This cruise had it all - a visit from the ship's 'Godmother' HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, the Halle Orchestra performing live in board, a Beatles tribute band and dancing under the stars until a fabulous firework display lit up the skies in Liverpool to send us on our way! Stops in Cherbourg (not my cup of tea so took it as a sea day!), Cobh (beautiful little town and touching ceremony at the Lusitania Memorial performed by the local dignatories and Captain Wright), Dublin, Liverpool (royal visit, etc), Belfast (fabulous city, edgy and architecturally very grand), Greenock (a rousing bagpipe welcome and sailing out in sunlight and showers along the Scottish shoreline was magical) and South Queensferry for Edinburgh (took it as another sea day!)
Port intensive but well worthwhile, as we had sailed on QV in May and done the ship thoroughly back then. This time we didn't feel conflicted with getting off and missing out on the cruise experience itself.
Britannia Restaurant was superb as always. Service impeccable, food of the best (as usual - don't believe those reviews that rubbish it as they can't get prawn cocktail - who wants prawn cocktail on a luxury cruise anyway!!) Lido service and food very good as was Cafe Carinthia (favourite for cakes and sandwiches during the day) and afternoon tea a joy as always. Wines and cocktails were excellent - strong and good pours. Service in the Commodore Club (Marjam in particular) was attentive, speedy and genuinely friendly.