P&O's Britannia is put through her paces for the first time

It might look like a particularly drunken version of Join the Dots, or perhaps it reminds you of the tangle that came out of the box when you started to put up the Christmas tree lights. But this is P&O’s newest ship being put through her paces. The images show the track of Britannia in the Gulf of Trieste - in the north-east corner of the Adriatic - where she is on her first sea trials. A captain  from the shipbuilders, Fincantieri, is at the controls while Captain Paul Brown, the P&O skipper who will take command when the vessel is handed over, is keeping a watching brief. He’s probably hoping they’ll give him a little go before the ship is returned to port. For now, Britannia is having her engines, propulsion system, steering and stability tested for the first time in a tortuous series of twists and turns. I hope the officers on the bridge keep an eye on their rear view mirrors. [Image captures from marinetraffic.com]

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Now we are six – Oceania adds another ship to its fleet

Name-changer: Ocean Princess, soon to become Oceania Cruises' Sirena

Oceania Cruises is to grow again – with the addition of a ship bought from Princess Cruises for $82 million (£52 million). The vessel, currently sailing as Ocean Princess, is virtually identical to Oceania’s Insignia, Nautica, and Regatta – all were originally built for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises.

The 684-passenger ship joins Oceania in March 2016 when it will be given a $40m (£25.5 million) refurbishment in dry dock at Marseille before being re-named Sirena.

The work includes fitting Oceania’s trademark speciality restaurants, Toscana and the Polo Grill, along with a coffee shop and cook-to-order grill at the Gerrace Café.

Sirena is expected to carry her first Oceania passengers in late April 2016.

The announcement of the deal came from Oceania’s new owners, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, who completed the takeover just days ago. Kevin Sheehan, president and CEO of Norwegian, said it was his company’s belief in the Oceania brand and its commitment to the “growing base of loyal guests” that were the rationale behind the decision.

Kunal S Kamlamni, president of Oceania, said Sirena “opens up an entire array of new itinerary options.”

In addition to the former Renaissance ships, Oceania also operates two larger newbuilds, Riviera and Marina, carrying 1,250 passengers each. The line’s total capacity will grow to 5,236. The newly-enlarged Norwegian group, which also includes Regent Seven Seas, now totals 21 ships with a combined capacity of approximately 40,000.

Princess still operates another ex-Renaissance ship, Pacific Princess, which is also believed to be for sale. P&O’s Adonia is almost identical, and the other two – all built between 1998 and 2001 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard in France – are sailing as Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey.

Azamara is likely to be making its own announcement about expansion very soon, but insiders believe the line – owned by Royal Caribbean International – is going for a newbuild rather than buying a “pre-owned” vessel.

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Mouth-watering selection of restaurant venues set to return on Norwegian Escape

The publicity machine for the next Norwegian Cruise Line ship is getting into gear. Between now and its launch in just over 12 months’ time, there will be no escape from announcements about … Norwegian Escape.

But truth be told, there’s little new in this week’s  news about some of the restaurants on the new ship – which adds one more deck than little sisters Breakaway and Getaway, to provide more cabins.

The venues and the layout will be very much the same as before, with many of them opening out onto al fresco dining areas on The Waterfront, and others gathered around the three-deck atrium known as 678 Ocean Place (because it occupies space on Decks 6, 7 and 8).

It’s almost inconceivable that there would not be another O’Sheehan’s Bar on this ship – as long as the likeable Kevin Sheehan is chief executive of the company at least – and Escape will also feature Norwegian regulars such as Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro.

One innovation is a “private” group dining area carved out of part of the Taste restaurant – if a space seating 100 people can be described as private.

For now, at least, there’s no word on whether Geoffrey Zakarian’s upscale restaurant Ocean Blue – a feature of both Breakaway and Getaway – will return on Escape. We’ll have to see whether he or another chef will create dishes for the most expensive extra-cost dinner venue on the ship.

The Waterfront (above), a wide promenade deck running three-quarters the length of the ship, provides outdoor tables for  the Moderno Churrascarie, Cagney’s, and La Cucina.

The concept is in complete contrast to the design of Royal and Regal Princess – and P&O’s soon-to-be-launched Britannia  - all of which have limited open deck space apart from the higher sundecks.

Outdoor space on Deck 7 of these ships is provided only outside the bar area and shops of the central piazza, and alongside the Vista Lounge – but not extending around the stern.

