ORIENT EXCESS Asia’s biggest liner from Royal Caribbean has space for more than 4,000 passengers across 16 decks

Published in The Sun on 18th January 2020

Also published on The Sun digital

I AM a novice when it comes to cruising – the last time I sailed was on a tiny vessel on the Yangtze River when I was 11.

More than two decades later, I am back in China for another cruise. But this time it is aboard the biggest liner in Asia: Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas.

It is the first Quantum Ultra-class ship from Royal Caribbean and has space for more than 4,000 passengers across 16 decks. To keep sailors of every age happy, there is everything from a creche, splash pool for toddlers, laser tag for teens and a casino for grown-ups.

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SAY CHEESE Head down to Cyprus for great beaches and all the halloumi you could ever want

Published in The Sun on 10th November 2019

Also published on The Sun digital

FOOD is a big deal in Cyprus, with the island’s famous squeaky cheese taking pride of place.

Halloumi is so important in its home country that many locals are named after the salty stuff, from Mr Hallumas to entire families of Hallumakis.

So first stop on my culinary island adventure had to be the tiny village of Letymbou, in rolling hills seven miles north from Paphos, to see how the locals make the fabulously fry-able sandwich filling.

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