Originating from Bury and growing up in Bolton, Matt Cain is a fantastic writer and commentator on LGBTQ+ issues.

He has worked for ITV, Channel 4, and was previously Editor-in-Chief of Attitude magazine between 2016 and 2018. Queer stories have long been the subject of his work, having produced programmes about Freddie Mercury and Ian McKellen during his time at Channel 4.

Despite this, Matt’s third book The Madonna of Bolton struggled to find a publisher, receiving more than 30 rejections due to its LGBTQ+ themes. Instead the book was crowdfunded using Unbound, and became the company’s quickest ever funded title, having reached its target in just 7 days.

Entering service in 2021, Iona is one of P&O’s newest and largest ships, with a total capacity of 5,200 guests and 1800 crew.

I sailed on Iona for a Norwegian Fjords voyage in 2022 and had a wonderful time. Not only is the ship gorgeous, but the itinerary was amazing and had me completely hooked on cruising. Yes - this was my first ever cruise!

Something I didn’t know at the time was that all cabins are not created equal, and it’s important to do some research prior to booking. We were lucky and stayed in a great inside cabin on deck 4, which was stable in the rough North Sea and quiet throughout the night.

The UK’s newest cruise line, Ambassador recently merged with French line CFC, and renamed themselves the Ambassador Group. While the company’s overall ownership hasn’t changed, this merger combines the leadership team and offers new itineraries for the British market.

Currently, the majority stake is still owned by Ambassador’s existing shareholders, Njord Partners, with Cheyne Capital taking a minority stake. Ambassador’s existing CEO, Christian Verhounig has stayed in place and will continue to lead the company, alongside CFC’s chief operating officer Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt.

The UK’s newest cruise line, Ambassador provide good value voyages for a low cost, promising guests ‘the warmest welcome at sea’.

Choosing the right cabin can really make or break your trip. It all depends on what’s important for you - do you want to be close to the elevators and bars, or do you want a quiet spot away from the action? Where are you sailing to, and do you want a view from your room?

Consider whether you experience travel sickness, and whether you want to choose a cabin that is least likely to make you feel unwell.