Day one: CLIA Conference
On June 3rd, I had the amazing opportunity to experience the 2026 Ocean CLIA Conference! The day started off by travelling down to Southampton and meeting at the hotel where a transfer coach would take us to the Conference. There were five other Miles Morgan Colleagues from different stores, and it was lovely to meet some of these fellow colleagues for the first time! Throughout the day, I had a chance to hear from CEOs across the ocean cruise sector, who discussed inspiring perspective on the future of travel. In the evening, we went to an Ocean Cruise Line fair which allowed us to interact with different reps from the cruise lines.
Day 2: P&O Britannia
On Friday, the coach transfer picked us up in the morning and transported us to the Horizon Terminal down at Southampton Dock. Our group went through the security process to allow us to go onboard Britannia.
Ambience and Layout- Stepping onto the ship felt spacious and provided modern décor throughout. The glistening atrium awaited us on the landing deck (deck 5) which painted an image of how the rest of the ship’s interior would look like. For anyone with accessibility needs, Britannia is spacious, especially the corridors, and has plenty of lifts located around the ship to provide access to other areas onboard. Each deck is well signposted, with deck maps and emergency lighting/signs.
Facilities- No matter how long you are travelling on Britannia for, there is plenty of facilities to keep you occupied at sea. Of course, there are pools located on Britannia, and they have a variety such as the Terrace Pool, Lido Pool, Riviera Pool, the Serenity Pool, and even two Whirlpool Spa pools. There are relaxation facilities such as the Oasis Spa and Salon and the Hydrotherapy suite where you can prebook spa treatments in advance before your travels. For fitness lovers, there is an Aerobic Studio, Gym, and Promenade Jogging track on the Sports Deck. Alongside this, there is an Arena featuring a full-sized sports court where you can play and practice many sports. Other facilities to keep you entertained are the Library was a wide variety of books, the Casino where you can take your chance at a casino game, and a Shopping area to purchase items onboard.
For any families, there are plenty of activities to keep the children entertained. The Headliners Theatre host wonderful evening entertainment and performances. Our group was very fortunate to watch a small performance from the Headliners entertainment team which was great! Britannia offers children’s clubs for all ages; The Nursery is for parents with babies and under 2s, The Reef is club for under 13s where they can make friends, H2O is an ideal hangout for teenagers to hang out and relax, and a general children’s play area.
Cabins- From Single Inside Cabins to suites, there are a variety of cabin types for all types of cruisers, from solo travellers to families and couples. The single inside room was more spacious than I anticipated, having a single bed, shower and toilet, a vanity desk with a built-in mini fridge alongside a chair, and a flatscreen TV with decent amount of room to move around in. For accessibility cabins, there is plenty of room for any wheelchair users to move accordingly. Inside these cabins are adapted bathrooms, wide doors, and a small ramp to access the balcony.
Restaurants and Lounges- On board Britannia, there are wide selection of restaurants for any foodies out there; the list is endless! From snack bars to speciality dining, you will never go hungry on Britannia. Restaurants such as the Buffet for casual dining and the Aqua for more of a sophisticated touch, there are plenty of options for anyone on their travels. Also onboard, there are many speciality dining restaurants that provide that just that extra touch on your cruise. Speciality restaurants such as The Sindhu, based on regional Indian cuisine, are one of the many places onboard where you can experience and taste different cuisines.
Onboard Britannia, we were invited to indulge in a 3-course meal in the restaurant. The waiter introduced themselves and asked if anyone had any allergies or dietary needs. As I am vegetarian, I informed the waiter to which they pointed me in the right direction with what I could order off the menu. For starters I chose the Vegetables Poke Bowl (vegan/gf). The main chosen was Refried bean Corn Tostados (vegan) which was very tasty! Last but not least, the Sticky Muscovado Sponge Pudding (vegetarian) for dessert. Accompanying our meals, we were provided a variety of beverages to choose from. This included wines, spirits, beer, and soft drinks.
