My reason for choosing a cruise holiday was simple: after three months on the TV show Grease, The School Musical, I was exhausted.

The series, which involved working with pupils from the Wallasey School in Merseyside, was rewarding, but physically and mentally draining and as as soon as the series ended I was anxious to recharge my batteries.

When it comes to holidays I’m not really a creature of habit, I like to do different things. I have a house in Los Angeles so I go there sometimes. And I often take my mum away with me.

This Mediterranean voyage was the first I’ve taken with Princess Cruises. What appealed was the fact it was for adults only. When you’ve been so busy, it’s nice to have a break without children running around.

I also liked the itinerary – 12 days starting in Venice and taking in Turkey, Greece, France and Spain, with the finish due to be in Barcelona, although we had to get off in Monte Carlo the day before as I had to go back to work.

I think people who cruise divide into two groups: those who enjoy being on board and can’t be bothered with the hassle of getting off, and those who travel for the port visits. I fall into the second category. I left the ship at all the ports and really liked that part of the trip.

The stop I most enjoyed was in Kusadasi, a Turkish village on the Ionian coast from where we visited Ephesus, a fascinating archeological site.

This is where Mark Antony and Cleopatra rode in procession and St Paul preached against the goddess Artemis.

From there we sailed to Istanbul and saw the fabulous Blue Mosque. It was amazing, and very uplifting, to meditate with my own private thoughts in such a beautiful place. Of course, we also had to explore the bazaars where I was staggered by the extraordinary variety of things to buy.

We visited Mykonos, a beautiful Greek island, and another highlight was Pisa where, naturally, we had to see the Leaning Tower. Sadly, we didn’t get to climb it but we had great fun walking around it.

I’m surprised that so many of us have the wrong idea about what a cruise is like nowadays. I’ve heard people say: ‘I wouldn’t go on a cruise, there isn’t enough to do… I would feel too confined…’

That’s nonsense. Modern cruise ships are not only spacious, they are full of things to do and enjoy. The problem is not having enough to do but not being able to do all the things available to you.

Among the things I particularly like, for example, is the onboard casino: it’s a fun way to spend a few hours after dinner.

But perhaps the greatest pleasure of a good cruise is the food. The standard of cuisine is incredible and there is so much variety.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had was on this Princess cruise in Sabbatini’s. This is one of the onboard restaurants that levies a cover charge, but it was well worth it. We had eight courses from a menu specialising in Italian cuisine and seafood. Cruise ships’ best restaurants now rival many of the top ones in the world.

People talk about the dangers of putting on weight when you take a cruise but I was in the excellent gym working out every day. I went to spinning classes, which were great, and also worked out on the machines. In fact, I became involved with most of the onboard sporting activities, as I really like keeping fit. I also spent time in the swimming pools and the Jacuzzi.

A cruise is a great opportunity to eat properly and do lots of exercise at the same time. Eat as much as you like but never feel guilty about it – it’s the perfect holiday in that respect.

Another of my favourite onboard activities is watching a movie under the stars. You sit out on deck, given a box of popcorn and a rug to make sure you keep warm if it’s a bit chilly at night, and watch a film on a big screen. It’s tremendous fun.

As someone who works in the entertainment business, I was keen to have a look at the shows, and they really were fantastic. The onboard entertainers are talented, top-quality singers and dancers. It’s extraordinary to see how they perform night after night.

I met many of the performers in the gym where they go to work out during the day and enjoyed having the chance to talk to them.

A lot of the entertainment crew came from Britain, so many of them knew who I was. One wanted me to sing in one of the clubs with a live band. I loved it: I got up and did a bit of Mustang Sally and Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling In Love, which was a real treat for me.

I’m now signed up to the hit West End show Legally Blonde: The Musical for the next six months, so I won’t be able to take another holiday until July at the earliest. But I’m already planning where I’ll go next, with Thailand at the top of my list. It’s a fabulous country.

And, of course, I’m also thinking about another cruise. It will provide the relaxation I’ll be looking for after six months’ hard work in the West End. I fear I may be turning into a bit of a cruise junkie.

[Source: Daily Mail]