Who will be the new Queen Bee of Southampton

Will it be P&O’s biggest brand new Brittania or will it be Royal Caribbean’s game changer Anthem of the Seas it will be a battle of Britain and the US the Pound vs the Dollar .

This brings back memories of 2008 when we were in a similar predicament P&O’s Ventura launched in March and Royal launched Independence of the Seas. I think it is safe to say that Independence of the Seas definitely won the  battle then  well certainly for the first year.

These two new huge ships will carry nearly 8000 passengers  between them and they will be fighting out for their share of the 1 .7 million british passengers who take a cruise holiday each year.

We are well on the countdown to the maiden voyage of both the Brittania on the 15th March  and the Anthem on the 22nd April .

How do they compare

Brittania                                                                                                  Anthem

Built in Italy                                                                                      Built in Germany

141,000 Tonnes                                                                                    167,800 Tonnes

3600 Passengers                                                                                  4180 Passengers

Cost £500 Million                                                                                Cost £420 Million

But, while similar in dimensions, Britannia and Anthem will be distinctly different in their appeal.

Patriotically named the ‘ Britannia ‘ will proudly where the Union Jack on its hull is going for a very  sophisticated wow factor with celebrity chefs designing the menus and making guest appearances on board.The Food Heroes as they are known will include  Saturday Kitchen star James Martin ,  Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and wine expert Olly Smith and the  French patissier Eric Lanlard. The food heroes  will take turns at running a cookery school for up to 24 passengers at a time.

The Britannia will also boast a £1million art collection, spa, theatres, 13 restaurants and the same number of bars. One of the  most striking features  is a three-storey chandelier sculpture.

The  rival is the latest ‘fun’ ship on the block, Anthem of the Seas,   Anthem is bursting with game changing innovations, including the first skydiving experience at sea, , a pod modelled on the London Eye that transports guests 300ft above the waves, dodgem cars and ‘virtual balconies’  in  inside cabins.

As you can see Britannia and Anthem represent two contrasting views of cruising – P&O the traditional values of good restaurants, entertainments and facilities; Royal Caribbean the forward-looking appeal to a younger generation who would never have dreamed of cruising a few years ago.

P&O Cruises have carefully thought of every detail on Britannia, from linens to art,  the wines from around the globe.

Royal Caribbean is taking a very different approach pushing the boundaries and creating an unrivalled holiday experiences on board what will be the world’s most advanced and activity packed ships.

It will be Conservative  versus Innovative , Will  Britannia rule the waves or will the American Anthem win the day?

Who would get your vote ???