CARIBBEAN CRUSH

In search of a totally tropical adventure, Peter Rickman set sail on P&O's Britannia

- NIGEL THOMPSON

Chesney Hawkes was reaching the climax of his entertaining show centred on him being, well, “the one and only”. And after an evening of songs and self-deprecating humour about his status as a 1991 one-hit wonder, this number was the moment everyone in the audience had been waiting for...

We were in the stylish Limelight Club on board P&O’'S Britannia, as it sailed across the Caribbean - and Chesney was unwittingly summing up the whole cruise experience. With endless opportunities for entertainment, activities, soaking up the sun, excellent food and the chance to experience a different country almost every day for two weeks, a cruise really is the one and only holiday you'll ever need.

We joined the ship a few days earlier in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was November but the temperature was still in the low 30s. With just two main seasons, the cooler dry season from December to May and the wet season from June to late November, it is warm all year here.

Even during our November cruise, however, there was very little rain.

Checking into and boarding the ship was painless. We didn't even have to worry about our luggage as that was collected from the airport and delivered direct to our cabin.

Britannia is P&O’s flagship and underwent a multi-million pound refit last year. It is huge with space for 3,647 passengers across 15 guest decks and the majority of cabins have a balcony.

On board there are more than 20 bars and restaurants, offering everything from a quick ice cream or pastry at the Market Cafe in Britannia's spectacular Atrium, to an evening of fine dining in the Epicurean restaurant.

The ship also has four swimming pools with lively bar areas and more than enough sun loungers to go round.

My wife Alison and I stayed in a Superior Deluxe Balcony cabin. With its comfortable bed, settee and two large flatscreen televisions, it certainly lived up to its name.