For most people, a week or two aboard a cruise ship offers the chance to explore several different ports while travelling in comfort and luxury and enjoying the facilities on board. However, behind the scenes, the infrastructure of a small city is provided to ensure there is light and power, food and drink, propulsion, waste disposal and laundry as well as a myriad of other services and functions that ensure the ship gets to its destinations on time. So, how does it work? What really happens behind the scenes? Sharon Poole and Andrew Sassoli-Walker have been given unprecedented access to the seven ships of the P&O Cruises' fleet as, with contributions from passengers, officers, crew and shoreside staff, they go into the planning and execution of a year's travel aboard a P&O Cruises' ship. Starting with ensuring the itineraries are in place, berths are booked at destinations and that brochures are ready, they then look at the ships themselves, covering everything you would expect to see on a normal cruise, as well as many of the behind-the-scenes activities that make a P&O Cruise a relaxed and exciting experience for all passengers.