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Privacy NoticeAre you thinking about visiting the Canary Islands but you’re not sure which one to choose? We hopped around several on P&O’s Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands cruise – and it’s opened up a whole new way to take a holiday. This 14-day trip on board the ship Britannia calls at Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Lisbon, Cádiz, La Palma and Madeira, and from world-class entertainment to Michelin-starred meals, there’s a variety of exciting things to get up to on this floating haven. Cooking with Marco Pierre White While a cruise ship may not seem the most obvious place to brush up on your culinary skills, P&O’s Britannia has a dedicated cooking club where top chefs such as Marco Pierre White have residencies.
Marco Pierre White holds cooking classes on board
(Image: P&O)
We tried one of Marco’s cooking masterclasses, where he gave an interactive class about how to make the perfect risotto. While the dish was fantastic, we were even more impressed with his trick of grating an onion rather than chopping it – life-changing! We also attended one of Marco’s hosted dinners on board, where he cooked a six-course meal before joining the table to share stories over several glasses of wine. With each guest receiving menus hand-written by Marco, this was a truly memorable experience. The restaurants on board a P&O cruise Prepare to return home very well fed. With 27 bars and restaurants, you can’t fault the ship when it comes to food options. The inclusive buffet runs from breakfast until the early hours and serves everything from pie to paella. A personal favourite restaurant was The Glass House, which offers a mouthwatering menu of tapas, meat and fish. The wine selection, curated by expert Olly Smith, had us coming back more than once for a tipple or two. For delicious Indian cuisine, Sindhu restaurant serves an authentic selection of upmarket curries in a chic, low-lit location and on our final night, we visited Britannia’s fine dining restaurant, Epicurean. If there was ever a night to dig out your glad rags, it would be when attending this eatery, which felt more like it was in Mayfair than floating at sea. From steaks to soufflés, this meal will have you feeling obliged to take the stairs back to your cabin.
The Britannia has 27 restaurants and bars
(Image: P&O)
Facilities on board a P&O cruise When out at sea, catching some rays on the top deck was the perfect way to relax. Britannia has four pools, including the Lido Deck Pool. Sandwiched between an ice-cream bar and a grill, it’s a hotspot for families. For a more chilled experience, we spent our days lounging at the Serenity Pool, which is adults-only and has a chilled beach club atmosphere, complete with a poolside bar. Below deck, Britannia’s Oasis Spa and Salon has massages, facials, manicures and blow-dries on its treatment menu – perfect prep for the ship’s black tie evenings. While there are plenty of chill-out spots on board, we perhaps most enjoyed kicking back in our deluxe cabin. With spa robes and slippers, a spacious bathroom and The White Company toiletries, you can enjoy a luxury experience on board the Britannia. A glass of bubbly on your private balcony? Don’t mind if we do.
There are plenty of spots to relax when out at sea
(Image: P&O)
Entertainment on board a P&O cruise The Britannia spans 18 floors and getting lost is part of the experience. We stumbled across our fair share of on board entertainment, from a Strictly Come Dancing dance class to a silent disco. With a crowded schedule of activities, there’s something to do in every hour of the day – pub quizzes, theatre performances, real-life Deal Or No Deal games and an Adele tribute show are just a few more examples. You can even watch the football with a pint at the ship’s traditional British pub Brodie’s. What to do on land Tours can be booked at each destination, from wine tasting in La Palma to jet skiing in Tenerife. Eager to explore when the Britannia dropped anchor at our first stop of Madeira, we took a tour of the island’s capital city, Funchal. We saw the city from above on the 15-minute cable car up Funchal’s rolling hills (not one for those afraid of heights) – and once we had reached the top, it was time to take a traditional toboggan ride back down. This is one of the best ways to see the city and had us holding on tight to our wooden carriage. Prepare for some queuing, however – it’s a popular one. Our second stop was La Palma, known for its black sand beaches. The cobbled streets of the city centre, Santa Cruz de La Palma, are lined with beautiful balconies and Santa Catalina castle is also worth a visit. We recommend buying some beers from the local Spar and hitting the beach or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take a self-driven dune buggy tour across the island’s volcanic terrain. It’s great fun – although you’ll still be finding dust on yourself days later… If guided tours aren’t for you, we also loved just strolling around each location, stocking up on the local delicacies – particularly Portugal’s famous pastel de nata pastries.
Explore Madeira from a height
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Stock up on local delicacies
(Image: Getty Images)
How to book P&O Cruises is offering a 14-night cruise on Britannia (B424) from £2,099 per person for an inside cabin (price subject to change). Departing October 4, 2024, the price includes, children’s clubs, full board meals and entertainment. Departing and returning from Southampton, ports of call are Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz and Lisbon.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnTravelFood
