ST BRELADE’S BAY HOTEL Jersey

WHERE AND WHY: Situated in the south of the island and a 10-minute taxi ride from Jersey Airport, this historic hotel takes centre stage at stunning St Brelade’s Bay.

Looking out at the Atlantic Ocean and one of the most beautiful beaches in the Channel Islands, it dates back to the 19th century and combines an old-school feel with a classy contemporary overhaul.

There is a wonderful view from every one of the 77 rooms. We stayed in the Bay Suite, which features a separate lounge and king-sized bedroom – immaculate yet homely.

St Brelade’s Bay Hotel’s traditional roots are complemented by state-of-the art facilities such as the DW Health Club, indoor pool and spa.

ON THE MENU: Thankfully, dinner does the view from the Bay Restaurant justice. The kitchen prides itself on local produce – my wife went for scallops (£10) as a starter and pan-seared sea bass fillet (£24) for her main course, while I opted for an Atlantic prawn cocktail (£10) and gourmet burger (£21).

Dessert would not have been dessert without some Jersey ice cream (£2.50).

WHILE YOU ARE THERE Left defenceless by the British, Jersey was occupied by Nazi Germany from June 1940 until liberation in May 1945. During that time, the Germans built an underground hospital in St Lawrence, surrounded by 1,100 yards of tunnels which now serve as a museum detailing life under the Nazi occupation. WAKE UP CALL: Rooms at St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Jersey, start at £158 a night B&B, stbreladesbayhotel.com

BY ANDY DUNN

THERE was an air of celebration as our car, courtesy of Saga, drew up at Portsmouth International Port in good time to embark on our Islands of the Western Mediterranean voyage aboard the Spirit of Discovery.

We had arrived just after the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth had cut the ribbon to declare the port’s new cruise terminal extension open.

And as passengers on the Saga ship we were among the first to experience the innovative sustainable terminal extension, complete with sky garden, air-purifying green ‘living walls’ and an exclusive passenger lounge.

It’s testament to the soaring popularity of cruise holidays, as more Brits than ever are expected to take to the water in 2024. The multi-million-pound extension means the port is more than prepared, now able to handle ships up to 984ft long, and this year expected to welcome more than 100 vessels, with a quarter of a million tourists forecast to use the cutting-edge terminal.

At just a shade over 774ft long, the 999-passenger Spirit of Discovery is a comfortably navigable size, so locating our cabin – one of 554 – was a breeze.

Styled as an all-inclusive boutique hotel, our cabin certainly met the brief, in a contemporary design of gold, teal and beige, and came with mineral water, a basket of fruit and a kettle.

Other ‘British’ touches included three-pin sockets, traditional afternoon tea offered daily and sterling as the onboard currency.

Wi-fi, tips, meals including dining at the three speciality restaurants, soft and alcoholic drinks including premium spirits, 24-hour room service and some excursions, plus a chauffeured car to and from the port are all covered in the price. No wonder Saga cruises are such a hit with its loyal over-50s customers.

From our balcony (each cabin comes with a private balcony as standard) we waved farewell to Portsmouth as we sailed away on a wave of anticipation.

With three days at sea before reaching Cadiz – our first port of call – there was plenty of time to get our sea legs, explore our elegant surroundings and sample fine dining in two of the speciality restaurants.

The Club steakhouse delivered a mouthwatering aged Aberdeenshire sirloin steak, and in Coast to Coast I was in seafood heaven, from a baked diver scallop starter to the delectable main of lobster thermidor with Hollandaise sauce.

On the first formal night we put on our glad rags to mingle with other glammed-up guests at the Captain’s welcome cocktail party. The evening ended on a high note in the Playhouse theatre with a splendid revue from the ship’s cast of some of the biggest musicals such as West Side Story and Les Miserables.

At breakfast we pored over the ship’s programme, delivered to our

A room at the hotel