pj57

Thanks Bee-ess good info 😀

G8 Thanks again  ccpm and Eddie 99 and have just realised it is St Lucia we are flying back from  lol

Thanks ccpm and Eddie 99 😀

What time were your flights and would a last minute shower be possible somewhere on the ship before transfer to airport. Presume there would be no boarding of new passengers on the departure day

Hi 

Has any one done Southampton to Barbados reposition cruise on Britannia.We fly back from Barbados on Saturday 14th November 2020 hopefully 😀 after a 22 day cruise. Would like a heads up on any tips and tricks for this cruise and your flight times and Airline home. What’s your experience on the day of docking and going to airport.

Thanks

Phill

Thanks for that and have booked😀

On 6/8/2019 at 4:58 PM, amfc_lenny said:

Oh has done both the eclipse and Britannia ta's compared to myself only on Britannia

Her comments

 

Balconies are larger in eclipse, so if you get a bit of sun, can stay there for a half day. Tbh the balcony on Britannia was so small we didn't stay on it for long.

 

Food, much better buffet on celebrity.

MDR in celebrity better quality food, much more international options rather than limited and dated p and o menu.

 

Service, we both found p and o quality of service lacking at times. But then on board drinks are much more affordable on p and o so that's a benift of p and o.

 

On Britannia we didn't really use the sunbeds for full sun, but found plenty of part shade options which were pretty empty.

 

If we were going again I honestly don't know which we'd pick, as I prefer the Carribbean ports that p and o offer but id like to try celebrity food and service.

 

Thanks 😀

On 6/8/2019 at 4:58 PM, amfc_lenny said:

Oh has done both the eclipse and Britannia ta's compared to myself only on Britannia

Her comments

 

Balconies are larger in eclipse, so if you get a bit of sun, can stay there for a half day. Tbh the balcony on Britannia was so small we didn't stay on it for long.

 

Food, much better buffet on celebrity.

MDR in celebrity better quality food, much more international options rather than limited and dated p and o menu.

 

Service, we both found p and o quality of service lacking at times. But then on board drinks are much more affordable on p and o so that's a benift of p and o.

 

On Britannia we didn't really use the sunbeds for full sun, but found plenty of part shade options which were pretty empty.

 

If we were going again I honestly don't know which we'd pick, as I prefer the Carribbean ports that p and o offer but id like to try celebrity food and service.

 

1 hour ago, bee-ess said:

 

Yes, it is for the Sun. After leaving Maderia you will be sailing more or less West for 5 days and the Port side cabins seem to get the Sun all day.  The Starboard cabins are mostly shaded. This is how it has been for us in the past

 

The POSH Port out Starboard home thing was for the opposite reason because they wanted the cooler cabins when sailing to India -

A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home", describing the cooler, north-facing cabins taken by the most aristocratic or rich passengers travelling from Britain to India and back.

thanks 😊

39 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

Re position on Britannia, we were on E deck forward balcony cabin. It was great there - very peaceful. I know some don't like forward for the movement but we had very calm seas and she hardly moved at all.

If you want to be near stairs I would recommend forward or aft because there is no central staircase which can make the lifts busy. As I said we were forward but next to the first "mid forward" and it was perfect for us.

thanks 😊

19 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Its rather like Marmite, some people love it others describe it as too bland.

The good:---

The serenity child free pool area on the sun deck is very pleasant.

The buffet has much better laid out serveries than Azura and Ventura.

The MDR's are more spacious and the waiter stations discreetly hidden.

If you like dancing the Crystal room is just for you, if you want a supper club then Limelight is your choice.

The bad (IMO):----

The Atrium reminds me of  a John Lewis store.

The theatre has less seats than Azura, they are very narrow and uncomfortable.

The balconies are tiny.

There is no real promenade deck, only a small sunbathing section, which is also for smokers.

But the rest is very similar to Princess and RCI, but not as high standard as Celebrity.

Hope that helps:-).

Thanks 😊

19 hours ago, emam said:

I have only been on Ventura, so can't comment on Britannia yet. However we are counting down the days until we sail on her, in less than two weeks. Our one cruise on Celebrity Eclipse was to the Baltics and was more of a cultural cruise which was reflected in the entertainment. 

