Britannia once ruled the waves, and now the new ship bearing the name is ruling Australians hearts.

The new P&O ship Britannia, currently under construction, has received 30 percent of world-wide bookings from Australia.

The news was revealed by Cunard International Development Director David Rousham.

The ship, first to carry the Union Jack style hull colouring, will be launched in March next year.

She carried 3,600 passengers, and will have many new featured, including a TV station and a cooking school.

Mr Rousham said the interest in Australia, Cunard’s second largest market, had been enormous and a younger Australian cruiser has been signing up.

Cunard’s three ships were also receiving more Australian bookings – at 40 percent for world voyages and the new Mediterranean fly-cruise program,

“What that tells us is that Australians of all ages are keen to try Cunard.  Our latest local offering – an eight-night roundtrip from Sydney aboard the Queen Victoria in 2016, which includes our first ever call at Kangaroo Island – ill be very popular,” he said.

Meanwhile, cruisers received a first look at the new ship and its Union Jack livery, when she sailed out of the Italian shipyard this week.

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