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Britannia rules the waves (well, nearly): P&O puts finishing touches on newest cruise ship, using 420 litres of paint to create world's largest Union Jack

Once completed, Britannia will be the biggest cruise ship ever built for British holidaymakers. As she sits in the Italian shipyard Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, near Trieste, the grand ship is given her final lick of paint - which featuring 420 litres of paint for the Union Jack, and another 160 for the P&O logo - is no mean feat. Painters are working on her sparkling new livery, which features the world's largest contemporary version of the Union Jack painted on the hull. The £500million ship has already had a 'floating out' ceremony to test her seaworthiness and is now preparing for a glamorous launch in Southampton, in March 2015. The impressive vessel is the length of 10 blue whales (1,000ft) will carry 4,372 passengers and 1,400 crew - fitting in more people than can squeeze into London's Royal Albert Hall. And weighing a 141,000 tons, the ship has an engine power equal to 70 challenger tanks or 86 Bugatti Veyrons. When it launches, Britannia will boast 13 bars and another 13 restaurants and cafes as well as four swimming pools across 15 decks - and an art collection worth £1million. Celebrity chef James Martin will host regular cookery classes on board, wine expert Olly Smith will have his own bar called The Glass House and Marco Pierre White will host gala dinners at sea. Britannia’s maiden season will see the ship sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea, as well as offering a range of short breaks and a special round Britain cruise. The ship will then transfer to the Caribbean for the winter season sailing a range of 15 night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados.

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