Jump to content

Newbie tips please


Danem7683
 Share

Recommended Posts

Just booked out first P&O. Britannia for Italian med Sep 18.

We done our first cruise 2yrs ago with RC and loved it but same ship going out again (independence), so thought we would try something different and Britannia looks lovely. We have a balcony E507 deck 10 midship.

What tips would you give a newbie going on P&O apart from have a ball [emoji12]

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want to try any of the specialist restaurants book early, either before you go or as soon as possible after you have boarded. Sometimes they offer a free bottle of wine if you eat early. Watch out for the deals. The glasshouse does a pairing menu, matching wine with food. It is held once or twice on long cruises.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get into the theatre early for shows you want to see. Try the many speciality cocktails in the crows nest that are not in any other bar. Explore the outer decks to discover all the areas as there are sunbeds scattered around. Try Sindhu, great food and good value. You've booked a good cabin as it has a sofa and two bedside cabinets and is larger than those without a sofa. You are between the midship and aft lifts so the aft lifts will be less busy to use.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you are on the cruise before mine [emoji3] take a couple of pegs to hang your swimmies up. I normally say take a gang socket but Britannia has lots of plug sockets. The food in the coffee shops is free, you just pay for the coffee. You can take alcohol on board. It's worth researching ports online as you can establish the highlights and find the most economical trips.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On our last cruise on Britannia in October for the first night only they did an offer of a third off price of all Epicurean and Sindhu which was great for us as the first day was our wedding anniversary and we had a fantastic meal in Epicurean. We chatted to one of the waiters and said it was a great deal and he said they were trialling it for first night offer because they normally in the past have offered a free bottle of house wine but they said a lot had complained that they did not get any advantage because they didn't drink alcohol. Do not know if they have done this offer since or whether it has reverted back to free bottle of house wine since or if they do any offer at all but it is worth reading the Horizon closely as soon as you get onboard just in case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On our last cruise on Britannia in October for the first night only they did an offer of a third off price of all Epicurean and Sindhu which was great for us as the first day was our wedding anniversary and we had a fantastic meal in Epicurean. We chatted to one of the waiters and said it was a great deal and he said they were trialling it for first night offer because they normally in the past have offered a free bottle of house wine but they said a lot had complained that they did not get any advantage because they didn't drink alcohol. Do not know if they have done this offer since or whether it has reverted back to free bottle of house wine since or if they do any offer at all but it is worth reading the Horizon closely as soon as you get onboard just in case.

 

Who are these people who don't drink alcohol? None of them seem to be on this forum. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just booked out first P&O. Britannia for Italian med Sep 18.

We done our first cruise 2yrs ago with RC and loved it but same ship going out again (independence), so thought we would try something different and Britannia looks lovely. We have a balcony E507 deck 10 midship.

What tips would you give a newbie going on P&O apart from have a ball [emoji12]

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

It was the maiden cruise but most of my review remains extant...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/03/30/britannia-the-maiden-cruise/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably the same one's who tell you at the table on the first night they don't drink then you see them at the CTP hoovering it down.

 

 

 

Not me for sure, we will be checking the wine menu while having a rum[emoji56]

Just turned on my Tapatalk and saw your post

Rob

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My advice would be to take a pack of anti-bacterial wipes and wide down the cabin when you arrive. Do the parts that probably never get cleaned between guests such as the TV remote and door handles.

Have a great cruise. I love Britannia and will be on her at Xmas and new year.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Britannia's a great ship but one piece of advice - if you sit outside at the back of the ship watch out for the soot on the seats.

Try the Limelight. We have seen Dean Andrews there a coupe of times and he was excellent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My advice would be to take a pack of anti-bacterial wipes and wide down the cabin when you arrive. Do the parts that probably never get cleaned between guests such as the TV remote and door handles.

Have a great cruise. I love Britannia and will be on her at Xmas and new year.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I would agree about the wipes.We always wipe door handles​,lght switches,safe door fridge door.

The tips are fair, sterling is the onboard currency they regularly broadcast live football in lounge or your cabin and you get sky sports on your tv.

Their is a good choice of beers my favourite is Old Speckled hen.

Entertainment is aimed at the British market and the shows are very good.

It is a lovely ship and your cabin sounds in a great location.

Hope you have a great cruise.

 

love sailing with RCCL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a really good idea taking the wipes. Ill do that myself next month.

As you've cruised before you will know about the capsule wardrobe, lots of layers and a good pair of trainers with non slip soles as there could be a lot of walking! She is a huge ship. As previous people have said do your homework for the ports and book any excursions you particularly want to go on beforehand and possibly the speciality restaurants which we like to book on a sea day. They do a good offer of a third off the first night. Its a pretty dressy affair on the formal nights and the vast majority of folk get the dinner suits and posh frocks out.

Regarding the cabin you've booked a balcony with a sofa which offers a little bit more room. The White Stuff toiletries are lovely so no need to take anymore shampoo, body lotion, shower gels etc... I personally take a few pegs as there is a small washing line in the bathroom so I can wash the other half's gym clothes. The bathroom is very compact but functional and the shower is lovely with a glass door ( no awful clingy shower curtain!).I take one of those roll up bags to hang on the back of the door for extra space. The TV is very good in the room with a good selection of films/documentaries etc...Plenty of sockets for charging phones.

A lot of people don't like the buffet but we think it flows very well.Theres a reasonable selection on offer. I can make up a granola for breakfast and the yoghurts are yummy. The other half has to have a full English. The lunch time soups are excellent. If you fancy eating in the buffet at night the currys are very good. Saying that I usually try not to indulge too much and opt for fish in the MDR The Epicurean is really nice for a special occasion and the staff are excellent. Sindhu is much improved and the Beach House is worth a trip.There are usually wines on offer and a cocktail/mocktail of the day.In fact you could eat all day long and most of the night if you so wished.

I would go and have a good scout around. There are lots of hidden areas with plenty of sunbeds. It can get very noisy around the main pool but the adult pool at the front is relatively quiet although can get windy. Hence the double use for the pegs on a sunbed.

we always opt for freedom dining then we can please ourselves when we dine.If you want a table for two there may be a bit of a wait.As someone said the shows fill up quickly and you have to go about half an hour before it starts. That said they did seem to have altered the times perhaps to allow more people to attend? Some of the audiences with are very good. James Martin was hilarious.

There is a daily magazine so you can plan your day or simply chill.The daily cross word is good for stimulating a few brain cells. Britannia is a lovely ship. We like her as she is more like a boutique hotel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't drink wine so the offer of a free bottle wouldn't tempt me in! However, if they were willing to substitute a couple of Mojitos then we could talk :D

If you dont ask you won't get but if they are offering discounts or free wine they are obviously flexible and keen to get you in.

 

 

love sailing with RCCL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guess its just me then...

 

I do not drink alcohol at all, but I do drink the non-alcoholic wine with my meals and have Pepsi otherwise. A 200ml bottle of Pepsi is just £1 and ideal for undercutting the small coke from the guns which is about £1.65. You do get a bit more in the small guns coke but you can ask for ice and a slice of lemon with your 200ml Pepsi and I think you are on a better deal especially when the ice melts to top it up, water is the main ingredient from the guns and it is always a bit chloriney. If you request unopened bottles to fill your mini-bar which you should be ignoring you will save a lot of cash!

 

Regards John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...