The fun started for me when I boarded the ship. I was given my own cabin and a long inventory of things to do over the 4-day cruise to the Bahamas.

That was a list of things just for me. My parents were not included and quite frankly needn’t know exactly was written down there.

It was my holiday and rather fun to keep them guessing as to what I was doing. The deal was to meet up and have supper together each evening. The rest was up to me. After all I was just 15 and felt it was about time to strike out on my own!

The good thing about the Sovereign of the Seas was the variety of the programmes for us kids that was on offer, that and the fact that you could sort of slink in and out if a particular thing was not quite your scene.

It was good to meet everybody around my age group on that first afternoon doing some fun games and even having my face painted!

It had been a fantastic holiday so far, We had joined Royal Caribbean’s 4 night Bahamas cruise as it sailed from Port Canaveral after a week at Disney World in Florida where the entertainment was amazing, but our accommodation quite basic.

By contrast the luxury of cruise living really struck me. The main staircase was quite stately, and as soon as we got on board, I noticed the gleaming glass elevator and was told that it was the first lift ever installed in a ship.

On the second day we arrived at the Recreation Island of Cococay in the Bahamas owned by the company. Us passengers were the only visitors.

With its white beaches and spectacular surroundings, it was full of adventures and it was difficult to choose what to do first, though the fact that there had just been a sharp downpour of rain cast a slight dampener at the start.

The choices ranged from parasailing, where it was possible to soar 400 feet above the island and take in the spectacular scenery, to all the water sports on offer. Eventually I opted to go on a sea-adventure ride in a boat shaped like a banana.

This was followed by a fun, lunch barbecue on the beach, where we went to different stations to choose what typical local food we wanted to try. I decided to wait while the other more seasoned visitors made a selection, and then whoosh I was in for the kill!

The next day was spent entirely docked at Nassau, and we had a great time as a family on the beach and exploring the wonderful aquarium at the enormous Atlantis Hotel.

After a full day of sightseeing and shopping it was stunning setting sail again at midnight while enjoying a party on the top deck for everybody.

The food was amazing as was the music, not to mention the ice statues that were quite out of this world. I teamed up with my parents and remember looking at the other ships in the dock get smaller and smaller as we departed the island; an image that I think will stay with me for a long time to come.

The final full day was spent wholly at sea with lots of activities, including the Whacky Olympics, which turned out to be sport, with a lot of fun thrown in.

My parents had got some sort of deal where I could order soft drinks whenever I wanted, which was really cool and I used it to good purpose that memorable and joyful warm afternoon.

In the restaurant that evening, after our meal, our great waiter appeared in a fantastic song and dance routine given by the dining room staff, which was both unexpected and fun to watch.

Afterwards we all went to a show at the massive on-board theatre. It was a slick production that featured the songs of the 60’s and 70’s. …way before my time.

I enjoyed the music and even got to have some sips of the cocktails ordered by my parents, a fitting end to a really memorable taste of being on a cruise. Then the next day we were off, this time to tour the Kennedy Space Centre….

Lucy Daltroff and Son, Oliver Segal

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