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Very pleased that we tried Britannia. We met so many interesting people from all walks of life and felt much more involved than in Grills. A late upgrade meant a move from deck 5 to deck 8, but there was increased movement through Biscay, early morning noise as the stewards put out the loungers on the deck above, and worst of all our cabin panelling groaned loudly all night in the Atlantic; fortunately I'd taken earplugs! Other than this, a great cruise -- fabulous food in both Lido and Britannia, and excellent service with a smile from all the staff.
You can't please all of the people all of the time when it comes to entertainment. Karaoke and bingo aren't our thing, but we enjoyed the quizzes, talks and jazz. Likewise, the evening shows were not always what we'd choose to see at home, but you couldn't fault the professionalism of those involved, and if you don't fancy the main event there's always an alternative. Some of the shows were repeats of what we saw last year. Exquizit were a great addition and really brought the sail away parties alive.
The downside was the extra costs on board. We noticed more nominal charges for activities such as yoga and boot camp, and most people thought the prices of spa treatments were outrageous. Passengers who have sailed before are also wary of the fitness suite talks, which involve hard selling of expensive supplements (none of which appear to be supported by evidence of efficacy). I bought a spa pass ($250 approx.), but was dismayed to hear that it was being offered much cheaper a few days later. Unlike last year, this part of the ship was practically deserted with staff looking at a loose end. With such an emphasis on repeat custom, they really need to address these problems and make on-board services more attractive.
Getting on and off the ship was extremely efficient. Just a 15 minute wait on arrival, and a little longer when we left, but in the comfort of the theatre with newspapers on sale. We were really sad to leave and wouldn't hesitate to book again.
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