We had freedom dining on the Eclipse, but ended up booking a table each night for the next one and at the same time each night. Though the waiters were nice enough, I think the ones on Ventura were more friendlier. For the food in the mdr on Eclipse, it didn't have as much choice as on Ventura. This didn't bother me as I'm a parky eater in any case.  Though on Ventura apart from the always available, some night I could find other things from the main menu to eat. Celebrity's seemed to only have a few choices for the whole menu and these were repeated every few days. So for the mdr, I think that for us P&O came out better.

However for the buffet (I know you don't want to use that), Celebrity came out way better. Their idea of a minute steak, is what I would call a small steak. They have food from various nationalities and you can pick and choose from what you wanted. The big hot carving ham's for breakfast were a nice touch. The choice of buns to make sandwiches at lunch time, was better, though that could be down to size, with P&O's being more smaller rolls like what you would get with soup.

Celebrity has free ice cream, both in the buffet (served) and from a machine on deck to which you help yourself. P&O only has the free ice cream in the mdr.

 

During the day we found the ship to be quiet after a few days at sea, but this was probably down to the weather. I did though enjoy sitting on deck wrapped up reading a book with very few people on the deck. I don't know where everyone disappeared to. Even the inside pool area was quiet.  People did come out on the night time though. 

 

On the last evening chic night it was the last night of the cruise. As the cases had to be left outside the door by 8pm, weren't able to dress up, as we would then have to try and find somewhere for our clothes to go the next day. P&O don't have their formal nights on the last night which gives you time to pack them up. 

 

We have enjoyed our cruises with both of them, but can't compare like for like as they were to different places (one hot, one, not so). I thought that the price for the Celebrity was more expensive than P&O cruises, but P&O prices seem to be increasing (other people who book at launch will dispute that, but I have found they have gone up in the short time that we have been cruising), with the cruise we will soon be taking on Britannia to the med, costing about the same price as the Baltic one on Celebrity.

Thanks 😊

16 hours ago, ann141 said:

Britannia is our favourite P and O ship.We haven t cruised with Celebrity so not sure how it compares except for probably being cheaper.We cruised 20 nights translantic on Britannia a couple of years ago and loved it.I can definitely recommend the 20 or 22 night cruise though wouldn t be so keen on a 13 or 14 night translantic as you don t visit as many ports

Thanks 😊

22 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Britannia has set dining times early and late like most cruise ships and also has freedom dining so you can eat in MDR at a time of your choosing. It also has excellent speciality restaurants i.e. Epicurean, Sindhu and Beach House at extra cost. Britannia also has a dedicated room Crystal Room with a dance floor. Do not understand what you mean by non buffet compared to set dining times apart from Freedom dining which is same food but served in a dedicated MDR at a time of your choice and you just turn up when you want between 6pm-9.30pm. Purchasing of drinks onboard P&O will be far cheaper than Celebrity so unless you are a serious drinker the price of £39-95pp per day for drinks package might not be worthwhile but that is something only you can decide.

 

 

Thanks 😊

Just now, Les_ldh said:

 

‘Because that what the P.O.S.H people do...

 

Port Outward Starboard Home

 

For the sun.

Les.

LOL Thanks 😊

Thanks for all your comment such good info 😊

Any thoughts on which balcony cabin? Not much choice left but we usually go high, any areas to avoid ie by kitchens ect.

15 hours ago, bee-ess said:

I agree and Port side of the ship.

Interested to know why port side.... Sun wind? thanks

Thanks again Majortom 10 your comments give me more confidence to book 😊

Thanks for all your reply's. But no body seems to be singing the praises of the ship. Be grateful for info either way. Majortom 10 I was confused by things I had read but thanks for clearing up the dining options for me. Legal stylist I was thinking of the 23 ? day cruise with extra ports 😊  

thanks groovechick

All my reply's have great info but nobody singing the praises of the Britannia

HI

Looking to do the Britannia transatlantic to Barbados and beyond from Southampton in October 2020 on a re positioning cruise.

Have done x3 celebrity Caribbean plus Princess and Royal Caribbean cruises. We love to dance, dress up and sunbath as a priority and find the food and set time dining on Celebrity to be a real pleasure and not a great buffet fan

Worried Britannia will be a disappointment compared to the Celebrity Reflection. Be grateful for input on the ship especially those who have done both P&O and Celebrity cruises.

Also would like to know how the non-Buffet dining works compared to set time dining etc and info on the new drinks packages are they worth it?