If it’s good enough for royalty, it's good enough for me.

And the Princess Royal, the latest addition to the Princess cruise fleet, is no exception.

Christened by the Duchess of Cambridge back in June, this sleek, upmarket vessel has earned itself almost as many column inches as the country’s would-be future queen.

Keen to find out what all the fuss was about, my husband and I eagerly joined the ship on her maiden season through the Mediterranean.

There are echoes of the Duchess throughout the ship – from the huge portrait of her hanging near reception, to sumptuous finishing touches fit for a member of the Windsor clan.

The ship is very calm, and very spacious – despite catering for 3,600 passengers.

Families and younger couples were the staple on the Princess Royal, but it wasn’t noisy.

The children could happily splash around in a top deck swimming pool, we could escape to an exclusive adults-only area.

The Retreat is the perfect place to laze in the sun while sipping a cocktail or two, and the pool area – The Sanctuary – is great for a leisurely dip.

Thanks to a good selection of port excursions, we had plenty to keep us occupied throughout the journey.

We would dock for the whole day, giving us a chance to do lots of sightseeing.

Naples was our first port of call in Italy, and an air-conditioned minibus whisked us from the dock to Sorrento, about an hour’s drive away.

The Amalfi Coast looked stunning as we climbed the hills, and whizzed past olive and lemon trees.

In Rome we had our own personal tour guide and the group we were in consisted of 15 people, so it was a great size to sightsee at a relaxed pace.

The royal treatment continued from ship to port, as we queue-jumped at the Colosseum, avoided the long lines at the Vatican Museum, and got our own rosary beads for our tour around St Peter's Basilica.

After each day trip, we were exhausted.

However, it was easy to forget our achy feet and sunburnt skin as we relaxed in the on-board spa – the dark, quiet and soothing Lotus.

We had access to The Enclave at the spa, which is available to guests for a supplement.

A huge hydrotherapy pool fills the room, with a sauna and steam room hidden behind vast, dark marble walls.

The quality of food had also been a concern, but we needn't have worried.

Upon docking in every port, fresh food is delivered to the ship. The on-board steak house, Crown Grill, was very impressive and the Winemaker's Dinner, held in the Symphony dining room, was another treat.

We were tucked away in a private dining room, surrounded by hundreds of bottles of expensive wine.

Hosted by Diletta Frescobaldi, part of the famous Italian winemaking family, we were treated to a seven-course meal, paired with some of the Frescobaldi Super Tuscan wines.

They are exclusively available on board the Princess Royal, and if you’re feeling especially flush, or you’ve just won the lottery, because each bottle costs roughly around $300.

As well as the main dining rooms there are plenty of other restaurants to choose from on the ship, including Italian Sabatini’s and pizza restaurant Alfredo’s.

There are also plenty of bars dotted around the Atrium.

Entertainment is also held on the ground floor of the Atrium; we saw gymnasts defy gravity, heard orchestras perform and even took part in some salsa dancing.

When we first looked at our itinerary for the trip, I thought we’d be a frazzled, claustrophobic mess when we docked at our final port, Barcelona.

That couldn't have been further from the truth.

I was stress free, relaxed and not very enthusiastic about leaving the ship.

After coming back one day to find a cup and saucer made entirely from chocolate, I bounded around the room like an excited puppy.

Despite our sea legs (we were rocking for days after landing at Heathrow), and the extra pounds we’d put on, it was an unforgettable experience.

Travel Facts:

Emma Wilson was a guest of Princess Cruises (princess.com; 0843 373 0333).

The Royal Princess will be visiting Scandinavia and Russia for an 11-night trip from May 12-23, 2014, from £1,245 per person (based on two adults sharing an inside stateroom).

Fare includes all accommodation, all main meals and on-board entertainment, and return flights from a London airport.

All offers are subject to availability.

The Regal Princess will operate a 12-night Med cruise from July 13-25, from £1,839 per person.