Britannia cruise ship brings 3,600 visitors back to Cartagena
P&O Cruises’ flagship returns for a second summer stop with another visit already planned this month
Cartagena welcomed a familiar face back to its waterfront this Tuesday August 12, as the Britannia cruise ship sailed into port with more than 3,600 passengers on board.The vessel, described by P&O Cruises as the “jewel” of its fleet, docked at the Juan Sebastián de Elcano pier at 8am, carrying 3,647 tourists and 1,350 crew members. Visitors had the day to explore the city before the ship’s scheduled departure at 5pm.
This is the Britannia’s second stop in Cartagena this summer. The ship has made several appearances here in recent years and is set to return again on Saturday August 23.
Measuring 330 metres in length and weighing 143,000 tonnes, the Britannia has been in service since 2015, with a major refurbishment completed earlier this year. It operates from Southampton and Barbados, visiting destinations such as the British Isles, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Norway, Iceland, France and Spain.
P&O Cruises has seven ships in operation, but the Britannia holds a special place in its line-up. The company calls it a “favourite with families” while also catering to solo travellers and first-time cruisers.
August is proving to be a busy month for Cartagena’s cruise calendar. So far, eight ships have arrived, including today’s visit from the Britannia. Another five are due before the month ends, among them the Aidacosma from Aida Cruises, which will be the largest, bringing 6,654 passengers.
Back in mid July, Cartagena saw one of its busiest cruise days of the year when multiple ships arrived on the same morning, flooding the city with visitors eager to explore its historic streets and seafront.
With another call from the Britannia just around the corner, and the Aidacosma soon to follow, the city’s late-summer tourist season is showing no signs of slowing. For local businesses, it is a welcome boost and for visitors stepping ashore, another chance to discover what keeps bringing these ships back to Cartagena’s shores.
You might also like: Cartagena expects record number of cruise passengers for 2025
Photo by Abdel Achkouk/Pexels (edited with cleanup)
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