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Britannia cruise ship

Cruise line P&O UK (P&O Cruises)

  • Bridgetown (Barbados)
  • Southampton (England)

Britannia current position

Britannia current location is at Caribbean Sea (coordinates 13.12716 N / -59.68496 W) cruising at speed of 14.2 kn (26 km/h | 16 mph) en route to Castries. The AIS position was reported 19 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Britannia

Britannia current cruise is 14 days, one-way from Bridgetown to Southampton , themed as "Easter". The itinerary starts on 22 Mar, 2024 and ends on 05 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Britannia

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Britannia Itineraries

Britannia review, review of britannia.

The 2015-built MV Britannia cruise ship is the largest vessel in the P&O UK's fleet. From this Royal-class are also the Princess Cruises liners Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Sky Princess (2019), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). These are the ever biggest cruise vessels constructed by Fincantieri (Italy).

The vessel (IMO number 9614036) is currently UK- flagged (MMSI 235106595) and registered in Southampton .

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. P and O is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

PO Britannia cruise ship

The 3700-passenger ship Britannia is the biggest ever cruise liner built especially for the British source market. The £500 million new-build is a result of four years of planning. P&O Britannia is 25,000 tons heavier than Azura and Ventura sister ships (previously the largest vessels in the P&O fleet). The Britannia ship alone boosts the capacity of the P and O line by almost a quarter – 24%. Britannia impresses with her Union Jack livery and offers British-style cruising with modern look and feel. Her homeport is Southampton .

Britannia has the most popular features of the P&O fleet, such as The Crow's Nest Bar, Atul Kochar's Sindhu restaurant, Olly Smith's The Glass House, as well as brand new amenities. P&O says that Britannia cruise ship engine power output (MAN diesel engines) is equivalent to 70 Challenger tanks’ power or 86 supercars Bugatti Veyron. Britannia cruise ship is also the greenest yet and designed to deliver greater levels of environmental and operational efficiency. The new form of the hull is expected to reduce fuel consumption by approx 20%. Along with the hull design, P and O changed the hull art as well – with the Union Jack flag 94 m / 308 ft long.

The Britannia ship is the eighth vessel to join P&O UK's fleet and named "to resonate with the forward-looking mood in Britain". Britannia is considered to be the most fitting name because of its famous long heritage, so suitable for the newest P&O addition – the favourite cruise line of Britain. Apparently, HM The Queen gave her permission to P&O use the name.

P&O Cruises Britannia cruise ship model

Two ships connected to the company have been previously named "Britannia". The first one entered service for General Steam Navigation Company in 1835. The second one, together with three other boats, was ordered to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary of her accession to the throne) and entered service in 1887. The "Golden Jubilee ship" had passenger capacity 410 (160 second-class plus 250 first-class) and cargo capacity 4000 tons. In 1888, on this Britannia sailed (to Bombay India ) Winston Churchill, with his hussar regiment, and then fought on India's North-West Frontier (present-day Pakistan's KPK-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province/occupied by the British between 1849-1947 via the East India Company).

Royal Yacht Britannia was the vessel decommissioned in 1997 by John Major government, but the name has been associated with P&O for a long time. In June 2013 a management shake-up at Carnival UK operations later saw the exit of Carol Marlow- the former managing director, and Peter Shanks – ex-boss of Cunard brand. Britannia is the first vessel for P&O Cruises since then. These departures were linked to boosting younger cruisers’ proportion at the UK arm of Carnival Cruises. Everyone who believes in the growth of the cruise industry now expects the new P and O cruise ship Britannia to mark a new era of success.

Her Majesty The Queen (1926-2022) was the royal godmother. She named the ship on March 10th, 2015, at Southampton's Ocean Terminal. HM The Queen was accompanied by Prince Philip and The Duke of Edinburgh. After the royal words "May God bless her and all who sail in her", The Queen pressed the button that released a Nebuchadnezzar wine (a giant bottle of sparkling wine, the equivalent of 20 regular bottles) to be smashed against the hull. This most special event was also marked by live band music performances – Her Majesty's Royal Marines band, and the Irish Guards’ Regimental Band. Also present at the naming ceremony were the Carnival Corporation's front men Micky Arison (chairman) and Arnold Donald (CEO), and also David Dingle (chairman of Carnival UK).

Decks and Cabins

MS Britannia staterooms (a total of 1837 total, in 35 grades) include 64x Suites, 1298x Balconies, 448x Inside and 27x Studios (single-occupancy cabins). The ship has no Oceanview cabins. Most staterooms are Balcony (sized 175-290 ft2). Cabin balconies are rather small (sized 35 ft2 / 3 m2). The largest accommodations are the Owner's Suites (470 ft2/44 m2, with terrace sized 210 ft2/20 m2).

The boat has 17 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The rise on the world stage of British cooking is reflected in Britannia's dining options. The Epicurean Restaurant specializes in fine dining and molecular gastronomy. It features both contemporary and traditional dishes. The Glass House is home to nearly 40 different wines from all around the world, including labels from Greece, Croatia, and Japan. Wine expert Olly Smith pairs wine with food from the menu, featuring dishes like a Wagyu burger, sea bass ceviche with lime, lobster buns, Morecombe Bay and Devon crab sliders. The first British ship to offer cooking lessons at sea, The Cookery Club provides guests an opportunity to hone their cooking techniques under the watchful eye of food experts and chefs. Aboard the Britannia, passengers can cook alongside baking queen Mary Berry and TV chef James Martin. Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar teaches guests how to make dishes from Sindhu - his signature restaurant. Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White also runs a class, demonstrating his famous dishes whilst passengers cook alongside him.

While P&O UK has already linked up with celebrity chefs for Cookery Club school, Britannia will also act as a backdrop to the first at sea celebrity-led TV cooking contest, Battlechefs, from April 4. On April 2, 2016, the ship will be the setting for another first as she will host live Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway from the top deck.

PO Britannia cruise ship

Follows the complete list of Britannia restaurants and food bars.

  • The Limelight Club (supper club for specialty dining; offers live performances and the 3-course dinner menu)
  • Meridian Restaurant (aft Dining Room; for Breakfast 7:30-9 am, and Lunch 12:15-1:45 pm/3-course menu; Afternoon Tea 4-4:45 pm.; club dinner dining at 6:30 or 9.30 pm)
  • The Oriental Restaurant (aft MDR, with fixed seating dining at 6:30 and 8:30 pm)
  • The Peninsular Restaurant (forward MDR, with fixed seating dining at 6:30 and 8:30 pm, open-seating breakfast and lunch; also serving Afternoon Tea 4-4:45 pm)
  • Sindhu (Indian specialty restaurant, by A. Kochhar)
  • Ocean Grill (specialty, by chef Marco Pierre White)
  • The Glass House (steakhouse/seafood specialty restaurant and wine bar, by Olly Smith)
  • Java Cafe (buffet-style restaurant)
  • The Cookery Club (specialty restaurant and cooking club by James Martin)
  • Fine Dining Restaurant (Epicurean Restaurant - specialty, dinner-only, by the Michelin star Marco Pierre White)
  • Horizon Restaurant (Lido buffet; complimentary, self-service; with several food stations and floor-ceiling windows)
  • Beach House (casual dining venue, dinner-only)
  • Poolside drinks and fast-food bars – The Pizzeria, Lido Bar, Lido Grill, Riviera Bar, “Grab and Go”.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MV Britannia ship design is a masterpiece created by Richmond International – London-based architects, who anticipate today's Britain tastes. They are well known for creating “flowing” coherent interiors but with each area having an individual identity. While the Britannia ship may be a large vessel, every inch of the interior was carefully considered as to become breathtaking and striking. MV Britannia was designed to make guests feel special, and all of her was planned with flair and imagination. The Britannia ship offers the very best of Britain's contemporary design and an unprecedented number of facilities for passengers.

The vessel provides the best classic features of Aurora and Oriana , and a wide choice of the contemporary variety of Azura and Ventura. 13 cafes and restaurants, 13 bars, 15 passenger decks, 4 swimming pools, 9 jacuzzis – what more of all these could a traveler wish for? Another good decision on a practical level is the greater number of single cabins - more than on any other ship. Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi access, supervised kids program, laundry/self-serve laundromats, nursery.

PO Britannia cruise ship Atrium

Follows the complete list of Britannia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

  • Britannia Atrium (3-decks central open floor area and social hub); Atrium Shops (Regalia - clothes, souvenirs, gifts; The Wardrobe - brand fashion, watches, bags, hats); Chic - fashion boutique; Emporium - candy shop; Eternity - jewelry, Essence - perfumes)
  • Market Cafe (Atrium patisserie by Eric Lanlard), Blue Bar (Atrium piano bar), Sunset Bar
  • Brodie’s Pub; The Studio (multi-purpose lounge); Marlow Suite (multifunction room, doubles as Card Room)
  • Headliners Theatre (836-seat, 2-decks, featuring grand scale productions, live performances, game shows)
  • The Crystal Room (Lounge and Bar; daily dance classes, grand evening balls)
  • The Live Lounge (music-dedicated venue; disco at night)
  • The Crow's Nest Lounge (dance floor, a stage for live music; with floor-ceiling windows for panoramic views; hosts art classes, quiz games, cooking demos during the day)
  • Casino; Ivory Suite (vow renewal and wedding services)
  • Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery; The Library (with Internet computers)
  • Terrace Pool (adults only area, served by Terrace Bar); Riviera Pool area; Aqua Pool and Bar; Coral Pool and Bar
  • adults-only relaxation areas ("Retreat" /VIP Spa terrace with private cabanas, and "Serenity")
  • Oasis Spa complex (Treatment Rooms, Steam Rooms, Thermal Suite, Thalassotherapy pool, Beauty Salon)
  • Gymnasium (complimentary equipment, Fitness classes; Yoga and Pilates at surcharge)
  • Childrens' Facilities (Kids Play Area, The Reef Kids Programming Rooms, Nursery)
  • Promenade (Walking Lane and Jogging Track); Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, football, cricket, tennis); Table Tennis; four Golf Net cages.

Itineraries

P&O Britannia itinerary program is based on homeporting in Southampton England and Bridgetown Barbados . The roundtrips include Caribbean Islands (from Barbados), ex-Southampton voyages along the Atlantic Coast, Baltic, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, "mini-cruises" to Guernsey (Channel Islands), Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Britannia returned to the UK/Southampton on March 25, 2016 (a year after the naming ceremony led by HM The Queen) being homeported in Barbados throughout winter 2015-2016. From the UK, the ship operated short-breaks to Northern Europe and longer cruises to the Mediterranean (during summer). For the Caribbean winter 2016-2017 season, the ship was homeported in Saint Lucia (Castries) .

On June 27, 2021, Britannia became P&O UK's first liner to restart operations (following the 15+ months pause due to the Coronavirus crisis) leaving roundtrip from Southampton on a 4-night "Short Break" ( cruise to nowhere ) in the English Channel/along Devon's coast.

Britannia - user reviews and comments

Photos of britannia.

PO Britannia cruise ship

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Britannia wiki.

MS Britannia is currently P&O UK's largest liner, as well as the ever-biggest built specifically for the UK market, Fleet's next largest vessels are  Azura and Ventura . The interior was designed by "Richmond International" - UK-based hotel design company. On February 22, 2015, the vessel was delivered at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard . The ceremony was attended by Enrico Morando (Italy's Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance), Micky Arison (Carnival Corporation's Chairman), David Dingle (Carnival UK's Executive Chairman), David Noyes (P&O UK's CEO), Vincenzo Petrone (Fincantieri's Chairman) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

P&O Britannia (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 6231) is powered by Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 12V46F and 14V46F) generating total power output 62,4 MW.

