Belmond’s Britannic Explorer may have promised to deliver a quintessentially British experience, but travelers will have to wait, unfortunately, even after shelling out a whopping $75,000 for a three-day trip to Cornwall. All those dreams of dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, picturesque fishing villages, iconic Cornish pasties, and unraveling the myths of Tintagel Castle will have to wait for reasons unknown.
One of Britain’s most luxurious trains, which was set for its maiden voyage, derailed plans even before the first step. The rebranded 1970s train, to the dismay of passengers, returned to a depot near Southampton for “final refinements.” Of course, it took with it the enthusiasm of traveling in a train with five-star service, grand private suites, and gourmet meals.
With eight carriages and 18 cabins, three of which are Grand Suites with personal butler service, this new train built in Britain was something to look forward to. The Britannic Explorer was equipped with a dedicated wellness suite in partnership with Wildsmith Skin, menus created by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan. The bar in the Observation Car serves views and cocktails in equal measure, reminiscent of an apothecary, making use of the alchemical qualities of botanicals for its drinks menu.
The train was brought to life with bespoke fitted carpets from Ulster, plush furnishings from Pierre Frey and Robena, and commissioned artworks by Olly Fathers, Cornish artist Adam Halls, but unfortunately there were no passengers in place for what would have been a memorable journey.
The only saving grace is Belmond (which also runs the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) offering a full refund, including associated travel costs, to the dejected travelers. “It’s incredibly disappointing,” said one passenger, according to Travel and Tour World, who had booked the trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “We had been looking forward to this journey for months, and to hear it was cancelled the day of departure was very frustrating, especially considering the premium price we paid.”
While the journey of Britannic Explorer from London’s Victoria Station to Penzance has been canceled, there is still hope, as the Britannic Explorer will now be introduced on July 21 with a journey from London to Mid-Wales.
