Beyondships Cruise Destinations
  • Cruise Destinations and Ports
  • Beyondships Home Page
  • Cruise Travel News
  • Beyondships Cruise FAQs
  • What's New
  • Cruise Ship Profiles
  • Cruise Articles
  • Cruise Interviews
  • Cruise Links
  • Cruise Home Page
  • Canada New England Cruise Destinations
  • Caribbean Cruise Destinations
  • Cruise Ship Tours
  • Notices
  • Beyondships Art
  • Privacy Policy
  • Althorp
  • Blenheim Palace
  • Broadlands
  • Stratfield Saye
  • Hever Castle
  • Hatfield House
  • The Vyne
  • Osterley Park
  • Chatsworth
  • Highclere Castle
  • Beyond Downton Abby
  • Chiswick House
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
  • Kew Palace
Edinburgh Overview
Edinburgh Cruise Ports 
Edinburgh Shore Excursions and Other Links 
​Scotland home page
INTRODUCTION
PHOTO TOUR - - ROOMS OF STATE
PHOTO TOUR - - ROYAL APARTMENTS
PHOTO TOUR - - OFFICERS
PHOTO TOUR - - CREW
PHOTO TOUR - - WORKING SHIP
GOING ASHORE EXPERIENCE:

VISITING THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA

THE WORKING SHIP
Picture Royal Yacht Britannia, The Bridge
Picture Royal Yacht Britannia, The Bridge

The Bridge

Picture Royal Yacht Britannia, The Bridge
Britannia's command and control center was the Bridge.  However, unlike most modern ships, the yacht was not steered from the bridge.  Rather, commands had to be called down through metal pipes to a helmsman located in the Wheelhouse one deck below.

Considering that Britannia remained in service until the late 1990s and considering her mission, the state of her bridge technology is surprising.

The Engines

Britannia's engine plant is unchanged since the 1950s.  She is a steam ship.  A pair of Foster Wheeler boilers burned diesel oil (prior to 1983, they burned furnace oil) that created steam.  The steam went to two turbine engines, which could develop 12,000 horse power.  Her power then went via a gearbox  to turn her two propeller shafts.  Britannia could do 22.5 knots.
Engine Room, Royal Yacht Britannia
Picture Royal Yacht Britannia, Engine Room
Laundry, Royal Yacht Britannia

The Laundry

With official ceremonies requiring numerous changes of clothing by the Royal Family, the Royal Household staff and the uniformed personnel, Britannia had to have a large laundry.  But since temperatures in the laundry could reach 120 degrees (F), working there was not easy duty. 
Laundry, Royal Yacht Britannia

The Hospital

Britannia was designed so that she could be converted into a military hospital ship should the need arise.  She was never used as such but some of her hospital facilities remain.  Her sick bay includes a consulting room, a hospital ward and an operating theater.  The ship's doctor only took care of the officers and crew.  A Royal Physician would look after the Royals.  
Hospital, Royal Yacht Britannia
Hospital, Royal Yacht Britannia
Hospital, Royal Yacht Britannia
Galley, Royal Yacht Britannia

Galleys

In order to host state banquets, Britannia had to have places to cook the food, prepare the dishes and house the silver.  She also had to have galleys and pantries for the various dining rooms used by the officers and crew. 
Royal Yacht Britannia, pantry
Click here to go to page one of this article

For more on cruising to Scotland and for more about the British monarchy
 
Click here for our Edinburgh overview page
Click here for our Edinburgh cruise ports page
Click here for our shore excursions and other links
Click here for our article on visiting Holyroodhouse
Click here for our photo feature on the Royal Mile
Click here for our article on Edinburgh Castle
Click here for our article on visiting Stirling Castle
Click here for our article on Windsor Castle

Cruise article - Visiting The Royal Yacht Britannia - Edinburgh, Scotland 
Beyondships.com
​(Cruise ship profiles, pictorials, reviews and interviews).

BeyondshipsArt.com
(Museum profiles, Art reviews, and Original art)
Beyondships LLC
Notices
Privacy Policy
Beyondships Cruise Ship Pictorials and Reviews
(Photos, videos and reviews of cruise ships)
Beyondships Cruise Ship Photo Tours
(Photo tours inside cruise ships)