PO Britannia cruise ship

First Mediterranean cruise (2015, March 14) was a 14-day roundtrip from Southampton to Gibraltar , Barcelona , Monaco , Civitavecchia-Rome , Corsica , Cartagena , Cadiz . First Transatlantic cruise crossing (2015, October 23) was a 14-day itinerary from Southampton to Bridgetown Barbados , visiting Madeira (Funchal), St Maarten, St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada. First Caribbean cruise (2015, November 6) was a 14-day roundtrip from Barbados to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Jamaica (Ocho Rios), BVI (Tortola), St Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada.

During winter, the ship cruises in the Caribbean on roundtrips from Barbados . The ship was homeported in Port Castries (St Lucia) during winter 2016-2017 season. It also offers fly-cruise deals from UK ( Southampton England ). P&O UK's "flight and cruise" deals to the Caribbean are inclusive of discounted airfare to and from Barbados or St Lucia.

P&O Britannia refurbishment 2019 review

The ship's first drydock refurbishment was in 2019 (October 8-22) at Damen Shipyard Brest (France) . During the drydock works were implemented the following changes:

  • All interiors were refreshed (shipwide).
  • ( Landing Deck 5 / midship Lobby) a permanent Art Gallery was added (adjacent to Blue Bar / Atrium bar)
  • (deck 5 midship) The Atrium was redesigned with new color schemes and relaxed live entertainment (music, informal acts).
  • (deck 5 midship) Market Cafe's menu upgraded with new gourmet sweets (recipes by Eric Lanlard / French patissier and celebrity chef)
  • (deck 5 forward) To Oasis Spa and Salon (ship's wellness complex) were added two express pods for treatments - one for high-tech spa massages, the other for express skin treatments and LVL lash lifting.
  • ( Tween Deck 6 ) The onboard shopping was upgraded with new luxury brands - Jo Malone London (candles), Tom Ford (designer fashion), Michael Kors (designer clothing and accessories, handbags, watches, shoes), Clifton (custom design clothing), Edinburgh Gin (alcohol).
  • ( Main Deck 7 midship-starboard) Java Cafe (buffet restaurant's) menu was upgraded with alcoholic beverages.
  • (deck 7 midship-aft-starboard) Photo Gallery upgraded with Dixons Electronics Hub selling gadgets (imaging, computing, audio) from premium brands like Amazon, Apple (electronics, computer software), Microsoft (software), Sony (electronics, gaming), Canon (imaging and optical products), Fitbit (trackers, wireless wearables), GoPro (action cameras), Bose (audio devices / headphones, speakers, wearables).

On MS Britannia, P&O also introduced a try-before-you-buy program with consultant-managing tasting tables in the ship's beauty and make-up areas.

Fun ship facts

During its first year of service (March 10, 2015 - March 25, 2016), the Britannia cruise ship:

  • sailed more than 90000 nautical miles (103570 ml / 166680 km)
  • hosted 730 theater shows
  • served 94457 meals
  • operated 43 itineraries (visiting 31 different countries and calling on 61 seaports).

During that time, the ship carried 116900+ passengers, who consumed ~375000 cocktail drinks, ~2,8 million cups of tea, 292000+ scones.

The vessel was laid down in 2011, its name was announced in 2013. P&O Britannia features a 308 ft / 94 m long Union Jack flag on hull's bow - world's biggest of its kind. The vessel is the first Monfalcone -made cruise ship with 2 funnels. The last ocean liner with 2 funnels (SS Eugenio C) was delivered by Monfalcone shipyard in 1966.

For the naming ceremony was used a nebuchadnezzar British Brut NV (from Winston Estate Winery, England's Sussex region). For the cruise ship's christening event, thousands of bottles "Rose Vintage 2011" and "Brut NV" were delivered.

MV Britannia ship's godmother was Her Majesty The Queen of Great Britain (Elizabeth II/1926-2022). On the naming ceremony, she was accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Philip. The event took place in Southampton on March 10, 2015. The list of other P and O cruise ships named by British Royals includes Oriana (April 6, 1995, by HM The Queen), Aurora (April 27, 2000, by HRH Princess Royal) and the ships Oceana and Adonia (both named on May 21, 2003, by HRH Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Phillips).

The cruise ship's namesakes are the ferries Spirit of Britain (P&O FERRIES) and Stena Britannica (STENA LINE).

The Story Behind the Royal Family's Yacht, Britannia

The ship hosted four royal honeymoons in its 44 years of service.

Hmy Britannia

Often referred to as the last royal yacht, the Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, and despite some efforts , there are no signs of a new one in the near future. Though its seafaring days may be behind it (the ship now serves as a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland), the Britannia remains an important artifact and a peek behind the curtain of royal life—it even garnered a prominent place in the fifth season of The Crown . Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history.

It was the first royal yacht designed for ocean travel.

The ship was built by John Brown & Co at the same shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland in the same location the famous ocean liners the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were constructed. With 12,000 horsepower, the ship could travel at a maximum 22.5 knots (approximately 25 miles per hour), ideal for ocean-going diplomacy. Prior to its launch in 1953, the royal family used ships from the Royal Navy or even passenger liners for the overseas portions of the royal tour.

In its 44 years of service, the HMY Britannia traveled around 1.1 million miles.

Royal Yacht State Room

It was commissioned just two days before the death of King George VI.

The King was already in failing health by the time the designs for the HMY Britannia were submitted, and the hope was that traveling might help alleviate some of his symptoms. However, just two days after the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland received the order the King passed away on February 6, 1952.

It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secret—it wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation . Elizabeth cracked a bottle of English wine (in the post-war era, champagne was considered too extravagant for the launch of a ship) and announced, "I name this ship Britannia … I wish success to her and all who sail in her."

It was created to double as a hospital.

When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. Though the ship was never actually put to that purpose, it was pressed into service on a rescue mission to help evacuate European nationals from South Yemen in 1986.

The ship was home to a lot of history.

Long before it became a floating museum, the Britannia had an eye for history. The gold and white binnacle housed on the ship's veranda deck was originally part of the HMY Royal George , a royal yacht that served Queen Victoria . Likewise, some of the bed linens used by Queen Elizabeth aboard the vessel were originally made for Victoria's bed for one of the previous royal yachts.

Britannia's steering wheel was lifted from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia , built in 1893 for King Edward VII .

Royal Yacht Dining Room

It was redesigned to be less opulent.

Despite the sense of luxury that the term "royal yacht" inspires, the Queen and Prince Philip were actually concerned when they began overseeing the project in 1952 that the original interior design plans by the design firm McInnes Gardner & Partners were too lavish for a country still recovering from the war. The interiors were ultimately redesigned by Sir Hugh Casson and received very minimal updates throughout her 44 years of service.

But it still had homey touches—by royal standards.

Suffice to say that even low-key royal living is a fairly high class. In addition to the 56-seat State Dining Room, which hosted luminaries including Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Nelson Mandela, and multiple US Presidents, the ship also sported a formal staircase where the Queen would greet guests, separate bedrooms and sitting rooms for both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, and a phone system designed to match the unique configurations of Buckingham Palace's telephones.

BRITANNIA Queen's bedroom

In the early years of the Britannia's life it was also home to the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom V which was hoisted and lowered from a special garage compartment at port so that the Queen could drive her own car at each location. The space was ever so slightly too small, forcing the bumpers to be removed in order to get it into the garage without damage and then refitted when the car was removed. Ultimately Elizabeth began using cars provided for her at port instead and the garage was converted into a storage area for beer.

The steering crew couldn't see where they were going.

Life on board the HMY Britannia was far from typical for her crew. To begin with, due to the prestige and pressure of the position, the commanding officer of the royal yacht was always a flag officer, most commonly a Rear Admiral, although the first two to serve were Vice Admirals, and Britannia 's final CO was a Commodore.

While working, the crew reportedly used hand signals to communicate rather than shouting orders, in order to maintain a sense of quiet and calm for the royal residents. It was also the last ship in the royal navy where the crew members slept in hammocks, a practice that they maintained until 1973.

Hmy Britannia

Perhaps the most unusual element of the ship's functioning, though, was the steering. While on most ships, the steering wheel sits on the bridge, overlooking the front of the vessel, Britannia 's was on the deck below, in the wheelhouse, which meant that the yachtsmen who were actually doing the steering couldn't see where they were going. The crew got around this rather surprising pitfall by using voice pipes from the bridge to confer navigational orders.

It was a royal honeymoon essential.

No fewer than four royal couples celebrated their honeymoons in the HMY Britannia 's honeymoon suite (the only room onboard with a double bed.)

Princess Margaret started the tradition in 1960 for her Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones , a quiet, formal affair where dinners were taken in full evening dress every night. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne on her honeymoon with Captain Mark Phillips in 1973—storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously spent their 1981 honeymoon on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the yacht. The crew managed to duck the press so efficiently they garnered the nickname "the ghost ship." The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York in 1986 when the couple traveled around the Azores.

In memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in an automobile accident in Paris, France on August 31, 1997.

And a family vacation spot.

In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. During the trip, the family would play games and have barbecues on the islands. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. The tour often included a stop off at the Castle of Mey to visit the Queen Mother, then making berth in Aberdeen so that the Queen could travel to her favorite summer home, Balmoral .

Queen Crying At Britannia

The Queen openly wept when HMY Britannia was decommissioned in 1997.

With so many memories around the yacht, it's not hard to understand why the decommissioning of the Britannia was upsetting for the royal family. Though plans were initially drawn up for a replacement yacht, the government ultimately determined not to fund the effort. After the Queen officially took her leave of it in 1997, the ship was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland where it serves as a floating museum and events venue . All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

Zara Phillips And Mike Tindall Host Pre Wedding Party On Britannia

It was used for a reception for Zara Phillips before her wedding.

Though it's no longer used as their private vessel, the Britannia 's connection to the royal family didn't end in 1997. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. Though her grandmother wasn't in attendance Zara celebrated her upcoming marriage to Mike Tindall onboard along with her mother and her cousins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

preview for The Crown: Season 5 - Official Trailer (Netflix)

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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Royal Yacht Britannia

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The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

The Royal Yacht Britannia is open, visit today 10am – 3pm!

Royal Yacht Britannia

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Where is The Royal Yacht Britannia Berthed?

Just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh's city centre. Our temporary Ticket Centre, the entrance to the tour, is on the ground floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.

Please note there are roadworks in the Leith area.

What3Words: ///each.glee.served

Click here for Google Maps

Leave the car at home and cycle along the traffic-free Water of Leith. Bike racks outside Ocean Terminal. For cycle routes, see  CycleStreets  or  Spokes . For bike hire, contact the  Leith Cycle Company  or  Bike Trax .

Edinburgh trams now run from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre and down to Leith. To visit Britannia get off the tram at stop Ocean Terminal. 

Adult tickets cost £2 each way in the city zone. Child tickets are £1 each way. If you are returning to the city, you can purchase a return ticket for the same day at £3.80 for adults and £1.90 for children. Tickets must be purchased from the machines on the platform before travel. T icket vending machines accept most debit and credit cards including American Express as well as 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins. No change is given.

If you are travelling to or from Edinburgh Airport there is a single ticket for £7.50 or an open return for £9.50.

For more information and for combination tickets of the city zone tram with local Lothian Buses,   click here . 

Lothian Bus  services from Edinburgh city centre are 10, 16, 34 or 35. Tickets can be purchased with contactless card payment or with correct change. Single tickets cost £2.00 or a day ticket costs £5.00 however the daily cap by using contactless is cheaper at £4.80.

