Long day getting to Southampton yesterday, but only cost £60, train was nearly triple that. Overnight in the Holiday Inn and now on board Queen Mary 2 for the next seven days to New York in our ocean view cabin. It’s a lot bigger than we thought, loads of room.

This is a themed Literature Festival cruise, it was announced after we booked! Have already seen Val McDermid, Paterson Joseph and Alan Titchmarsh.

Weather looking a bit choppy for the first day or so!