If you’re thinking about booking a cruise on P&O Britannia, especially for the Caribbean, one of the first questions you might ask is whether P&O Britannia is still worth booking.
Britannia is not P&O Cruises’ newest ship anymore. Arvia and Iona are larger, newer and more modern, and they often get more attention. But that does not automatically mean Britannia feels dated or less enjoyable. In fact, after sailing on Britannia in the Caribbean over New Year, I came away thinking this was one of my most enjoyable P&O cruises.
This review is based on my own experience onboard P&O Britannia during a Caribbean cruise that included New Year’s Eve. I’ll cover what the ship was really like day to day, including dining, entertainment, sea days, sunbeds, the ports of call, and whether I would book Britannia again.
P&O Britannia Honest Review: What Is It Really Like?
Watch my full honest review of P&O Britannia in the Caribbean, including dining, entertainment, sea days, sunbeds, ports of call and what it was like celebrating New Year’s Eve onboard.
Is P&O Britannia Still Worth Booking?
Yes, I think P&O Britannia is worth booking, especially if you want a ship that still feels elegant, comfortable and very easy to enjoy.
Britannia has a slightly more traditional P&O feel than Arvia and Iona. It does not have the same huge atrium, infinity pools, swim-up bar or newer dining concepts, but it does have a layout that feels familiar, a good range of bars and restaurants, strong entertainment and a very polished atmosphere.
What stood out most on this cruise was how well the ship worked for the Caribbean. There were plenty of outdoor spaces, several pool areas, lots happening in the evenings and a good balance between lively areas and quieter corners.
It also felt like a good ship for a special occasion. New Year’s Eve onboard was one of the highlights of the entire cruise, and Britannia had the right atmosphere for that type of celebration.
This was not a perfect cruise. Sea days were busy, sunbeds were a talking point, and some areas naturally felt crowded at peak times. But overall, Britannia delivered a really enjoyable cruise experience.
What Is Dining Like on P&O Britannia?
Dining was one of the strongest parts of this cruise.
On Britannia, the main dining rooms offer two different options. You can choose Club dining, where you have a fixed dining time and sit at the same table each evening, or Freedom dining, where you eat at a time that suits you.
On this cruise, I had Club dining in the Oriental Restaurant at 6.30pm each evening. For me, this worked really well. Sitting at the same table every night meant you got to know your tablemates and servers as the cruise went on, and that can be especially good if you are travelling solo.
It gave the evenings a rhythm. You knew where you were going, what time you were eating, and who you would be sitting with. That may not suit everyone, especially if you prefer more flexibility, but for this cruise it worked very well.
You can also use the main dining rooms for breakfast and lunch, and they are a good option if you want something calmer than the buffet. The buffet is useful, especially for a quick breakfast or lunch, but the main dining room feels more relaxed.
The Horizon Buffet was where I had breakfast most days, and I also used it for one or two lunches. I did not use it for dinner. For convenience, it does the job, but Britannia’s main dining rooms and speciality restaurants were the stronger options for me.
For casual food during the day, the Lido Grill was a favourite. It offered easy options such as burgers, chips, chicken and pizza, and it worked well when you wanted something quick without going into the buffet.
What really stood out was that the food on Britannia felt significantly better than my recent experience on Arvia. The meals felt well prepared, the menus had a good amount of choice, and the quality was consistent throughout the cruise.
Formal nights were especially good. New Year’s Eve and the other formal evenings had more special menus, with dishes such as lobster, Beef Wellington and indulgent desserts. It made those evenings feel like more of an occasion.
Is Speciality Dining Worth It on Britannia?
Britannia has a strong selection of speciality dining, including Epicurean, The Glass House, Sindhu and The Beach House.
I have tried all of these on previous cruises and have had very good experiences with them. On this particular cruise, I only ate at The Beach House, but it was excellent.
The Beach House was the highlight of my dining experience onboard. The sizzling steak on a lava stone was memorable, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food felt like a real step up from a normal casual meal.
If you are sailing on Britannia, I would recommend booking at least one speciality dining experience if your budget allows. You do not need to do it every night, and the included food was good on this cruise, but a speciality meal adds something extra.
The only thing I missed compared with Arvia was The Quays and some of the casual breakfast options. On Arvia, being able to get a made-to-order omelette or classic fish and chips is a real bonus. Britannia does not have that same newer dining setup, and that is one area where the newer ships have an advantage.
Even so, Britannia’s overall dining experience was one of the best parts of the cruise.
What Were the Ports Like on a Britannia Caribbean Cruise?
The ports of call were the heart of this cruise.
This itinerary included Barbados, Bonaire, Curaçao, St Vincent, Grenada, Antigua, St Lucia and St Martin, before returning to Barbados. It was a fantastic Caribbean itinerary, with a real mix of beaches, boat trips, island tours, shopping, snorkelling and scenic views.
