PARK ROYAL HOTEL Warrington, Cheshire

DAVE MONK FINDS HIMSELF

Where and why: Minutes from the motorway, the Park Royal Hotel in Warrington is a quiet retreat full of surprises.

Set in the picturesque village of Stretton, the large, modern hotel has changed considerably since its beginnings as a vicarage in 1831. Yet the charm has remained with personal touches and delightful staff.

Our spacious king room was warmly lit and had village views. Its muted tones of grey and white complemented sleek features such as a back-lit bathroom mirror.

With Elemis bathroom products, tea, coffee, and a large TV, it was and ideal haven to hunker down and relax in.

The staff really enhanced the experience, from the receptionist who doubled as a singer for the local WI lunch to the pastry chef who created an excellent afternoon tea.

Food is served in the lounge or Topiary in the Park.

On the menu: My dining partner and I started with crispy fried salt and pepper squid (£9.50) and grilled halloumi (£8.95).

The squid was fresh and melt-inthe-mouth delicious while the baba ganoush and red pepper dressing with the cheese was divine. We both opted for the classic burger (£16.95) for our mains – a hearty portion.

The culinary highlight, however, had to be the afternoon tea, starting at £25 per person. A three-tiered platter boasted thick-cut ham and vegetarian sandwiches, and an array of homemade sweet treats and pastries. The crowning feature was the cherry tart with fresh cream.

While you’re there: Take a dip in the pool or enjoy the sauna, steam room and compact gym. The spa offers facials, manicures and nail treatments from a friendly team of therapists. Alternatively, Walton Hall and Gardens is a 10-minute drive away or historic Chester, a 25-minute journey.

Wake-up call: A deluxe king room starts at £145, theparkroyal.co.uk

by Naomi de Souza

MY legs were trembling and my heart racing, but I gingerly stepped over the side of the biggest cruise ship in the world and was sent flying 154ft above the ocean.

Thankfully, I was securely strapped into a harness on an overhead track, so I spent only seconds swinging over the waves before circling back safely to the top deck of Icon of the Seas.

The new thrill ride is called Crown’s Edge and involves walking out on a series of shapes, including crosses, before waiting for the platform below to give way and release you into the void.

I may have had all the grace of Boris Johnson on a zip wire but I’m glad I pushed myself to do it, especially after signing the waiver which contained the word “DEATH” several times.

It was even scarier than riding the tallest drop slide at sea, which I had done earlier in the day. Arms and legs crossed in a transparent cylinder, I stood on a trap door 48ft above the deck watching water cascading below me. Suddenly I was free-falling down a 282ft-long tube, ending up in a pool gasping for air. Quite literally breathtaking.

After all this excitement I relaxed in the evening by watching the first production at sea of The Wizard of Oz – as good as anything you’d see in the West End – including an endearingly animated puppet of Toto and the spectacle of Dorothy flying in a bed way up high above the audience during the cyclone.

These were the highlights of just one day on a preview cruise on Icon of the Seas, which is so big it’s like a moving island rather than a cruise ship.

With 2,350 crew, it can carry up to 7,600 passengers. Crammed into its 18 passenger decks are eight separate “neighbourhoods”, plus more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, as well as seven pools.

I’m used to big ships, having sailed on most of Royal Caribbean’s enormous Oasis-class vessels. Even so, as I boarded in Miami I was still overwhelmed by Icon’s size.

I toured the biggest suite, the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is three decks high, can sleep up to eight people, and is fitted with a slide, movie area, two private balconies and even a patio with table tennis. At a peak rate of £65,000 a week, it’s already sold out for the rest of this year.

At the top of the ship is Thrill Island, where I tried out the largest waterpark at sea, featuring drop, freefall and raft slides. There are also twin-mat racing chutes, like the helter-skelters of old.

The next neighbourhood down is the three-deck Chill Island, home to four of the seven pools on board and a swim-up bar. Then there’s The Hideaway with the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

Families with young children have an expansive area called Surfside with its own pools and restaurants. Clubs cater for all ages from sixmonth-old babies to 17-year-old teens. Another new feature is the Aquadome, which hosts water shows and features a 55ft-high water curtain – basically a giant shower head.

Cruisers who have been on Oasis-class ships will recognise Central Park, a verdant area of trees, plants and flowers surrounded by restaurants.

■ Royal Caribbean offers a seven-night Icon of the Seas Eastern Caribbean round trip from Miami from £2,457pp. Sails on September 7, calling at Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands; and Perfect

Day at Cococay,

Bahamas. Excludes flights, royalcaribbean.com

■ For more information visit stkitts.com, visitusvi.com, bahamas.com