Lois : 𝙽𝚘 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕

A lovely little holiday abroad P&O Britannia over my birthday.

Despite a birthday being ‘just another day’. I feel I can not inflict the miserable so and so I would be on my colleagues, if I had to work on my birthday… over the last few years I have been lucky, to spend each Birthday at sea.

This years trip was with my Husband and my parents to France, Spain and the Channel Isles.

As part of my Birthday present, I was treated to a Suite which enabled my husband and I to attend the peninsular club embarkation Lounge together. This is also a loyalty perk, at home ports, for Caribbean tier members.

We then headed to our Strathaird suite, a forward port side Suite. My parents were staying in the mirror image suite, on the same deck on the Starboard side. The photo below shows the bedroom of each suite, with the feature front window. Sitting in this window, with a good book and watching the world go by is one of my favourite things to do!

We soon met our lovely Butler, Edward. A butler, an unnecessary yet wonderful addition to a cruise holiday. Nothing was too much trouble for Edward, but I don’t feel we really used him that much. We only occasionally ordered a couple of cocktails and the odd ice bucket for our freebie Champagne.  It was nice to have someone to see each afternoon, whilst he delivered our canapés, topped up our coffee machine and delivered menus for the following day.

My husband and I with Eddie , canapés for four ^

Suite guests  are invited to attend breakfast in the Epicurean restaurant. We’ve eaten breakfast here before in previous suites, it’s a lovely, quiet place to eat Breakfast. Beautiful sea views and the lovely Epicurean waiting staff get to know your breakfast order, especially if you’re a creature of habit… their French toast is delicious!

Our first port of call was the beautiful Cherbourg, on Easter Sunday. The sun shined and we all headed ashore for walkies in the Sunshine, a small attempt to walk off some of the calories already consumed! The port did supply a bus into town, however it was a very short walk through what seemed like a safe area.

We were extremely lucky with the fabulous sunshine in mid April!

During the evening we had the traditional welcome on board party, including a speech from Captain Wesley Dunlop. Everyone looks fabulous in their formal attire, I thoroughly enjoy admiring the posh frocks! I love formal nights, any excuse to get the glad rags out, eat a lovely meal and head off to the theatre, with a safe, short walk home! Initially on trying to persuade my husband to cruise, he moaned about the idea of bow ties and Dinner Suites, but now he loves it!

We then sailed on to La Coruna, oh and the heavens opened! It started spitting whilst I was on the gangway… so I returned to the cabin to get my P&O umbrella, we had planned a nice long walk and the heavens opening, was not going to ruin it… lots more calories to be burnt! Despite the  heavy rain we continued with our walk, a bit of water wasn’t going to stop us… wow I have not been so wet, it did eventually stop us! Despite this, it was a very enjoyable walk, especially during the gaps in the rain clouds! Only managed about 10km before chickening out to try and get dry! Oh and we starving, we hadn’t eaten for a few hours…..( we weren’t really…it’s impossible to starve on a cruise ship!)

Then, onwards to Bilbao…. In Bilbao we planned to get an open top bus tour. ( the weather was forecast had promised dry weather…) I do love an open top bus tour! You get a nice whistle stop tour of a city you may well be new to, and a sample of things you might want to do, or stops you may want to get off at. They can be expensive, but on holiday, I am happy to pay a bit more to have a concise tour, with lots of additional information from either a live guide or the recorded tour. My husband loves open top bus tours, mainly to wave at people, at least he makes people smile!

We then sailed onwards to Guernsey, but unfortunately due to the forecast swells, it was decided not to anchor and set people off in Tenders, as the swell was predicted to rise , and make a tender operation very dangerous. The usual moans were muttered around the ship… In the great scheme of things, you’re lucky, you’re on a cruise, if you had something organised or were meeting someone, no need to moan, at least you, the other passengers and the ship are safe.

My birthday was spent at sea and I was thoroughly spoilt. I haven’t had a cake, since P&O slightly changed their cakes, they’re just as delicious! Luckily it was delivered at the beginning of the cruise and my husband and parents helped me eat it…

No cruise aboard Britannia is complete without a meal at Sindhu and the Beachhouse. My husband and I always love a meal at Sindhu, it was delicious as usual!

Then all four of us went to the Beachhouse for a lovely, relaxed, delicious dinner one night.

I do love the main dining rooms of P&O, but it is lovely to also treat yourself to a select dining venue of two whilst onboard! If you’ve not tried one yet, do it! You will not  be disappointed!

All in all a fantastic holiday! As always all the staff were fantastic, the cruise was fabulous and I am counting down the days til I am next on board!

26 days to go……

Humour me!