Anthony Nicholas

As cruise ships get increasingly bigger, they come chock full with a wealth of fantastic new facilities, aimed at at much younger demogaphic than the 'fifty shades of grey and blue rinse' that has traditionally been cruising's prime revenue source.

The Thames is currently playing host to a trio of unexpected, but quite elegant visiting dignitaries. Dressed in flags in gleaming in the often admittedly sporadic sunshine, they sit like tethered swans. All three will remain on site for the duration of the current London Olympics.

It is a balmy late spring evening in Monaco as the Silver Wind shrugs her mooring lines and eases slowly out into a bay studded with stupendous, floodlit yachts of all shapes and sizes. Passengers mill around the pool, many cradling champagne glasses or martinis as they make small talk.

 After a few hours of wonderful people watching on the bustling waterfront of Mykonos, it was all back aboard the Cristal as we set off for our next port of call. Evening entertainment on board revolved around a main show in the forward facing lounge. It also had a mezzanine level.