Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

Reports about cruises on Britannia
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allatc
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#26

Post by allatc »

Well, that is one comprehensive report.

Thanks for posting it.

We will be on Britannia in October, looking forward to it.

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Manoverboard
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#27

Post by Manoverboard »

Mervyn and Trish wrote:
Manoverboard wrote:
Thanks Merv but ...

I wish you had posted these as separate Topics like wot Gill did do ... too much to take on-board in one go but I will try to respond as best I am able.
You see my review was like the ship, good but with the odd niggle! I think she's too big for you Moby. In fact I know the answer to what's happening to Adonia and her Princess sister coming out of service. They're both hanging from davits outside Britannia's deck 7 windows
Good but with the odd niggle you say ... more like too effin BIG says I ;)

I've read Gills excellently presented report and now I shall see how well you have done in comparison, it may take a while though ... Ladybirds R Us to you Foxy :lol:
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

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david63
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#28

Post by david63 »

Having read both reports it seems that basically it is just as any other ship - there is no "one size fits all" ship. There are, and always will be, some aspects of any ship that some people will not like but that others do not find a problem.

Yes there were/are some "teething" problems but that is only to be expected (and that is what you pay extra for on a maiden :sarcasm: ) at this stage - only time will tell if these things get ironed out.

There was nothing in these reports that would deter me from sailing on her but personally I am not a great fan of the "big" ships so I doubt that I will be sailing on her - but never say never.

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qbman1
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#29

Post by qbman1 »

Excellent report Merv - many thanks. Hasn't changed my personal view that big ships are not for us - in fact, it has made me even more certain ! We will, however, try her for a short break just so we can have a moan from personal experience !!

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Jan Rosser
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#30

Post by Jan Rosser »

Thanks Merv for a very detailed report of your experiences - very useful as I have taken the plunge and booked a cruise to the Fjords so a lot to look forward to - roll on June :thumbup:
Janis

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Manoverboard
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#31

Post by Manoverboard »

Many thanks Merv, twas a great report, like Gill you put a lot of effort into it ... but with less useful critique :lol:

On balance ( breathes in, sticks chest out ) I proudly wish to admit to having enjoyed reading it all and especially so the sections relating to the various food venues, deffo a major plus over the smaller ships that we obviously prefer.

Britannia does however ' seem ' to have similar issues as was the case for us on Azura but possibly more so, queuing and crowding in the public places for example does not float our boat and we do genuinely enjoy watching the waves from Ye Olde Prom Deck vantage point on sea days so would doubtless miss that aspect. The lifts were a bit of a farce and that aspect, as you said, really does need sorting out. No way would we walk to the ends of the ship every time we needed to go up or down, a good plan ( for us ) is perhaps to book an aft or forward cabin rather than one slap bang in the middle.

The main thing is that you enjoyed yourself and felt that the expense was worth every penny, I think you did but we would probably opt for a shorter cruise and only then at a bargain price.

Cheers :wave:
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

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Ian Perth
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#32

Post by Ian Perth »

Great review and really interesting. Going on the B504 so this review gives us a good idea of what to expect. We've got similar likes to yourselves so I'm sure we'll love it. From some of the e mails I've been getting a lot of the Azura staff are on board so we know we will have a great cruise, apart from the moaners.


Lollie
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#33

Post by Lollie »

Great 'review', looking forward to our short cruise on her later this year.

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Solent Richard
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#34

Post by Solent Richard »

What an excellent review Melvyn and Trish,

May I say it was also a pleasure to meet you and share a few cruising topics over a few G&Ts. Always good to meet real cruisers. :clap:

I have written a full review on my own blog and added over 50 photographs, Here is the link...

http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/201 ... en-cruise/

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Solent Richard
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#35

Post by Solent Richard »

Mervyn and Trish wrote:
Hi Gill. Yes, I've just read your report and can see your vegetable experience was completely different to ours. We got a good variety suited to the dishes we chose. It must be possible to cook the ones we had without salt. Can't understand why they didn't do better for you. They're normally so good with dietary requirements.
That's an interesting comment. Having had a small amount of experience in the catering industry I'd add that dealing with such quantities of vegetables on board the vegetables would be cooked in a steamer.

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barney
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#36

Post by barney »

Thanks to Solent Richard for the pics

I think she looks stunning inside.

I'm certainly tempted
Empty vessels .. and all that

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Gill W
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#37

Post by Gill W »

Solent Richard wrote:
Mervyn and Trish wrote:
Hi Gill. Yes, I've just read your report and can see your vegetable experience was completely different to ours. We got a good variety suited to the dishes we chose. It must be possible to cook the ones we had without salt. Can't understand why they didn't do better for you. They're normally so good with dietary requirements.
That's an interesting comment. Having had a small amount of experience in the catering industry I'd add that dealing with such quantities of vegetables on board the vegetables would be cooked in a steamer.
My only other cruise since I've had a need for a special diet was on Arcadia, at Christmas. I had all the veg as shown on the menu, so that's why I was surprised when I didn't this time.

My next P&O cruise isn't until next February, when I will be on Oceana for 35 nights, so it'll be interesting to see what happens then.

