Galaxy dazzled thousands of people as she received a memorable reception at Southampton in the last week of November, 1996.

It was the world at large's first glimpse of the new "baby" of the Chandris brothers' cruise empire and the general feeling from the host of invited guests was "Wow!"

For a start the 77,713-ton Galaxy (pictured) was one of the largest ships ever to sail into Southampton, so a big welcome was more than justified.

But true to the expectations of all new ships built for the Caribbean market - and therefore with Americans at the forefront of their minds - the Galaxy is bold, brash and without question exciting.

After all, when the owners given electronics giant Sony virtually an open cheque and say do what you like, the result has to be hi-tech and spectacular.

No wonder the foyer has a wall of vision which stretches into the heavens. Then there are banks of screens inset into corridor walls simply to inject a bit of atmosphere ... not that the Galaxy needs it. And it's hardly surprising that staterooms - all 935 of them - come fully equipped with good sized TVs, and many of them with video players.

Sony Wonder allows you to play around in an experiential exhibition area and explore the digital world, if that's what you really want to do on holiday. Personally I'd rather stretch out on a sun lounger while admiring the view from a Royal Suite verandah. Take a Sky Suite and the verandah is large enough to stage a floor show of your own, or a stand-up party for about 80 friends.

And if you can afford one of the two Penthouse suites, you can spend the entire cruise trying to work out how to operate the bank of sight and sound equipment that fills a floor to ceiling cupboard one metre wide.

John Chandris is reportedly one of the few people to have mastered it, although I am sure the butler who comes with the suite knows what all the knobs and dials are for.

A butler is all very nice, but who needs one, except to iron your boxer shorts, when you can frequent the Orion restaurant. It is simply stunning ... and so is the food. But anyone who cruises in Celebrity style can expect a five star feast.

And when the calories start to take their toll and the midriff starts to change shape, you can always drag your bloated body into the sweat-shop otherwise known as the state-of-the-art Aquaspa.

Stroll on this, cycle on that, pump a bit of iron on something else, plunge into a pool - and all while you are discussing how rude your health is with your personal fitness trainer. By the end you'll be fit for ... probably nothing. But it's fun.

And the fun goes on and on, usually into the early hours. Having toned up your muscles in the gym, you'll be in fine shape to pull all the handles in Fortunes casino, which is naturally like something out of Las Vegas. Was that Frank Sinatra I heard singing in the background?

A tour of the night life - Sony comes into its own again - before returning to your comfortable and spacious stateroom. And if the whole night scene is too much, then you can always raid the mini-bar, curl up on your sofa and watch a video.

The choice is yours. Having spent three hours marvelling at the miracle of modern ship-building, I've made mine and, judging by the approving comments of many, Royal Suites will be hard to get hold of.