Britannia Review

5.0 / 5.0
1,066 reviews

Should never have used them again

Review for Europe Cruise on Britannia
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aberafon
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: May 2019
Traveled with children

We cruised with P and O for many years up to 2014 when we decided that as their standards had dropped so much we would try other cruise lines. We found these other cruise lines were still up to the standards that P and O had before 2012. P and O had been in contact with us over the years trying to convince us to try them again assuring us that the standards were once again on a par with other cruise lines. We decide to use them during the May half term and go on Britannia on the 25th with the Grandchildren. We wish we hadn’t. The ship was late in due to some mechanical problem, (which we now know they had before they left on the previous cruise, so using it with this problem made it worse) and we were delayed many hours, but the worst of it was that having driven over 4 hours down to the port with children in the car we were them held on the port by CPS in a car park for at Mayflower terminal for over 3 hours without any facilities, refreshments or information. People who were not booked with CPS were allowed on the ship but anyone booked with CPS were kept away from the ship until almost 9pm. The organisation was terrible.

Having got on the ship it was chaotic and we were unable to get any food until after 10pm, but had to leave it for the muster which was at 10.30. Because of all of the chaos on the ship continuing during the muster our granddaughter was lost in the crowds and no one would take it seriously saying that they would look into it after the muster. We refused to wait and one of us went to the reception to report her as missing, whilst one of us continued to look for her. The Captain went on and on during the muster, far longer than necessary, whilst the reception said they could do nothing. We eventually found her sat outside the room, 30 minutes after the muster, having found it by asking people where the room number on her ships map was. So generally a very poor start to the cruise, still we decided to put this behind us and enjoy the time together.

Unfortunately, despite being told that because we had children, we would have a table for 4, but they put us on a table for 7. We tried to change it but were told it was unlikely that we would be able to move. In the end we had to transfer to freedom dining which we don’t like when we have children with us, it is never a problem on other cruise lines they always accommodate us.

Cabin Review

We had two adjoining balcony cabins. These were smaller than we are used to but okay. Since out last cruise with P and O in 2014 the cabins are not cleaned as well. We found sweet papers and other items under the beds.

Port Reviews

Cherbourg

A really good museum right on the port

La Coruna

Really good port and by walking you can get around to many interesting places to visit

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