Alternatively, Majestic Tour buses depart from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in Edinburgh's city centre. The Majestic Tour Bus is operated by  Edinburgh Bus Tours .

The nearest train station is  Edinburgh Waverley . Or, why not travel in style to Edinburgh with  Orient-Express .

For satnav, our postcode is  EH6 6JJ . Follow signs for Edinburgh and Leith, or North Edinburgh. Free parking at Ocean Terminal's Red car park, level E is on the same level as our Visitor Centre and has accessible parking spaces.

Visit   Google Maps  to help plan your journey.

By Cruise Ship

If you are berthed in Leith, our Visitor Centre is inside Ocean Terminal, 5 minutes' walk from your cruise ship.

If you are berthed at South Queensferry, take a shuttle bus to Edinburgh and catch the tram to Ocean Terminal. A taxi will cost approximately £35 and take 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on traffic).

Britannia is approximately 40 minutes' drive from  Edinburgh Airport .

The new  Lothian Bus Skylink 200  service travels directly from the airport to Britannia .   Tickets can be purchased from the driver. Please note that the correct change is required. Alternatively download the  Lothian Buses 'm-tickets'  app which allows you to buy tickets to be shown to the driver on your mobile phone.

For further details on transport links, please visit  Edinburgh Airport Guide .

(Last Admission 5pm)

Visiting Britannia

Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023

royal britannia cruise

Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 25-28 June.

Click on the Visit page  for all you need to know before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

royal britannia cruise

Learn more: fingal.co.uk

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The Royal Yacht Britannia : A History of Queen Elizabeth II’s Favorite Palace

By Lisa Liebman

The Royal Yacht Britannia in Hong Kong during its last voyage in July of 1997.

The christening of The Royal Yacht Britannia serves as a cheeky season opener to  The Crown . Black-and-white Pathé News–style footage shows a soon-to-be-crowned Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) cheered on by shipbuilders as she launches her new 412-foot yacht. “I hope that this brand-new vessel, like your brand-new queen, will prove to be dependable and constant. Capable of weathering any storm,” she says about the royal replacement for the  Victoria and Albert III . By the series’ season finale, set 44 years later, both the sovereign and the floating palace she christened  Britannia will have hit rough seas—the cost of repairing the creaky old vessel and the modern role of the monarchy both in question. Ultimately, the yacht that undertook 968 official voyages all over the world, hosting dignitaries—including 13 US presidents—at receptions and banquets, was dry-docked near Edinburgh, Scotland, where it continues to be a popular tourist attraction. Here are some of the most buoyant facts about the palace the Queen famously said was “the one place where I can truly relax.”

The sun room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981.

The sun room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

In a nod to the country’s post-war austerity, Elizabeth scaled back the design of the ship that her father, King George VI, had commissioned just two days before he died. Rather than following the opulent plan laid out by the Scottish firm McInnes Gardner & Partners, she opted for the understated elegance envisioned by architect Sir Hugh Casson, who described “running a lawn mower over the Louis XVIl adornments” in favor of simple white walls, lilac-gray carpeting, and “a bit of gilding in grand places.” Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, were said to have personally chosen the furniture—much of it, including linens, recycled from the  Victoria and Albert —fabrics (florals, chintz, toile), and paintings. 

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on board the Royal Yacht Britannia as they prepare to depart on their honeymoon cruise...

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on board the Royal Yacht Britannia as they prepare to depart on their honeymoon cruise in 1981.

As a former Royal Navy Commander, Prince Phillip also saw to the ship’s technical details, and his Bluebottle racing yacht inspired the Britannia ’s navy-hued hull. Outer decks were made of two-inch Burmese teak. The steering wheel was reclaimed from Britannia ’s namesake, King Edward VII’s 1893 racing yacht; a wheelhouse wheel came from George V’s racing yacht; and a gold-and-white binnacle (housing the ship’s compass) was salvaged from King George III’s yacht and installed on the Veranda deck. Fittings from former royal ships were also reused. 

The drawing room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1978.

The drawing room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1978. 

The 4,000-ton yacht had a crew of 220 Royal Yachtsmen who lived on board, about 45 household staff, and occasionally a 26-member Royal Marine embarked to entertain dignitaries. The monarch often welcomed guests from the ship’s grand staircase. (Stairs leading from the Veranda to the Royal deck were sometimes transformed into a water slide for the kids.)  Britannia ’s apartments were designed like those of a first-class ocean liner. A 56-seat state dining room, where many of the gifts given to the monarch (a wood-carved shark from Pitcairn Island, a bejeweled gold statue from Bangkok) were displayed, was the scene of formal dinners with guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. More intimate gatherings were held in the Queen’s official reception room, a smaller state drawing room with floral upholstered pieces, simple wood tables, an electric fireplace, and a Welmar baby grand piano bolted to the deck—played by everyone from Sir Noël Coward to Princesses Diana and Margaret. The teak-clad sun lounge, with rattan furniture and a toile loveseat, was Elizabeth’s favorite place—where she had her breakfast, afternoon tea, and also enjoyed her favorite Dubonnet and gin cocktails.

The Queens sitting room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981.

The Queen’s sitting room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

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A ship elevator reserved for royal use moved between the Upper and Shelter Decks. The latter is where four Royal Apartments (bedrooms), including the Queen and Prince Phillip’s connecting compartments, were located. Hers featured florals, his had red accents. Elizabeth’s understated Upper Deck private sitting room, done in pastels and neutrals, served as the office where she conducted state business. Phillip used his sitting room, with its wood desk facing a model of his first command, the HMS Magpie , as his study. Below deck there was a wine cellar, as well as a cargo hold that could carry a barge, speed- and sailboats, plus a royal Range Rover and Rolls-Royce. The yacht could also be converted into a hospital (though it never was).

The Queen shed a tear at the decommissioning ceremony for thye Royal Yacht Britannia.

The Queen shed a tear at the decommissioning ceremony for thye Royal Yacht Britannia.

As depicted in  The Crown, Britannia ’s final official trip was to Hong Kong in 1997, where Prince Charles attended the handover of the territory to China. By then, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration was complaining that the £11 million a year needed to keep the boat afloat couldn’t be justified. With Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and all of their children in attendance,  Britannia was decommissioned at a ceremony in Portsmouth, England on December 11, 1997, with the monarch seen wiping away a tear. The yacht, now docked in Leith, Scotland, is open to the public as a museum and events space. (Prior to their wedding, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips’s daughter Zara Phillips and her fiancé Mike Tindall had a celebration there.) Visitors will note that every clock on board reads 3:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked her beloved  Britannia for the final time on that December day.

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Photo tour: Inside the Royal Yacht Britannia

Decommissioned in 1997, the Royal Yacht Britannia is now docked in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Photos show what it's like onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, the queen's 'floating palace' that she took on lavish vacations

  • The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.
  • It's five stories tall, had more than 240 staff, and was known as the queen's "floating palace."
  • Britannia is now anchored in Leith, Scotland, and reopens as a tourist attraction on May 12.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia carried the queen and members of the royal family around the world.

royal britannia cruise

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia

Built in 1953, it logged more than 1 million miles and became known as the queen's "floating palace."

royal britannia cruise

The five-story ship was part royal residence and part Royal Navy ship, with a full-time staff of more than 240 royal yachtsmen and officers.

royal britannia cruise

The queen traveled on the ship for tours abroad, during which she would meet with dignitaries both on land and onboard.

royal britannia cruise

She also used it for vacations like the royal family's annual summer cruise to the Western Isles of Scotland.

royal britannia cruise

The queen once said that "Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax."

royal britannia cruise

Four royal couples used the ship for their honeymoons, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.

royal britannia cruise

In 1997, the Labour government decommissioned the ship, citing costs as a primary reason. The Britannia cost about £11 million to run each year, Reuters reported.

royal britannia cruise

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , Reuters

While the queen has yet to build a new yacht, that wasn't the end of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

royal britannia cruise

One year later, it opened as a public museum in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

royal britannia cruise

The ship is set to reopen on May 12, almost six months after it closed in November due to the pandemic.

royal britannia cruise

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , BBC

Visitors will be able to step into spaces like the teak-lined sun lounge, the queen's favorite room, where she took her breakfast and afternoon tea.

royal britannia cruise

The queen's bedroom, featuring a vanity table, writing desk, and twin bed, is also on display. The queen and Prince Philip slept separately while onboard the Britannia.

royal britannia cruise

The largest room on the ship is the state dining room, where the queen entertained dignitaries like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher. The room could fit 56 guests.

royal britannia cruise

Nearby is the state drawing room, which served as a place for the royal family to relax as well as a reception area for guests.

royal britannia cruise

Toward the front of the ship are rooms where the staff lived and operated, like the 24-hour laundry room. Here, yachtsmen and officers would change outfits up to six times per day.

royal britannia cruise

The former royal yachtsmen, known as "yotties," now reunite annually to help maintain the ship.

royal britannia cruise

The clocks on the Royal Yacht Britannia don't get touched. They are permanently stopped at 3:01 p.m., the time when the queen stepped off the ship for the last time.

royal britannia cruise

Prince Philip once said that the ship occupies a unique place in royal history. "Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace, or just a house," he said, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. "The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia."

royal britannia cruise

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royal britannia cruise

  • Main content

Inside ‘Britannia,’ Queen Elizabeth II’s Floating Palace

The Royal Yacht, according to Her Majesty, was “the one place where I can truly relax.”

hmy britannia

But Britannia was far more than a posh royal cruise liner. She was a showcase for cutting-edge naval engineering and the first royal yacht that could do double duty as a floating hospital in wartime, if necessary. In 1986, for instance, she rescued more than 1,000 refugees from South Yemen. Over the course of her 44 years in service, Britannia facilitated 968 official visits and traveled over one million nautical miles.

royal yacht britannia

She was also, of course, a time capsule of the best British design of the time, in terms of both technological prowess and decoration. Read on for more about the ship’s history, and where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now (hint: You can visit !).

What’s the backstory of Britannia ?

This history of royal liners goes back centuries. In fact, Britannia was the 83rd royal yacht; the first, HMY Mary, was constructed in 1660 by the Dutch East India Company and given as a gift to Charles II. Britannia ’s predecessor, Victoria & Albert III, was completed in 1901 and used by Edward II up through George VI, but was decommissioned in 1939 and eventually broken up as scrap. A new yacht was commissioned on February 4, 1952, in an effort to help King George VI’s health, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia museum, but the king died just two days later. The task to oversee the construction of the new yacht, then, fell on the young Queen Elizabeth II.

royal yacht britannia at sea

Who Built the Royal Yacht Britannia ?

Britannia was designed by John Brown & Co., the same marine engineering firm that built the RMS Lusitania and the Queen Mary. Construction on Britannia began in June 1952, and she was launched in a ceremony on April 16, 1953. The young queen didn’t reveal the name of the liner until her televised address in which she proudly stated before roaring crowds, “I name this ship Britannia .” Notably, a bottle of wine as opposed to the more traditional Champagne, was smashed across the ship’s bow during the christening—Champagne would have been much too ostentatious amid postwar austerity.

Who designed the Royal Yacht Britannia ’s interiors?

