From onboard talent shows to 5 star dining, travelling is about more than the destination on a luxury cruise ship

ALL eyes are on the judges’ faces as the girl on stage starts to sing.

She belts out a flawless At Last by Etta James and we wait to see which judge will love it — and hit the big red button that sends their chair swivelling round to face her.

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Sound familiar? Nope, I’m not watching The Voice on TV at home. I’m in a packed, buzzing theatre aboard the Ruby Princess cruise liner and we’re swaying not just to the music but also the gentle roll of the waves.

The Voice Of The Ocean is Princess Cruises’ latest belter of a night out and it’s exciting to be part of.

From cheering as each judge’s chair spins to choosing the night’s winner via the voting gizmo in my hand, it’s a brilliant twist to on-board talent shows — and one of the latest innovations to impress from Princess.

Earlier that day we had sampled another — the sinful ooze of an Ernesto burger washed down with a craft beer at the new Salty Dog gastropub.

The battle for best burger at sea is fierce but this may just win — the ribeye beef is so ­tender and brioche bun so soft it almost melts in your mouth.

By the third bite I’d decided to come back for seconds before we hit port and made a mental note not to weigh myself for a week.

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This was my first ever cruise and I was already in love.

Our destination on leaving San Francisco was Mexico but, as we hugged the Californian coast for a couple of days at sea, I finally saw sense in the idea that it can be better to travel than to arrive.

For a start, the pace is perfect. I woke one morning to see from my balcony a whale rise in the water.

I then parked myself on a sun lounger with a magazine and only shifted to gorge at lunchtime from a buffet in the Horizon Court — who knew sushi and roast beef went so well together! — then mosey to the spa for a massage.

The highlight of the day? No, not the whale show but gossiping in the hot tub to Patti and Michelle — an 80-year-old mum and her daughter who go on a Princess cruise every year because it’s “the best way to unwind and catch up”.

We rounded off the day with delicious fresh pasta in Michelangelo’s followed by Magic To Do, a brand new musical show with original songs by the creator of Wicked, Stephen Schwartz.

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The following day I was even lazier. While some chose to work off their excesses in the gym, I sloped off to ­sunbathe at The Sanctuary, a secluded spot at the front of the ship.

For an extra $20 you can book a deluxe sunlounger here and be waited on hand and foot.

As I slathered on the Factor 30, beaming staff brought over a trolley of tea, ­sandwiches, cakes and biscuits.

I was briefly upright for dinner then it was straight back on a lounger, with cocktail and blanket, to cosy up under the stars with Matt Damon. Well, a large version of him on the big screen, in The Martian.

Our arrival in Mexico at the small port of Puerto Vallarta the next day was met with a mariachi band in full swing.

But we were not on land long. We hopped on a cata- maran and bobbed our way to the picturesque fishing village of Yelapa, only reachable by boat, then walked slowly up through its tiny streets to a 70ft waterfall.

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For those who didn’t fancy the short climb, there was the option to just watch the world go by and enjoy fresh guacamole and chips beside crystal-clear waters at the beach.

Next day we docked in the colonial town of Mazatlan, an increasingly popular spot for tourists thanks to the sandy beaches that line its 13-mile promenade. There are high rocks where the locals perform daredevil dives for tourist tips but we skipped that to potter around the quiet, colourful squares of the historic centre.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a must-see, so we took in its sun-kissed yellow towers before retreating to a cafe for a margarita bigger than my head.

Our last port of call was the far busier but still charming resort of Cabo San Lucas — and another chance to spot the whales who travel 6,000 miles from Alaska every winter to bear their calves in the warm waters of Mexcio.

With one final day at sea, it was then time to learn more about what makes the Ruby Princess tick.

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I tried on the captain’s hat during a visit to the bridge and learned that the ship’s guests consume 21 tons of food and drink every day at sea. That reminded me — I was inexplicably hungry again. So for our final meal, we decided to try new restaurant Share, by Curtis Stone.

Aussie Stone looks like a hunky surfer but is an award-winning chef. The idea here is to share a series of different dishes as you might during a big family meal at home.

There is a $39 cover charge but the food is exceptional, we were treated like royalty — and it really is nothing like being at home.

Twice-cooked duck with parmesan crust and a mouthwatering crab tagliatelle were our favourites but the beef- cheek pie with potato gratin was also to die for.

As I scooped up the last, creamy spoonful of ricotta fritters with vanilla ice cream, I realised I’d probably put away a month’s worth of ­calories in one week. But that’s what a good holiday is all about — sunshine, relaxation and a little bit of indulgence.

Sometimes it’s good to push the boat out.