Britannia is handed over to P&O - Magical day with P&O

I had butterflies in my stomach as I waited with anticipation, eager to be the first to catch a glimpse of my ship, Britannia. It had been a year since I was last at this shipyard in northern Italy, the surreal day when I smashed a bottle of Prosecco against her hull, and she floated out of her dry dock.

At 1082ft long and 141000 tons, Britannia is the biggest cruise ship built for the British market, and her bow features the world’ largest contemporary version of the Union flag. There’s no denying that she is jaw-droppingly awesome. A beaming Captain Paul Brown welcomed me on board and showed me around as excitedly as you’d show someone your first home!

The design of the ship is impeccable, I’m not sure if it’s wrong to say that it doesn’t actually feel like a ship when you’re on board! Spaces flow freely, there’s no real feeling of moving from one room to another and tactile art covers the walls which lead you between different spaces. The modern twist on art deco nods a head to P&O’s cruising heritage, but delivers a highly designed modern finish. Britannia really has the feel that you are in a luxury hotel, a cool boutique, a city wine bar and your local village coffee shop, all rolled into one!

I did love the sneaky peeks behind the scenes. The parts that remind you that Britannia is an engineering feat, using new technology to produce drinking water, air conditioning and even the highly efficient tunnel washer in the laundry cuts water consumption. Style and substance, she has it all!

The handover ceremony was held in the Theatre which seats around 1,000 people. The room was filled with local Italian dignitaries, ship yard workers and representatives from Carnival Cruise lines. The theme of British Style, Italian Heart flowed through the speeches, though I it think that British and Italian hearts were touched when ceremonial handover was made to Captain Paul Brown.

Our celebration lunch was in the Peninsular restaurant: I loved that we ate off plates and cutlery which had never before felt food, the linen was starched and white, the beef was soft and pink, the mash creamy and smooth, and the jus (gravy) was sticky and packed with flavour. Service was slick and friendly. It was a great Sunday lunch. No rest for the kitchen staff, as last night they were catering for 4000 ship yard employees and their families!

Italy is a long way to go for Sunday lunch, but we don’t have to wait long for this British registered ship to arrive in Southampton. The first cruise passengers head off on her maiden voyage from Southampton on the 14th March. Even though she is the fastest selling cruise ship, and is 70% sold for her maiden season, there is still time to book your place in history.

British style, Italian heart.