According to a technical paper presented to the Institution of Naval Architects in the spring of 1954, the royal and state apartments were to be on par with those of a first-class ocean liner. “The suitability of the decorative design and the furnishing of the Royal and State apartments has, of course, been very important,” the paper noted.

royal yacht britannia

At first, Patrick McBride of the Glasgow, Scotland–based firm, McInnes Gardner & Partners, was selected to design the interiors, but the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh rejected those plans, deeming them too lavish, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia museum. Sir Hugh Casson, the director of architecture at the 1951 Festival of Britain, was the perfect candidate, with his modern eye and lack of ostentation. The design, the architect later wrote in his diary, “was really running a lawn mower over the Louis XVIl adornments. I was going to concentrate on one-color carpet throughout, which was sort of lilac/gray, and all the walls would be white. The only enrichments would be a bit of gilding in grand places.”

royal yacht britannia

Working with Casson, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were highly involved, giving input for everything ranging from the furniture (much of it salvaged from the vessel’s predecessor, Victoria & Albert III , as another way to appear thrifty) to the ship’s blue exterior paint, inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh’s racing yacht, Bluebottle. Apartments featured a design like an elegant-yet-muted English country house, filled with floral sofas and antiques. The state drawing room could accommodate up to 250 guests. The Queen’s favorite room was the sun lounge, with its warm teak walls and rattan furnishings, and views across the veranda deck.

royal yacht britannia

“I suppose Britannia was rather special as far as we were concerned because we were involved from the very beginning in organizing the design and furnishing and equipping and hanging the pictures and everything else,” Prince Philip said in a 1995 documentary film about the yacht. “For us it was rather special because all the other places we live in have been built by our predecessors. They started building Windsor 1,000 years ago, and they built Balmoral 100 years ago, and they built Sandringham 70 or 90 years ago. So we, in a sense, had our own.”

So successful was the partnership that Casson would go on to become a dear friend of the royal family and design interiors for Buckingham Palace, Balmoral , and Windsor Castle

royal yacht britannia

Britannia was also a second home for the royal children. Each was given a member of the crew or “sea daddy” to look after them. “We found as children that there was so much to do, we expended so much energy that we couldn’t describe our time on the yacht as a rest,” Princess Anne said. Milk was delivered fresh from a farmer each day for the royal children, according to letters from the ship’s Acting Captain J. S. Dalglish. Later, the yacht would become the venue for numerous royal honeymoons and vacations, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s infamous 1981 Mediterranean cruise.

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia Now?

As documented in season 5 of The Crown , the Royal Yacht was decommissioned on December 11, 1997, at a ceremony in Portsmouth, U.K., after nearly half a century in service and having traveled more than one million nautical miles. In addition to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward all attended the ceremony. As the British ensign was lowered to the tune of a navy band, Her Majesty was photographed blinking back tears .

queen crying at britannia

Britannia was retired to Port of Leith in Edinburgh. Today, as one of the most popular tourist sites in the U.K., she serves as a museum and receives some 350,000 visitors per year who can tour the State dining room, the Queen’s bedroom, and sun lounge, as well as view the engine room and crew’s cabins. Visitors can even have tea and scones on the royal deck. The majority of the items on display are original to the yacht and are on loan from the Royal Collection.

zara phillips and mike tindall host pre wedding party on britannia

In a bizarre 21st-century twist, former British prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to build a Britannia successor, a £250 million yet-to-be-named, taxpayer-funded superyacht to operate as a “floating embassy.” The new British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, recently torpedoed those plans in favor of building a surveillance ship.

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Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling. Prior to joining the staff, she has held positions at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record magazines. elledecor.com 

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Cruising has changed – come and sea…

REVIEW: P&O Britannia – British cruising is back

After a pause of nearly eighteen months cruising has restarted in the United Kingdom. How has the pandemic changed cruising, and what did I make of my first time sailing with P&O? Join me as I take one of the first cruises back on the seas.

P&O's flagship Britannia, pictured sailing against a blue sky. Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises UK.

As cruising restarts in the UK sailings have been limited to UK waters & ports only, although that is now beginning to change. Our cruise embarked in Southampton Thursday 5th August 2021 and was a 3 night, all sea days, sailing.

This would be my first time on P&O Cruises, a line I’d always been curious about but had not yet booked with. I suppose I had some preconceived notions of what a British branded, British marketed cruise would be like. I went into this cruise with an open mind.

Embarkation in Southampton

In the days leading up to the cruise I was able to complete an online check-in process on the P&O website that provided me with PDF copies on my cruise ticket, boarding pass, luggage tags and health declaration. These need to be printed out to bring with you.

Because of the changing public health situation you’re now required to have comprehensive cruise-specific travel insurance to sail, this should cover COVID care, medical bills up to £2m, and repatriation. Proof of cover should also be printed and brought along.

On arrival at Southampton Ocean Cruise Terminal we dropped our bags in the zone colour coded to our luggage tags and joined a moderate queue for COVID-19 testing.

royal britannia cruise

Although there were a decent number of people in the queue it moved at a steady pace. Within 30 minutes of arrival we’d been able to drop off our luggage and had a COVID test administered. The test is a standard nasal swab, with results in 30 minutes. You’ll need a mobile phone with you to receive your results via SMS.

Once tested we were given a colour-coded wristband and shown our area of the terminal to wait in. In almost exactly 30 minutes we got our negative result SMS which meant we were allowed out of the waiting area and to proceed to the check-in desk. Because I’d completed check-in online this was as simple as showing the SMS, boarding pass and our passports – we got a ‘OK to board’ stamp and proceeded to the security area.

royal britannia cruise

Unfortunately, security is where our so far smooth embarkation ground to a halt. We waited an hour in the security area whilst the team turned up and started setting everything up for the day. We’re not sure why it wasn’t ready ahead of passengers waiting, and given how slick everything had been so far we found this somewhat frustrating – as did many other, more vocal, passengers. But after that hour wait, and processing through standard security, we were on our way to the ship.

First impressions of Britannia

Entering through the atrium on Deck 5 you quickly get a good impression of how Britannia was designed. The decor is muted, there’s dark wood panelling, iron-effect railings – it says “upscale hotel lobby” more than cruise ship atrium. The atrium centrepiece is a starburst chandelier which rather than containing its own lights is lit from spotlights around the atrium, allowing it change colour and appearance depending on the time of day.

royal britannia cruise

The darker, more intimate, upscale hotel feeling continues throughout the ship with well-blended choices of wood, marble, and blue accents – all with subtle lighting.

Britannia is a Royal-class cruise ship, weighing in at 143,000GT she’s one of the biggest ships to serve the United Kingdom. Britannia was launched in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II, and saw a comprehensive refit in 2019.

royal britannia cruise

Our stateroom

royal britannia cruise

At the time of booking we chose a ‘Guarantee Balcony’, which means that you don’t choose your specific cabin – just the grade of cabin you want. A couple of days before boarding we were told we’d be in A247, a HF grade balcony on Deck 15. This room is perfectly located right next to the forward lifts & stairs, with just one flight between you and the pool deck.

On arrival at the stateroom we saw that the room had been cleaned and a blue seal had been put across the door to show no-one had been in it since its cleaning – part of P&O’s ‘Sail With Confidence’ health programme. Our smart cards were waiting for us in the post box area just to the left of the door.

As you enter the stateroom, there’s a large dressing area & wardrobe immediately to your left. This is easily the biggest wardrobe I’ve seen on a cruise ship. I liked how it kept all the clothes, bags, shoes etc out of sight from the main room. There are also shelves, cubby holes and a safe big enough for an iPad.

The bathroom is accessed through this dressing area and is compact, but has just about enough room for anything you’d need. The only real pinch-point was entering/exiting the shower. The glass shower door opens outwards into the bathroom – you kind of have to stand right next to the toilet to open & close it as the door passes (and occasionally knocks) your knees – but it’s fine. A bar of hand-soap is provided, as well as shower-gel and shampoo from The White Company.

royal britannia cruise

On this particular sailing I was travelling with a friend, as my partner couldn’t get time off work, so we had our cabin set up with twin beds. The same room is reconfigurable as a double if you submit your preference ahead of time, or ask your stateroom attendant. We found the bed and pillows incredibly comfortable, if a little soft for my personal preference. We both slept well.

The main room is of a decent size. Plenty for two adults to move around and co-exist without getting in each others way. Aside from the beds there are was one bedside table, a small desk with mirror and chair, an arm chair and matching side table. There were also two full length mirrors in the room, which is always welcome when more than one of you is trying to get ready for dinner.

Our only slight disappointment with the room was that there were no USB sockets for charging devices. For a ship built in 2014 and refurbished in 2019 this seems an odd omission.

royal britannia cruise

Balconies on Royal-class ships are known to a be a little shallow, and Britannia is no exception. It was a bit snug out there, but room enough for two chairs and a small drinks table. We found the balcony to be well shielded from the wind, with plenty of privacy from the cabins either side of us.

royal britannia cruise

Bars and Lounges

Compared to other ships her size Britannia has fewer bars than you might expect, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be short of places to drink. Here’s a quick tour of the places you can grab a drink onboard.

royal britannia cruise

The Blue Bar & Market Café in the atrium on Deck 5 is the the place to see and be seen on Britannia. These two venues sit starboard and port of the atrium seating area respectively, with The Blue Bar serving champagne and cocktails whilst the Market Cafe serves Costa Coffee and cakes. This space often hosts live music such as pianists and saxophone players throughout the day and into the night.

Moving up to Deck 6, just off the atrium you’ll find Brodie’s Bar. Brodie’s is the traditional British pub featured across the P&O fleet. Here you’ll find a wide range of beers and ciders, both on tap and by the bottle or can. This venue is also home to the daily trivia and quiz events – as well as where you can watch live sport onboard. During our cruise the 2021 Tokyo Olympics were shown in Brodie’s. There’s extra seating and pool tables just outside of Brodies on the port side, to the starboard side you’ll find the small casino area.

royal britannia cruise

Heading up to Deck 7 aft you’ll find the Live Lounge which is one of the Britannia’s show lounges, host to nightly musical performances and gameshows. Live Lounge is a dark but elegant venue and offers table service of cocktails, champagne and wines. Seating is limited for the shows, so if there’s something you want to see – turn up early.

royal britannia cruise

Walking forward on Deck 7 you’ll find the Sindhu Bar. Whilst officially part of the Sindhu Indian restaurant the bar was open to all passengers who wanted an evening drink. This venue was not open during the day on our cruise.

Now back in the atrium on Deck 7 you’ll find yourself with The Glass House on the port side and Java on the starboard. The Glass House is a wine bar styled and curated by Olly Smith of the BBC, here you can pick from a variety of wines not seen elsewhere onboard, as well as wine flights for the adventurous wine explorer. Java is another coffee shop, serving Costa Coffee in a similar fashion to the Market Cafe on Deck 5. Both The Glass House and Java have access to an outdoor promenade seating area – though due to the weather on our sailing this wasn’t used.

royal britannia cruise

Continuing forward on Deck 7 you’ll find The Crystal Room . This light and elegant venue was used for talks, seminars, ballroom dancing lessons and in the evening – karaoke. Much like The Live Lounge this venue filled up fast and more than once we had to change our plans. There are benches outside The Crystal Room on the port side, but you won’t get drinks service sitting there.

royal britannia cruise

Decks 8 through 15 are purely staterooms, so let’s hop in an elevator and head up to Deck 16 forward. Here you’ll find The Crows Nest. This is Britannia’s observation bar. During the day it offers 270º views from the front of the ship, you’ll find books and boardgames along with an extensive gin menu. When evening comes around it turns into an elegant piano bar – our pianist onboard, Paul Cassidy, was excellent. Due to limited seating and the size of the venue we had trouble getting in here a few times on our cruise. Sensing a theme yet?

royal britannia cruise

Leaving The Crow’s Nest and heading outside you’ll come to the main pool, or lido, deck. There are two bars one either side of the pool area. The Lido Bar and the Riviera Bar both serve this main pool area with seating areas and sun lounger service.

