When we landed yesterday, we walked across the tarmac and stepped straight onto a P&O chartered bus that drove us direct to the port. A speedy run through customs and immigration and we soon boarded Arvia. Our luggage was being delivered straight to the ship through a P&O bonding arrangement with the Barbadian authorities. “Mm, let’s hope that all goes without a hitch” I hear you say.

After visiting our Muster Station A to register, we found our cabin on deck 14, Laptev Suite 14112. By then it was nearly 6pm. We met our butler, Dinesh, who provided us with a warm welcome including champagne and chocolates. Whilst Dinesh went off to collect our passes to the Retreat, we made a beeline to the 6th Street Diner for supper. By the time we returned, two of three suitcases had been delivered. However, we then spent a restless night waiting for the third piece, which, of course, contained all of Lorna’s clothes. First lesson learned, always pack a mixture of each other’s clothes in each suitcase, to ensure no-one goes without clothing during the trip! Lucky for us, Dinesh located the third suitcase first thing this morning and Lorna was not going to Epicurean for breakfast wearing my underwear.

Because we are in a suite, the Epicurean restaurant is our designated breakfast venue. It is a private dining facility with stunning menus, beautiful presentation of foods and wonderful views. This morning we overlooked the Kensington Oval cricket ground.

After a very leisurely breakfast we did a quick tour of the ship. Arvia is almost an exact replica of its sister ship Iona, which we were lucky enough to cruise on to Norway last April with Si, Vik, Georgia and Theo. On that previous trip we encountered the Retreat, a private deck escape where you can relax away from the 5,290 guests and 1,800 staff. With a maximum of 70 guests allowed in the Retreat, it really is a quiet hideaway. Here we spent the day pinking-up, with a light salmon salad lunch, and of course, a late afternoon tea. A quick gym session for me, whilst Lorna bemoaned the latest Saints fiasco of a scoreline, losing 5-0 at Saint Mary’s to Brentford (the team with the worst away record in the Premier League bar Saints!) Supper was taken in the Epicurean, with Iberico ham, Manchego cheese and olives starter, cheese soufflé mains and crêpe suzette desserts and elastic waistband trousers.

Around 9.30pm we departed Barbados and Lorna took a lovely shot of the Star Clipper all lit up. Tomorrow is a day at sea, as we head towards our first port of call, the island of Martinique.

Perhaps the most exciting occurrence of today, was managing to book a helicopter adventure for next week whilst in Antigua, to view the active Montserrat volcano. Time to snooze, night all. R&L xxx