Norwegian Fjords Cruise Diary: Days 1–3 Onboard P&O Britannia
- George and Dan
- Aug 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 8
We’re back at sea – and this time we’re sailing to one of our absolute favourite destinations: the Norwegian Fjords! This 7-night itinerary onboard P&O Cruises Britannia is a lovely mix of scenic ports, great food, and relaxing sea time. Here’s how the first three days of our trip unfolded…
Day 1 – Embarkation & A Birthday at Sea
Southampton to P&O Britannia
We always like to start our cruises feeling refreshed, so the night before embarkation we stayed at the Premier Inn Southampton Airport. It was just £45 and only a short 15–20-minute drive to the port. Parking was sorted through CPS, which made things super easy – drive up, hand over your keys, and you’re on your way.
Check-in at Ocean Terminal was busy but well-organised. It took around 45 minutes from arrival to stepping onboard Britannia, which isn’t bad at all for a busy sailing.
Our Cabin – G624
For this cruise we’re staying in cabin G624, a JE-grade obstructed balcony on Deck 8. It’s light, spacious, and although the lifeboats do block part of the view, it still lets you enjoy fresh air and sunshine. If you’re not too fussed about uninterrupted views, this is a great way to save a bit of money and still have balcony perks.
First Stops: Spa and Sailaway
After muster, we headed to the Oasis Spa to see the refurbished thermal suite – it looks fantastic and much improved since our last visit. We had a quick wander, then made our way up to the top deck to see the new sailaway party in action.
The party was lively (and loud!), so we decided to escape to the Sunset Bar at the aft of the ship. With a drink in hand and a view of Southampton disappearing behind us, it was the perfect start to our cruise.
Birthday Dinner at The Epicurean (£30pp)
It was George’s birthday, so we booked dinner at The Epicurean, one of Britannia’s speciality restaurants. At £30 per person (cheaper if you book in advance), it’s a lovely option if you’re celebrating something or just fancy a bit of fine dining.
Here’s what we had:
• Bread: Mustard and beetroot rolls with flavoured butters
• Starters: Slow-cooked ox cheek (tender and rich), and a roasted red pepper parfait
• Main: Sirloin steak cooked medium-rare with crispy potatoes and vegetables
• Desserts: Apple and juniper berry crumble, and a lemon meringue tart
The service was brilliant and the atmosphere was calm and intimate. Highly recommend it if you’re after something special on your P&O cruise.
Day 2 – Sea Day Mode: On
There’s something lovely about a day with no agenda. We started our sea day with room service breakfast in bed – pastries, cereal, and coffee. Watching the ocean from bed is one of those simple cruise joys.
Lunch in the Peninsular Restaurant
For lunch, we went to the Peninsular Restaurant – the tomato soup was genuinely excellent (P&O do a great soup!), followed by a Wiltshire ham and mustard baguette and a classic sausage and mash. We couldn’t resist dessert either – a chilled peach melba and a treacle sponge.
A Relaxing Afternoon
In the afternoon we wandered down to the Market Café in the atrium for drinks. You can also buy cakes and ice cream here, which is great if you’re after something indulgent. We didn’t go full cake mode this time, but it was tempting.
Later, we popped into Brodie’s for a music quiz. No prize this time (we didn’t do brilliantly!), but it was a fun break from lounging.
A Casual Celebration Night
It was celebration night onboard, but we’d decided not to bring formalwear on this trip. Instead, we had a chilled dinner at the buffet – easy, quick, and perfect after a laid-back day.
Day 3 – Stavanger, Norway 🇳🇴
Our First Port
We arrived into Stavanger early and were greeted by moody skies and a very Norwegian atmosphere – overcast, dramatic, and a bit magical.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (£36.24pp)
We’d visited Stavanger before, so this time we booked the Hop-On Hop-Off bus through Get Your Guide (£36.24 per person). The stop is a short walk from the port and the route includes around 12–13 stops, including:
• Norwegian Petroleum Museum
• Stavanger Cathedral
• The Royal Residence
• Stavanger Art Museum
• And the main one we were heading to: Sverd i fjell (Swords in the Rock)
Swords in the Rock
This striking monument features three enormous Viking swords embedded in the rock, standing 10 metres tall by the fjord. The swords commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 AD, where King Harald Fairhair united Norway into one kingdom.
The largest sword represents the victorious king, and the two smaller ones represent the defeated chieftains. The swords are fixed in solid rock to symbolise lasting peace – it’s a powerful piece of public art, and with the misty fjord behind, it looked amazing.
Lunch at The Glass House
Back onboard, we had lunch at The Glass House – a quiet, stylish spot in the atrium. We shared a few tapas dishes, including patatas bravas, and a juicy sirloin steak. Definitely worth a visit if you want something in between buffet and full restaurant dining.
Dinner in Meridian
Dinner that evening was at Meridian, one of the included main dining rooms. We started with broccoli soup and tomato soup (we love soup, clearly), then had spaghetti Bolognese and a spinach, pea & ricotta cannelloni.
For dessert, we treated ourselves to the Signature Selection Very Berry Eton Mess (£3.95 extra) – and it was absolutely worth it.
Coming up next…
Tomorrow we arrive in Olden, one of our absolute favourite ports in Norway – and we’ve got a double adventure day planned with Olden Active! Kayaking, fjords, RIB boats and one of the best lunches of the trip…
Stay tuned!
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