Queen christens new mega cruise ship

JAMES MORGAN. Photos by James `Morgan. March 10, 2015
Photo Caption:
Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, officially named P&O Cruises new flagship Britannia in a glittering ceremony in which a bottle of British Wiston Estate Brut NV was broken against the hull of the 143,000 tons cruise ship.
Upholding its celebration of all things British, P&O Cruises selected sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate Winery in Sussex. A nebuchadnezzar of the Brut NV was used for the bottle smash moment itself while thousands of bottles of Brut NV and RosŽ, Vintage 2011 will be enjoyed during the various inaugural events that are scheduled to take place around the launch.ÊThe ceremony was compredÊby actor, comedian and TV presenter Rob Brydon who features in P&O Cruises latest advertising campaign and included the Royal Marines Band Service, the Band of the Irish Guards and English soprano Laura Wright, as well as a Strictly Come Dancing cameo show.

Queen Elizabeth II has christened P&O Cruises’ 141,000-tonne liner Britannia – a STG473 million ($A928 million) mega ship that’s longer than four superjumbo jets.

With a gloved hand, the monarch pressed a button that swung a bottle of Sussex sparkling wine against the hull of the 330-metre ship at a ceremony in Southampton on Tuesday.

The queen is likely to have a special affection for the new ship’s name. Britannia was also the name of the royal yacht, which saw service from 1954-1997.

The new ship can carry over 3600 passengers and 1350 crew. It features 15 passenger decks, 13 bars, four swimming pools and a 936-seat theatre. It is decorated by a 94-metre Union Jack flag painted on its bow.

P&O is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

Check out some pics from the royal welcome below.

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P&O Cruises Britannia.

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