Heading aft, through the Horizon Buffet you’ll find the Sunset Bar . This aft-facing bar both serves drinks and provides an outdoor seating area for the buffet. There’s plenty of table and sofa seating on both sides of the bar, with the port side being a permitted smoking area. In the centre the main bar is styled like a beach hut with quirky seaside styling and faux foliage. This was a great place to experience sail-away, find a quiet spot during the day, and to stargaze at night.

royal britannia cruise

Finally, if we take the steps either side of the sunset bar and follow the jogging track all the way to the front of the ship you’ll stumble upon the adult’s only Serenity Pool & Bar. This space is exclusively for the use of passengers 18 years of age and over. Comfortable seating, loungers, and attentive table service make this a great place for a peaceful drink in the sun.

royal britannia cruise

Complimentary Dining

Whilst the Britannia has no shortage of places to eat, due to COVID safety measures choices were often quite limited and we didn’t feel quality was up to par with other cruise lines. Let me explain.

Breakfast in the Main Dining Rooms. Preferring a more relaxed a la carte breakfast we ate in The Meridian Restaurant on two out of our three mornings. Booking a table was slightly chaotic, we’ll get to that later, but once we were seated we found the service attentive and polite. Our Eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked and came out quickly, the orange juice was freshly squeezed and the coffee perfectly acceptable.

royal britannia cruise

Celebration (Formal Night) Dinner in the Main Dining Rooms. I’m eager for any excuse to dress up, so formal night aboard a cruise always gets my vote. Once again we had trouble securing a table to eat at, more on that later, but eventually we were seated in Britannia’s other main dining room – The Peninsula Restaurant.

Due to the chaos getting a table we were seated fairly late into the evening by which point it felt like presentation and service had gone out of the window somewhat. We opted for the Marco Pierre White recommended menu and ordered a bottle of wine to match.

royal britannia cruise

The ‘Amuse bouche’ didn’t arrive, instead we were offered another bread roll. My Crab & Scallop Ceviche, whilst tasty, was both very small and offputtingly warm, my companion’s Smoked Duck looked a better choice and he seemed to agree.

royal britannia cruise

For our soup course I opted for the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup and my companion chose the Cream of Artichoke Soup. Neither had any real flavour and there was soup down the side of both bowls. Disappointing.

Onto the main courses. Here things started to look up. I opted for lobster, as I do any time it’s on offer, and my companion went for the Beef Tenderloin. The half lobster was well cooked and the Mornay sauce was rich, the creamed potatoes were perfectly smooth – unfortunately the greens were cool to the touch and limp. The beef tenderloin was served medium-rare as requested, the jus was rich, the cauliflower delightful – but again limp and cool greens.

royal britannia cruise

Finally, for dessert I opted for the Mango & Pink Peppercorn Sorbet, which was incredibly refreshing and delightfully picante, it felt like it could have used some flair or garnish however. My friend picked the Biscuit Glace which he enjoyed – especially the variety of textures.

royal britannia cruise

All in all it was an enjoyable meal, it just felt like that because we’d been seated so late (due to issues outside our control), that we weren’t seeing the best of Britannia. We didn’t see our waiter after we ordered, just other team members who delivered our food, presentation was sloppy, courses were missing, sides were cold and everything felt a little… rushed.

The Horizon Restaurant (Buffet). Deck 16 aft is where you’ll find Britannia’s buffet. The space is bright and airy, with many tables next to or facing a window out to sea. The buffet stations are arrange in a grid fashion in between the two seating areas – with drinks stations peppered throughout.

To try and better facilitate social distancing and safer cruising P&O have divided the buffet stations in four quarters – serving only the area of seating closest to those stations. Unfortunately, what this means is that the food choices were vastly reduced from what we were used to – with maybe only three or four hot options and a salad bar for lunch. This was by no means a disaster, and we understand why it was necessary, but if you cruise during a time of COVID restrictions it’s something to be aware of.

Pizza, Hotdogs and Burgers – oh my. The pool area on Deck 16 is home to some grab and go hot food options throughout the day and early evenings. On the port side you’ll find a pizzeria offering three options of pizza for you to take away, on the starboard is the grill where you can get made to order burgers, hotdogs and fries. Due to the issues with virtual queuing for restaurants, I’ll get to it I promise, and limited choice in the buffet these two venues were very busy on our sailing. We ate here most days and were never disappointed with the choice or quality.

royal britannia cruise

Speciality Dining

We had the pleasure of dining at two of Britannia’s Speciality restaurants on our short sailing, we ate at the Glass House on night one and the Epicurean on night three. We didn’t have a chance to eat at Sindhu, the ship’s Indian restaurant – a guest favourite, and due to buffet space issues the Beach House wasn’t open during this sailing.

The Glass House overlooks the atrium from Deck 7 and serves up small, tapas style, plates. The cuisine is very international, from scotch eggs to tempura, and steaks to Sicilian stew. Each course has a recommended wine, or as mentioned earlier, you can choose a flight of wines to accompany your meal.

I won’t go into every plate we ordered, or we’ll be here all night. The stand out plates for us were the curried scallops, polenta fries and the sticky oxtail bonbons. The dishes came out as they were ready, and with the possible exception of the beef salad (which felt more like a stir-fry without rice or noodles) everything was excellent. Plates are priced individually or 3 for £6.95.

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The Epicurean is P&O’s top-tier specialty dining experience and it certainly lives up to its reputation. We dined at The Epicurean on the last night of our cruise after managing to bag a last minute booking.

Bright, airy, with pastels and plenty of glass, The Epicurean feels upmarket and at the same time comfortable. On arrival we were given two glasses of Tattinger Rosé whilst our table was prepared.

royal britannia cruise

When we were seated we were offered a choice of multicoloured breads with flavoured butters and we chose ourselves a bottle of wine whilst we perused the menu.

royal britannia cruise

The menu is small enough that you know each dish is going to be made with care, but large enough that there’s something for everyone.

For starters I opted for an Alaskan Snow Crab, Langoustine and Caviar cocktail which came with a pea custard and shot of mojito, Craig chose 24-hour slow cooked ox cheek with a parsley sponge. Both were incredible, both in terms of flavour, presentation and variety of textures.

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On to the mains. Even with the good portions of the starters my stomach was rumbling – because it knew what was coming next. As mentioned earlier in my review, if I see lobster I physically cannot not order it – so with that in mind I chose the Black Cod and Cold Water Lobster with a Caviar Gratin, Craig picked the Beef Fillet with Confit Bacon and Mushroom Pureé. Our sides were thick cut chips, tenderstem broccoli and a garden salad.

I cannot put into words just quite how succulent and tender my fish were, I’ve never had lobster quite like it in my life – and I’ve eaten a lot of lobster. Craig’s steak was perfectly cooked and it now feels wrong if bacon isn’t confit’d.

royal britannia cruise

Between our main and our dessert our waiter brought over some liquorice lollipops. Whilst I appreciate the thought, if there’s one flavour in the world I cannot stand it’s liquorice – but Craig assured me it was delicious.

Much like my obsession with lobster, I cannot say no to a crêpe. So Grand Marnier crêpes were a no brainer for me. Wonderfully light with a sauce that perfectly straddled sweet and cheekily alcoholic. Craig picked a deconstructed Jaffa cake that came with handmade vanilla ice cream – and to finish were got some little novelty truffles.

royal britannia cruise

I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that this was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had on a cruise, and close to the best meal I’ve ever had – period. The service was attentive and friendly without being too much, the space was upscale whilst still being comfortable and the food was simply divine. If you’re sailing P&O I’d heartily recommend you treat yourself to The Epicurean.

Entertainment and Leisure

P&O has never been the go-to line for over the top gimmicks and amusements, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be bored. The daily planner, in paper form, delivered to your stateroom each evening is packed with things do – there are quizzes, enrichment lectures, dance classes and films throughout the day, as well as mixers with your fellow cruises – that said we were surprised not to see an LGBT mingle event.

Pools & Hot Tubs

We found the ratio of pools to hot tubs slightly confusing on Britannia. There are three full sized swimming pools and a small wake view pool, but only two hot tubs – with a further two in the for-fee Retreat area. Compare this to another Royal-Class cruise ship, such as the Sky Princess, which has nine publicly accessible hot tubs. It just didn’t make sense to us, and was another comment several people I spoke to made. The three swimming pools are of a decent size and depth.

royal britannia cruise

Music & Performers

We enjoyed the fact that no matter where you went on Britannia that there always seemed to be live music. This is something quintessentially cruise. The atrium almost always had a pianist, guitarist, sax player or even a sea-shanty band playing. The Crows Nest, whilst quiet during the day, hosted the excellent pianist, Paul Cassidy in the evenings. Live Lounge was home to the onboard band, Pulse, who blew me away with their excellent covers of well known songs split into three themed nights. The Crystal Room hosted karaoke and dance classes.

On the last night of the cruise the onboard DJ hosted a silent party on the pool deck. Everyone gets a set of wireless headphones, and can choose between three simultaneous stations – each of which is playing a different style of music but somehow mixed together so it felt like we were all dancing to the same beat. Really good fun.

royal britannia cruise

We didn’t have time to see any of the onboard theatre shows but having spoken to many of our fellow cruisers they could be summed up as follows: ‘Mr Tickerton’s Clockwork Circus’ was excellent and people wished it was on multiple nights, the comedian was awkwardly unfunny and several people we spoke to left.

Cruising during COVID

Running cruises during COVID is no small feat, the fact we’re able to cruise at all is a true joy, that said there were definitely highlights and pitfalls during our short three night sailing. These can be broken down into 3 categories:

royal britannia cruise

The MyHoliday “app”

Whilst P&O refer to MyHoliday as an app, it’s actually just a mobile website you visit through your phone’s browser. MyHoliday is essential for booking tables in restaurants, queuing for the buffet, booking seats for theatre performances, and buying WiFi packages. Unfortunately we rarely found it worked as advertised.

For example, queuing for breakfast – not all the restaurants would show up on my phone, but they would on my friends – we waited for nearly an hour for our buffet spot when we somehow fell out the queue and had to start the process all over again. The page frequently logs out too, leaving you unsure if you’ve lost your progress.

Because you can’t book in the main dining rooms, you have to join a queue. We waited over 90 minutes for a table on Celebration Night – which as mentioned earlier meant we got seated super late and we felt that our meal & service suffered as a result.

There were several missing features that would seem a no-brainer and super simple to implement. There’re no deck plans to find out where you are, or where you’re going. You can’t see the daily planner either, a simple link to a PDF copy would keep people happy.

The concept is sound, even if it seems already outdated compared to Princess’ OceanMedallion app, but there’s a lot of work to be done.

Social Distancing and Mask Wearing

Conditions of this cruise were that all guests were double vaccinated, were tested at the terminal before boarding, wore a mask when moving around the ship and observed social distancing instructions where necessary.

We found all guests onboard to be respectful and following the requests without complaint. Simply having to wear a mask is a very small trade off for being able to safely cruise once again – we wouldn’t hesitate to take another cruise during this time at all.

Britannia was spotless. From our staterooms, to the stairwells and the bars everything was super clean. It was very notable that there were an army of cleaners all diligently keeping every area of the ship clean and tidy. When a table in a bar was vacated it was immediately disinfected and the soft furnishings fogged. We felt very safe sailing with P&O onboard Britannia.

