Cruise Lines

"It's such a big suite for one person," Barbara, my room stewardess, from Hungary, laughs as I returned from breakfast this morning. I guess a single traveller in an Owner's Suite is a little unusual, but I love having so much space.

This suite was the spa until Silversea's Silver Wind went into dry dock in October/November last year and is apparently a mirror image of the Owner's Suite that was already on the vessel. It's one of several big changes they made on the ship during the upgrade.

There are four new Millennium Suites by the bridge on deck eight, where the officers' accommodation used to be, the spa has moved to the top of the ship, deck nine, where once there were sun loungers and there is a new Medallion Suite.

Apparently it's bigger than my room, but has no balcony so it's popular with passengers because the price is nice! I'm hoping to get a look sometime but as it's occupied I'll have to bide my time.

But let me take you on a quick tour of the Owner's Suite: As you come in the door, there is a guest toilet on the left. It's my Mount Everest. I feel must use it because it is there.

You enter into the spacious sitting-cum-dining room. There's a Espresso coffee-maker, a bar stocked with various spirits (all free as this is an all-inclusive ship), an exit to the balcony and a huge flat-screen TV and DVD player.

There's a DVD library downstairs so I plan to treat myself to an evening in at the flicks at least one night; not quite so sure about the Piano by Candlelight 10 CD collection they've provided. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, the music of Burt Bacharach. Not quite me, I'm afraid.

There's also an atlas, which is great as I love to keep an eye on where I'm going - and like to feel I can step in if the Captain needs a hand!

From the sitting area, you go onto a small corridor. The bathroom is to the left, with a bath and shower (took me a while to find the latter as it somes out of the ceiling and drains into the floor), the bedroom to the right, with another door onto the balcony and another big flat-screen TV. Straight ahead and you're into the big walk-in wardrobe.

And then there is Suren, my wonderful butler, who comes from India. He appears every now and again bearing gifts such as this bowl of fruit, tidies my clothes and generally keeps me in order. How did I ever manage without him?