Britannia refit

[84k]

Does anybody know anything about the refit?

It was meant to have started yesterday.

 

Sometimes carnival/p&o post a blurb on their blog a few months in advance of a refit but all searches just mention it's 2019 refurb and can't find any details

[Presto2]

Have been thinking the same thing. 

Would hope that the cabins get some tlc particularly the carpets and the settees that have seen better days. Similarly rhe bathrooms. I think the public areas look OK ...this time the cabins have to be a priority surely?

It will be interesting to see ...

[AndyMichelle]

Apparently, 1500 contractors boarded Thursday night. Work had started in the casino, removing cladding. 

A lot of carpet and soft furnishings are being replaced, but unsure where. 

Kitchens are being 'refigured' and a covered smoking area is being installed. 

We are on her 26th, so will be able to report back then. 

Andy 

[Sussexboy]

I watched her sail away from Southampton yesterday after lunch on the Solent Ships live webcam on YouTube.

[gsgbrumuk]

I gather some damage is also being repaired and the damaged lifeboat returned.

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 4/6/2024 at 5:50 PM, 84k said:

Does anybody know anything about the refit?

It was meant to have started yesterday.

 

Sometimes carnival/p&o post a blurb on their blog a few months in advance of a refit but all searches just mention it's 2019 refurb and can't find any details

If the refit is on a par with that which took place on Ventura last year I don;t seriously know why they bother. The ship was 5 hours late into port the crew didn't seem to know what they were doing and the chefs must have been on holiday. There was still refitting staff on the ship when we sailed apparently fitting carpets in the staff quarters.There seems so much ballyhoo surrounding refits with illusions that the ship will look new. Have much nicer modern decor and that millions have been spent. I should have known better. Didn't particularly go a bundle on Ventura first time and last years cruise was by far the worst of the seventeen cruises taken.Have even gone over to Princess after a very bad experience on Ventura. It was a disaster from day one and never improved the next 34 nights. The two highlights were the two tribute acts and the meals we had in Sindu. Those apart, very, very poor and many passengers we spoke to were making notes of their problems as well.

[sogne]

7 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

If the refit is on a par with that which took place on Ventura last year I don;t seriously know why they bother. The ship was 5 hours late into port the crew didn't seem to know what they were doing and the chefs must have been on holiday. There was still refitting staff on the ship when we sailed apparently fitting carpets in the staff quarters.There seems so much ballyhoo surrounding refits with illusions that the ship will look new. Have much nicer modern decor and that millions have been spent. I should have known better. Didn't particularly go a bundle on Ventura first time and last years cruise was by far the worst of the seventeen cruises taken.Have even gone over to Princess after a very bad experience on Ventura. It was a disaster from day one and never improved the next 34 nights. The two highlights were the two tribute acts and the meals we had in Sindu. Those apart, very, very poor and many passengers we spoke to were making notes of their problems as well.

They bother because it is a legal requirement  for ship to be dry docked st regular intervals for hull and underwater areas to be inspected and worked on as needed. It will also be a requirement for recertification & insurance.

 

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, sogne said:

They bother because it is a legal requirement  for ship to be dry docked st regular intervals for hull and underwater areas to be inspected and worked on as needed. It will also be a requirement for recertification & insurance.

 

And of course any major mechanical improvements.

[GSPG]

2 hours ago, sogne said:

They bother because it is a legal requirement  for ship to be dry docked st regular intervals for hull and underwater areas to be inspected and worked on as needed. It will also be a requirement for recertification & insurance.

 

For the hull and underwater areas, I wonder if that episode in Majorca last year when she broke away from her moorings during that storm is showing any signs of wear?

[Presto2]

I get all the mechanical stuff .. but it would be nice if the cabins get a visit after 9yrs of constant use ....

[AndyMichelle]

I'm hoping for a slide from the Crows Nest to the atrium, then I won't have to worry about 'lift etiquette' on the way down at least...😊

 

[terrierjohn]

13 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

I'm hoping for a slide from the Crows Nest to the atrium, then I won't have to worry about 'lift etiquette' on the way down at least...😊

 

I believe that even Princess have now succumbed to water slides, and their new Sun Princess has them.

I imagine that any new monster P&O order will likely have water slides and a much fancier water park for the kids.

[AndyMichelle]

Looks like the Live Lounge is having new carpets and the dance floor resanded... 

[84k]

Thanks for the updates Andy

[Neecy1]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:34 PM, terrierjohn said:

I believe that even Princess have now succumbed to water slides, and their new Sun Princess has them.

I imagine that any new monster P&O order will likely have water slides and a much fancier water park for the kids.

