When Britain’s biggest cruise ship launches next March it will showcase some of the finest artisan food and drink producers from the UK in a celebration of great British products.
Britannia, the largest ship to be built exclusively for British passengers, will offer a sophisticated, contemporary holiday experience across health and beauty, shopping and entertainment with a strong focus on dining.
P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said: “Traditionally people thought cruise ship food was all about quantity. On Britannia and on the rest of our fleet it is all about quality. Our mantra at the moment is “think differently” – particularly where it applies to the quality of food, variety, ingredients used and the expertise we have called upon to deliver this.”
The company has introduced a Food Heroes concept with some of the biggest talent in the British culinary scene. These include James Martin, Eric Lanlard, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and wine expert Olly Smith. There will also be other yet to be announced experts in the areas below who will ensure that P&O Cruises delivers “the best of the best from the best”.
• Market Café featuring Eric Lanlard – a continental-style café/deli in the heart of the atrium, offering savoury bites, ice cream in grown up flavours (examples include mojito; pomegranate, orange & campari or walnut, celery & honey as well as perennial favourites) and the finest cakes and pastries by master pâtissier Eric Lanlard. There will also be charcuterie from some of Britain’s finest artisan producers including smoked lamb, smoked venison and air dried meats. Eric will also be producing a premium seasonal Champagne afternoon tea served in the fine dining restaurant. Think Persian candy floss, lychee pearls and Earl Grey perfume, without a scone in sight.
• British chocolatiers – a menu of hot chocolate and cacao creations in the Market Café from leading British chocolatiers who will also be on board periodically for masterclasses in the art of bean to bar creations and giving expert tips on tempering and cooking with chocolate in both sweet and savoury dishes.
• British artisan cheeses – calling upon a renowned cheese specialist, there will be a showcase of award-winning cheeses from all corners of the UK and Europe in the Market Café as well as cheese and wine tastings in the Cookery Club with Olly Smith.
• The Great British G&T Menu – what could be more British than G&T? Britannia will be the only ship to offer a full menu of British artisan gin producers and the finest gins from around the world in The Blue Bar. There will be customized cocktails, gin tasting sessions, gin flights similar to the wine flights in The Glass House and a range of interesting mixers.
• The Great British Beer Menu – featuring over 70 ales, beers and ciders from every corner of Britain to create a beer map of the UK. These will be available in Brodie’s bar.
• Epicurean restaurant – this specialty fine dining restaurant will be the place to go for a stunning, contemporary menu of molecular cooking, home smoking, ingredients with real provenance and even flaming jellies!
Britannia will also have The Cookery Club with James Martin, a dedicated cookery school with 24 stations for creating culinary masterpieces with the experts themselves as well as regular guest chefs.
In the Glass House, Olly Smith will be selecting a brand new range of around 40 wines to enjoy by the glass including new labels from Japan, Greece and Croatia. There will also be a new menu of small plates such as sea bass ceviche with lime, main courses such as a Wagu beef burger, Morecombe Bay & Devon crab sliders and lobster buns as well as a selection of great British pies and sharing puddings.
Edgington continued: “Through the strength of our food and cooking experiences Britannia will appeal to a whole new group of people who have never before considered cruising as a holiday option. These are indeed exciting times.” .