We booked our cruise on Britannia in October, looking forward to a real summer holiday for a change. Real, being one where you can soak up the sun and swim in an outdoor pool. This was our third cruise, all with P&O. We live in Southampton, and from leaving home by taxi to being in our cabin was 1 hour 15 minutes. We turned up at our allotted time and only waited 30 minutes before being on board. There is no doubt it is a big ship, but we had done our homework, choosing a forward outside balcony cabin with only cabins above and below. The glass balcony makes everything look a little more spacious, what can be better than waking up, opening the curtains and being able to see the entire view from our bed. Yes the balcony could be bigger, but it is perfectly fine for two people to sit and read, particularly when the sun comes your way. The cabin is well laid out, the open wardrobe area much better for not having doors, and the bathroom improved for having a glass shower door. Yes they are small, but after 25 years on a RN war ship, an en suite of any description is a luxury. The interactive flat screen TV is excellent, despite the lack of ability to track the on board spend, but the information available was really useful. A connection to enable the listening of your own music through the system via MP3 device would be really good.

Our cabin steward was efficient, friendly and engaging with a great sense of humour. So to the lifts, not a problem as we were forward and close to a 'top to bottom' lift and stair lobby, however, if people get in them regardless of where they want to go just in case there isn't another one coming along, there will be problems. The laundry was good, but it would be useful if there was a pay as you go detergent dispenser in situ, we always forget, which means a trip down to the shops.

The atrium is large, and I didn't hear the piano being played but it's a nice place to sit and have a coffee. Read more