Travel

Caribbean with P&O Britannia: Far More Than Just Beaches Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5) My wife and I recently sailed the Caribbean on P&O Britannia, a round‑trip ex‑Barbados itinerary taking in Aruba, Curaçao, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua, St Lucia and Saint Maarten. I had worried it might feel “samey”, just beach after beach, but this cruise completely changed my mind. Each island had its own personality. Aruba felt dry, sunny and cosmopolitan with its Dutch architecture, while Curaçao’s colourful waterfront and cafés gave it a vibrant, lived‑in feel. St Vincent and the Grenadines was more rugged and unpolished, with a strong sense of real Caribbean life, and Grenada’s markets and spice stalls lived up to its “Spice Island” nickname. Antigua offered those classic beaches alongside historic sites and viewpoints, St Lucia was lush, mountainous and wonderfully romantic (helped by our overnight stay there), and Saint Maarten’s Dutch–French mix and low‑flying planes were a fun finale. Rather than blurring into one, each stop felt like a mini‑holiday. A highlight for us was choosing to support local communities wherever we could. We bought spices directly from stallholders in Grenada, enjoyed local beers in small bars and booked some excursions with independent guides rather than only through the ship. The local operators we used were professional, very conscious of sailing times and clearly proud of their islands. With a bit of homework and the usual common sense, going independent felt safe and rewarding, and it was good to know more of our spend stayed in the islands. On board, Britannia looked in good shape following her 2024 refit and offered plenty to do. Sea days fell into a relaxing rhythm of time by the pool, quizzes and game shows, the odd flutter in the casino and evening entertainment that ranged from ballroom and live music to game‑show‑style events like Deal or No Deal. We never struggled to find something that suited our mood. We were also impressed with the food. The main dining rooms delivered consistently good dinners with enough variety over the cruise, while The Glass House offered a more informal setting with interesting wine pairings. Sindhu was our standout meal: beautifully presented Indian‑inspired dishes and a sense of occasion that felt perfect for a special night. Our balcony cabin was comfortable and practical, with decent storage and a balcony that made sea days and sail‑aways feel special. Our cabin steward kept everything spotless and struck that ideal balance of friendly but unobtrusive, which reflected the general standard of service on board. In terms of value, we felt the combination of varied ports, included dining and entertainment, and the convenience of unpacking once made this an excellent way to see the Caribbean. Overall, I would happily recommend this P&O Britannia itinerary, particularly to UK guests considering their first Caribbean cruise or anyone worried that “the Caribbean is all the same”. This sailing showed us just how different the islands can be, while the ship provided a comfortable, activity‑packed base to return to each evening. A solid 4 out of 5, with special praise for the ports of call and speciality dining. Already booked our next Caribbean cruise but this time exploring the British & US Virgin Islands, The Dominican, Republic, San Juan with a few days pre and post cruise nights in Philadelphia

We enjoyed our cruise but if there is a negative it is that the ship in parts is quite dated, and our cabin had 2 bunk beds above our bed and at 73 years young I banged myself a number of times getting in and out but our overall experience was great

Wonderful cruise but arriving in ports on a Sunday is pretty pointless, almost everything was closed. Music on board seemed to be aimed at people that were not there - teenagers. All in all very enjoyable but could have been much better with a little thought behind it.

Azura was a pale comparison of Arvia. A tired ship, with overpriced options and disengaged staff.

Flight into Malta to join Azura and sail around Greek islands. Stunning scenery and enjoyable relaxing cruise

Good travel and good food