Checking in at Barcelona I was advised that an announcement would be made once all suites were available and that we would find the suites open, with our keys inside. A short wait but, given what I was to experience, very much worth it.

My suite was a Sapphire Veranda which was amazing. It had a separate lounge and bedroom, both with doors to access the large balcony. My bathroom benefitted from an amazing ‘rain’ shower. Fantastic.

Soon after I got access to my suite I was visited by my butler who showed me the different features of the suite including the mini bar. He added his contact number into the phone so that I could call him, at any time, for anything I might want or need. What service.

With one large pool and two jacuzzis, the pool area was very well furnished with sun loungers and beds. The pool area also had lots of shaded areas for use if I got tired of too much sun.

Aside from the pool area there was a lot of public areas. My favourite being the Palm Court with its floor to ceiling windows and skylights highlighting the palm trees. It is a beautiful place to spend an hour enjoying afternoon tea or simply watching the world pass by.

The restaurants on board ranged from Waterside, the main dining room with its signature soup served in a bread bowl, to Umi Uma by Master Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa of Nobu fame with its superlative range of delicious sushi dishes. The gourmet steak restaurant Beefbar and the pool restaurant Trident Grill both offered dining under a full glass roof with parasols and greenery conveying a lovely outdoors feel complementing and enhancing the dining experience.

Of course, there was outstanding entertainment on board with wonderful shows and great singers and dancers. A mix of both in-house musicians and guest performers. The ships cinema showed both movies and live sport – truly something for every guest. Finally, if you simply need to dance then its Pulse Nightclub you need to visit.

I really cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed this experience. A wonderful ship, a great cruise, fantastic staff onboard and a simply stunning room all combined to make this a trip I shall remember for a long time to come.