MAGNIFICENT cruise ship Britannia served up the best of British during her first visit to Greenock.

The stunning flagship P&O Cruises vessel — which boasts 17 decks and can carry more than 3,500 passengers and nearly 1,500 staff — glided into Ocean Terminal on Sunday on her maiden voyage around the British Isles.

The sailing was fully-booked and the ranks were swelled by 140 specially-invited guests and VIPs who were left stunned during a guided tour of Britannia’s amazing array of bars, restaurants, shops and amenities.

From the heated swimming pools on the sun deck to the spa and sauna and the casino room to The Cookery Club, there is opulence in every inch of this jaw-dropping cruise ship.

Surprisingly, luxury does not come at a cost with treatments, drinks and high-end dining all reasonably-priced.

Passengers enjoy full board as part of their package but for a small supplement they can enjoy food from some of the world’s greatest chefs, such as Marco Pierre White, Pierre Koffmann and James Martin — who are also regulars on board delivering expert cooking classes and preparing meals for passengers.

Jenny Hadley, PR executive from P&O Cruises, kindly showed us around.

She said: “There are so many facilities. There’s something for everyone on board.

“No longer is there that misconception that cruises are for older people.” Among Britannia’s 13 restaurants is the spectacular Sindhu by Michelin-star chef Atul Kochhar where diners can enjoy Indian gastronomy — and even meet the man himself when he visits — for just £15 per person.

For us, it was the relaxed Glass House wine bar and restaurant by wine expert Olly Smith, from BBC’s Saturday Kitchen programme.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch after working up an appetite exploring the vast ship.

I opted for the ‘Three Plates’ option — a tapas-style selection of dishes from which I chose the succulent chicken tenders in a parmesan and ciabatta crumb with guacamole and spring onion salsa; chorizo, pork belly and butter bean cassoulet; and oak smoked haddock and spring onion fishcakes.

Not to be outdone, Stacey enjoyed a sumptuous sirloin steak with hand-cut chips, sweet roasted garlic and a creamy peppercorn sauce.

It was all washed down with a refreshing and zesty glass, or two, of white.

Dessert — chocolate cannelloni with orange frozen yoghurt and crushed honeycomb — could have been mistaken for an example of Britannia’s £1 million-plus art collection and looked almost too good to eat.

Suffice to say we just about managed it, however.

Fit to bursting and suitably refreshed, we were taken to the incredible Oasis spa and health club where the warm and welcoming staff treated us to a hand and arm massage.

There is no room for stress or tension on board Britannia but the team will ensure you leave feeling like you are floating on air never mind water.

The entire ship was designed exclusively by the renowned Richmond International Group, who have decorated some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

She boasts several bars with more than 70 different bottled beers to choose from, a casino, 936-seat theatre where the likes of Russell Watson and Derren Brown have performed, a TV studio which doubles as a cinema, a well-stocked library, a running track below the funnels and shops selling goods from the likes of Swarovski and Radley.

Britannia’s state-of-the-art gym overlooks the water and it offered a breathtaking view of the Clyde and beyond during her short stop-off here on Sunday.

Next door is where the hugely-popular Cookery Club is located, offering passengers the chance to learn from the likes of James Martin and Mary Berry, who were on board just two days earlier, and even dine with them.

It is run by the delightful Lizzie Kennedy, who says it is a truly unique experience.

She said: “We feel this is the best cookery school in the world.

“It’s just incredible.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our passengers — and it’s fun.” Running throughout the ship is the eye-catching three-tier atrium — complete with the chandelier to top them all.

There is also a card room and a beautifully-decorated chapel for a range of ceremonies.

Britannia was in good company during her stop off in Greenock, with the yacht of Russian businessman and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich still at anchor near Ocean Terminal.

While booth ooze class and sophistication there is one striking difference — you don’t have to be a mega-rich billionaire to enjoy the lap of luxury on board Britannia.

To find out more about Britannia visit www.pocruises.com