MY first experience of a cruise and there can be no better introduction to life at sea than on board Cunard’s magnificent Queen Elizabeth — it’s quite simply stunning.

A voyage of the British Isles from Southampton to Greenock was not only one of discovering hidden gems around the country but also an exquisite culinary journey.

Prior to the trip the one thing that was always mentioned to myself and fiancée Stacey was the renowned ‘White Star Service’ and it really is second to none — you have to see it to believe it.

Crew and staff on board take customer service to a whole new level.

Upon arrival on board QE — the newest in the Cunard fleet and regarded as the successor to the iconic Clydebuilt QE2 — the opulent décor inspired by the golden era of Hollywood makes a great first impression.

It was then onto our room, a jaw-dropping Princess Grill suite complete with balcony, two TVs, a sofa, minibar, fresh fruit and a bottle of fizz with chocolate dipped strawberries and some sweet treats to welcome us on board.

Our luggage was brought to the room by the charming John, who was at our beck and call throughout the voyage for anything we needed.

Then it was off for a ‘light lunch’ — or so we thought.

But in the Princess Grill it feels almost criminal to opt for a salad or sandwich, instead we were tempted by the mouthwatering menu and ended up indulging in a sublime three-course meal to kickstart our cruise around Great Britain.

At our own reserved table we enjoyed a starter of cream of broccoli and Stilton soup, which I mopped up with a freshlybaked bread roll, before devouring a perfectly cooked and wonderfully tender minute steak accompanied by hand-cut chips and crisp salad.

To round it off, an indulgent lemon meringue pie served with vanilla ice cream and already we were in food heaven.

That was just the beginning of the culinary exploration.

A whistle-stop tour of the grand ship followed as we discovered the packed games area, two pools and jacuzzis, the inviting Royal Spa, a casino, shopping arcade, West End-style theatre and a variety of bars, clubs and restaurants.

There’s also a card room, library, ballroom and even an art gallery featuring works from the likes of renowned Scottish artist Jack Vettriano.

During the cruise celebrity chef Nick Nairn was also on board along with wine expert Jilly Goolden, both delivering expert talks and demonstrations.

Add in the daily programme of events — handily delivered to our stateroom each night along with the on-board newspaper, a gift for someone in my line of work — and it’s fair to say there’s plenty to do and see on board QE.

A cruise is also about waking up in a different location every other day and we were lucky to explore Newhaven in Edinburgh followed by Invergordon, Orkney and Stornoway before arriving in Greenock.

One of the many alluring aspects of Cunard is dressing up smartly for dinner each evening and in particular for formal nights.

The captain’s cocktail party was one of the black tie events, hosted by master of the ship Inger Klein Thorhauge.

We were fortunate enough to find out a little bit more about Cunard’s first female captain later in the voyage when we were kindly granted access to the bridge, courtesy of social hostess Janice and captain’s secretary Megan, for an extraordinary insight into the running of such a remarkable vessel.

Upstairs in the stately surroundings of the Princess Grill each sitting was a delight thanks to maître d Sanjay, head waiter Julian and our waiters Marina and Ruel.

Along with sommelier Joseph, they are experts in making you feel special.

We were truly spoiled each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and among the highlights were dishes such as succulent rack of lamb and sumptuous, melt-in-the-mouth chateaubriand — quite possibly the finest steak I’ve ever had.

Both were finished in the pan and flambéed in front of us, as was the delicious dessert of hot cherries — with lashings of Grand Marnier — served with sweet pancakes and a scoop of luxurious vanilla ice cream.

The cruise also opened up a new world of culinary delights as we sampled exquisite quail, duck and pigeon dishes.

During our trip we had the chance to try out the The Verandah, a Frenchinspired restaurant serving modern twists on some classics.

My outstanding baked fillet of sea bass main and mushroom crust served with a gloriously rich chicken jus and a vibrant green sorrel sauce — poured onto the plate by our delightful waitress Vanessa — looked like it belonged in the art gallery never mind a restaurant.

But it tasted even better than it looked.

My good lady enjoyed somewhat of a culinary rollercoaster with panroasted pigeon breast AND chocolate, which waitress Ilze joked was a ‘dessert for starter’.

The meat was hidden underneath what looked like half an Easter egg and when the hot gravy was poured on top it melted away and revealed the star attraction.

A quick glimpse across the table told me all I needed to know, it was a smash hit.

Head waiter Pramod recommended a special treat of mini desserts on one plate so we could try all four fantastic puds and it was an inspired choice.

Freshly brewed coffee and hand-made petit fours rounded off the evening and we had been spoiled once again.

With a wedding just around the corner and having given into temptation at the dinner table on more than one occasion, I kept up my training in the state-of-the-art gym before relaxing in the sauna while watching the waves pass by.

It’s also a must to sample the beautiful Royal Spa and what better way to unwind — and fix a persistent neck injury — than with a hot stone massage for yours truly.

My other half was equally stress-free after a relaxing mud treatment.

In the evenings there’s an array of top-class entertainment — from magicians to musicians in the grand Royal Court Theatre to live music from the orchestra in the Queen’s Room where you can dance the night away.

There’s also music each night in the spectacular Yacht and Commodore clubs as well as the traditional Golden Lion Pub.

Sadly all good things must come to an end but what a fitting way to finish off our superb seven-night maiden Cunard voyage than by ending back where it all began, Greenock.

The first four Cunard liners were built in Inverclyde and 125 in total were constructed on the Clyde, including the famous QE2 which was fitted out just up the road at Inchgreen dry dock.

It was an added treat to admire our great towns and stunning scenery from an angle we rarely get the chance to enjoy.

Our experience of QE is best described by Sir Winston Churchill on a card in our room from John — ‘I’m easily satisfied with the very best’.

It’s hard to imagine any better than Cunard.

*To book a Cunard cruise and for more information visit www.cunard.co.uk or call 0843 374 2224.