New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan’s skyline at twilight. With added glitter. But Wintertime doesn’t have the monopoly on adverse weather either; you can experience Gale Force 10 winds in June but on Now I don’t usually get excited by a ship’s vital statistics, but in this case I really am. We’re riveted by a series of talks given by theatre director and producer Giles Ramsay, spanning everything from Shakespeare to pantomime, and the celebrity lecturer, former frontline soldier Brian Wood, draws both tears and a standing ovation at midday from a packed Royal Court theatre.I can’t share with you all the wonderful destinations we visit on this cruise because there aren’t any but as single sailaways go it is superb. As first time cruisers facing seven nights at sea, my friend Sally and I had some concerns about what we were going to do to pass the time. The Statue of Liberty is captured from every possible angle and then suddenly we are underneath the colossal Verrazano suspension bridge and out into the ocean.This voyage is in high demand and opinions vary as to whether an eastbound crossing (which we are doing) or a westbound crossing is best. But there was so much on offer we had trouble fitting it all in, from entertainment, lectures and morning dance classes followed by afternoon tea dances and dancing in the Queens Room in the evening (you could dance until the early hours if you want to).Most evenings we dined in the Britannia Club Restaurant, which provides an excellent menu with a huge range to suit all tastes. Later we set off down Fifth Avenue, admiring shop windows and becoming part of the unmistakable After 48 hours in New York it was time to board our ship, Our stateroom was spacious and had cleverly designed wardrobe space, a dressing table and seating area with sofa and coffee table. Cunard is perfect for people like us who have lots of time and no job to go to anymore. The atmosphere on a Cunard cruise is sophisticated — many passengers are retirees — and the focus is on high-quality daytime activities, including lectures, classes, and movies in real theaters. I am beside myself with excitement. It also means if you fly to New York and want to give your credit card a workout, then you can carry back as much as you like without weight restrictions.Whichever direction you’re travelling in, bracing walks around the deck are invigorating and remarkably popular; I can’t quite believe how many guests gravitate towards the promenade deck – more than any other ship I have ever been on – but the unexpected winter sunshine is hugely tempting.And when we retreat inside for a hot chocolate or mulled wine, a stroll along any corridor on Apparently Stephen Payne, the naval architect responsible for its design, won a Gold Blue Peter badge for his vision. I find this information very reassuring, especially when the captain announces we are just a few nautical miles away from a notorious ‘ship graveyard’ (home to 365 shipwrecks) and shortly afterwards we pass close to where the For the record, I am informed in the Commodore Club, our favourite (and surprisingly secret) bar, that a Stabiliser is also a cocktail; usually served in a shot glass and comprising brandy and port in equal measures. The bathroom was smart and compact, with all that we needed. Life on board a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing is what you make of it. We also watch a mind reader, a fabulous comedian and a brilliant performance from jazz singer Gregory Porter during his onboard debut for Cunard’s first ever Jazz at Sea show.What is amazing is that our crossing was fully booked yet you could walk around the ship and find several peaceful areas in which to relax. Yesterday they told my travel agent that they gave me a credit for a … We tended to opt for a late breakfast, skip lunch and look forward to the decadent afternoon tea, with its glorious selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and delectable pastries.For those that want an even more sophisticated experience, guests can choose to enjoy tea in the Queens Room, which offers the same fantastic selection of sandwiches and cakes but with waiter service, although there’s nothing like being able to pop back to the buffet for just one more piece of passion fruit torte.The thought of being thousands of miles from anything is daunting at times but the feeling of freeness and the ability to really forget all the stresses of everyday life as you look out over the ocean is incomparable.You know you are well and truly in the middle of the Atlantic when all signs of habitation disappear. Find candid photos and detailed reviews of the Cunard Queen Mary 2 (QM2) cruise ship. Stepping through its magnificent atrium we found our stateroom where our luggage was already waiting for us – our seven-night crossing from New York to Southampton had begun. Packed with inspirational reviews, the hottest destination advice, celebrity interviews and the very latest ocean and river cruise news, it helps both new and experienced cruisers alike plan their next trip. They’re so huge we can’t even find each other.We do seem to have a homing instinct however for the Kings Court Buffet. We were delighted then, when gazing out at the sparkling sea one afternoon, we spotted numerous dolphins leaping through the waves, and within seconds there were four or five pods swimming alongside us.