programme about cruise

14 Binge-Worthy TV Shows Set on Cruise Ships

One of my favorite family vacations to this day will always be the 3-day cruise we took from Singapore to Malaysia on the SuperStar Virgo. Even though it was some 20 years ago, I still remember the excitement I felt walking up the grand staircase that wrapped around the Christmas tree, running down the carpeted hallways to find our room and the awe I felt at just how huge the entire ship looked from the outside.

My tiny, eight-year-old brain had a hard time processing how something so big could stay afloat, but I had no worries that it wouldn’t. It was, without a doubt, a memorable experience and one that I’d like to have again as an adult. I definitely recommend going on a cruise at least once in your life!

But if you can’t do it in person, how about doing it via your TV screen?

This is why we put together a comprehensive list of scripted TV shows set on cruise ships for all you sea lovers to get the travel bug somewhat out of your system.

So put on your best cruise outfit, grab that poolside cocktail, and settle down onto your couch to binge these TV shows about cruise ships!

The Good Ship Murder, Channel 5 (2023 – present)

We’ll begin this countdown with the newest show on it – Channel 5’s whodunit The Good Ship Murder .

This murder mystery series centers on former detective Jack Grayling, now a charismatic cruise ship singer working on a luxury Mediterranean cruise, who finds his past resurfacing when a string of murders rocks the idyllic voyage.

Forced to use his honed detective skills, Jack teams up with the ship’s strong-willed First Officer, Kate Woods, to solve the murders.

Together, they navigate exotic Mediterranean locales while unraveling the tangled motives and hidden secrets of passengers and crew alike.

Wreck, BBC Three (2022 – present)

Another newer show on this list is BBC Three’s horror-comedy Wreck .

This genre-bending series follows Jamie Walsh, a nineteen-year-old who takes a job on a board cruise ship called The Sacramentum to figure out what happened to his sister, who went missing from the same ship three months ago.

But paradise quickly turns deadly as a series of grisly murders begin to plague the ship.

So, Jamie learns the ins and outs of living and working on a ship and befriends other crew members in hopes that it will help him investigate his sister’s disappearance and how the recent attacks on crew member could be connected to it.

The Love Boat, ABC (1977 – 1986)

The Love Boat is a scripted rom-com/drama series that aired on ABC more than 30 years ago! However, when watching this series, you’ll find that a lot of the scenarios portrayed still feel very current.

Based on the original made-for-TV movie of the same name, which in turn was based on the non-fiction book Love Boats written by Jeraldine Saunders, a real-life passenger cruise ship director, the show takes place on board the MS Pacific Princess, a luxury passenger cruise ship.

Captain Merrill Stubing is at the helm, guiding not only the ship himself but also his crew members as they attempt to deal with a new passenger’s antics in each episode.

These crew members included the cruise directors, photographer, purser, bartender, doctor, and eventually, even a troupe of dancers!

Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN (1998 – 1999)

Speaking of The Love Boat , in 1998, UPN came out of a reboot of the classic series.

This time around, we follow Captain Jim Kennedy, a divorced Navy officer, as he steers the luxurious Sun Princess on Caribbean adventures.

Join him on the cruise ship are his teenage son Danny and a crew of quirky characters as they navigate exotic ports and witness blossoming love stories unfold amongst the passengers each week.

Featuring familiar faces from the original Love Boat alongside many new guest stars, Love Boat: The Next Wave is a must-watch for all those who loved the original series!

The Gale Storm Show, CBS/ABC (1956 – 1960)

Next, we’re looking at the oldest show on this countdown – The Gale Storm Show .

This 1956 black-and-white sitcom stars Gale Storm as Susanna “Susan” Kingston, the quick-witted social director aboard the luxury liner SS Ocean Queen.

During the show’s four seasons, we follow Susan and her scatterbrained best friend Ethel “Nugey” Porter’s hilarious misadventures abroad on the ship, kept in check by the ship’s ever-grumpy Captain, James “Jim” Bates.

Each episode brings new laughs as Susan tackles the chaos of passenger demands, quirky crewmates, and her own romantic entanglements.

The Suite Life on Deck, Disney Channel (2008 – 2011)

For a more light-hearted take on a cruise ship series, we have Disney’s The Suite Life on Deck .

A spin-off of the Disney original series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , this show sees twins Zack and Cody Martin trade their posh hotel life for the luxurious cruise liner SS Tipton, owned by their classmate London Tipton’s father.

