Testing and embarkation were well organized, but for the wait for me to get my negative result. My wife’s came through quickly, but 20 mins later I still didn’t have mine (I never got it) and had to ask the staff to check. I was given a paper pass to allow me to board.

When we booked in March, only 1000 passengers were allowed, but come departure 2500+ made it a lively ship, with a lot of people out until late every evening, enjoying being back on board. I think at 54 I was the youngest bloke on the ship, but there was a great atmosphere everywhere, so my fear of it being a quiet week was unfounded. And the sun shone for at least 3 days, thanks to the Captain doing many loops in the Irish Sea to stay in the sweet spots, giving me a tan to take home. At times it felt like we were in the Med’.

‘Restrictions’ were really limited to mask-wearing while moving or sat in the theatre, plus the service in the buffet restaurant, which worked really well. They might require more staff there, but there are fewer stewards to clean cabins now, as they only do that once a day (no turndown) and look after up to 30 cabins each. I suspect this change may become permanent. Read more