Sailing down a moonbeam at midnight is never guaranteed.

But from the moment you step aboard the Britannia you sense this is going to be a magical experience, a transcendent journey that will take you into the heart of the Caribbean and beyond.

This majestic ship – the jewel in the crown of P&O’s cruise fleet – oozes sophistication with its plush five-star surroundings.

The spectacular Star Burst sculpture, the centerpiece of her atrium, signals the magnitude of her beauty.

And yet the ship underplays its excellence in a restrained and very British way.

Under the steady command of Captain Wesley Dunlop, the 143,000-tonne vessel was to be home for my mum and I for 14 nights.

Our sea passage was to take us a distance of 2,142 nautical miles, departing Bridgetown, Barbados, and on to Curacao, Aruba, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and St Maarten.

Within an hour of embarking the ship, warmed by the legendary Barbados rum punch, our cares blew away in the breeze as we chilled out for the sail away party on the lido deck, soaking up the heat beneath the Caribbean sun.

It was very easy to get our Caribbean groove on thanks to the talented Lady B and her band, Steele, who had the sun-lounging crowd singing along to the classic hits of the late, great reggae maestro, Bob Marley.

When it comes to choosing the right cruise line company to travel with, I’m looking for great value, great destinations and even greater food.

And I can confidently say you would be hard pushed to find any to top this one.

Britannia serves up the ultimate posh nosh.

No matter where you choose to dine on board, whether it be the ultimate fine dining experience in the art deco-inspired Epicurean or the self-service Horizon buffet, the selection and quality of food and produce on offer is first class.

From dining at Sindhi, where east meets west, with just the right twist of spice, to the lighter bites and hearty mains in the Glass House, the gastronomic experience is varied but always sublime.

But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Three-times Michelin star chef, Marco Pierre-White is patron of The Cookery Club, and when on board he hosts cookery masterclasses.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea are warm and welcoming.

Is it any wonder that Aruba, where it never rains, is known as the happy place? Grenada, with its lush green forests, is the island of spice,

On rugged but picturesque St Vincent I found myself dipping my toes in a blue lagoon where the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise is filmed, while – you guessed it – sampling again some very good rum punch. Hiccup, me hearties!

Next stop was St Lucia, one of the Caribbean’s little treasures with its secluded beaches and colourful fishing villages.

These are places to pick up a bargain from bustling markets, sample seafood delights, and stroll hand-in-hand along white sandy paradise beaches.