THE floor beneath me shakes as our vessel cuts through the ocean at serious speed.
I’m on board P&O Cruises’ newest, glossy ship, Arvia.
But it’s not the ship that’s moving.
It’s my virtual-reality submarine on level five of the 18-deck cruise liner.
This is Mission Control, P&O Cruises’ first ever escape room at sea,
It’s actually more an immersive roleplay experience rather than an escape room, giving each passenger their own Navy rank in a thrilling storyline.
Soon we’re doing somersaults through the cloudy sea, clutching on to nearby railings while alarms flash overhead and sirens echo from the speakers.
Through the window of our fictional sub, we watch as animated manatees and whales swoosh past us.
Then, a collision with a giant octopus forces our team into action, and we frantically push buttons and fiddle with levers until we produce a sound wave blast that sees us escape its eight-tentacled grip.
After 90 minutes of action, we emerge victorious from the vessel and it seems almost odd to find the cruise ship still docked in the port of Bridgetown, on the south-west coast of Barbados.
Over the course of seven days, this ship has travelled from Antigua across the Caribbean Sea to St Kitts, Martinique and St Lucia for a jam-packed, island-hopping bundle of fun.
And when you’re in balmy climates such as these — where temperatures rarely drop below 25C — cruising really is the finest way to travel.
Arvia’s central SkyDome is a hive of poolside entertainment, with a retractable glass roof sheltering bars, sun loungers and a swimming pool with a huge cinema screen.
But if you fancy something a little quieter, grab a day pass to The Retreat, an outdoor sunbathing area tucked away at the front of the 5,200-passenger ship.
A limited number of passes are sold per cruise, and the additional £30 a day will bag you day beds, private Jacuzzis, beers, wine and soft drinks, plus light lunches.
There’s also ten infinity whirlpool spas scattered about the ship and 1,506 balcony cabins if you fancy spending a little more to soak up views of the shimmering ocean.
And the more tanning time you squeeze in on board, the more time you’ll have to explore the magical islands when docked.
A shore excursion to St Lucia’s Piton mountains is well worth the £54, or £32 child price.
Dashing through the water in our speedboat, we passed craggy, tree-covered cliffs and pastel-coloured resorts backing on to sheltered shores — until reaching Pitons Bay, a golden-sand beach sat between the two mighty mountains.
Sugar Beach Resort owns a slab of this shore and has a casual seafront restaurant serving salads, pizzas and tacos.
But if it’s cocktails you’re after, ditch the resort and look for one of the locals selling fruit-and-rum drinks from a boat — they’re half the price and pack more of a punch.
Make sure to save some room for more rum-drinking in Barbados if you’re a real connoisseur, though.
This tropical island is the birthplace of the sugar-cane spirit and nowhere does it better.
A rum escapade to the Mount Gay distillery taught me all about the lengthy process of transforming sugar cane plants into the brown liquid that’s frequently served in punch around the island.
We sample a clear, un-aged bottle first, before moving on to darker, mature variations that are heavier and richer in flavour.
The darker the liquid, the longer it’s been aged in the barrel — and the better it tastes.
When the rum and heat gets too much, cool off in the blue waters of Carlisle Bay, where marine life flourishes.
Turtle snorkel excursions can be booked for £62 per adult and £35 per child.
Don’t worry if you’re not a pro, as the warm seas in this region are so clear you won’t even need a mask to see the gentle creatures below your feet.
We cooed as five circled around us in the shallow water, gracefully swooping to the surface within touching distance.
Just north of this shoreline sits Heywoods Beach, where Arvia’s glamorous beachside naming ceremony featured performances from “godmother” Nicole Scherzinger, who has just announced an entertainment partnership with the cruise line.
Having spent seven days on the ship, I’m not sure how they could squeeze in any more entertainment, but details of new shows from the glitzy A-lister will be released later this year.
During the week-long cruise, we had just two days at sea to cram in all the on board fun — West End-style theatre shows, a tropical island-themed mini golf course and a massive spa with treatment rooms.
The Mission Control escape room is exclusive to Arvia, as are a number of other attractions.
New dining spots have been added to give the ship an impressive array of 26 restaurants and bars, including Green & Co, which serves a mix of plant-based and sushi dishes.
Expect light bites of cauliflower popcorn tempura and sesame-crusted tofu.
Make sure to book a seat for Greatest Days too, a brand new stage show crammed with singalong hits from Take That.
And try Wavelength, an interactive game- show presented by a virtual Ben Shephard.
Save time for a drink in the atrium’s Amber Bar — one sip of the Tortuga Cobbler, made with rum distilled on board, had me in the Caribbean spirit.
I’ll take four more, please.
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A seven-night cruise on Arvia costs from £1,349pp, departing Antigua on March 9, 2024, and including flights.
Ports of call: Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Fort de France, Martinique, Castries, Saint Lucia, and Bridgetown in Barbados.
See pocruises.com.
