Somewhere between quaffing the various glasses of Champagne that appeared in my hand from the moment I set foot on Yachts of Seabourn's Seabourn Sojourn until the early hours of the next morning I managed to take some video footage of the ship.
You think I am joking - about the bubbly that is? I'm really not. And the free-flowing fizz wasn't just for the naming ceremony either.
Welcome to the world of ultra-luxury cruising.
Yes, it looks expensive on paper, but when you look at all the tangible things that are included (gratuities as well as all drinks and speciality dining) as well as the intangible ones (being treated as a person rather than a passenger, the nice feeling that crew are smiling because they want to rather than because they are thinking about their tip) and you can see why the ultra-lux lines are so popular.
The Passenger Shipping Association stats show that 50% more Brits chose an ultra-lux cruise last year compared with 2008. They were undoubtedley drawn by all the offers put in place by the cruise lines to keep people booking during the recession.
The interesting question will be, how many of those new-to-ultra-luxury cruisers can bear to go back to the four and five-star favourites when those offers are no longer around?
It's time to click the video start button. Enjoy.
Jane Archer