Final Thoughts

When we booked onto Britannia I freely admit I had concerns that P&O wouldn’t be the cruise line for me. Several of our friends referred jokingly to the cruise as the HMS Brexit. I very much viewed this cruise as an experiment and went in with an open mind – and I’m glad I did.

We were definitely some of the younger guests aboard, but we never felt unwelcome or out of place. I was worried about all the over-the-top patriotism and flag waving but we managed to successfully avoid any of that.

Britannia is a handsome ship with some elegantly designed spaces but we did notice that in some areas, such as the Crow’s Nest and Crystal Room, that some of the furniture was looking a little worn and tatty – something we thought would have been addressed during the many months of inactivity.

We were disappointed that P&O don’t offer beverage packages on their shorter sailings (below five nights), which puts them out of step with most lines offering UK short sailings these days. Drinks prices onboard certainly aren’t terrible, but they’re not cheap either, with bar bills quickly adding up. As UK consumer tastes and expectations change towards all-inclusive sailings it feels like P&O needs to catch up here.

As mentioned previously the MyHoliday portal used to manage dining, view your account and make bookings really isn’t quite up to scratch and caused plenty of headaches for us and our fellow passengers. Combine this with poor WiFi speeds and we found ourselves frequently frustrated by the lack of onboard tech.

The crew onboard were a credit to P&O and themselves. Everyone was always friendly and smiling, drinks service was swift, and if we ever looked lost onboard someone always came up and offered to help.

The question I always ask at the end of a cruise is “Would I sail with this line/ship again?” – and I think the answer has to be a “yes”. I don’t think the product is entirely right for me, based on my demographics, but this didn’t stop us having a really enjoyable cruise. Britannia is a handsome ship with some great staff and stunning venues, and P&O should be very proud.

I’m already eyeing up a trip on P&O’s newest ship, Iona, so that should tell you all you need to know.

royal britannia cruise

If this was interesting to you consider sharing it using the buttons below. Have you sailed on on Britannia? What do you think of the P&O product? Got a question I haven’t answered here? Feel free to leave a comment, or contact me on twitter at  @CruisingWithTom or Instagram at @TomLovesCruising

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2 Comments Add yours

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Thanks for sharing the blog Tom. Having sailed on Britannia about 6 years ago, it’s is surprising and slightly disappointing to see that some things seem to have slipped. Eating in the main dining areas wouldn’t have been like this. It has been crying out for some kind of smart technology for passengers, to keep up with other cruise lines but despite having had 18 months to trial and perfect, it doesn’t appear to work effectively and lots of people have commented on it.

I’m travelling at the end of September, could I ask how you found their communications or if you needed to contact the customer services, as I’m finding it difficult to get any info out of them!!

Glad you enjoyed your trip. The photos are fab!!

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Hi Alison, thanks for checking out the review and taking time to comment. I agree, given how far Princess have progressed with tech (on their identical ships) it’s odd that P&O haven’t kept up.

I did struggle to get hold of P&O during the lead up to the cruise. I could tweet and send them direct messages via Twitter, but getting hold of them on the phone often involved a one-hour wait. There’s definitely some work to be done in the customer contact area for P&O.

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Queen Elizabeth II: A life well-travelled – Her Majesty at sea

Queen Elizabeth II, who sadly passed away aged 96 on September 8, 2022, enjoyed a great deal of travel during her long life and had a strong connection with cruising.

Queen Elizabeth II was the best-traveled monarch the UK has ever known. She covered at least 1,032,513 miles and visited 117 different countries during her 70-year reign.

Her Majesty not only traveled on numerous cruise ships as both a princess and a monarch but also played a key role at ceremonies for major liners.

Here we take a look back at some of her early days at sea as well as her part in welcoming some of the ships we all know and love today into service.

Elizabeth took her first overseas trip in 1946, sailing as a princess with her father King George VI, her mother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret to South Africa .

A series of images taken onboard the HMS Vanguard show a lesser-seen fun side to the royal as she played games with a group of male sailors and Princess Margaret.

One of the black and white photographs shows her holding hands with the men as they stand in a large circle on the deck while another shows her being grabbed by one of the sailors who put his arms around her.

A third shot shows Princess Elizabeth laughing as she dashed around the deck seemingly trying to avoid being caught by men in the game.

Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Family also had their own vessel, the now-decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia (above) – and sailing on it brought the late Queen much happiness; she once described it as the “one place where I can truly relax”.

During 44 years in royal service, Britannia sailed the equivalent of once round the world for each year, calling at over 600 ports in 135 countries.

Interestingly, despite the many exotic locations the royals visited, cruising Britain brought the most pleasure. This interest was sparked in 1955 when the royals undertook a summer cruise on the Royal Yacht Britannia to Scotland via the west coast of Britain.

“The cruise was such a success that it quickly established the template for the next four decades,” wrote author Robert Hardman in his book Queen of the World.

“The Royal family adored cruising the west coast of Britain. The main thing was being able to go anywhere on a whim and go ashore with a minimum fuss.”

Hardman also shared insight into the late Duke of Edinburgh’s vacation passions, writing: “Prince Philip, meanwhile, would relish the prospect of setting up on his barbecue in the unlikeliest spots – and cooking anything that took his fancy.

“‘He’d lead ashore with all the barbecue kit and the Queen would come later with the salad supplies and all the side dishes,’ says Sir Robert Woodard [a former Commander of the Royal Yacht Britannia].”

Woodard recalled: “He’s a brilliant and very innovative cook. If you produced any strange animals out of the sea he’d prepare and cook it. You shouldn’t be surprised if you ate an octopus.”

Royal Yacht Britannia state dining room

Hardman’s book also revealed that there tended to be an easy-going mood on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

“On board, informality would go a long way – but it had its limits,” the author wrote. “John Gorton, former Prime Minister of Australia, later recalled one beach barbecue with the family during a 1970 tour of Australia , when the royal party decided it was time for a swim.

“‘Princess Anne was thrown in and then Prince Philip,’ Gorton said. “‘I was sitting next to Her Majesty and I was just about to throw her in but I looked at her and something about the way she looked told me that perhaps I shouldn’t. In the end, the Queen was the only one who stayed dry.’”

In the seventies the Queen sailed on the Royal Yacht Britannia on an enjoyable tour of the smaller islands of the South Pacific . Camaraderie was relished, crew became well-used to the royal passengers and rituals and routines were established.

The Queen proved to be sociable and even had a Hawaiian shirt for curry nights! Hardman’s book Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II shares a fascinating insight.

Ron Allison, Queen Elizabeth II’s press secretary, told the writer: “The South Pacific was always the long one. The royal party would have lunch and dinner together. The Queen could have said, ‘I’m tired, and have had dinner alone, but she didn’t. Officers from the wardroom would join you. During those off-days, you’d muck about and play games on deck and it was lovely.”

Royal Yacht Britannia bell

Cruise ship entertainment was also far from what it is now with robotic bartenders, west-end style shows and waterslides.

Hardman explained: “There might be deck tennis for the Royal Household and the occasional quiz night involving the whole ship, from the crew in the engine room to the Queen herself.

“Sunday nights would be a ‘curry night’, with mandatory Hawaiian-style shirts (even the monarch had one). Some nights, the dining room would be rearranged for a film evening, with the choice of film left to the Queen’s equerry (the only caveat being ‘not too many writhing sheets’).

“A highlight of the week would be the concert party or ‘Sod’s Opera’, in which most members of the royal party and the crew would be expected to play a part.

“The diplomat Sir Roger du Boulay had vivid memories of one Pacific cruise in the mid-seventies when he found the Queen helping her equerry to dress up as a Polynesian beauty: ‘I remember seeing the Queen kneeling on the floor. He was stripped to the waist and she was fitting a brassiere on to him.”

Queen Elizabeth P&O Britannia

Amid these fun-filled travels, the Queen carried out a great many more serious duties. One key role she had was christening cruise ships for both Cunard and P&O Cruises.

She launched Cunard cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 (around 30,000 people lined the streets of Clydebank, Scotland to see the ceremony) and Cunard vessel, Queen Mary 2, in January 2004. At the time the ship was the largest ocean liner in the world (this title currently goes to Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas ).

Queen Elizabeth II also christened Cunard ship Queen Elizabeth in October 2010.

As for her involvement with P&O Cruises , the late Queen christened Oriana at a ceremony on April 6, 1995, and then the Royal-class Britannia in 2015. The monarch was godmother to the vessel and activated the traditional champagne hitting the hull at a ceremony in Southampton.

Sailawaze extends its deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time following the passing of the Queen and thanks Her Majesty for her years of service. May she rest in peace.

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royal britannia cruise

The ultimate royal travel guide to Britain, from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle

T he British landscape is awash with royal properties, from stately palaces to historic castles. These include three of the monarch’s official royal residences; Buckingham Palace , Windsor Castle , and Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

But while these historic buildings may have the level of grandeur you might imagine when you picture the Royal family at home, in truth, royals are only ‘resident’ in these buildings on occasion. For some, they are even considered business premises – though they rather put the rest of our offices to shame. 

When it comes to days off from official business, members of the Royal family are more likely to be found in their private homes, such as the King and Queen’s Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, or the Prince and Princess of Wales’s family home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. 

While the private homes are exactly that – private – there are plenty of places around Britain where you can walk in the footsteps of the Royal family and get a small glimpse into their lives. Here are some of the best. 

Buckingham Palace, London

Let’s start with the most famous of all royal residences: Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth II largely regarded it as her office, spending weekdays there attending to official business before retreating to Windsor at the weekends.

Now, of course, the palace – whose origins can be traced back to the reign of King James I in the early 17 th century, but which has been the London home of British monarchs since 1837 when Queen Victoria moved in – is the King’s official London residence.

Buckingham Palace is the setting for royal and national celebrations and commemorations; who can forget catching a glimpse of Royal family members from the famous balcony? It’s also where the monarch hosts dignitaries and official banquets – on September 18 2022, the King held a reception for world leaders at the palace on the eve of his mother’s funeral.

As it is a working palace, Buckingham Palace is only open to the public at set times. For 10 weeks each summer, its grand state rooms are opened up. During this time, visitors can see the crimson-and-gold Throne Room, the Royal Mews, and the enormous Ballroom, where all those extravagant state banquets are held. In addition, there are exclusive guided tours at select dates throughout the year.

Those without a ticket or travelling at the wrong time of year can still watch the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard, which takes place outside the palace several days a week at 10.45am (weather dependent but check the schedule ). 

The ceremony has its roots in the reign of King Henry VI and sees the New Guard of soldiers – wearing the customary bearskin hats – march to Buckingham Palace from St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks accompanied by music. They parade in front of the palace and relieve the ‘Old Guard’ (the soldiers on duty). 

If you are lucky and the King is in residence (the Royal Standard flag will be flying) then there will be an even higher number of sentries than normal taking part in the ceremony.

How to do it

Buckingham Palace (0303 123 7300) is open for 10 weeks each summer (July 14–September 24 2023). The Goring (read our review here ) has double rooms from £710 including breakfast.

Windsor Castle, Windsor

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip retreated to this castle on the banks of the River Thames to shield with 22 staff members in what became known as ‘HMS Bubble’. After Prince Philip’s death in April 2021, the late Queen remained at Windsor; indeed, she never spent another night at Buckingham Palace.

The castle was originally built for William the Conqueror to defend London from western approaches, but it became a royal palace under King Henry I. Subsequent monarchs extended the palace with its most ambitious makeover undertaken by King Charles II who wanted to emulate the opulence of his cousin Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles.

As well as seeing the rich interiors of the castle, visitors can pay their respects to the late Queen by visiting her final resting place within the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St George’s Chapel.

