Could they pull it off? Could P&O, that familiar, perhaps too close to home, cruise line manage the promise that this, its latest, largest and most expensive cruise ship ever, would be the ultimate in British cool?

Turns out they could and they have.

True, the omens were always good. That seductive, bold, sweeping statement on Britannia’s bow, a reinvented stylised Union Flag, had already heralded a willingness for P&O to go beyond the usual nod to its British heritage.

It was, is, a bold attempt to disguise the fact that the historic brand is now American-owned (Carnival), but no harm in that.

It’s the heritage here that counts, and that means recognising, accepting, that it is OK these days to be cool about being British.

At least that was the message from Carnival boss David Dingle at yesterday’s naming ceremony with Her Majesty the Queen.

Britain had changed in the last few years to the point where it was cool to be cool. Fine talk, and a fine exterior bit of paintwork, but would the promise continue once the gangplank was negotiated?

The moment the three-storey atrium hoves into view, with what can only be described as the most stunning chandalier at sea plunging like an inverted twister from ceiling to almost touch the floor, any doubts are swept away.

Cool, chic, trendy, awe-inspiring; from spacious public areas to swish staterooms – including purpose-made singles with balconies – to the largest spa in the P&O fleet, Britannia oozes style.

Gone are the functional buffet breakfast areas, in is a trendy eatery. Food comes with the epitomy in gourmet labels: Marco Pierre White, Eric Lanlard, James Martin, Atul Kochhar and a host of guest food celebrities signed up for voyages, Mary Berry and Antonio Carluccio among them.

Heck even the kids’ clubs are so cool, several adults – mostly men eyeing up the games machines it must be admitted – were overheard asking why they couldn’t use them when on board?

In short, P&O appears to have pulled it off. Being British is cool it seems. Whether it is too cool for the British we will have to wait and see, but somehow I think P&O has designed a classic icon that will be seen as that when furture generations of cruisers look back on this week’s heady events in Southampton.