I am extremely grateful to have attended CLIA and to have had the opportunity to experience not one, but two incredible ships for the very first time. It was a fantastic learning experience to step onboard P&O Cruises Britannia and Oceania Cruises Insignia.
We started the day at the CLIA Conference business session, where we had the opportunity to hear from expert presenters and guest speakers from across the cruise industry. A real highlight for me was seeing Robert Rinder, who was absolutely brilliant. The session was also made really engaging by the presenters, Lucy from Travel Weekly and Andy, the Manager and Director of CLIA, who made the whole experience enjoyable and easy to follow.
After this, we finished the day at the networking trade fair, where we had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of are preferred suppliers. With such a large variety of suppliers in attendance, I was able to learn more about their products and services, as well as ask any questions I had directly to the individual suppliers. This was incredibly beneficial and helped to further develop my understanding of each supplier and the unique experiences they offer to customers.
The following day we set of bright and early to go do are first ship visit of the trip which was P&O cruises Britannia. As soon as we stepped onboard Britannia, one of the first things that stood out to me was the main atrium. It felt very grand and open, and the whole ship had a modern feel throughout. We then headed to the spa facilities, where one of the lovely members of staff talked us through some of the treatments available. I was surprised by just how many spa facilities and treatment rooms there were onboard, as there were far more than I had expected. Despite this, we were told that appointments can still get booked up very quickly, which really shows how popular the spa is with guests looking to relax during their cruise.
After this, we spent some time looking at the various cabin types available onboard. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the obstructed-view cabins, as many of them still offered almost a full view. I was also impressed by the accessible cabin we visited. The space was much larger than I expected and was designed to comfortably accommodate not just one, but two wheelchair users if needed.
We then had the chance to explore some of the onboard facilities. From the pool and entertainment venues to the restaurants and bars, there seemed to be something for everyone. One thing that really stood out to me was the variety of activities and facilities available throughout the ship. I'm sure you would never get bored onboard Britannia!
We finished our time onboard Britannia in the theatre, where we got to see a snippet of a performance from the theatre company, who were great. After this, we attended a P&O Cruises panel discussion, which gave us the chance to learn just a bit more about this cruise line everyone loves.
On our last day in Southampton, we spent the day onboard Oceania Insignia. We started with a guided tour looking at some of the cabin grades available onboard. The cabins felt very classic in style, with a more traditional cruise ship layout compared to some of the newer ships, but they were still comfortable, well presented, and had everything you would need for a luxury cruise experience. After this, we had a presentation with Oceania about the cruise line and its ships.
After the presentation, we spent some more time exploring the ship and looking at the facilities such as the casino, gym, and spa. Compared to Britannia, Insignia is much smaller in size and offers a far more intimate onboard experience. Oceania places a much stronger focus on their itineraries and destinations rather than the range of facilities onboard, with fewer sea days included so guests can spend more time in port rather than at sea. This ship is also one of their older ships, but it is still spectacular in itself. There was still plenty to see and do.
We finished the day onboard, where Oceania really emphasise their pride in food and dining. I can assure you they did not disappoint, with a fantastic four-course meal to end the visit.
If either of these cruises are of interest or you would like to find out more about my incredible trip, please visit me at Miles Morgan Travel in Trowbridge or give me a call on 01225 945096 or email [email protected]. I will be more than happy to help you find the perfect cruise for your next holiday.
