Supercruising: Life at Sea

In this opening episode, security officer Rich Fontaine oversees nearly 3,000 passengers passing through his stringent security checks prior to exploring North Africa and Europe. Across in Florida, the sister ship is prepared to set sail around the Americas. First stop is a private island in the Bahamas, complete with a meticulously planned beach barbecue for thousands.

The crew sailing North Africa and Europe pulls out all the stops for the biggest bash of the cruise - a full-blown Dutch Orange Party for nearly 3,000 passengers, with dazzling costumes, themed cocktails and a deck-stomping parade that gets everyone in party mode. Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, Midlands couple Neville and Melanie are up to their necks in it - quite literally - as they plunge into a mineral-rich mud bath at a bubbling volcano.

The navigation team sailing the Americas has a tricky manoeuvre to manage. The highlight of the voyage for passengers is traversing the Panama Canal, but cruising the locks requires maximum skill and concentration. Meanwhile, in Europe, Nottinghamshire couple Claire and Graham are whale spotting in Tenerife. Unfamiliar with scouring the horizon, they could do with a tip from security officer Rich who, after four decades at sea, has a database filled with thousands of ship sightings.

Dancer Summer from Milton Keynes is one of the newest recruits to the crew sailing the Caribbean, and is acclimatising to performing on a rocky stage while missing family back home. On the ship sailing North Africa and Europe, the chefs are prepping a fine-dining experience fusing Japanese and Western cuisines. In Europe, a Dutch family brave some unseasonal pouring rain on a Tuk Tuk tour around Porto.

The MS Nieuw Statendam prepares to set sail from Fort Lauderdale on a two-week voyage around the Caribbean, and it falls to British cruise and travel director Clare to get the party started. British travellers Richard and Jackie are in full holiday mode as the ship is carefully navigated out of the busy cruise port. Next stop is the Dominican Republic, where the couple visit a chocolate-making co-operative. However, it's the ship's 'Dressy Night' that's the icing on the cake as, under the direction of chef Sinu, the galley staff work hard to create a 'taste explosion' that blows away the cruisers.

The MS Nieuw Statendam sail solo on a picture-perfect cruise circling the Caribbean. Sisters Danielle and Leanne from Nuneaton sign up for a high-octane trip through the Everglades, spotting alligators en route. When the ship docks in Grand Cayman, the crew's British dancers Daisy, Freddie and Lauren enjoy swimming with stingrays. Back on the ship, the trio need to knuckle down to some hard graft, prepping and rehearsing for a Las Vegas-style performance with solo singer Cassidy. After a fall during the previous night's performance, the pressure is on to make sure there are no more wobbles.

The MS Nieuw Statendam drops anchor at the private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. It's a chance for British cruise and travel director Clare and her boyfriend, electrical engineer Andrew, to grab some much-needed respite on one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Meanwhile, back on board, food and beverage director Mehmet ensures he's ordered enough food and drink to keep his passengers happy and fleet executive chef Sinu lifts the lid on some culinary secrets, teaching passengers how some of the ship's key dishes are rustled up.

The MS Nieuw Statendam sails solo, with a packed programme of excursions for passengers voyaging across North Africa and Europe. On reaching the Canary Islands and Portugal, guests disembark for a range of adventures. Ash and Neeha from Romford, north-east London, take a trip on a traditional moliceiro boat, the gondolas of the city of Porto, while honeymooners Kim and Michelle from Florida embark on a fishing trip in Tenerife. Back on the ship, green-fingered florist Noven is tasked with keeping his stand-out designs in full bloom.