London, used to a life of luxury, must now share a cramped cabin with Bailey Pickett, a down-to-earth girl from Kansas.

While Mr. Moseby, the uptight manager from their old hotel, joins the crew, keeping a watchful eye on the mischievous twins.

Breaker High, YTV (1997 – 1998)

Speaking of teenagers on a cruise ship, there also is a one-season Canadian series, Breaker High .

This unique series takes place at the Pacific Coast Academy, which ditches the traditional classroom for the decks of a luxurious cruise ship, allowing students to explore exotic ports while tackling real-life challenges.

Join a vibrant cast including brooding heartthrob Sean (played by young Ryan Gosling!), practical joker Jimmy, tomboyish Cassidy, and overachiever Denise as they navigate friendships, first loves, and the pressures of high school – all under the watchful eye of the student activities counselor Tony Gifford and the ship’s captain/the school principal Captain Ballard.

High Seas, Netflix (2019 – 2020)

High Seas , also known as Alta Mar in its original Spanish, is a Netflix original series that aired for three seasons beginning in 2019.

Unlike the modern cruise ship settings that we’ve seen so far, High Seas takes place on a luxury ocean liner in the 1940s !

As it voyages from Spain to Brazil, sisters Eva and Carolina Villanueva climb aboard the Barbara de Braganza liner. Unbeknownst to the other passengers and crew, they’ve smuggled a mysterious woman onboard after she pleaded for their help.

Things go terribly awry when the woman is thrown overboard, and Eva, a curious and headstrong writer, launches an investigation into the mysterious goings-on on the ship.

Eventually, both she and her sister discover shocking secrets that tie into their family’s dark past. Who are they supposed to believe?

Anchored, Telecinco (2015)

Another Spanish series set on a cruise ship is the 2015 sitcom Anchored (or Anclados in its original Spanish).

This short-lived Spanish series takes place on a budget cruise ship called the Estrella del Mar (Star of the Sea).

So, we follow the ship’s quirky crew, led by the ever-optimistic Captain Paloma and the perpetually grumpy Cruise Director Mariano, as they struggle to keep the ship afloat – both literally and metaphorically.

Join them alongside a wacky cast of passengers, from social media-obsessed millennials to eccentric retirees, as they navigate hilarious mishaps, stormy weather (both literal and emotional), and all-inclusive chaos.

The Dream Ship, ZDF (1981 – 2005)

From Spanish, we will jump to German in this next series.

The Dream Ship (or Das Traumschiff in its original German) is a long-running German drama that whisks viewers away on luxurious cruises to exotic locations around the globe.

Each episode features heartwarming stories of the passengers taking the cruise – blossoming romances, rekindled friendships, and even family reconciliations – all played out against the backdrop of paradise.

Captains and crews change throughout the series, but the focus on feel-good stories and stunning locales remains constant.

Titanic, ITV (2012)

While not exactly a cruise ship, Titanic is probably the most well-known ship on the planet, so I think we would be remiss if we didn’t mention a TV show about this passenger liner.

Written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, this series weaves a fictional tapestry of stories against the backdrop of the historical tragedy.

We follow the ship’s passengers from all walks of life – ambitious first-class socialites, hopeful Irish immigrants, and hardworking stokers – as they embark on the RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage.

1899, Netflix (2022)

And if we’re mentioning 2012’s Titanic , then we also have to tell you about Netflix’s short-lived series 1899 .

This multilingual sci-fi thriller follows a group of European immigrants sailing westward on the steamship Kerberos. However, their dreams of a new life in America are shattered when they encounter another vessel adrift on the open sea – the Prometheus.

A sinister puzzle unfolds as passengers from both ships, each harboring dark secrets, are inexplicably linked. Mysterious symbols, cryptic messages, and unsettling occurrences plague the journey, raising questions about reality itself.

You Are My Destiny (2020)

The last non-English language series we’ll mention is the Cheese drama You Are My Destiny .

Based on the 2008 Taiwanese drama called Fated to Love You , the series is set on board a cruise ship bound for the Bahamas.

There we meet a mousy administrative assistant, Chen Jia Xin, and a charming heir to a large toiletries conglomerate, Wang Xi Yi.

After a chance encounter, the two find themselves unexpectedly drawn together. Will they become each other’s destiny despite their differences?

