Cruise was tagged onto a trip to the Singapore F1 grand prix which suited me as I did not want two long haul flights within 72 hours.

Firstly I will say that my inside cabin was comfortable and the public areas elegant; the Sapphire dining room looks like something from Titanic. It's a big ship, guessing a quarter of a mile from end to end, and the lifts are centred so if your cabin is at the back, like mine, you clock up a fair distance - one day, without leaving the ship, I walked 2.5 miles. Lift carpets were changed daily to reflect the day of the week - handy if you forgot!

The experience was marred by uninteresting food, inadequate information about trips ashore and staggeringly high prices on board. The basic soda package worked out at £10 a day and then the only drinks available were Sprite or Coke. I don't drink coke so after one day requested and was given a refund on the rest of the cruise. The only package including alcohol was £45 per day. I have never, ever spent that much on booze in a day, even drinking champagne! Although the staff selling the packages said only water was available free during meals, there was squash and the breakfast orange juice was very good. Read more