This was to be family reunion cruise, and I could not decicide whether to go on Britannia or Oceania Mariner. A suite and 4 balcony cabins cost more per day than Oceania, but in the end Britannia won. As we were in a suite, boarding was not a problem, but for security not opening until the priority cabins were "ready". I was quite impressed with the decore, especially the dinning rooms, but far too large a ship for going to A & B. This was a first for us on P&O Freedom dining, and with 9 of us, turned out to be OK, in the Peninsular. We had the same table and waiters, which allowed some rapport between staff and guests. The pre-booking of 9 in the speciality restaurants was not a success. The system only recognises 6 persons maximum. In the Epicurian we had to sit at 2 seperate tables. The previous reviews were justified in complaining about the lifts. There were so many people using wheel chairs/buggies that the whole system at certain times collapsed. Not helped by one lift out of use for several days. Walking tours were spoilt by allowing disabled to go on fairly strenous walking tours. The ports were not new to use except La Rochelle, pretty but overcrowded. The family enjoyed the cruise, but I came away with a chest infection from, I suppose the air conditioning. [which I still have 6 days later]