Sailaways on Britannia

They changed the loyalty name to Atlantic from Sapphire but I'm sure you know that fanged rose.[ATTACH]426145[/ATTACH]

Twice a year for the last eight years. Do remember a brass band and streamers. But not for at least six years. Not from Southampton anyway. Music yes. Party with singing, dancing, flag waving, no.

Twice a year for the last eight years. Do remember a brass band and streamers. But not for at least six years. Not from Southampton anyway. Music yes. Party with singing, dancing, flag waving, no.

The flag waving has always been from the last port,our most memorable one was on the back of Oriana sailing out of Madeira in 2007 my late FILs last P&O cruise.

 

For the last 8 years we have sailed predominantly RCCL (187 nights) but the half dozen P&O cruises we have done in that time there has been music parties from Southampton and flag waving from the last port either on deck or in one of the lounges.

 

There was no question we were with special people on a special ship, one we will be sailing again and again.

The flag waving has always been from the last port,our most memorable one was on the back of Oriana sailing out of Madeira in 2007 my late FILs last P&O cruise.

 

For the last 8 years we have sailed predominantly RCCL (187 nights) but the half dozen P&O cruises we have done in that time there has been music parties from Southampton and flag waving from the last port either on deck or in one of the lounges.

I remember my last sailaway on Oriana. Well.... not sailaway should I say. Engine failure, again. Very embarrassing as passengers on one of the large NCL ships was adjacent, and had been watching the flag waving etc. We eventually got going halfway through first sitting. That was before the refit though.

I remember my last sailaway on Oriana. Well.... not sailaway should I say. Engine failure, again. Very embarrassing as passengers on one of the large NCL ships was adjacent, and had been watching the flag waving etc. We eventually got going halfway through first sitting. That was before the refit though.

We had engine failure while sitting in Anderson's bar,it took about 10 minutes for the engines to restart.

We had engine failure while sitting in Anderson's bar,it took about 10 minutes for the engines to restart.

The engines failed three times on that particular cruise that I was on.

We couldn't do this today due to environment concerns but it must have been a grand sail away

 

http://www.seadogs-reunited.com/Orcades_files/image006.jpg

Edited August 4, 2018 by ONT-CA

Thank you to everybody who has replied to my question. Hubby and I are just sat at our favourite spot that we’ve found on Britannia, the stern of deck 7 just outside The Live Lounge. There’s only us here, it’s like a private deck and the weather in Stavanger is hot and very sunny!

Having an inside cabin isn’t bothering us at all and it’s so dark I’ve been sleeping the best that I have in years :)

These were monetised on our recent trip on Britannia - £25 a pop.

These were monetised on our recent trip on Britannia - £25 a pop.

What was?

What was?

There’s a sail away from Olden right on top deck stern near the sports court that has officers there and canapés to eat. Wonder if that’s what was meant?

Don’t think that there will be many takers cause the forecast is rain

There’s a sail away from Olden right on top deck stern near the sports court that has officers there and canapés to eat. Wonder if that’s what was meant?

Don’t think that there will be many takers cause the forecast is rain

That sounds like a cocktail party for those passengers in higher tiers. Usually in the show lounge immediately before first and second dinner sittings. Never known one on deck though. Could be a special fjords spectacular scenery one. If it is rainy will be moved inside. Definitely free for those of the appropriate loyalty tiers.

There was a similar 'party' on our last Arcadia cruise. Meet the officers with cocktails and nibbles. Nothing to do with status, you just had to pay. A profit generator, nothing more.

 

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There was a similar 'party' on our last Arcadia cruise. Meet the officers with cocktails and nibbles. Nothing to do with status, you just had to pay. A profit generator, nothing more.

 

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Could have been "Tour of the Bridge" escorted by the Captain followed by drinks and nibbles. That would explain its location. The price point seems about right.

There is also a more extensive tour "Behind the Scenes" which is followed by a sit down lunch (or tea) for £75.

These have been operating for many years.

Thank you to everybody who has replied to my question. Hubby and I are just sat at our favourite spot that we’ve found on Britannia, the stern of deck 7 just outside The Live Lounge. There’s only us here, it’s like a private deck and the weather in Stavanger is hot and very sunny!

Having an inside cabin isn’t bothering us at all and it’s so dark I’ve been sleeping the best that I have in years :)

 

Have to agree. We always have an inside and sleep like logs. Spend as little time as possible in the cabin. We always dislike the very loud sailaways, so find somewhere up top at the bow away from it. The one from the last port with war tunes is just cringemaking these days!

That sounds like a cocktail party for those passengers in higher tiers. Usually in the show lounge immediately before first and second dinner sittings. Never known one on deck though. Could be a special fjords spectacular scenery one. If it is rainy will be moved inside. Definitely free for those of the appropriate loyalty tiers.

 

No, it's not a loyalty tier thing. They did it on our recent Fjords cruise on Arcadia. £25 a head for drinks and canapes with senior crew, watching the departure. Advertised in Horizon listings and available to all. High tier loyalty passengers still had to pay £25 a head if they wanted to go. We didn't bother as we had an aft corner wrap suite, so had a fab view anyway!

 

As for regular sailways, if they do them from Southampton I doubt that they are well attended as on most cruises we go on these days the ship has departed by the time we get our lifejackets back to the cabin after muster drill. The days of streamers and brass bands ended many years ago.

 

As (I think you) correctly pointed out, the vouchers for a free glass of champers can be used at any bar (that sells them) at any time throughout the entire cruise and, in spite of what it says on the note, is not restricted to sailaways. I would rather have my teeth pulled out with pliers than attend a sailaway, but we do enjoy the free champers at a quiet time in the Glasshouse!

On our first P & O cruise (Oceana), free glasses of sparkling wine were served around the decks. On our most recent cruise (Azura - Norwegian fjords), there was no sailaway party in Bergen as the port authority has banned them for causing too much noise. However, our next day was a sea day and they had a renamed "sailalong" party. Identical in format, but no free drinks this time.

Have to agree. We always have an inside and sleep like logs. Spend as little time as possible in the cabin. We always dislike the very loud sailaways, so find somewhere up top at the bow away from it. The one from the last port with war tunes is just cringemaking these days!

Totally agree about the "cringe" factor. I have been shot down in flames before on this forum about the awful sailaways, but given that most passengers seem to give them a miss ( on our last cruise no more than 300 attending out of 2000 when I walked by) the only reason that P&O continue with them must be for the profit they generate. After all, they do not exactly spend a fortune putting on the event, do they?

 

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