When I arrived in Southampton and set my eyes on the world’s only true ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, I was blown away. And that’s when the excitement started to rise!
The check-in process was quick and effortless, my suitcase was taken from me and then the next time I saw it again, it was waiting for me in my stateroom ready to be unpacked.
My Inside Stateroom was lovely and spacious, I really couldn’t fault it. It had everything I needed set up for me - and I can’t forget the complimentary bottle of sparkling wine that was already chilling in the wine cooler waiting for my arrival. My stateroom steward introduced himself as Eugge and said if there was anything I needed, to let him know.
First things first, it was time for some lunch in the King's Court, Queen Mary 2’s buffet restaurant. With so much to choose from and with cuisine options from all around the world, I really struggled to decide what I fancied to eat. With most buffet restaurants, I have witnessed large queues with everyone wanting to get to the same place at once; but in King’s Court, the sense of space was quite apparent.
After lunch, it was time for a tour of the ship. My first stop was to check out the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. As soon as I stepped in and saw all it had to offer, I knew I would need to get a day pass. At only $40 a day to enjoy all the facilities, I thought it was quite a bargain, so I picked up a day pass for two days' time.
This evening, we dined in the Britannia Restaurant. What a remarkable sight, split on multiple levels and where grandeur and occasion combine with fantastic service, this really was a lovely experience. The food was excellent, and with so much to choose from, I knew for the next week I was going to be in for a treat.
After a final nightcap in the Golden Lion, I was ready for bed!
Read next: Dear transatlantic diary: Day 2