There was a cruise ship in port on our recent Brittania TA. Can't remember which ship but it had a water slide on the side. Looked horrible. I can appreciate ships having them on the top deck for kids but this looked so awful on the side of the ship.

[zap99]

On 4/8/2024 at 5:40 PM, Cruisemeister2002 said:

If the refit is on a par with that which took place on Ventura last year I don;t seriously know why they bother. The ship was 5 hours late into port the crew didn't seem to know what they were doing and the chefs must have been on holiday. There was still refitting staff on the ship when we sailed apparently fitting carpets in the staff quarters.There seems so much ballyhoo surrounding refits with illusions that the ship will look new. Have much nicer modern decor and that millions have been spent. I should have known better. Didn't particularly go a bundle on Ventura first time and last years cruise was by far the worst of the seventeen cruises taken.Have even gone over to Princess after a very bad experience on Ventura. It was a disaster from day one and never improved the next 34 nights. The two highlights were the two tribute acts and the meals we had in Sindu. Those apart, very, very poor and many passengers we spoke to were making notes of their problems as well.

Apart from that, was it OK?

[zap99]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:18 PM, AndyMichelle said:

I'm hoping for a slide from the Crows Nest to the atrium, then I won't have to worry about 'lift etiquette' on the way down at least...😊

 

I think they will make the balconies bigger and put a couple of sunbeds on them and move the columns in the buffet away from the counters and have a special drawer for decaf teabags so I don't need to walk around for ages and a dodgem track and flow rider. Apart from that.🤣

[zap99]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:34 PM, terrierjohn said:

I believe that even Princess have now succumbed to water slides, and their new Sun Princess has them.

I imagine that any new monster P&O order will likely have water slides and a much fancier water park for the kids.

In a few years the old hands will be singing the praises of the old ships Britannia, Iona and Azura......I'll stick to the small ships like Britannia.  I'm not going on the magamonsters. 15,000 passengers....no thanks.

[Denarius]

10 minutes ago, zap99 said:

In a few years the old hands will be singing the praises of the old ships Britannia, Iona and Azura......I'll stick to the small ships like Britannia.  I'm not going on the magamonsters. 15,000 passengers....no thanks.

Very true. When I started cruising in the 1990s the QE2 was thought of as being a very large ship. Nowadays at 70000 GRT and carrying 1800 passengers she would be regarded as mid size at the most. In a few years time she will no doubt be regarded as small.

Edited April 10 by Denarius

[DamianG]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:18 PM, AndyMichelle said:

I'm hoping for a slide from the Crows Nest to the atrium, then I won't have to worry about 'lift etiquette' on the way down at least...😊

 

Genius, this would also partially resolve the issue of no midship passenger stairwell. 😉

Edited April 10 by DamianG

[doog442]

6 hours ago, Neecy1 said:

There was a cruise ship in port on our recent Brittania TA. Can't remember which ship but it had a water slide on the side. Looked horrible. I can appreciate ships having them on the top deck for kids but this looked so awful on the side of the ship.

 

We were next to the Norwegian Prima. It had a 'drop slide' on the port side...it looked like a water slide but the victims were sat on some kind of mat. Without fail they nearly all got stuck halfway down and had to be dragged out by staff at the bottom.

 

It also had a very large go kart track dominating the top deck just to set things off as a ship to avoid at all costs. 

 

I just don't get it . If you want this go to Florida and do the parks with a nice villa for probably half the cost.

 

Anyway back to the new carpet on Britannia.

 

 

[terrierjohn]

4 hours ago, DamianG said:

Genius, this would also partially resolve the issue of no midship passenger stairwell. 😉

But it would be a hell of a climb back up to the crows nest.😉

[yorkshirephil]

1 minute ago, terrierjohn said:

But it would be a hell of a climb back up to the crows nest.😉

Just use the lifts, the advantage being they would only need to go up😆

[Bazrat]

On 4/10/2024 at 5:14 PM, zap99 said:

In a few years the old hands will be singing the praises of the old ships Britannia, Iona and Azura......I'll stick to the small ships like Britannia.  I'm not going on the magamonsters. 15,000 passengers....no thanks.

Actually old chap the old hands will still be comparing p&o to other cruise line, I really miss the cheese wheels and the choco on the pillow 

[zap99]

9 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

Actually old chap the old hands will still be comparing p&o to other cruise line, I really miss the cheese wheels and the choco on the pillow 

We are on Arvia in a couple of weeks. Next time I'm allowed out by myself I will buy some posh chocolate mints. I can turndown our own beds and put a choc on the pillow. I may be able to get through the first week before DW finds out it was me. Doubt I could pull off that scam with a cheese wheel.🤣