In 2022, the Prince and Princess of Wales moved to nearby Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park with their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – who attend school locally. It may well be that they will eventually move into the castle itself.

Windsor Castle (0303 123 7300) is open daily (summer). Castle Hotel Windsor (read our review here ) has double rooms from £132 including breakfast.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh

The King’s official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a rather grand building that sits at the opposite end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to the castle. The palace has links with many famous figures from Scottish history – including Bonnie Prince Charlie, who set up court here in 1745 – but the person most visitors want to hear about is Mary, Queen of Scots. Her bedroom can be reached via a winding staircase in the north-west tower of the palace, and is a delight to discover with its low doorway (despite Mary being around 6ft-tall), decorative oak ceiling and painted frieze.

The reigning monarch stays at the palace every year during Holyrood Week (or Royal Week) from late June to early July. During this time they take part in the symbolic Ceremony of the Keys in which the monarch is handed the keys to the city of Edinburgh by the Lord Provost amid much pomp and ceremony.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse (0303 123 7306) is open daily July-Sept; it’s closed Tue-Wed in all other months. Cheval Old Town Chambers (read our review here ) has double rooms from £190 including breakfast.

Highgrove House, Gloucestershire

When they are not on official duties, the King and Queen love nothing better than to return to their countryside home of Highgrove in the Cotswolds. As the house is a private home, you can’t peek behind its neoclassical façade, but tours of the exquisite gardens – which Charles has dedicated himself to creating since buying the property in 1980 – are lovely. 

An experienced guide will take you through the gardens, which are a real passion project of His Majesty. You will then be led to the Ante Room, where bespoke Highgrove products – including food and drink made from produce grown here – can be bought and artworks by the King himself admired. This is all followed by cream tea in the Orchard Room, making it an idyllic way to spend an afternoon.

Highgrove is open on select dates for tours between April and September. Calcot & Spa (read the review here ) has double rooms from £364 including breakfast.

Llwynywermod, Llandovery

The Royal family also has a Welsh home. When he was Prince of Wales, Charles bought the 192-acre estate of Llwynywermod in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in 2006. Comprising a farmhouse building, where he and Camilla would regularly holiday, and three cottages, Charles soon set about renovating the house and its adjoining properties in a greener way, using locally sourced materials. 

On Charles’ ascension to the throne, the property was passed on to William, the new Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who also have a strong affection for the Welsh countryside, having spent some of the early years of their marriage living in Anglesey.

What’s special about here is that two of the cottages are available for holiday lets – North Range, for instance, is a beautiful whitewashed converted barn that sleeps six guests across three bedrooms and comes with a flagstone floor, open fire, Welsh furniture and lots of character. The smaller West Range sleeps four guests.

North Range and West Range can be booked through the Duchy of Cornwall (01579 346 473) and cost from £1,225 per week.

Balmoral, Aberdeenshire

Elizabeth II spent her final weeks in Balmoral and this palace in the Highlands was reputedly her favourite home. 

She is not the only royal to have felt an affinity for the place. Queen Victoria, who fell in love with the Highlands during her very first visit in 1842, was the first monarch to call it home. She and Albert loved to escape public life here, embarking on expeditions incognito through the Highlands. 

The late Queen spent every summer at Balmoral (August–October) and she would regularly be joined by other members of the Royal family. When the monarch is not in residence, the site is open to visitors. 

Although you can only see a small section of the castle’s interiors – including the ballroom where Ghillies Balls have historically been held – it’s the majestic setting amid acres of greenery with views across to the Cairngorms that makes a visit here worthwhile. 

The Royal family are considered locals in the nearby village of Ballater and are regularly seen attending services at nearby Crathie Kirk. Indeed in April 2023, Charles and Camilla surprised residents by making an unexpected visit to a new fishmongers and restaurant in the village during a pre-Coronation holiday at Balmoral.

Balmoral (01339 742 534) is open for pre-booked self-guided tours every summer (1 April to 16 Aug 2023). The Fife Arms (read the review here ) has double rooms from £250 including breakfast.

Read more about where the Royal family like to holiday here .

Sandringham, Norfolk

The Royal family traditionally spends Christmas at the sprawling estate of Sandringham. The private country retreat has been a popular haunt since 1862, when the Jacobean house was built for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra while Edward’s mother was still on the throne.

It was also a favourite of King Charles III’s grandfather, King George VI, and great-grandfather, King George V, who both died here. The house and gardens are a joy to explore. Norfolk is also where Anmer Hall, another of William and Catherine’s homes, is located.

Sandringham (01485 544 112) is open Sat-Thu (summer). The Brisley Bell (read the review here ) has double rooms from £133 including breakfast.

Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh

Until 1997 the Royal family would take annual holidays around Scotland’s Western Isles aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia . After the yacht was decommissioned, it was docked in the seaside Edinburgh suburb of Leith in Edinburgh and has since become one of Scotland’s most popular attractions.

A tour of the yacht allows you to peer into the bedroom that Queen Elizabeth II slept in while on board and reveals a glimpse of what life in the Royal family is like when the eyes of the world are not upon them. The late Queen clearly missed her days on board; after the yacht was no longer available to her, she chartered the Hebridean Princess , which offers small-ship cruises, on two separate occasions for special celebrations.

The Royal Yacht Britannia (0131 555 5566) is open daily (summer). Fingal (read the review here ) is a luxurious floating hotel nearby. It has double rooms from £300 including breakfast. The Hebridean Princess (01756 704 704) offers cruises from March to November with prices from £4,420pp for seven nights).

Read more about the travels of Elizabeth II here .

Kensington Palace, London

This west London mansion was the beloved home of Princess Diana and both the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Diana Memorial Playground can be found in its gardens. Apartment 1a is still the London pad of the Prince of Wales and his family. 

For many years, Kensington was known for the magnificent balls that were held across its ornate interconnected rooms and began in the late 17 th century during the era of King William and Mary. The already grandiose interiors were later added to by the Georgians when Kensington became the hub of high society. Elaborate decoration, such as the painted walls around the King’s Staircase which features many characters from George I’s court, were also added. 

As well as standard tours of the palace, regular exhibitions draw on its rich history, telling the stories of past and present royals in new and dynamic ways. Victoria: A Royal Childhood tells the story of one of the palace’s most famous residents. Queen Victoria was born here and the exhibition includes personal items such as her doll house. Other rolling exhibitions let visitors see precious items from the palace’s archive; often including iconic outfits worn by various members of the Royal family.

Kensington Palace (0333 320 6000) is open Wed–Sun (summer).  Baglioni (read the review here ), opposite Kensington Gardens, has double rooms from £494 including breakfast.

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From stately palaces to historic castles, there are plenty of places where you can walk in the footsteps of the Royal family - Getty

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Private events quote, dining cruises, sightseeing cruises, ferry services, special events, welcome to matilda cruises. sydney's harbour cruise, ferry and private charter operator..

Matilda Cruises is Sydney’s favourite private ferry and cruise operator, and part of the Captain Cook Cruises & SeaLink Travel Group. Our rocket ferries criss-cross the harbour between over 50 wharves including Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Fort Denison, Luna Park, North Sydney, Taronga Zoo, Lane Cove, Watsons Bay, Manly, six Harbour Islands, White Bay, Olympic Park, Chowder Bay, Rose Bay and many more. Catamaran “Matilda 3” is a member of the Captain Cook Cruises charter fleet catering for 2 to 700 guests for corporate, incentive, special occasion and leisure events.

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Private vessel charters are available for groups of 20 or more. Alternatively, private rooms on scheduled dining cruises can be booked for as little as 2 guests.

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There isn’t another harbour in the world to rival Sydney’s beauty and vibrancy. Explore our complete range of Dining Cruises including Breakfast , Seafood Buffet and a la carte Lunch cruises, High Tea at Sea , Sunset, Evening Dinner and Luxury Dining cruises.

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No visit to Sydney is complete without a sightseeing cruise on Sydney Harbour. Sit back and let the story of Sydney be revealed on a 2 hour Harbour Story Cruise, take the kids on a Highlights Cruise, sip a cocktail by the sails of the Sydney Opera House on a Cocktail Cruise, hop on hop off up at up to 9 famous harbour destinations on a 24-hour Harbour Explorer pass, or see the gentle giants of the sea on an amazing Whale Watching cruise.

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Sleek and often red (we all know red ones go faster), Matilda rocket ferries are the fun way to travel around the harbour. As a private operator for both local commuter and tourist ferries, we make service our number one priority. Many of our ferry routes come with commentators to help guide and answer your questions. Daily services include Circular Quay (Opera House), Darling Harbour , Taronga Zoo , Fort Denison , Watsons Bay , Lane Cove River , Manly , Luna Park , Garden Island , Shark Island and White Bay on cruise ship arrival and departure days.

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Sights of Elektrostal, Moscow region

Table of contents:, history of the city, park of culture and leisure, historical and art museum, october cultural center, kristall ice palace, memorial complex, museum and exhibition complex.

Sights of Elektrostal, Moscow region

2024 Author : Harold Hamphrey | [email protected] . Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

In the Moscow region there is a small cozy town Elektrostal. Its sights for the most part have no historical value due to the fact that the city has a relatively small history. But for a visiting tourist or city dweller, they will be of interest. There is something to see, where to go to have an exciting leisure time.

Today the population of the city is 158 thousand people. Until the beginning of the 20th century there were several small workers' settlements here. After the opening of the electrometallurgical and equipment factories, the place began to be called the natural boundary of Calm. The construction of the railway made this settlement accessible, and workers and families flocked here to earn money. In 1925, the station was named Elektrostal, and the rapid increase in population allowed the village to receive the status of a city.

attractions elektrostal photo

The founder of the city is a prominent Russian industrialist Nikolai Vtorov. It was he who opened the plant here, creating, in fact, a city-forming enterprise that is still operating. In Soviet times, it was a closed facility, and it was not easy to get to work here.

Today Elektrostal is a promising industrial city with a great future and a heroic past. It bears the proud name "City of Military and Labor Glory".

You can learn about the sights of Elektrostal with descriptions and photos here. There are places for walking, outdoor activities and cultural development.

sights of the electric steel of the Moscow region

Those who come to the city by train are met by a monument to the metallurgist. It was installed in November 2017 for the 100th anniversary of the Elektrostal plant. The attraction is made in the style of constructivism. The monument quickly won the love of the townspeople, because this city is supported by ordinary workers.

Elektrostal attractions photo with description

Elektrost altsy and the founding father of the plant, Nikolai Vtorov, are honored. In 2002, a monument was opened in honor of him, which became a landmark of the city of Elektrostal. The bronze sculpture is installed on the site where once stood a monument to the leader of the world proletariat, V. I. Lenin. Times change, characters change. Today, the plant, founded a century ago, is the largest in Russia. Vtorov himself, whose fortune was estimated at 60 million rubles in gold, according to Forbes magazine, was the owner of the largest capital at the beginning of the century. He was a banker, an industrialist, an entrepreneur, a man of action.

The monument was erected byinitiative of the townspeople who wished to perpetuate the monument to the great man.

One of the popular places for spending weekends and evenings among citizens and guests of the city is the Park of Culture and Leisure. Here you can ride attractions for children and adults, play slot machines, rollerblade or bike. The park is divided into two zones. Fans of unhurried walks in the fresh air make a promenade on the Quiet Alley, and those who prefer outdoor activities flock to the Entertainment Alley. The park has a summer stage, where concerts and cafes are regularly held.

