TV Saturday Kitchen’s James Martin – seen here with YourHols Trisha – is joining a line-up of celebrity chefs on P&O’s new cruise ship Britannia.
James will develop The Cookery Club, the first cookery school on board a British cruise ship and will be one of the liner’s Food Heroes. He joins award-winning master patissier ‘Cake Boy’ Eric Lanlard, in his first venture at sea, a patisserie range in the Market Café at the heart of the ship’s spectacular atrium.
P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said: “We are incredibly honoured to have secured the services of the best chefs at sea. The addition of James Martin and Eric Lanlard on Britannia further enhances the already incomparable level of culinary excellence we are proud to offer across our fleet.”
Established P&O Cruises favourites Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith will lend their expertise to the varied culinary options on board ranging from speciality restaurants and wine bars through to gala dinners in the main dining rooms.
Passengers will be able to enjoy cookery tuition under the expert guidance of P&O Cruises famous five. Guest chefs will also be on board in the state of the art cookery school, which can hold classes of up to 24 people. There will also be a chef’s table to allow passengers to experience world class cuisine in an intimate space.
When the biggest ship built for the British cruise market sets sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Mediterranean on March 14 2015 it will mark a step change in holidays at sea.
As well as the new Cookery Club passengers taking a cruise on board Britannia will experience:
- Dedicated supervised children’s club for ages 2 – 17 with dedicated teens area
- Three tier feature atrium with Eric Lanlard patisserie, a charcuterie and gelataria as well as spectacular starburst sculpture
- 13 bars and 13 different places to eat
- Oasis Spa and open deck Retreat
- Sports arena
- Al fresco dining
- Four swimming pools including a Serenity “quiet zone” pool and bar
- Art collection in excess of £1 million
- 1,837 cabins – all outsides have a balcony, this includes 64 suites and 27 single cabins
- Library
- Dedicated wedding venue
- 936 state of the art theatre with LED screen
- The Studio – multi- purpose “tv studio” for guest speakers, talks, demonstrations, cinema screenings, radio plays or game shows
- The Crystal room – dedicated to all types of dance
- The Limelight Club – entertainment and dining
- Sindhu from Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith’s The Glass House
Britannia’s maiden season will see her sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea, as well as offering a range of short breaks and a special round Britain cruise.
The ship will then transfer to the Caribbean for the winter season sailing a range of 15 night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados.
Christopher Edgington added: “Britannia will introduce cutting edge design – combined with a range of innovations uniquely styled to appeal to those who may not have considered a cruise holiday before as well as our many loyal past passengers.
“Combining the excitement of cruising with the sophistication of a five-star hotel, Britannia is not only the biggest ship built for the British market but the most glamorous too. We have set out to make Britannia the biggest and the best and we are confident passengers will be wowed by the experience.”
Pre-registration has opened and cruises go on sale on Thursday March 27. See www.pocruises.co.uk
