A Lucky Omen

It would have been my Dad's 90th birthday last Friday 6th March but it was also the day that P&O's new cruise ship Britannia arrived in her home port of Southampton from Italy and it may sound daft but I feel it is a good omen for the ship.  
Britannia has been a long time coming and for those of us who will be lucky enough to sail on her in her maiden season it has not come soon enough.  If I have one criticism is the lack of actual photographs that have been released by P&O and lack of information such as cabin sizes etc. CGI is all well and good at the planning stage and to show what staterooms may look like when finished but I personally want to see actual photographs.  
My cruise agent Susan is spending a couple of nights on board Britannia before she sets sail on her maiden voyage on March 14th.  I am hoping she can take some photographs of staterooms as I am sure she has other clients wanting the same.  So I am looking forward to goodies she may have for us.

My New Art Deco Evening Bag

Today was a beautiful sunny day and Karen and I took a trip to Holt where we had lunch in The Owl Tea Room.  It was rather strange parking in the road where my grandparents had once lived and walking past their house and not going in was a weird feeling.  

After lunch we went to my favourite vintage shop Past Caring to have a browse around this fabulous Aladdin's cave of beautiful clothes, handbags and accessorises of a bygone age.  
All week I have been drawn to going back and I usually follow my gut feelings.  When we were there two weeks ago I was actually drawn to two 1930's Art Deco evening bags but to buy two would have been pure indulgence and something I couldn't justify and so I bought the silver sequin one.  When we went back today the other bag which is black silk and has beautiful floral design in sequins and pearls; the picture does not do it justice.  It is in excellent condition considering its age.  The person who had the bag previously must have really loved and cared for it.  It is another aquisition to my ever growing collection of bags for my cruise.  Soon they will need a suitcase of their own!

Britannia Rules the Waves

It is not long now until Britannia arrives in Southampton and like many of my fellow cruisers I booked our cruise based on CGI and the tempting descriptions of what she will be like.  From what I have learnt she is contemporary in design and I heard the word "boutique" banded around.  I think P&O are aiming at first time cruisers and young at heart seasoned cruisers but I cannot see the style of this ship appealing to the Nan's of this world.  I am not one for taking too much notice of reviews as I believe they are personal views of the writer.  Reviewers often give information that can be useful when looking to book on a particular cruise ship or destination.  If there is something that pricks my attention I will then do my own research to put my mind at rest.  

I have purposely tried not to read or watch interviews about Britannia and the facilities she has on board.  I want to have the wow factor when we embark on her on May 2nd for our 14 night cruise.  However, I would like to see the actual grade of cabin I have paid for and the size, it is a deluxe balcony cabin.  But doing research I have noticed that all cruise brokers seem to use the same photogragh for both balcony and deluxe balcony cabins and even P&O do not make it clear; it is so annoying.  I am so glad we are not doing her maiden voyage as I am hoping that people will take photos of their cabins and post them so maybe I will get to see what my cabin may be like.