March – new cruise ship launches
It’s been quite a month for cruise-related news!
On 10 March, the Queen launched P&O Cruises new ship Britannia in Southampton. The new £473m ship is the largest vessel in the P&O Cruises fleet and accommodates 3,647 passengers on 15 passenger decks and has 13 restaurants and four pools on-board as well as many other facilities. Obviously, Britannia’s launch was a major news story with extensive and detailed coverage on TV and in the national press.
By comparison, the launch and renaming of Magellan, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) new flagship at the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, was a more low key event, but no less enjoyable for that.
Magellan accommodates about 1250 passengers in 726 cabins with nine passenger decks served by eight lifts, and along with the company’s other vessels, Marco Polo, Astor and Azores, offer a selection of no-fly cruises from UK ports. Magellan is a gracious and elegant ship with an intimate and friendly ambience. Like the rest of the fleet, she is an adults-only ship, so offers no kids clubs or child amenities, but has plenty of deck space, lounges and facilities for adult passengers. I was particularly impressed with the lovely Jade Spa and Beauty Salon, which offers an extensive menu of spa treatments, beauty and hairdressing services at reasonable prices. I also liked the fact that unlike some other ships, passengers have free use of the spa and fitness facilities and only pay only for treatments.
The celebrations began in the afternoon, when we were welcomed aboard with a glass of bubbly. We were shown to our cabin where we dropped off our bags then went for a buffet lunch in the informal Raffles Bistro. Then it was onto the main show lounge for the Naming Ceremony and Ship’s Blessing.
The event started with CMV officials, officers and crew coming up on stage to be introduced. Then Gloria Hunniford – Magellan’s Godmother, was welcomed and after a short speech officially renamed the ship. After the blessing, a splendid programme of dancing and classical music was put on for our entertainment.
Later, a multi-course gala dinner was served in the ship’s two main restaurants – followed by a spectacular deck side fireworks display that necessitated closing the Thames to shipping for a couple of hours. The celebrations continued throughout the night and included an evening entertainment programme, opportunities to meet the celebrities on board and a late night evening show.
We disembarked after an early breakfast. The crew had a busy day ahead, preparing for Magellan’s sold-out maiden voyage north to the Faroes, scheduled to take in the total eclipse of the sun on 20th March.
I’d enjoy being back on board this elegant ship sometime soon …. maybe take a cruise and review her lovely spa…….
