Pre-Cruise Flew from Durham Tees Valley to Southampton on Sunday. Less than 3 hours from home to hotel. Pre-booked taxi at Southampton, waiting when we arrived - very slick. Stayed for 2 nights at Novotel, clean, convenient and good value. Dinner in the hotel on Sunday but too long a wait on Monday so walked across to the 'golden arches'. Monday visited friends in Cowes via Red Jet - expensive for an adult, cheap for a senior!

Embarkation (Tuesday) Taxi from hotel at 12:15, bit slow through the traffic, allocated green X and waited about 25 minutes to be called to check in then about another 25 minutes to clear check-in, photographer and security to board ship. Lunch in buffet - not as busy I expected and easy to join others at a large table.

Cabin Inside cabin forward on Barbados Deck; functional and clean just like Ventura and Princess Grand Class Ships. Set up as twin, much more usable space than as a double. Read more