Just over a year after having been named by Queen Elizabeth II and embarking on her maiden voyage, P&O’s flagship Britannia will make her first visit to Palma on Saturday. But, and unlike the special welcome TUI’s new super liner Mein Schiff 4 was given on her maiden visit by the Balearic Ports Authority on Wednesday, there will be no grand greeting for the Britannia.
A spokesperson for the authority said today that a special ceremony, with the traditional presentations of ensigns, has been organised for her second and final visit of the season on 4 July. This Saturday, however, the authority’s diary is apparently full and its president, Juan Gual Torrella, will preside over events in July: more like a farewell than a welcome considering she will not be returning to Majorca this year.
Not even the PR director of P&O Cruises/Carnival UK was able to resolve the issue, which also means no press access to one of the newest and finest cruise liners afloat. However, decked out in the Union Flag, she is going to make quite a sight sailing into the Bay of Palma on Saturday morning.
The largest ship in the P&O fleet - and the biggest built for the UK market - Britannia carries 3,647 passengers and weighs in at 141,000 tons. Sailing over 90,000 nautical miles during 43 cruises, the ship has visited 31 countries, 61 different ports and hosted more than 116,900 passengers.
During its first 12 months it has hosted 110 black tie nights, 730 theatre performances and served 94,457 meals across three of its fine dining establishments. Just over 1.3 million chocolates have been left on pillows at turndown, and guests have consumed 292,000 scones, 375,000 gin and tonics and 2.8 million cups of tea - in perfect keeping with the ship’s British heritage.
P&O Cruises has linked up with celeb-chefs for their Cookery Club school, the ship acted as the backdrop to the first celebrity-led TV cooking contest at sea, Battlechefs, and Britannia was the setting for another first when it hosted Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway live from the top deck earlier this month.
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As they have no idea what they are letting themselves in for, I am sure they will back down - just as Khrushchev did in 1962.
Ron, there is an easy answer to that one. P&O tells the Port Authority to knock it off the mooring fee, if not, they may reconsider calling in at Palma. End of. Simon
To me,the most disgraceful aspect is the fact that the P and O flagship was built in Italy and not in the UK.
What a disgraceful decision.! There has always been a civic reception and exchange of plaques all over the world when a ship arrives in a port for the first time. Even more of a snub here as it's P&O's flagship. I think they are too embarrassed to say that when they come back in July they will be charged an astronomical amount for a half day stay. As I understand it all passengers & crew will be charged peak rate of €2 (or is it €1 now) (Unless of course I have been misinformed - bearing in mind that the powers that be make changes daily!) Total passengers 3647, total crew 1350. Grand total €9994,00 (or is it €4997). All plus IVA of course. And are crew going to be charged as reported - or not? Does anybody know?? In Barcelona - the cruise capital of the Med. there would be no charge (only for overnight stays!) The cruise ships are easy prey to our muggers.