The Cruise you take when you're not taking a cruise

Many people love cruising, and you can see the benefits. With unlimited food, drinks packages and entertainment, for some, this is the perfect, no-fuss holiday. And you can't deny the convenience of unpacking once and being taken from place to place by the captain. But, I spent my career communing with large crowds of people and being at the beck and call of others, and when I go on holiday, I want peace and quiet. I want to be able to dine alone with my husband, spend time in a small luxury space when I want to, or sit at a quiet bar or in a peaceful spot by an uncrowded pool (preferably with no children in it) when I feel like it.

We once took a cruise with our kids on a large liner. It rained every day, and by the end, I was thoroughly over being trapped inside a floating hotel with 2,500 other passengers, lining up for food and sharing close personal space with people I didn't know. I vowed I would never take another cruise.

I felt that my desires were simply not synonymous with cruising, and I was condemned to a lifetime of planes, trains and automobiles, and the soul-destroying frequent hotel check-in and out, if I wanted to travel far and wide.

And then....I found Seabourn. Initially a cruise line of only 200 passenger ships (more like someone's private yacht), this cruise line has morphed into mostly 400 passenger boats and, in doing so, has lost none of the intimacy I have grown to expect. Since our first cruise, we have sailed 120 sea days on cruises from 7 nights long to one which was 30 nights. So, what is the difference between this cruise line and the larger ones?

The most notable thing is the cabin size. The least expensive cabin on the ship is still hotel room size, with a separate living area, queen-sized island bed, a walk-in robe/dressing room and a bathroom with bath, separate shower and double basin vanity. This means days spent in your suite are still enjoyable, with plenty of space around you.

Next comes the common areas, which are beautiful and spacious. Even before the pandemic, social distancing was never a problem. The pools are never crowded, and while children are allowed on board, they aren't encouraged (due to a lack of amenities for them), so it's a brave parent who would subject their children to the relative 'boredom' of a Seabourn Cruise.

Perhaps what we like most is the dining. Private and intimate if that's what you want, formal or casual, it's your choice entirely, and the food options are delicious. No lining up for food; eat when and where you want, even if it's in the coffee shop, which is also included in your fare. Oh, and the drinks are all included too. It doesn't take me long to teach the staff my favourite cocktail mix, and each night, as I enter 'The Club" for some intimate jazz music or a low-key singer, my cocktail is being prepared as I find a seat and brought to me shortly thereafter, with canapes. The staff, from the housekeepers to the hospitality staff and concierge, go that extra mile every day to be sure they know your preferences and provide a stunningly superior experience.

I think you'd be surprised at the fares. I have done the sums comparing a Seabourn Cruise (depending upon the destination, of course) with its all-inclusive offering, to a general large line cruise requiring you to pay for drinks and other dining extras, and there's not that much difference. But the difference in the experience equates to an ocean-sized gap!