Although 35 nights of broccoli would be a bit much! :crazy:
Gill


Quizzical Bob
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Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#38

Post by Quizzical Bob »

Gill W wrote:
Solent Richard wrote:
Mervyn and Trish wrote:
Hi Gill. Yes, I've just read your report and can see your vegetable experience was completely different to ours. We got a good variety suited to the dishes we chose. It must be possible to cook the ones we had without salt. Can't understand why they didn't do better for you. They're normally so good with dietary requirements.
That's an interesting comment. Having had a small amount of experience in the catering industry I'd add that dealing with such quantities of vegetables on board the vegetables would be cooked in a steamer.
My only other cruise since I've had a need for a special diet was on Arcadia, at Christmas. I had all the veg as shown on the menu, so that's why I was surprised when I didn't this time.

My next P&O cruise isn't until next February, when I will be on Oceana for 35 nights, so it'll be interesting to see what happens then.

Although 35 nights of broccoli would be a bit much! :crazy:
Anything' better than that horrible spinach they dish up :(


stocktonmackem
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#39

Post by stocktonmackem »

Fabulous review, thanks for taking the time to write it. My husband is a wheelchair user and we are midship so hopefully the lifts won't be to bad. Usually we book a cabin at the front of the ship but midships was the only one available. Obviously fellow disabled cruisers had a heads up about the lift situation. We are patient people so will not complain. We are not going until June so hopefully the little niggles will be ironed out.


Patchworker
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#40

Post by Patchworker »

Thank you for your very informative review, looking forward to experiencing Britannia in June, go with an open mind, look for the positives, ignore the moaners that are always around, enjoy the experience with new ports of call to explore is my plan.

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#41

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Patchworker wrote:
Thank you for your very informative review, looking forward to experiencing Britannia in June, go with an open mind, look for the positives, ignore the moaners that are always around, enjoy the experience with new ports of call to explore is my plan.
With that positive attitude I'm sure you'll have a great time. Enjoy. :thumbup:

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Dennis The Menace
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#42

Post by Dennis The Menace »

Cheers poster boy, enjoyed that :).

But as beautiful as she sounds (ditto Ventura/Azura), and as tempting as her lovely new bits and pieces surely are, I do like a smaller chassis. I'm afraid I'll be sticking with the old girl(s) therefore - unless of course there's a totally irresistible itinerary/price that leads me astray, and then it'll be see you later old girl(s), don't wait up ;)

Cheers again Swerve & Swish :)

DTM

P.s. When you say "poster boy", you didn't once go commando in a little white tennis dress, and then scratch your a*se circa 1977 by any chance did you ?

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#43

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Dennis The Menace wrote:
P.s. When you say "poster boy", you didn't once go commando in a little white tennis dress, and then scratch your a*se circa 1977 by any chance did you ?
Sadly my a*se is not that good!

However our big surprise of the Britannia Maiden was to see our Azura Maiden picture, since used on that ship (hence the nickname allocated by Batty) and our avatar on here, appear in Horizon on the third night. We appear to have gone viral, though our GP reckons he can give us something for it! :crazy:

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Belle53
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#44

Post by Belle53 »

Excellent review, thank you, I'm also a fan of the wrap around promenade deck so it's a shame she doesn't have one, it wouldn't be enough to deter me from going on her though, at least they have catered for walkers on the top deck, might get a bit windy up there though!

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#45

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Belle53 wrote:
Excellent review, thank you, I'm also a fan of the wrap around promenade deck so it's a shame she doesn't have one, it wouldn't be enough to deter me from going on her though, at least they have catered for walkers on the top deck, might get a bit windy up there though!
It certainly can! But no salt spray from the breaking waves though!


Masterbutch
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#46

Post by Masterbutch »

Mervyn
Have read all parts of your review. I too was on the maiden voyage and agree with everything you have said. I took my mother who is in a wheelchair, and yes the lifts were a problem. I would like to reiterate the total professionalism of the crew during this trip, in particular the Captain who led from the front in Monte Carlo where he could just have easily sent down a deputy. There is a reason he is Captain I would say.
The food I thought was a actually a step up from normal P&O fair, which I have never had reason to complain about anyway
All in all a great trip, weather could have been a little more favourable even in March, the only thing that let it down for me were the professional moaners who I wonder why they bother with cruising at all.
I would have no problem cruising on her again, just me and the better half next time so we can use the stairs more, but like yourselves I think I still prefer Azura (Never been on Aurora)
Thank you for an excellent, well rounded review 8-)

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#47

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Thank you for your kind comments.


barr0ld
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#48

Post by barr0ld »

If there are any moaners who board with us next week, I shall just tip them over the rail. Especially as there's no chance of being caught by Britannia's webcam.

Oh, maybe not; I forgot there's no prom deck....


barr0ld
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Re: Poster Boy's Poster

#49

Post by barr0ld »

I say Mervyn

I do hope that P&O won't be making you pay royalties every time you use the image. I assume that although you bought the print, they own the copywrite.

If you have to pay for the 2021 images on your posts, another cruise may be beyond your reach :lol:

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Poster Boy's Britannia Maiden review

#50

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

barr0ld wrote:
If there are any moaners who board with us next week, I shall just tip them over the rail. Especially as there's no chance of being caught by Britannia's webcam. Oh, maybe not; I forgot there's no prom deck....
There are suitable shelves for this purpose on Deck, but they'll make a bigger splash from 16!
barr0ld wrote:
I do hope that P&O won't be making you pay royalties every time you use the image. I assume that although you bought the print, they own the copyright
My understanding too, but since I don't charge for use of my mug on board hopefully they won't either! Interestingly it didn't happen when that one was taken but now when you buy a portrait you have to sign a release form confirming whether or not you are willing for them to use it for publicity purposes.

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