As this was our first cruise we could only rate it 'Average' but, had we been able to compare it with other cruises, it would have almost certainly have been rated 'Poor'. We talked to many others, all of whom had cruised before and only one person said that she would be willing to sail on Britannia again.

Having said that, it wasn't all bad; the boat is very well furnished and fitted, our cabin steward (Rowena) was excellent, our meal in Sindhu was excellent, most of the (Indian) waiters were ok (Anthony from Mumbai and a French speaking chap from Martinique whose name I have lost were excellent), the Peninsular Restaurant was a haven of peace and quiet for lunch, the general food quality was fine, it was good to have tea making in the cabin, the Horizon Buffet food choice was great - why did that have a different food theme each night and not the other restaurants?, some of the entertainment shows were first class, the transfers were efficient and the attention to hand cleanliness was very reassuring.

On the other hand; there was a chronic lack of deck space for people and sun beds, the signposting throughout the boat is terrible, there are far too few lifts and their 'operating logic' is weird, the a\c noise outside our cabin was very annoying (deck G), some of the Reception and Waiting staff were rude, there was a general 'superior' P&O attitude, the lunch and dinner menus in The Meridian and Peninsular restaurants were far too British and became repetitive and boring (liver & bacon, Lancashire hot pot, roast beef, bread & butter pudding over and over - in the Caribbean!!), our meal in the Epicurian was very disappointing (especially for £28 extra each!), the music by the pool was far too loud, the excursion was just a rip off at £40 each and the Sunday morning religious services were lifeless and soulless. To answer the questions that our family and friends ask; will we cruise again? probably yes; with P&O? possibly; on Britannia? absolutely not! Read more