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World Cup cruise specials, from £499

If you fancied watching England's opening World Cup game against Italy from the deck of a cruise ship while it is docked in Naples, then I'm afraid you're already too late. A last-minute bargain deal for a week's Mediterranean cruise from June 11 aboard P&O's Ventura (above) has just sold out.

England's other two group games against Uruguay and Costa Rica will be screened aboard P&O's Arcadia during its 12 night cruise to Iceland and the Faroe Islands departing Southampton on June 16, with prices from £669 with Iglucruise.

Or, if you want to escape the World Cup altogether, then a cruise to the Norwegian fjords aboard Fred. Olsen's Braemar from Dover on June 14 has been declared a football free zone. Fares from £499 with Iglucruise.

To book visit www.iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447

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Grand Fromage joins the Food Heroes on board P&O's Brie-tannia, heading for Port Salut

P&O Cruises have added a big cheese to their brigade of Food Heroes on board Britannia. He is Charlie Turnbull, who runs a delicatessen in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and is described as an "international cheese judge and expert."

He will be advising P&O on the range of cheeses to be stocked in Britannia's Market Café at the heart of the ship's atrium, and in the fine-dining Epicurean restaurant.

Turnbull is also planning to travel several times a year to present cheese tastings and  to host cheese-related shore excursions.

He will be joining James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar, "Cake Boy" Eric Lanlard and win expert Olly Smith who have all signed up to contribute to Britannia's food offerings.

Marketing Director Christopher Edgington is promising that the ship will have a real emphasis on authenticity. "Details such as cheese are no exception and in Charlie Turnbull we have a recognised master cheesemonger.

"The Market Café will be the social hub of the ship with an informal café style atmosphere. Whether it is patisserie from Eric Lanlard, a plate of British charcuterie or a tasting selection of artisan cheeses chosen by Charlie, paired with a local British beer, we will showcase the best of the best from the best."

Turnbull added: "I am very excited about choosing a team of the best British and European cheeses for Britannia ... the sailing ambassador of the best of British food.

"I am delighted to be the shepherd of her cheeses as she travels the world. I will also be taking advantage of ports of call in the Mediterranean to guest some local cheeses, as well as getting on shore and seeking out local specialities to compare with our own."

The Market Café will offer tasting notes for all the cheeses and suggestions to pair with wines and beers, while cheese will also be served in the Epicurean restaurant, high up on deck 16.

Britannia, currently being built in Italy, will join the P&O fleet next March. Carrying 3,600 passengers, it will be the biggest cruise ship built for the UK market.

One thing's for sure - passengers on Britannia will never be allowed to get cheese-bored.

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Getting Ready For A Ventura Adventure!

From our special guest blogger, Danielle Fear, aka, Cruise Miss.

Well there are just 5 more days to go before I join P&O Cruises' Ventura for a 2-week Mediterranean cruise and, after all the sun we have been having in the UK, I can’t wait! (Slogan pun not intended but pretty hard to avoid). The good weather at home always makes me think more about cruising and this time it has made my mind go non-stop about a sunny and warm sail-away.

The last time I sailed out of Southampton on a sunny day was in July 2011. Since then, it has either been pouring with rain or dark. All I want to do is sit on the Lido Deck with a cocktail and feel the sun on my face. It would also be nice to be able to see Southampton and the Isle of Wight as we leave for a change. Recently they have been obscured by fog or it’s been so dark only lights were visible ashore. These little things make a big difference, so someone have a word with Mother Nature for me, please!

With regards to pre-cruise preparation, this time I am failing miserably. I mentioned a few days ago on Twitter I had started packing. What I actually meant was I had removed the luggage labels from my bags that were left on from my Caribbean cruise. I know it’s pitiful, but I keep getting side-tracked by a dozen other things. I will say proudly, though, that yesterday I managed to pack my shoes. That’s it! I am sure I will unpack and re-pack them again between now and Friday but, for the time being, as far as I am concerned they are packed.

One thing I did start and have completed is the printing of all the cruise documents. I suppose that’s because I press buttons and the printer then does all the work. I have my e-ticket, luggage labels, insurance info and coach transfer ticket. Seated neatly on top is my passport so, in that sense, you could say I am all ready to go!

I shall finish this preview by saying I can’t wait to be back on board Ventura. My friend is already having fantasies about the Pizza from Frankie’s and I can’t stop thinking about the Chicken Sizzler with Rice from the Beach House. Usually, I don’t think too much about the food before a cruise but boy do I love that Sizzler dish - and it must be with rice, never with chips.

It’s probably a good thing we only decided to book this cruise 17 days before it sailed. I dread to think the state we would be in by now if we had booked months earlier...!

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