The cruise started with an overnight in Barbados, which gave time to visit Harbour Lights on Carlisle Bay. It was only a short taxi ride from the port, and it was a great way to start the trip. The beach had soft sand, clear water and a lively atmosphere. Entry included a sunlounger, shared umbrella and a welcome drink, which made it an easy beach day.
Bonaire was another memorable stop. I joined an island tour that gave a good overview of the island, including the slave huts, flamingos, salt flats and the 1000 Steps dive site. Bonaire is known for diving and snorkelling, and even if you are not diving, the colour of the water and the coastline make it a very scenic island.
Sorobon Beach was busy, but the turquoise water made it worth visiting. Back near the ship, the waterfront area was also lovely, and I even managed to have a swim close to Britannia.
Curaçao was where we celebrated New Year’s Eve Eve. I joined a tour that included swimming with turtles at Playa Piskado, which was one of those experiences that really stays with you. The tour also included flamingos, caves and beach stops, before returning to Willemstad.
Willemstad itself is a beautiful place to explore. The colourful Dutch-style buildings, the floating bridge, shops and cafés make it one of the most attractive Caribbean port areas to walk around.
In St Vincent, I took a speedboat to Bequia and visited Princess Margaret Beach, which became my favourite beach of the whole cruise. The speedboat ride was very bumpy, and everyone got soaked, but that was part of the fun. The beach itself was beautiful, with soft sand, clear water and a peaceful atmosphere.
Grenada was a wetter day, but still memorable. I joined an excursion to the rainforest and Annandale Falls. The weather meant the views were limited, but the greenery and waterfalls were still impressive. River tubing was the highlight and ended up being one of the most fun experiences of the cruise.
In Antigua, I visited Dickenson Bay Beach. This is an easy beach day from the cruise port, with taxis available and sunloungers to rent. The beach is known for its white sand, the red phone box and a bar in the sea, so it gives you that classic Caribbean beach feel.
St Lucia was an overnight stop, which made it feel more relaxed. On the first day, I joined a catamaran cruise to the Pitons, with a swim stop and views of Marigot Bay. It was scenic, relaxing and lively on the way back, with music, dancing and rum.
That evening, I visited Rum Therapy near the port, which was very popular with cruisers. It was lively, busy and fun, with rum punch, beer and karaoke. On the second day in St Lucia, I went to Pigeon Island Beach, which was an easy taxi ride and a relaxing way to spend the day.
St Martin was my favourite island of the trip. There were seven cruise ships in port, so it was busy, but that also made it exciting. I joined a beach-hopping tour that included the French and Dutch sides of the island, before finishing at Maho Beach for the planes.
Maho Beach is one of those places that is famous for a reason. Watching planes come in so low over the beach is a real experience, and trying to capture the perfect photo as the jets come in adds to the fun.
St Maarten’s port area was also one of the best for shopping, with lots of duty-free options, local crafts and souvenirs.
Overall, the itinerary was excellent. If you are booking Britannia for the Caribbean, the ship is only part of the experience. The ports are a huge part of what makes this cruise so memorable.
Are Sea Days Busy on P&O Britannia?
Sea days on Britannia were busy, especially around the pools.
On this Caribbean cruise, there were four sea days, and the biggest issue was sunbeds. This became a hot topic onboard, and it was also something that caused a lot of discussion when I shared it on social media.
Some passengers were getting up very early to reserve sunbeds, sometimes from around 6.30am. P&O did try to manage this with stickers, but it was not always completely effective. The newer policy of one towel per guest helped, but it did not stop people using books, flip-flops, sunglasses or other items to save loungers.
That said, I did not let it spoil the cruise.
On one sea day, I found a single sunbed at around 9.30am. On another, I managed to get two chairs near the Serenity Pool, which was a lovely spot. On a different sea day, I chose to sit at the Sunset Bar instead and enjoy the atmosphere there. On the final sea day, I stayed on my balcony because I did not want to get up early just to find a lounger.
Compared with my experience on Arvia, the sunbed situation on Britannia did not feel as bad. It was still an issue, but crew did try to police it, and if you were happy with a chair rather than a prime poolside sunbed, it was much easier to find somewhere.
There were also often sunbeds available later in the afternoon, especially if you were happy to do something else in the morning and use the pool areas later in the day.
For me, the sunbed situation was a downside, but not a deal breaker. It was a small part of the overall cruise rather than something that defined the whole holiday.
What Are the Pools Like on Britannia?
Britannia has several pool areas, and each one has a slightly different feel.
The Riviera Pool and Lido Pool are the main pool areas and were the most popular on sea days. These are the places where the ship feels liveliest, especially when the weather is good and everyone wants to be outside.
The Serenity Pool is adults-only and felt calmer. It was one of my favourite areas when I wanted a quieter atmosphere, although it could still get busy.
