Cruising - a fabulous way to travel

How else can you: hop between countries in a single holiday, eat as much as you like, shop until you drop, gym until you are slim, float between pool and cocktail, watch a West End or Broadway‑style show, mingle or sneak off to a quiet corner, have a pedi, climb a rock wall, dress up, dress down… and only unpack once?

Got three generations to please? Gran wants calm, the kids want water slides and the parents just want five minutes’ peace?     Cruising has you covered. 

Travelling solo? You can join in as much or as little as you like, with hosted activities, friendly bars and safe, welcoming spaces.

Bringing a group, from book clubs and art circles to incentive trips and girls’ getaways? You get ready‑made venues, built‑in entertainment and a new view outside the window almost every morning. 

Planning a honeymoon or romantic escape? Think adults‑only areas, sunset cocktails, private balconies and speciality restaurants where it feels like the whole ship is just there for the two of you. 

Senior travellers looking for comfort and ease? Everything is in one place, there are gentler shore options, and no endless packing and unpacking. Bliss.

From the storybook islands of Greece and Turkey, to the timeless ports of Italy and Spain, to the spectacular fjords of Norway and other iconic cruise regions around the world, your ship is a moving boutique hotel. You wake up somewhere new without ever touching a suitcase.

Eating on a cruise ship is an adventure all on its own. Some nights you might feel like the full “ooh‑la‑la” in the main dining room with its white tablecloths and multi‑course menus. Other days you just want to wander into the buffet in your casuals and build yourself the world’s most over‑the‑top dessert. And then there are the speciality restaurants where, for a small fee, you can dine like royalty and pretend you have your own private chef at sea. 

And then there is everything else on board. If you are anything like me, you will love being able to change the pace on a whim: 

• Spa treatment in the morning, hair styled for the evening. 
• A guilt‑busting gym session, or an enthusiastic promise to go to the gym tomorrow. 
• A little retail therapy in the boutiques. 
• Feeling lucky? Try the casino. 
• Or just grab a lounger by the pool, order a drink and open that book you have been “meaning to read” for a year.

Movie buff? Look out for ships that offer “movies under the stars” on deck.   Picture this:      warm evening air, twinkling sky, giant screen, popcorn in hand and the sound of the sea in the background, it's ridiculously cool. And the shows… oh my word, the shows. Big‑name Broadway and West End productions, acrobatics, comedians, live bands, guest performers, even celebrity chefs and bakers doing demos and tastings. It is like a mini festival at sea.

Then there are the ports of call. One day you are wandering cobbled streets in a Greek village, the next you are people‑watching over tapas in Spain, strolling along Venice waterways, or sailing between Norway’s dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. You can join the ship’s organised tours, which are well planned and graded from easy and wheelchair‑friendly to “let’s really get the heart rate up”, or do your own thing and explore independently.

Either way, just remember the golden rule: don’t be late, the ship won’t wait! 

Your “home from home” at sea can be as simple or as swish as you like: 

• Cosy interior cabins for great value. 
• Ocean view cabins with a window or porthole so you can check the weather without getting out of your pyjamas. 
• Balcony cabins where you can sip your morning coffee in your robe watching the world glide by. 
• Spacious suites and penthouses with butler service when you are ready to really spoil yourself.

And one of my favourite bits:   ships work on a cashless system on board.  Unpack once, pop your passport and valuables in the safe, and then simply tap your cruise card for everything you want to enjoy. No rummaging for change, no hunting for cards, just pure holiday mode. 

For me, that is the magic of cruising: one trip, many destinations, endless food, fun and memories, with all the faff taken out. 

What is not to love? 

Call me for more information about cruises to Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Norway and beyond, whether you are planning a multi‑generational adventure, a solo escape, a group getaway, a honeymoon or a well‑deserved senior break.

Oh, and remember:  don’t be late, the ship won’t wait!