Will the food be good quality? Will you even like the food? Will the pools be a good standard? Will there be plenty of things to do in the day and to keep everyone entertained in the evening?
So just how can you ensure there will be places, experiences and things to do that will suit all? How do you find that must do bucket list break?
Well the answer is here, the ultimate has it all holiday that ticks all the boxes has been found and this is what you can expect.
Want Relaxation?
Work and life in general can be exhausting so the chance to unwind has to be high on the holiday agenda. This holiday offers five pools and two whirlpools, relaxing by the poolside has never been better as there is also an adults only pool.
Though there is plenty for kids to do and pools for them to enjoy, the Serenity pool truly is a great escape and being purely for the grownups you can be sure of a tranquil setting.
For the ultimate relaxation a high class spa experience is a must. This holiday offers not only one but two spa areas. The Oasis Spa is all indoors offering a range of spa treatments and services, also access to a Hydrotherapy Suite.
The Retreat Spa is an exclusive outdoor spa area with luxurious hot tubs, loungers, lunch and afternoon tea provided. Both spa settings offer a range of treatments and relaxing facilities to indulge in.
Treatments and access to the spa areas incur additional fees but are well worth it for these extremely peaceful and more exclusive settings. You can add on access to both areas for the duration of your holiday or just select and book certain days.
The onboard gym has an impressive range of classes and facilities allowing you to keep in shape while looking out to sea views.
Use of the gym equipment is complimentary and the gym classes only incur a small fee, some classes are even free.
Top Accommodation
No holiday is complete without high class luxury accommodation to keep you in the upmost of comfort while you are away.
The latest movies can be watched in your room, 24 hour room service is provided including hot foods (most of which are included in the price of your stay). The rooms have been modelled by carefully selected interior designers and are so comfortable you may never want to leave.
They are spacious and can actually provide you with a different view every day (most are balcony rooms). Luxury bath products from The White Company are also in the rooms for you to indulge in. The desire for luxury holiday accommodation is not only met but exceeded.
Divine Dining
This holiday offers the ultimate choice in dining options including high class and fine dining experiences.
The Epicurean Restaurant provides the most luxurious dining with the perfect atmosphere. The tables are candle lit and the decor opulent, this is no doubt the height of elegance in a dining experience. Fine dining is offered at its best here with an exciting and excellent quality menu with a few ‘wow factor’ surprises, do not miss what is undoubtedly the world’s best crème brulee.
For more exotic eats the Sindhu restaurant provides the perfect blend of Indian and British fusion dishes using spices for flavour, favouring incredible taste over heat. This is the restaurant of Michelin Star chef Atul Kochhar.
Sindhu offers the most wonderful Indian food using the best of British ingredients. This is not the typical type of over the top hot spicy Indian style food you find in the UK. Sindhu uses spices for exquisite flavour, the food is all about the spices prescribed to the dishes delicately for amazing taste rather than heat.
Wonderful sharing dishes that will appeal to all can be experienced in The Glass House restaurant, the scotch eggs may be too good to share so ordering two portions is recommended!
The perfect tea is on offer with Eric Lanlards exclusive Afternoon Tea in the luxurious Epicurean Restaurant, this is a real treat and works wonderfully for families or groups sharing. Eric Lanlards Afternoon Tea is real foodie experience not to be missed.
It is an amazing afternoon tea extravaganza in elegant surroundings with the menu designed by the leading cake chef himself. This afternoon tea offers all you’d expect from the finest of traditional afternoon teas but with a few interesting flares of creativity for that added excitement.
Experiences
If you are looking for an experience to remember then how about learning some all important high class culinary skills? A cookery class with a food hero such as say Marco Pierre White, James Martin and Eric Landlard is exactly what you need to gain some super cooking skills or take back a few specialty recipes to impress friends and family with when you get home.
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We think Gina was surprised that Marco was teaching them how to create the perfect scrambled egg on toast…[/caption]
These particular holidays are known for their food heroes and who better to learn from than celebrity chefs Marco Pierre White, James Martin, Alex James and Eric Lanlard. The Cookery club provides the opportunity to dine or snack depending on which class you take part in.
Many classes actually feature a range of dishes to learn to cook which results in pretty much eating a meal afterwards of the tasty delights created. Be warned plan your evening meal for later if taking an afternoon cookery class!
Here is what Celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White has to say about all things food, cooking and being a Food Hero:
https://www.theocelot.co.uk/the-ocelot-interviews-celebrity-chef-marco-pierre-white/
You can also enjoy a hosted dinner expertly cooked in front of you by an onboard food hero and their team. A ship’s captain may even join you and you’d be sat at the table with him, if so this is a great chance to ask him all those particular questions about the sea and if you happen to meet him be sure to ask him about his whale stories.
Entertainment
There is no shortage of entertainment for all on this holiday. Along with many comedy acts, live music can also be experienced from high calibre performers such as Kiki Dee with Carmelo Luggari performing a blend of romantic tunes, relaxed melodies, some more upbeat numbers, classics and of course her famous songs.
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Gina with Kiki Dee at The Limelight Lounge[/caption]
Jacki Graham’s motown marathon gives a great balance of her witty comedic character fuelled by her powerful vocals of motowns upbeat and best tracks. These performances take place in the Limelight Lounge, this ideal setting provides an entire evening of entertainment including a three course meal.
You can also find evening activities in Brodies Bar which is the centre of quizzes, bingo, karaoke and multitude of ‘tried and tested’ entertainment old favourites. There is an onboard cinema screening a range of recent movie releases throughout the day and evening.
Other venues offer typical working men’s club type comedy and covers bands. If you are looking for a civilised evening in a charming setting with live piano music then drinks in the Crows Nest is a must.
The Crows Nest offers a more refined atmosphere to relax in. It is quite spectacular with windows going right around from one side to the other, the perfect place to watch a panoramic view of the sunset.
The Casino is a favourite for many, especially the late night dwellers and a great place to meet other couples. Games include roulette, black jack and 3-card poker, you are bound to make friends with other passengers while enjoying cocktails and cards.
Destination Delights
On a holiday like this excursion options are aplenty, one day you could visit a market in Barcelona and the next be eating pizza in Pisa in front of the infamous leaning tower.
Whether its Michelin star dining in Cadiz, visiting Rome’s historic buildings, exploring Barcelona’s artisan Gothic quarter, enjoying the different beaches each destination has to offer or even cheese tasting with Alex James, this is the ultimate ‘has it all’ holiday.
If you haven’t worked it out by now this perfect ‘has it all’ holiday is a cruise on P&O’s luxurious flagship Britannia. Cruises on Britannia offer everything you could desire for the perfect getaway.
