P&O ship BRITANNIA - Her design will divide opinion
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BRITANNIA Will Rule The Waves
New P&O cruise ship will float out 14th February...
In ten days time a new cruise ship will make huge waves, not just in terms of sheer size, but also because her design will make a huge impression world wide, when she is floated out in a ceremony on 14th February 2014
Also her name will carry resonances of a grander age and associations with many famous vessels that have had it emblazoned on their bows.
This is the new BRITANNIA, a 140,000 ton behemoth that will rival QUEEN MARY 2 in looks, size and eventually, fame.
For P&O purists, she is likely to be scorned, gone are the buff funnels, and emblazoned on her bow the huge representation of the UK flag. Indeed, those two funnels themselves, no matter their colour will divide opinion. But one thing is certain, she will stand out in any port as a unique addition to the ever growing cruise ship fleet.
Inside her interiors are promised to be as elegant and breathtaking as ever.
"For the first time a British design company, Richmond, is overseeing the whole ship’s interiors to incorporate the classic and iconic history of P&O Cruises with modern design and features to appeal to both existing and a new generation of passengers." P&O's website proudly proclaims.
"Richmond, leading designers in the hospitality industry, have a remarkable portfolio of iconic British hotels, notably The Langham London (flagship of the Hong Kong based Langham Hotels); Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park; The Intercontinental London and Four Seasons Hampshire Hotel and Spa and international resort hotels including the Four Seasons Mauritius; Sandy Lane Barbados; Boca Beach Club at Boca Raton, Miami; the Fairmont Montreux Palace, Switzerland as well as many award winning hotels including the Four Seasons Budapest and the Waldorf Trianon Palace Hotel and Spa, Versailles.
“Richmond’s design will make a stunning statement across the entire ship’s interiors. Through their ideas they will imbue the ship with a cohesive personality which works across all the public areas including the cabins, cafes, bars, restaurants and lounges. Richmond’s designs will add an elegant and timeless Britishness to appeal to everyone who steps on board and will facilitat an excellent evolution of the P&Oness our passengers know and love. "
The ship is being constructed in Italy at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste, that has seen many successful launches of world-famous cruise liners. Fincantieri is becoming synonymous with the building of huge cruis ships.
As to the name, BRITANNIA, many, many ships have carried this name, most notably of course the Queen's old Royal Yacht, sadly a static attraction nowadays, but it was also the name ofCunard's first Atlantic liner, and P&O have had two ships of this name in the past.
The first entered service in 1835 for the General Steam Navigation Company (which later became The Peninsular Steam Navigation Company) whilst the second entered service in 1887 to mark the Golden Jubilee of both Queen Victoria and P&O itself. This 1887 ss BRITANNIA was a firm embodiment of P&O's ships in that era, grand and with a presence that was unique.
Interestingly one of the world's earliest steamships was called BRITANNIA. She was constructed as long ago as 1815 in the Clyde shipyard of J.Hunter, Port Glasgow, engines by Duncan McArthur, Camlachie for a constorium led by John Bryce of Glasgow and plied between Glasgow and Campbeltown
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