The Terrace Pool at the aft of the ship has lovely views and a different feel again. It is a good place to look out over the wake and enjoy the scenery, especially when sailing through the Caribbean.
One of my favourite sea day routines was having a continental breakfast delivered to the cabin and enjoying it on the balcony. It was a peaceful way to start the day before heading out into the busier areas of the ship.
Britannia also had plenty happening during the day, including talks, quizzes, shopping and activities, so you did not have to spend every sea day by the pool.
What Is Entertainment Like on P&O Britannia?
Entertainment on Britannia was very strong.
The Headliners Theatre had a good mix of guest singers, comedians and West End-style shows. Some of the productions were shows I had seen before, but I still enjoyed them. They were well performed and gave the evenings a proper cruise ship feel.
Live music was also a big part of the onboard atmosphere. Bands such as Pulse and Exile performed in different venues, including the Live Lounge, Crystal Room and out on deck. That variety helped keep the evenings feeling lively.
The Live Lounge was a popular venue, and the Crystal Room also worked well for entertainment and dancing. On some nights, there was music and entertainment on the Lido Deck, which suited the Caribbean atmosphere perfectly.
Brodie’s was another busy venue, especially if you wanted a more pub-style atmosphere or to watch sport on the TV screens.
The Blue Bar in the atrium became one of my favourite places to start the evening. It had an elegant feel, and it set the tone nicely before dinner or a show.
What I liked most was that Britannia had a good balance. You could have a lively night with music and dancing, or you could have a quieter drink in a more relaxed venue. There was always something happening, but it did not feel like you had to join in with everything.
What Was New Year’s Eve Like on P&O Britannia?
New Year’s Eve was one of the standout moments of the cruise.
Britannia was docked in Curaçao late into the evening, which meant we could enjoy the island’s fireworks from the ship. Seeing fireworks light up the Caribbean sky was a really special experience and made the evening feel very different from a normal night onboard.
There were several ways to celebrate. At 8pm, you could mark the UK New Year in Brodie’s, which was a nice touch for passengers who wanted to celebrate both times.
Later in the evening, Pulse and a DJ kept the party going on the Lido Deck. The atmosphere was lively, joyful and very festive, with people dancing and celebrating together.
The countdown to midnight was the highlight. It felt like the whole ship had come together, and celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Caribbean is something I will remember for a long time.
The bars were understandably busy, and there were waits for drinks, but that is to be expected on a night like New Year’s Eve. The atmosphere more than made up for it.
If you are thinking about booking Britannia for Christmas or New Year, I would say it is a great ship for a festive cruise. It had the right mix of celebration, elegance and fun.
Is Britannia Good for Solo Travellers?
Britannia worked well for me as a solo traveller.
Club dining helped because it gave me the same table each evening and a chance to get to know other people. That can make a big difference if you are travelling alone and want some social contact without having to force it.
The ship also had plenty of venues where it felt comfortable to sit on your own. The Blue Bar, Brodie’s, the theatre, the buffet, the pool deck and the balcony all worked in different ways depending on the time of day.
Because the cruise was port-heavy, there were also plenty of excursions and tours where it was easy to join a group. In the Caribbean, I did a mix of island tours, beaches, boat trips and shore excursions, and that made the days feel full without needing to organise everything independently.
For solo travellers who like a sociable atmosphere, Britannia is a good choice. It feels lively enough that you are not isolated, but not so overwhelming that you feel lost in the crowd.
How Does Britannia Compare With Arvia?
Compared with my experience on Arvia, Britannia felt more polished on this cruise.
The food was better, the service felt friendlier, and the overall atmosphere suited me more. Britannia also felt easier to settle into, partly because it has a more traditional P&O layout and atmosphere.
Arvia has advantages. It is newer, has more modern dining concepts, The Quays, a swim-up bar, more casual options and a brighter resort-style feel. If you want a very modern ship with lots of choice and a more contemporary design, Arvia may appeal more.
But on this particular cruise, Britannia gave me a better overall experience. It felt calmer, more consistent and more polished.
That does not mean Britannia is better for everyone. Arvia works well for families, warm-weather cruising and people who want newer facilities. Britannia works well if you want a ship that still feels elegant, sociable and traditional, but with enough choice to keep the cruise interesting.
What Are the Downsides of P&O Britannia?
No ship is perfect, and there were some downsides to Britannia.
The biggest issue on this cruise was the sunbed situation on sea days. It did not ruin the holiday, but it was noticeable, and it did mean that if you wanted a prime sunbed, you needed to be up earlier than you might like on holiday.
The buffet was useful, but it was not the highlight of the dining experience. I used it mostly for breakfast and the occasional lunch, but I preferred the main dining room, casual grill and speciality dining.
