om travel
regime. With everything from spa treatments
to avocado smoothies, plus the freshest air
you’ll ever breathe as you gaze out at the
endless horizon, it’s actually a great way to
reclaim some zen. In fact, as well as regular
yoga classes, you’ll find a lot of sport and
fitness activities going on all the time, from
five-a-side soccer and basketball to table
tennis and even golf (yes, golf...via the on-
deck practice nets).
Cool cruising
P&O Cruises is the longest-serving cruise
liner company in the world, a reflection of
its enduring appeal around the world, and
its commitment to what it does so well. The
company boasts a fleet of state-of-the-
art vessels that ply the oceans carrying
passengers of all ages and nationalities across
the world, connecting remote islands in the
Pacific with all the world’s major capitals.The Britannia is the biggest of them
all. With room for a combined 6,200-plus
passengers and crew, it’s truly epic in scale,
spanning 14 passengers floors, right up to
the top deck, the perfect place to blow away
the cobwebs.
You do get a feel for the romance of
‘old school’ travel as soon as you arrive at
the port. Even the departure terminal feels
more zen-like than the hustle and bustle
of an airport (and yes, that includes the
security checks, which are just as stringent).
Southampton is the spiritual home of P&O
Cruises, where it has been based since the
very beginning, and it’s a wonderful and
emotional feeling when you finally set sail
and wave goodbye to good old England.
The sheer scale of the ship means inching
out of the port at first, but soon you’ll be
motoring through the waves and passing
by the Isle of Wight and out into open seas.
Enjoy the ride with your fellow passengers on
deck at the regular ‘sail away’ parties which
take place when you depart any destination.
You’ll see plenty of flag waving, champagne
sipping and pool dipping, as the ship’s mighty
horn bellows out across the harbour.Yoga life
Life on board soon settles down once you’re
on your way. On this voyage, the Britannia
was heading out for a two-week round-trip
Mediterranean cruise, taking in Gibraltar,
Barcelona and a host of other destinations.
After a safety briefing early on, you’re free
to go and explore. It’s worth taking a bit
of time first to familiarise yourself with the
ship’s layout, as it’s easy to get lost.
Up on deck, you’ll find the fitness studio
which includes gym facilities and weights,
plus a space where the daily yoga and
Pilates sessions take place. There are many
other classes to pick from too. Doing a bit
of yoga every morning is a great tip for life
anyway but on a cruise it’s the ideal way to
commence your day, creating a focal point
from which you can structure other activities
(even if that just means lazing on deck,
which is also highly recommended).
Expect a more fitness-based, general
class rather than some of the more esoteric
yoga styles as the instructors (all highly
qualified fitness and yoga professionals)
must appeal to a broad range of clients. It’s
also a fantastic way to get grounded. A ship
the size of Britannia doesn’t roll too much,
but you can still feel a degree of movement
during the still postures. As well as yoga, it’s
also a chance to explore other classes such
as Pilates, though not all are free of charge.
Another great place to head to is the