'I flew for 20 hours to visit cruise line's newly-revamped private island'

"Don't be scared... you won't fall off." Well, it was easy for my guide to say.

I'd just watched a safety video about how DANGEROUS these things were and I was a little apprehensive.

You see, the thing with jet skis, or wave runners as they were called here in the Bahamas, is they apparently work better if you go fast.

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Going slow, my new friend explained, made them liable to get stuck in shallow water and 'Journo stranded in middle of the ocean' wasn't a headline I wanted to see.

As a side note, seems my editor likes sending me to try terrifying activities. Last year, I went on the first roller-coaster hybrid at sea on Norwegian Aqua.

And now, I was back, almost a year later on brand new sister ship, Norwegian Luna.

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Private islands and exclusive destinations you can visit on cruises

I flew all the way from Australia for a three-day sample cruise which included a visit to the company's newly revamped private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

And here I was, doing my best to provide a full review by trying some of the activities.

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It was too late to back out now. I nodded at my pal's instructions, took a deep breath, and pulled down the throttle.

15, 20, 30mph.... I felt like I was in Back to the Future as we gained speed... I was doing it!

With the rest of a small group spun around in waters the shades of which you'd normally only see on a turquoise paint chart.

I even kind of enjoyed it.

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But once I hopped off, I definitely needed the frozen pina colada at the swim-up bar.

It sits in the middle of the mammoth Great Life Lagoon, the standout new feature of the island which is visited only by the firm's ships.

A waterpark is also on the way later this year, and a pier has been built which negates the need for tenders.

While the millions being spent on the island is giving it a modern revamp, the company has maintained a Caribbean feel.

The pristine beaches have crystal clear water lapping the sand, and there are plenty of sunbeds to relax and soak it up.

Pay extra and you can get into more exclusive areas like the Vibe Shore Club or SilverCove, which has its own spa.

Buffet food is included for everyone with Caribbean-style fayre like fish, prawns, and jerk chicken and our favourite Bahamas pineapple cake washed down with local Kalik beer.

Thrill seekers can also pay to zipline from the landmark lighthouse over the ocean (my husband said it was great but I opted to watch from a sunlounger).

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What it's like on board Norwegian Luna

We visited the island on board NCL's new ship, Norwegian Luna, which sails from Miami.

And it's clear the company aims to offer something for all cruisers.

Teens will love the arcades and games including bowling, Glow Court games deck as well as the Aqua Slide Coaster and The Drop Slide.

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There's even an obstacle course high above the decks called Moon Climber.

Adults can dine in swanky spots like Cagney's Steakhouse and Le Bistro, just two of the standouts of the 17 restaurants (some cost extra while others are included).

(Tip: Christian Pratsch, Vice President, Food & Beverage Operations at NCL told me a must-try is the star-shaped pizza at Onda by Scarpetta, made in the ship's specially created wood-fired pizza oven.)

There are also 15 bars, with our favourite, Metropolitan, offering some cocktails made from reused ingredients from other parts of the ship as part of the Sail and Sustain scheme.

The Croissant Mai Tai was a tasty concoction which comes guilt-free in our view because it is made with leftover pastries.

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But it's not all posh.

Families looking for more casual hangs can snack at the Surfside Café buffet or Indulge Food Hall, where you order from nine street-food style bars on a tablet.

Included for all cruisers, it was actually our favourite dining spot.

"From Indian to noodles of the world to tapas there is something for everyone, and the menu changes from breakfast, lunch and dinner," Christian clarified.

Now, the cruise line has long been known for its shows, and this ship has a few which are not to be missed.

Elton: A Celebration of Elton John showcases tunes from the British icon with dazzling technology and epic talent.

And while we were not sure what was going on in HIKO, the cirque-style acrobatics, fancy staging and contemporary dancing did impress us.

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Finally, let us reel off a few other highlights of the ship.

The super chic Mandara spa which even has is own ice room, The Improv at Sea comedy bar, Syd Normals Pour House pub, the adults-only Vibe Beach Club and all the usual staples like bingo and poolside games.

We had three nights, but with so much on offer, even a week may not be enough.

The writer travelled as a guest of NCL.

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