One lucky Travel Weekly reader was treated to a sneak preview of Princess Cruises latest superliner Emerald Princess before it sailed on its maiden voyage last week.
Bath Travel agent Kerry Sims entered a Travel Weekly competition earlier this year to win a place on a visit to the Venice shipyard where the finishing touches were made to the 3,110-passenger ship.
Kerry, who works in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, was given a guided tour of the ship as well as being treated to a preview of the onboard entertainment and a taster in one of the ship’s restaurants.
Kerry said: “It was a really nice ship, and felt more spacious than others I have been on. You could spend a whole week on it and not eat in the same place twice. The majority of cabins have balconies as well, which is a great selling point for our customers.
“It had a friendly feel, which other large ships don’t have.”
Kerry said she would recommend Emerald Princess to families and younger couples.
She added that she was impressed with the kids’ club that was well located on the deck and had facilities for children of all ages. “The layout is very easy to get used to,” she said.
The ship features Princess Cruises’ trademark 300 sq ft on-deck movie screen, a wedding chapel, Lotus Spa, fitness centre and nine-hole golf putting course.