Britannia also lacks some of the newer casual food options that you get on Arvia and Iona. There is no Quays, and I did miss the ability to get things like made-to-order omelettes or classic fish and chips in that style of venue.
The bars could get busy, especially on New Year’s Eve and popular evenings. That is not unusual on a cruise, but it is worth expecting waits at peak times.
Some people may also find Britannia less exciting than the newer P&O ships. It does not have the same modern resort feel as Arvia or the same scale as Iona. But for me, that was not a problem. Britannia has its own strengths, and they worked very well on this itinerary.
Final Verdict: Is P&O Britannia Worth Booking?
So, is P&O Britannia worth booking?
Yes, I would book Britannia again, especially for a Caribbean cruise.
This sailing exceeded my expectations. The dining was strong, the entertainment was lively, the ports were excellent, and New Year’s Eve onboard was a real highlight. Britannia felt polished, friendly and easy to enjoy.
It is not the newest ship in the fleet, and it does not have all the newer features you find on Arvia and Iona. But that does not make it feel like a weaker choice. In some ways, I preferred the atmosphere on Britannia.
It works especially well if you want a more traditional P&O ship with good food, strong entertainment, a sociable feel and plenty of outdoor space for warm-weather cruising.
The main thing to be aware of is that sea days can be busy, especially around the pools and sunbeds. But if you are flexible, use your balcony, enjoy the bars and lounges, or head out later in the day, it does not need to spoil the cruise.
For me, Britannia delivered exactly what I wanted from a Caribbean cruise: beautiful ports, good food, lively evenings and a ship that felt comfortable to come back to at the end of each day.
FAQs About Booking P&O Britannia
Is P&O Britannia worth booking?
Yes, P&O Britannia is worth booking if you want a comfortable, elegant ship with good dining, strong entertainment and a more traditional P&O feel. It works especially well for Caribbean itineraries and special occasions such as New Year’s Eve.
Is Britannia good for the Caribbean?
Yes, Britannia works very well in the Caribbean. The outdoor decks, pool areas, balcony cabins, entertainment and relaxed atmosphere all suit warm-weather cruising. The Caribbean ports were also one of the biggest highlights of the cruise.
Is Britannia too busy on sea days?
Britannia can feel busy on sea days, especially around the main pools and sunbeds. Some passengers reserve loungers early, and this can be frustrating. However, there are quieter areas, bars, lounges and balconies to use, and it is often easier to find space later in the afternoon.
What is the food like on P&O Britannia?
The food on Britannia was very good on this cruise. The main dining room meals were consistent, formal nights felt special, and The Beach House was a standout speciality dining experience. The buffet was useful for convenience, but it was not the strongest part of the dining.
Is Britannia good for solo travellers?
Yes, Britannia can work very well for solo travellers. Club dining is a good option because you sit at the same table each evening, which makes it easier to meet people. The ship also has plenty of comfortable venues where it feels easy to spend time on your own.
Is Britannia better than Arvia?
It depends what you want from a cruise. Arvia is newer and has more modern dining and resort-style features. Britannia feels more traditional and, on this cruise, felt more polished to me, with better food and a friendlier atmosphere.
What is New Year’s Eve like on Britannia?
New Year’s Eve on Britannia was excellent. There were celebrations in different venues, a UK New Year countdown, live music and a party on deck. Being docked in Curaçao for fireworks made it feel even more special.
Does Britannia have good entertainment?
Yes, entertainment was one of the strong points of the cruise. The Headliners Theatre had singers, comedians and production shows, while live music in venues such as the Live Lounge, Crystal Room and on deck gave the evenings a lively atmosphere.
Useful Guides to Plan Your P&O Britannia Cruise
If you’re thinking about booking Britannia, or you already have a cruise planned, these guides will help you go deeper into the areas that matter most.
For a full overview of the ship, my what’s onboard P&O Britannia guide is the best place to start. It will help you understand the layout, main venues, pool areas, restaurants, bars and where you are likely to spend most of your time onboard.
If dining is one of the most important parts of your cruise, my P&O Britannia Dining Options guide goes into more detail about what is included, what costs extra, and which venues are worth considering before you travel.
If you want to compare the pool areas, sunbeds and The Retreat, my P&O Britannia pools guide covers the Lido Pool, Riviera Pool, Serenity Pool, Terrace Pool, hot tubs and busy sea days.
If you want to know where to drink onboard, my P&O Britannia bars guide covers the Crow’s Nest, Blue Bar, Brodie’s, Glass House, Sunset Bar, pool bars, Live Lounge and other venues.
For evenings onboard, my P&O Britannia Entertainment Guide covers the theatre, live music, daytime activities, deck parties and the different venues you can use throughout the cruise.
Taken together, these guides will give you a clearer picture of whether Britannia is the right ship for you and how to make the most of your cruise once you are onboard.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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