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Even before Ventura was officially launched, 2500 passengers had a chance to sample her contemporary style and elegance on a 2 night party cruise to Bruges. Our friends Sarah & Steve, Julie and I would be 4 of those passengers. So how was it...

We stepped aboard early and were advised that our cabins weren't ready yet so we decided to take a quick walking tour to get our bearings. We started in the theatre, big enough to hold 785 people and has to be one of the most impressive that we have ever seen on board a ship.

Walking back from the theatre, you first come upon Ramblas. Styled on the famous Barcelona street there is a warm rustic feel here. The large space is subdivided so it always feels cosy. One corner is given over to one of the ships many restaurants available to those on the freedom dining option.

The Tamrind Club is midships deck 7. A bar during the day, at night there were shows, with bands and comedians performing on stage. While we sipped our first drinks of the cruise we considered the size of this room. It takes the whole width of the ship, and seemed to us narrower than other P&O ships. It's only when checking the statistics when we got home that we realise that she is actually wider than the others. It doesn't feel like it.

Right at the back of the ship on deck 7 is Havana. As the photo shows, when we visited in the day the giant Scalextric track was up. Later in the evening, the dance floor was packed with dancers making the most of their two nights aboard. I'll pause our tour here for a name-drop aside. While we were having lunch on the first day, who should come and sit at our table but Murray Walker. All became clear the next day. Murray had been hired in to run a Scalextric commentary the next day.

Our cabins were ready so we made our way back there. This is a view of the forward lifts. The midships lift set-up is different to any other of the liners we have been on. Rather than having the rows of lifts facing the stairs they have separated them. A bit confusing at first.

Here's the view that greeted us when we opened our cabin door. (Well not quite...we put the junk on the bed). Our cabin was an NB grade on E deck. The view is restricted by a lifeboat, but in reality you can still see quite a lot.

The layout of the room is pretty standard. One nice feauture was a walk in wardrobe rather than a cupboard with doors. Door's were never a great success. They may have made the room look more tidy when closed but restricted access to the contents, and blocked the way to the toilet.

The Bathroom is pretty tight, perhaps even smaller than other ships. Less place to store things too.

Now we had unpacked it was back up on deck for the sail away. Steve and I had seen the passageway on the bow, and wondered if you could get up there. Well you can, as this picture shows. You can get some amazing views up here.

We then moved up to the deck above the bridge. After the miserable day, we were lucky with the glorious evening. This was the the best sail away weather Julie and I had ever had. This shot show the port side.

Here's a view of the starboard side. It give you a sense of the size of the ship although some of that is due to the wide angle lens I was using.

Above this deck is the oasis spa. I haven't got any picture, but the gym and spa area are huge and very well equipped.

The sun deck. We didn't get to use this, the weather in Bruge wasn't that good.

The endless pool surrounded by the Oasis spa. Why endless? you ask. Well at one end is one of those big pumps that creates a constant current for you to swim against. We had great fun trying to beat it. This would be a superb sun trap.

Does anyone else think this shot could pass for the Caribbean? It's actually Southampton docks in Aprol.... who says the camera never lies.

Sailing down Southampton water we continued to explore. Looking back now I realise that we missed lots too. I don't remember going in the glassy bit just below the funnel. Ahh well... we'll just have to go back on another cruise.

I'll finish the tour our the outside with a shot of the promenade deck. Anyone who has cruised before will spot that they have trimmed this down. Normally I'd guess that this deck is a good 6 feet wider than this. Personally I think it's a shame. Being fair skinned I'm not big on sunbathing, so on a hot cruise my favourite spot is down here with the sounds of the ship cutting through the water. I also think wide promenade deck lends an air of grandeur to the ship. This looks altogether more utilitarian.

Next day we were off too Bruges. I had done some research on the trains to take you from the Port at Zebrugge to Bruges. However the free shuttle bus took us to the nearby town of Blankenberge, and a train pulled out as the coach pulled in. For future visitors, on a Saturday the trains depart for Bruges at 10 minutes past the hour. They return at 38 minutes past the hour. The journey is only 10 minutes. So we had a hour to kill, and took a stroll round the town. According to the guide on the coach, the seaside town is a popular summer holiday destination. In April it's like many an English seaside town, quiet and full of anticipation of the new season. There's a nice sandy beach, so if you visited on a summer cruise you could easily spend a day on the beach.

We took a 15 minute walk from the railway station at Bruges to reach the part of the town.

Near the Church of our Lady in Mariastratt is this view from one of the many bridges.

A short distance from the last picture there was a small market selling antiques and bits.

We were heading for the market square. The 88 metre high belfry served as a beacon to guide us when we struggled to work out which of the small streets to take. We knew we were getting close when we saw it this close.

We picked one of the many restaurants that ring the market square and ordered coffee and the local waffles. This was a great place to take in the views. Even though it was April, and not what I would call the height of the tourist season, there were still plenty of us tourists around.

We walked from the Market sqaure to the Burg. We then took Blinde Ezelstraat and found this amazing decorative gateway.

At the end of Blinde Ezelstraat was another bridge (well they do call Bruge the Venice of the north), with this view over one parapet.....

and this view over the other.

Very close id the tiny square called Huidenvettersplein. It felt not much more than a courtyard.

Walking back towards Dijver, we came upon this view back towards the belfrey.

On the way back now, and in Oude Berg we say this colourful shop adorned with bicycles.

A little way up the same street was this old wooden bike outside a shop. Steve's giving this the once over.

Bruges is delighfil place to walk around. Often you are surprised with a special view, or a little square you never expected.

Soon enough we were back to the port. The sun had come out again, so I took a few more shots of Ventura.

Steve and I wanted to be on deck for the sail away. We got some great views from the deck right up in the bow. Manoeuvring out was tricky with a strong breeze blowing side on to the ship. Steve and I would have loved to be on the bridge listening to the captain, but we had to content ourselves with speculation on the difficulty of the 3 point turn that was necessary. We were soon on the way out of the harbour where I got this ahot.

The second night was Gala night, so we all donned out best outfits. Here's a picture of Sarah and Julie with their "posh frocks" at the Captins welcome party.

Here's the first view of the atrium. The lighting is very impressive and changes. It's a bit larger than Oriana and Aurora, but not as big as Oceana.

We had booked on the club dining, but on the second night we decided to try another restaurant. No problem, we just booked into cinnamon, seen here.

Here we are enjoying the food and the atmosphere. Considering this was a bit of a shakedown cruise, the service was excellent. Most of the crew had been flow out to Italy a month ago and had been helping to get her ready.

I picked the strawberry shortcake. Whilst we are on the subject of food, our impression was that the portions were smaller, but of a higher quality. Julie really enjoys her vegetables, and both nights only one veg was on offer.

After dinner we took in the show, then wandered back towards Havanas. Here you see that the atrium has changed colour since the last picture.

After a much dancing in Havana's and a light snack in the beach house, Julie and I were ready to call it a night. But there was one last sight to marvel at. The artwork in the aft stairwell was all by one artist (I didn't get his/her name!!). It was different and intrigueing which is a nice summary of Ventura. P&O have made some changes on this ship. There's still a lot that will be familiar to seasoned cruisers yet there's differences that mean a cruise on Ventura will be a exciting voyage of discovery.