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Well, just to go against the trend, will suit us very nicely. :D

I wonder what anyone expects in terms of itineraries for a ship operating out and back from Southampton for the summer season with cruises for the most part limited to 2 weeks? Sydney? Panama? San Francisco, Hawaii? :crazy:

She seems to be doing all the available routes - Med, Fjords, Canaries, Round Britain, Baltic, with some ports that they don't always go to.

No, she doesn't have a wrap round promenade at Deck 7, but according to the website "Britannia’s Promenade is located high up on Deck 18. Enjoy a stroll and breathe in that fresh sea air, do your daily laps, or just relax and enjoy the view." So you will be able to do your laps, just might need a sherpa to help you get up there!

Anyway, we're already to go for the Maiden. Western Med suits us because we've never done it and five out of the seven ports we've never been to by sea or land. And the big surprise for us when we called our Personal Cruise Specialist today to register is that by the end of the call we've actually got a confirmed booking! Price fixed, cabin grade fixed, dining sitting confirmed and deposit paid. All we await is cabin number, which will be confirmed when it goes on general sale, and table size. Well happy with everything, including the price paid.

And will they be able to sell it or will there be cheap bargains later? Well some cabin grades are already "wait listed" so I wouldn't hold your breath but we will, in any case, be adopting our usual policy of not checking prices now we've booked and not discussing it with fellow passengers on board. We're happy with our deal (which came out cheaper than I expected anyway) - end of story as far as we're concerned.

And we have noted that the Maiden number is Cruise B502, so if they slip in a quick two nighter shakedown cruise before we are not bothered.

Roll on 14th March 2015. :clap:

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Re: Now we Know

#13

Post by david63 »

I have just realised something.

If Britannia's Maiden cruise starts on the 14th March, which is a Saturday, then the naming ceremony which is usually the day before will be on Friday the 13th :o

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Mervyn and Trish
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#14

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Azura's was two days before the Maiden departure, probably to allow all the freeloader guests a lie in.

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Dancing Queen
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#15

Post by Dancing Queen »

That's ok David, Friday the 13th doesn't bother me so if P&O want to send me an invitation to the naming I will be more than happy to accept :D

Well done Mervyn on securing your place on the maiden :thumbup: I do agree with your comments regarding just where can a ship go sailing from Southampton for 14 days, it just doesn't grab me as I've been to all the ports several times sorry :silent:

I do however think the choice of itinerary in the maiden year is good and there should be something to suit everyone.
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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Now we Know

#16

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Dancing Queen wrote:
Well done Mervyn on securing your place on the maiden :thumbup: I do agree with your comments regarding just where can a ship go sailing from Southampton for 14 days, it just doesn't grab me as I've been to all the ports several times sorry :silent:
I can understand that and maybe we'll feel the same when we've done a few more years cruising. But they do have to cater for the new and less frequent cruisers to whom places like Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Madeira and the other old favourites are still new and exciting. :relaxed:

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Re: Now we Know

#17

Post by barney »

I've also done all of those Med ports but certainly wouldn't mind going back again.

Being fortunate enough to be able to go at short notice, I'll be waiting for the Getaway price.

All balcony cabins so postion is irrelevant to us.

Mrs Barney is not so keen but I'd be happy to try it
Empty vessels .. and all that

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#18

Post by Dark Knight »

Saw all the bumf on Facebook yesterday
I will wait a while before making any further enquiries about itineraries

the choice of ports is what I would have expected, they are the same as all the Pando ones and as such will have been done by more experienced cruisers
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Re: Now we Know

#19

Post by Gill W »

I'm with Mervyn & Trish - I 've registered my interest. My cabin will be confirmed on 26th March.

I've never been on a maiden cruise before, and my birthday is 15th March, so that will be the second day of the cruise.

I'm very pleased to have this sorted out
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Dancing Queen
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#20

Post by Dancing Queen »

We did the Ventura maiden Gill and thoroughly enjoyed it, regardless of all the bad press Ventura got I honestly couldn't say anything bad about it we had a lovely time.
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Re: Now we Know

#21

Post by emjay45 »

The longest cruise is only 2 weeks, so that puts me off to start with. I know some people sneer at FO for various reasons but at least they seem to have more interesting destinations. Ok this ship is glitzy and glamorous and I suppose that's what lots of people want from a cruise. I don't think it will be for us.

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Re: Now we Know

#22

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

emjay45 wrote:
The longest cruise is only 2 weeks, so that puts me off to start with.
I suppose that is inevitable in the first season. Some of us are lucky to be retired and therefore able to take longer breaks, and are also experienced cruisers so know we will enjoy it. But for anyone working, longer than two weeks might be a problem (certainly was when I was working) and new cruisers may well be reluctant to commit to anything longer. If P&O want to make inroads into new markets those will be major considerations.

My guess is that in season 2 we might see some longer options such as out and back Caribbean or the far eastern end of the Med and beyond.

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Gill W
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#23

Post by Gill W »

emjay45 wrote:
Ok this ship is glitzy and glamorous and I suppose that's what lots of people want from a cruise. I don't think it will be for us.
Have you looked at the P & O Website or the mailshot that has recently been sent?

The decor is in very neutral colours - certainly not glitzy.

I some people are already writing off this ship based on their own preconceptions.
Gill

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Dark Knight
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Re: Now we Know

#24

Post by Dark Knight »

untill people have sailed on it, who knows what it is like??
I will reserve judgement till there are some genuine reviews on here and other places
then and only then will i decide if I want to go on it
there seems to be a lot of negative reaction to something people know nothing about
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Re: Now we Know

#25

Post by david63 »

Dark Knight wrote:
untill people have sailed on it, who knows what it is like??
I will reserve judgement till there are some genuine reviews on here and other places
then and only then will i decide if I want to go on it
there seems to be a lot of negative reaction to something people know nothing about
On a point of order she is a SHE not an IT.

Reviews are totally irrelevant as there is only one way to find out and that is to actually sail on her.

I have to say that I am in two minds about Britannia - I am not a particular fan of large ships due to the number of passengers on-board but I do like the enhanced facilities that the larg(er) ships offer

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