As we stood in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, with the Parisian Statue of Liberty rising up behind us, Collins told the audience of travel agents and guests: “It hasn’t escaped me that we stand here between a symbol of progress, and a symbol of freedom”.

Her words were a poignant reminder of the line’s quiet resolve to support France, and in particular, its capital, in spite of the horrific terror assaults on the city in recent years. From considering pulling the whole construction of the Joie de Vivre following the killing of 130 people in the November 2015 attacks, the line instead committed to continuing with its plan for a Paris-based ship, and determined to make the vessel “even more French” in its design.

For Uniworld, the Joie de Vivre was designed to be a “statement about Paris, and about France”, the line’s president said. A determination to ensure tourism to the capital flourishes and a refusal to be cowed by terrorism.

I was reminded of this sentiment after reading the comments of agents and operators in the wake of last week’s horrific attack on Westminster. Graeme Brett of Westoe Travel said not one of his 37 customers in London chose to return early from their trip – including one client who was visiting parliament when the attack took place. “It must be the British spirit,” he told TTG.

In fact, it seems to be the global spirit. Despite Uniworld’s concerns about how appealing its new Paris-based ship would be to US customers, it is already 90% sold for 2017.

“We live in a scary place right now… but we don’t stop living,” Uniworld’s president pointed out. And as the bookings show – both for Uniworld and for London – people don’t stop travelling, or experiencing joie de vivre either.

It is perhaps this that is the greatest symbol of progress, freedom – and defiance.