P&O Cruises World Cruising has officially taken delivery of Britannia – the largest cruise ship ever designed specifically for the British holiday market.
The traditional ceremony at the Fincantieri Shipyards, in Trieste, Italy on Sunday (Feb 22) included the exchange of flags, during which the shipyard flag was taken down and replaced with the cruise line’s flag. Britannia’s Captain Paul Brown was also presented with the first water to touch the hull of Britannia during the official float out ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman David Dingle and senior executives from the cruise line and the shipyard.
Some of P&O Cruises World Cruising’s favourite Food Heroes were also present at the ceremony; TV celebrity chef Olly Smith who is fronting Britannia’s Glass House wine bar and restaurant, master patissier Eric Lanlard who has The Market Café in the atrium, and cheese expert Charlie Turnbull who is represented in Britannia’s Epicurean fine dining restaurant.
Britannia will leave Fincantieri shipyard at the end of this week and arrive in Southampton on Friday March 6. She will be officially named on Tuesday March 10 before her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on Saturday March 14.
SOURCE P&O Cruises World Cruising