Elektrostal attractions

Until 1999, there was no central museum among the attractions of Elektrostal in the Moscow Region. The expositions were exhibited in schools, the house of culture, in factory museums. The city was closed, so there was no large influx of tourists and visitors. The appearance of the historical and art museum made it possible for residents and guests of the city to learn a lot of useful information about their native land, the formation of the production process, and the difficult years of the war. The exposition consists of paintings by local artists, historical artifacts, household items, documents, books and much more. The collection is updated regularly. It also hosts outdoor exhibitions, which are always popular with the townspeople.

One of the main attractions of Elektrostal, the photo of which is available to almost every resident or visitor, is the Main Alley. On herpassers-by like to stroll along shady paths, townspeople rest by the fountain after a hard shift at the plant. Flower beds are the decoration of the alley. In 2006, a flower festival was held here for the first time, which has become traditional. Each enterprise of the city and private individuals give residents a real composition of fresh flowers, which pleases with bright colors all summer long. A riot of colors, aromas and a flight of fantasy reigns here. Walking through the park, you can see Snow White with a basket, a bright well, a multi-tiered cake made from fresh flowers, hearts of lovers or a fabulous house. It is almost impossible not to take a photo against the background of these compositions.

There is a cultural center in the city. It hosts performances by local creative teams and visiting stars, performances and circus performances.

In 1971, the ice palace "Crystal" was opened in the city. Almost immediately, a children's and youth hockey team was organized, which gained sports fame. This is the home sports arena for the Elektrostal hockey team. Matches of different levels are held on the ice.

There are sections for children who go in for hockey or figure skating. Citizens come here with their families to cheer for their favorite team or go ice skating.

Elektrostal is a city with a heroic past. During the war years, more than 12 thousand citizens came to the recruiting station and went to the front to defend their homeland. Almost 4 thousand of them did not return from the battle. To these heroesdedicated to the memorial complex with the inextinguishable Eternal Flame, opened in 1968

But the electricians took part in the war in Afghanistan and Chechnya. By decision of the city authorities, their memory is also immortalized in the memorial complex.

It has become a good tradition for newlyweds to lay flowers at this monument.

attractions of the city of Elektrostal

In 1999, a museum and exhibition complex was opened in the city, where, in addition to the exhibition hall, there are numerous circles for children, classes for young people, and a creative workshop. Various festivals, exhibitions, city holidays and other events are held within the walls and on the territory of the complex, which attract many spectators.

Elektrostal attractions

Listing the sights of Elektrostal, it is impossible not to mention the temples. There are several of them in the city: the church of St. John of Kronstadt, St. Andrew's Church, the hospital church of St. Panteleimon. Another new church is being built. In appearance, the temples look ancient, monumental, in the Novgorod style. But they were all built at the end of the 20th century.

Let there be no ancient artifacts among the sights of Elektrostal. But on the other hand, all of them are connected with the history of the city, with everyday work and military exploits of ordinary residents.

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The most relaxing way to travel to work or school from the greater Lane Cove community is on a rocket ferry. Our rocket ferry fleet offers high-speed, low-wash and excellent stability when it comes to on-water transport. ... The maximum limits for SeaLink/Captain Cook Cruises private ferries on Sydney Harbour are: $25 per transaction, $30 per ...

8:00pm*. Timetable - Circular Quay to Lane Cove Commuter Monday to Friday. Circular Quay - Wharf 6. Kirribilli - Kirribilli Point Wharf. North Sydney - Jeffrey Street. Balmain East. Birchgrove - Long Nose Point. Greenwich - Greenwich Point. Greenwich - Bay Street.

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Welcome to the YouTube Channel of Transport Buff!This is a Captain Cook Cruises Rocket class Elizabeth Cook on a CCLC Lane Cove River service from Circular Q...

The Lane Cove ferry has been operated by SeaLink since 2006 under the Captain Cook Cruises brand providing public transport access to the Lane Cove River for Lane Cove residents and school children.. In December 2021, it looked like the Lane Cove ferry would be scrapped.. Fast forward to 2023, and a new Lane Cove Ferry timetable has been released (effective 3 April 2023).

Captain Cook Cruises Pty Ltd. - ABN 17 008 272 302 - Circular Quay Wharf No.6, Sydney NSW 2000 - +61 (2) 9206 1111 - captaincook.com.au Lane Cove River Ferry Timetable . New Timetable Effective Monday 24 April 2023 . Minor amendments have been made to the Lane Cove to Circular Quay timetable effective Monday 24 April 2023

Timetable for Ferry Lane Cove Ferry by Captain Cook Cruises showing all stops and current scheduled locations of all trips.

Lane Cove Ferry Ferry service operated by Captain Cook Cruises. ... 9206 1111. Email Captain Cook Cruises; Captain Cook Cruises website; List of Captain Cook Cruises timetables; Timetable data from Transport for NSW GTFS data feed. Select your travel date. Sun 18 Dec. Mon 19 Dec. Tue 20 Dec. Wed 21 Dec. Thu 22 Dec. Fri 23 Dec. Sat 24 Dec. 25 ...

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In the Moscow region there is a small cozy town Elektrostal. Its sights for the most part have no historical value due to the fact that the city has a relatively small history. But for a visiting tourist or city dweller, they will be of interest. There is something to see, where to go to have fun

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Lane Cove ferry service in January 2023. The company, under Captain Cook . Cruises, has been proud to operate the Lane Cove River commuter and school ferries since 2006, servicingthe communities of Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Longueville, Northwood, Greenwich, Birchgrove and Balmain. Quick Links • Register Now for SMS Updates and commencement date

Lane Cove Ferry Ferry service operated by Captain Cook Cruises. ... (02) 9206 1111. Email Captain Cook Cruises; Captain Cook Cruises website; List of Captain Cook Cruises timetables; Timetable data from Transport for NSW GTFS data feed. Select your travel date. Sun 17 Dec. Mon 18 Dec. Tue 19 Dec. Wed 20 Dec. Thu 21 Dec. Fri 22 Dec. Sat 23 Dec ...

Get directions to Yuzhny prospekt, 6к1 and view details like the building's postal code, description, photos, and reviews on each business in the building

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The nearest airport to Elektrostal is Zhukovsky (ZIA) Airport which is 32.5 km away. Other nearby airports include Moscow Domodedovo (DME) (54 km), Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) (67.2 km) and Moscow Vnukovo (VKO) (75.4 km).

Join the Captain's Club for exclusive offers and new releases, plus a free cruise for your birthday. Visit Shark Island one of Sydney's most spectacular picnic destinations. Return rocket ferry services between Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Manly and Shark Island. Includes National Park fees.

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PEKIN, Elektrostal - Lenina Ave. 40/8 - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

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  1. The Royal Yacht Britannia Official Website

    Tripadvisor's No.1 UK Attraction 2023 Step aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia. Due to the upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Britannia will be closed 25 - 28 June. Explore each of the five decks of The Royal Yacht Britannia, Best UK Attraction (Tripadvisor) and discover what life was like during Royal service on board Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace.

  2. Best UK Attraction

    A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. Now Tripadvisor's No.1 UK Attraction 2023, you can discover across five decks stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal ...

  3. Royal Yacht Britannia

    Step aboard Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace and experience this iconic attraction for yourself. Rated Tripadvisor's No.1 UK Attraction (AGAIN), Britannia is one of the most famous ships in the world…Royal Deck Tearoom. Only 15 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre. Lothian Bus services from Edinburgh city centre are - 10, 16, 34 ...

  4. Britannia Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 2015-built MV Britannia cruise ship is the largest vessel in the P&O UK's fleet. From this Royal-class are also the Princess Cruises liners Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Sky Princess (2019), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). These are the ever biggest cruise vessels constructed by Fincantieri (Italy).

  5. Inside Royal Yacht Britannia, Queen Elizabeth's Royal Cruise Ship

    The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997. The luxurious cruise ship is now a public museum.

  6. Britannia Cruise: Expert Review (2023)

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    Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy.She was in their service from 1954 until 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893. During her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than a million ...

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  9. Royal Yacht Britannia

    About. Step aboard Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace and experience this iconic attraction for yourself. Rated Tripadvisor's No.1 UK Attraction (AGAIN), Britannia is one of the most famous ships in the world…Royal Deck Tearoom. Only 15 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre. Lothian Bus services from Edinburgh city centre are - 10 ...

  10. Find Us

    To visit Britannia get off the tram at stop Ocean Terminal. Adult tickets cost £2 each way in the city zone. Child tickets are £1 each way. If you are returning to the city, you can purchase a return ticket for the same day at £3.80 for adults and £1.90 for children. Tickets must be purchased from the machines on the platform before travel.

  11. The Royal Yacht Britannia

    The christening of The Royal Yacht Britannia serves as a cheeky season opener to The Crown. Black-and-white Pathé News-style footage shows a soon-to-be-crowned Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy ...

  12. Britannia Cruise Ship & Cruise Deals

    7 night Norway And Iceland Apr 26, 2024. Sparkling glaciers, rugged mountains, lush valleys and quirky towns. Delve into a vibrant land of natural beauty and cultural character while enjoying plenty of time to relax aboard Britannia. View Cruise.

  13. Photo tour: Inside the Royal Yacht Britannia

    The clock in the Wardroom Anteroom — and every clock aboard Britannia — is permanently stopped at 3:01, the exact moment the Queen last disembarked the royal yacht on Dec. 11, 1997. David ...

  14. Inside the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Queen's 'Floating Palace'

    The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997. It's five stories tall, had more than 240 staff, and was known as the queen's "floating palace." Britannia is now ...

  15. Inside the Royal Yacht 'Britannia'

    The Royal Yacht in its current home in Edinburgh. The ship is open to the public as a museum. In a bizarre 21st-century twist, former British prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to build a Britannia successor, a £250 million yet-to-be-named, taxpayer-funded superyacht to operate as a "floating embassy.".

  16. REVIEW: P&O Britannia

    The darker, more intimate, upscale hotel feeling continues throughout the ship with well-blended choices of wood, marble, and blue accents - all with subtle lighting. Britannia is a Royal-class cruise ship, weighing in at 143,000GT she's one of the biggest ships to serve the United Kingdom.

  17. Sailawaze

    This interest was sparked in 1955 when the royals undertook a summer cruise on the Royal Yacht Britannia to Scotland via the west coast of Britain. ... In the seventies the Queen sailed on the Royal Yacht Britannia on an enjoyable tour of the smaller islands of the South Pacific. Camaraderie was relished, crew became well-used to the royal ...

  18. Britannia Cruise Deals 2024, 2025 & 2026

    Find your perfect cruise holiday deal with Britannia. The largest ship in our fleet, Britannia is a haven for foodies and fun-seekers, with over 10 dining venues and eight bars and social spots. Load More. Our top Britannia cruise deals. 2024 Holidays; 2025 Holidays; All Cruise Holidays.

  19. The ultimate royal travel guide to Britain, from Buckingham ...

    Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh ... (01756 704 704) offers cruises from March to November with prices from £4,420pp for seven nights). Read more about the travels of Elizabeth II here.

  20. Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruise Due to Technical Difficulties

    Slated to depart on a 5-night Tasmania cruise on March 30, Royal Caribbean announced that the voyage on the 2,543-passenger Brilliance of the Seas is now cancelled.

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  22. Elektrostal

    Elektrostal, city, Moscow oblast (province), western Russia.It lies 36 miles (58 km) east of Moscow city. The name, meaning "electric steel," derives from the high-quality-steel industry established there soon after the October Revolution in 1917. During World War II, parts of the heavy-machine-building industry were relocated there from Ukraine, and Elektrostal is now a centre for the ...

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