Day 3: Onboard Oceania Insignia
Overview- Oceania Insignia is an adult only ship, as well as all other Oceania Ships. When boarding the ship, it was tranquil yet elegant. The atmosphere was calming which made you feel instantly relaxed onboard. The decor was stylish with mutual colours to compliment the aesthetic of the ship. Insignia is smaller than Britannia yet more intimate, providing a warm ambience onboard. This ship is particularly ideal with for customers wanting to travel on smaller ships. With Oceania, their intimate sized ships explore more bespoke port destinations, offering longer port durations and even spending overnight in some ports. Due to the smaller ship size, Insignia has great customer to crew ratio, providing that intimate experience. Each deck is well signposted with a layout of each one, cabin numbers outside the room also have braille on them.
Facilities- Insignia offers multiple facilities on board, from a tranquil spa to a cosy library, there are many places to relax and enjoy your holiday. Entertainment takes place in the Lounge where guest performers showcase their talents. The Casino offers lessons where you can learn how to play at different games and take a chance to win! Rewind at the Fitness Centre where you can take on Yoga or received one-to-one training with the equipment at the gym.
Cabins- There are a variety staterooms and suites onboard Insignia with each room providing an elegant yet cosy ambience. Insignia offers three suites; Owners, Vista and Penthouse, and six staterooms; concierge level veranda, veranda, deluxe Oceanview, ocean view, solo Oceanview, and inside. Each stateroom provides different views and caters to different types of cruisers. Included with the suites, you get your own butler service for the duration for your holiday. These are features such as packing and unpacking on request, complimentary shoeshine service, and other special services on request.
Restaurants and Lounges- Oceania in general is well known for their speciality and passion for all things food. Onboard Insignia, they offer a variety of restaurants such as the Polo Grill, steakhouse inspired dining, and Toscana, Italian inspired dining.
On board, we were fortunate to experience a 4-course meal which was very delectable. We had a personal waiter that looked after our table for the lovely lunch. Just like Britannia, the waiter of Insignia asked if anyone has dietary requirements to which I said yes. Due to the started on the menu being a fish cake, the waiter reassured me that I would be able to have a salad instead. For starters, I had a refreshing salad which included tomato, leafy greens, and mozzarella, carefully drizzled with balsamic vinegar. This was followed by Porcini mushroom risotto, risotto cream and fried basil. For the entrée, I chose the Buddha Bowl which entailed red rice, sweet potato, avocado, white cabbage, carrot, edamame, mango, and roasted curry cashews which was accompanied with a delectable mango-ginger sauce. Finally, the dessert; Triple Chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, nuts, and salted caramel sauce.
CLIA Conference Summary:
Onboard Britannia, there are many activities, restaurants, and facilities that can keep you entertained and feeling satisfied on your travels. Britannia is spacious but is a larger ship compared to Insignia, so this is something to consider depending on your cruising needs. For any families, Britannia is ideal, whether this be the entertainment, cabins, or facilities, it provides a sense of adventure for the children and teenagers, and even for the parents! But Britannia does cater to all types of cruisers, whether you are a first-time cruiser, or travelling as a couple. Insignia is an adult only ship, providing that relaxed atmosphere and sophisticated dining. As mentioned previously, Insignia is a smaller and more intimate ship compared to Britannia. Insignia and Oceania Ships are smaller than other P&O ships, meaning that they can cover a variety of different ports/destinations and stay in them for longer periods of time (can even stay overnight in ports in some cases!). Both ships are very different in their own unique way, which is why when booking any cruise, considering what you are needs and desires for the cruise, and the itinerary comes hand in hand.
During the three days, I have learnt a great deal with Ocean Cruising, as well as having the fantastic opportunity to experience both Britannia and Insignia. I am very grateful for this opportunity and experience, and if you would like to have a chat or enquire about any of the topics discussed, then I would be more than happy to help!
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Contact me via telephone: 01453 377060
