Britannia: celebrating 10 years of holiday happiness

Time flies when you’re having fun! That must be why it feels like only yesterday that we welcomed Britannia to our fleet. So, with her 10-Year anniversary cruise on the horizon, let’s take a look at just a few of Britannia’s highlights and most memorable moments.

10 min 30 May 2025

Editorial Team

Author

A majestic beginning

In March 2015, it was a monumental honour to welcome HM Queen Elizabeth II to Southampton, where she officially named Britannia in a glittering ceremony. At the time, with a capacity for more than 3,600 guests, Britannia was the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market. As Britannia’s Godmother, Her Majesty had a tour of the atrium and bridge and even enjoyed lunch on board. It was a truly proud beginning to Britannia’s life at sea.

Unique highlights

Like all our ships, Britannia has her own charm and unique flourishes such as Market Café, the ideal place to relax and read a book, or chat with a friend, while indulging in delicate patisserie and mouth-watering cakes. In Marco Pierre White's The Cookery Club, you can learn from top-class chefs in our masterclasses, or watch the professionals at work before savouring their creations in a Chef’s Table evening experience. Britannia was also the first of our ships to feature The Limelight Club, an intimate venue where a sumptuous dinner is complemented by live entertainment from stars of stage and screen. It proved to be so popular, we launched The Limelight Club on board Arvia and Iona too.

Family-friendly adventures

Throughout the year, Britannia sails to some of the world’s best-loved regions. In the winter she’s based in the Caribbean, so you can fly straight to the sunshine and spend a couple of weeks exploring paradise islands. Spring or early autumn are both great times to sail to Norway, where Britannia gives you a front-row seat to admire the incredible scenery as you cruise through the fjords. The Mediterranean is the perfect place for summer fun. During the school holidays, our flagship takes families to this diverse region, famous for its iconic sights, golden beaches, exciting activities and long, sunny days.

Britannia is more beautiful than ever!

We’ve often compared Britannia to a ‘floating five-star hotel’, and that’s truer than ever after her 2024 refit. She’s been decked out with fresh contemporary décor in new designs, colours and textiles, bringing Britannia in line with the lighter and brighter touches of our newest ships, Arvia and Iona.

Some of the many highlights include the refreshed look of the Sunset Bar and Crystal Room, the enhancements to the Oasis Spa and Salon, and the updated children’s splash area with colourful, interactive water features. This stunning ship simply has to be seen to be believed.

A 10th anniversary cruise that’s fit for a flagship

In June this year, Britannia will set sail from Southampton for a unique 14-night 10 year anniversary cruise around the British Isles. Guests who have booked on this one-of-a-kind holiday will visit a blend of exciting cities and locations in Scotland, Ireland and England, including areas of natural beauty. On board, there’ll be plenty of celebrations and special events, including Food Heroes Olly Smith, the multi-award-winning wine expert, and Marco Pierre White, the godfather of British cooking as well as Tom Parker-Bowles. Our partners at Salcombe Distilling Co. and The Tidal Rum will hold tasting masterclasses and there will, of course, be extra-special entertainment. This cruise is just the next chapter in our flagship’s story, as we’re sure Britannia will rule the waves for many years to come.