Telly duo add sparkle to Med cruise packed with tasty treats
And and Dec board P&O's Britannia as it cruises from Southampton to Gibraltar
WHO would have thought it possible to go one better than the best double act around?
But it happened. With Ant and Dec ... and decks.
A Mediterranean cruise aboard P&O's Britannia was impressive enough with Cadiz, Seville, Barcelona, Rome, Corsica and Gibraltar on the itinerary.
To cap that we watched the season finale of the dynamic duo's Saturday Night Takeaway performed live on the supership in Barcelona.
The boys were on top form with their usual crew of Little Ant and Dec, Stephen Mulhern and Ashley Roberts. James Nesbitt, Peter Andre and Katherine Jenkins joined in, too.
Britannia was in the TV limelight again earlier this year as the setting for Battlechefs — a cooking contest on UKTV's W channel which saw celebs including Blur's Alex James, Boyzone's Keith Duffy and EastEnder John Partridge being judged by Marco Pierre White.
The Saturday Night Takeaway venture between P&O and ITV was one of many highlights on a two-week trip sailing from Southampton.
The first glimpse of Britannia — which is longer than The Shard is tall — produced a tone-setting wow factor.
Our first two days were at sea and we naively tried to see everything. With 13 bars, 13 restaurants, a cinema, casino, theatre, five pools, a library, gym and spa, we had our work cut out.
We threw into the mix a morning at telly chef James Martin's Cookery Club in the same kitchen where Battlechefs was filmed.
James's patient colleague Rob Cottam and the rest of the Cookery Club team had us whipping together kofta, couscous and baklava like pros in no time.
James Martin isn't the only foodie name attached to Britannia. Fellow TV chef Marco, wine guru Olly Smith, Michelin-starred spice king Atul Kochhar and master patissier Eric Lanlard have all helped to create an amazing selection of onboard food and wine.
From the simplest sarnie at the grab-and-go through to high-end dining at the Epicurean and Sindhu restaurants, all bases are covered.
We managed to tear ourselves away from the gastronomic treats after arriving at Cadiz, the first port of call. The city boasts 3,000 years of history and there is plenty to explore.
An hour-and-a-half away by road is the sublime city of Seville. Its cathedral, including the tomb of Christopher Columbus, is a must-see.
As is the sweeping Plaza de Espana, which has featured in films including Star Wars: Episode II — Attack Of The Clones and Lawrence Of Arabia. Also on your list should be a wander through the narrow streets and courtyards of Santa Cruz which are brimming with tapas bars.
Back on Britannia, the next day was at sea, which allowed time for a leisurely afternoon tea created by Eric Lanlard at the Epicurean. For £15, you can indulge in delights such as nutty chocolate tea, smoked salmon and black pepper macarons and a surprising meringue which borders on the Willy Wonka.
The tastebuds got another treat when we arrived in Barcelona. Tapas in the middle of the bustling La Boqueria food market just off Las Ramblas is foodie heaven.
Two days in the port of this beautifully diverse beach city left plenty of time to visit top attractions such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Montjuic.
With our final night in Barcelona rounded off by Ant and Dec's show, the cruise could easily have ended here as an unforgettable experience.
But there was still more to enjoy on Britannia, including the shops and bars centred around the striking 25ft Starburst sculpture at the heart of the ship. Next up was Rome where a full day gives you time to see the main attractions on foot. Tour buses are plentiful but bear in mind that those in the Eternal City do not always travel close to places such as the Trevi Fountain, so it can be just as easy to walk and save yourself a few euros. And you'll need plenty of those in Rome.
Britannia's penultimate destination was Corsica's capital Ajaccio, which was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Then it was on to Gibraltar to marvel at The Rock — and stock up with duty-free shopping — before the £475million vessel headed home to Southampton.
This was something to savour from start to finish. And with TV's golden boys putting in an appearance, it couldn't fail to float my boat.
GO: CRUISING
GET ON BOARD: 14 nights' full board on P&O's Britannia is from £1,399 this summer for a cruise of the Mediterranean.
Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include Cadiz, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, Cartagena and Gibraltar. The price includes kids' clubs and onboard entertainment.
See for more information or call 0843 373 0111.
Indulge in delights such as nutty chocolate tea