We are experienced Cunarders. Some might say that we should broaden our horizons and try some other lines. For us, however, when Cunard consistently delivers to such a very high standard; when so many staff go out of their way to look after us so well and when we meet so many friends - old and new, it is very hard to contemplate 'jumping ship'.

This was a round-trip voyage from Southampton to Venice, with calls in Cadiz, Messina, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Korcula and Gibraltar. We began with great weather, got drenched in Corfu and then enjoyed good weather again until Gibraltar. Perhaps inevitably, the closer we got to Southampton, the duller and more dreary the weather became.

Embarkation was both swift and painless. The Ocean Terminal does seem to have got it's act together recently. We beat our luggage to the cabin, but only just. Disembarkation at the Mayflower was equally painless, apart from the joker who thought it would be a good idea to put their case identification banner onto one of mine! Read more