Avenue 5, HBO (2020 – 2022)

Finally, science fiction and dark comedy collide in this last entry – HBO’s Avenue 5.

This series brings cruise ships to a place you never could have imagined: space . Yup, you read that right!

While setting off on an eight-week-long cruise, the interplanetary cruise ship Avenue 5 experiences technical difficulties that set off a devastating chain of events: a temporary loss of gravity and the Chief Engineer’s accidental death, causing the ship to veer off-course.

When it’s estimated to take three years for them to return to Earth, Captain Clark and his crew need to figure out how to keep their passengers calm, collected, and safe – even as mishaps are happening left and right.

Will they ever be able to make it back home?

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The 17 Best Documentaries About Cruise Ships

Aug 1, 2023 | Best Of , Business , Travel

From stories of daring rescues at sea to tales of luxury liners gone wrong, these thirteen documentaries offer an intimate look into the cruise industry – without ever leaving your sofa! So grab some popcorn and get ready for a cinematic voyage as we explore some of the best documentaries about cruise ships.

1. The Secret Life of the Cruise (2018)

2. The Cruise (2022)

3. All Hands On Deck (2019)

4. Superships (2007)

The Best Free Documentaries About Cruise Ships

1. cruise ship harmony of the seas – leisure fun on the high seas.

The Harmony Of The Seas is the epitome of luxury cruising experience. This 120,000 ton behemoth has space for more than 6,300 passengers to enjoy its longest slide at sea and two surf pools. Join us as we embark on a journey with this majestic cruise liner on its maiden voyage! Witness the leisure fun on the high seas that you can only find aboard one of the world’s largest ships.

2. Inside The Most EXPENSIVE Christmas Cruise

Discover the secrets of life on board one of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships, the Seven Seas Explorer, at Christmas . Get an inside look at how this floating six-star hotel celebrates the holidays and find out why it is considered to be so expensive! From decorations to activities, take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into life on board this amazing ship and learn what makes it so special during Christmas time.

3. Mega Food – The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship

Embark on a journey of discovery and learn about the world’s biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. With 250 chefs creating over 100 tonnes of delicious meals every week, it is an impressive culinary operation that rivals any military exercise. Take a behind-the-scenes look at this mega food endeavor and get ready for a tasty adventure!

4. The Most Expensive Cruise Ship in The World

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel on the most luxurious cruise ships in the world? In this video, we take a look at some of the most expensive and extravagant vessels out there. From onboard activities and amenities to what kind of prices you can expect to pay for a week’s stay, get ready to explore some truly remarkable vessels that redefine luxury cruising!

5. Why It Costs $1 Million Per Day To Run One Of The World’s Biggest Cruise Ships

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run one of the world’s biggest cruise ships? From a staff of 2,400 people working around the clock to create 30,000 meals a day and manage all waste onboard – this is no small feat. In this video we dive below deck on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas and explore how an engine room, captain’s bridge and tiny kitchens work together to power this floating city. See what it costs $1 million per day to keep these ships sailing!

6. Engineering And Building An 80,000-Ton Cruise Ship : The Meraviglia Cruise Ship

Cruise ships offer vacationers a unique way to explore the world and experience some of life’s greatest luxuries. In this documentary, we take an in-depth look at the engineering and building process of one of the most impressive cruise ships ever built: The Meraviglia Cruise Ship. From design to construction, learn how 80,000 tons of steel become a floating paradise that transports thousands every year. This is a must watch for anyone who wants to know more about what it takes to build these magnificent vessels!

7. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 1

The tragic death of a bride on her honeymoon cruise shatters the joyous atmosphere of the ship. When investigators learn that there were no strong winds at the time, they launch a murder investigation to find out who is responsible for what happened. In this episode of “Cruise Ship Killers”, we get an in-depth look at the case and explore all possibilities to uncover the truth behind this tragedy.

8. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 2

Cruise ships can be a romantic getaway, but in this episode of Cruise Ship Killers, we explore the dark side of vacationing at sea. Join us as we dive into the mysterious story of a husband and wife from Olympia, Washington whose surprise cruise ended with one of them going overboard. Was it an act of revenge? Jealousy? Or something far worse? Find out in this thrilling installment!

9. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 3

Cruise ships are a popular way to travel, but they can also be dangerous. In this episode of Cruise Ship Killers, we follow the mysterious disappearance of a professor’s assistant on board one of the longest voyages. A diary found in her cabin provides clues as to what happened and who might have been involved. Join us as we investigate her mysterious disappearance and discover if anyone onboard knows what happened!

10. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 4

Cruise ships are one of the most popular vacation spots, but not all cruises end with happy memories. This documentary series takes a look into the mysterious disappearances that have occurred on luxury cruises. Featuring interviews with family members, investigators and experts, Cruise Ship Killers delves deep to uncover what happened to those who never returned home after enjoying their holiday at sea. Join us as we explore these chilling cases in this thought-provoking true crime series.

11. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 5

A retired teacher set out on a solo journey across the Great Lakes, only for her family to become concerned when she fails to check in. As they investigate further, they begin to suspect something sinister has happened. Join us as we explore this story of Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 5 and uncover what really happened!

12. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 6

When a German college student goes missing while working on a cruise ship in Alaska , the questions arise: did she decide to skip out on her duties or was there something more sinister that happened? Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 6 takes an in-depth look at this mysterious disappearance and examines all possibilities. Join us as we dive into the deep waters of Alaskan ports to uncover what really happened that fateful day.

13. Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 7

In this heart-wrenching and gripping documentary, a family of four embarks on the cruise of a lifetime. But when only three return home, they launch an investigation into what happened to their missing daughter – all signs pointing towards her being kidnapped. Follow them as they search for answers in Cruise Ship Killers – Season 1 : Episode 7!

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Discover New Content

Miss cruising? Stream these 13 movies and shows to get your cruise ship fix

Are you a hardcore cruising fan? We wouldn't blame you for being a bit down. The complete shutdown of cruising since March due to the coronavirus pandemic is keeping you away from your favorite floating hideaways, and it doesn't look like you'll be back at sea anytime soon.

That said, you're not completely cut off from your favorite ships — you still can see them in movies and in television shows.

Since streaming movies and television programming is pretty much all we're doing these days (and we're guessing that's the case for you, too), we've put together this list of some our favorite onscreen entertainment that includes at least a glimpse of a cherished cruise vessel.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

In some cases, these movies and shows are available on streaming services such as Hulu (if you're not a subscriber, get a free trial ), Amazon Prime , fuboTV , Sling TV and FandangoNow . Others can be found on YouTube, iTunes, or at Redbox kiosks.

"Mighty Cruise Ships"

Available on: Hulu , YouTube , Amazon Prime , Smithsonian Channel

You'll get much more than a glimpse of your favorite cruise ship with this series. Each of the 18 episodes, which originally aired in 2014, 2017 and 2019 on Canada's Discovery Channel, focus on a single cruise vessel in fabulously minute detail, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how they run. Among the vessels featured in the series are Celebrity Solstice, Carnival Vista, Royal Caribbean 's Symphony of the Seas and MSC Divina. The series also includes ships operated by Viking, Star Clippers, Azamara and Ponant.

"Mighty Ships"

Available on: FandangoNow , Hulu , YouTube , Amazon Prime , iTunes, fuboTV , Smithsonian Channel

"Mighty Cruise Ships" was a spinoff of this series, which began airing in 2008 on Canada's Discovery Channel and has completed 10 seasons. While it generally focuses on commercial and military vessels, from the container ship Emma Maersk to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, it also offers several wonderful episodes on cruise ships. Among the vessels profiled: Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas , Norwegian Breakaway, Wind Surf and MSC Meraviglia.

"Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin"

Available on: ABC, Hulu , Ocean.com

Every episode of this 4-year-old travel series starring television personality Jeff Corwin will get you at least a peek at one the vessels under the Carnival Corp. umbrella of brands. The giant cruise company, which owns Carnival Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , Holland America and six other major lines, sponsors the series, which has been airing on Saturday mornings on ABC. It follows Corwin as he heads off ships in various port towns for a perfect day of adventure.

"The Voyager with Josh Garcia"

Available on: Hulu , Sling TV , fuboTV , Ocean.com

Like "Ocean Treks," this is a series sponsored by Carnival Corp. that's generously filled with cameos of the line's vessels and is all about things to do during port calls, but with less of a focus on adventure. The host, video journalist Josh Garcia, sets off from vessels for a day of off-the-beaten-path exploring. His goal: Meeting locals who can share their history, life stories and exotic foods. It originally aired on NBC from 2016 to 2019.

"Building the World's Most Luxurious Cruise Ship"

Available on: YouTube

This is can't-miss television for Regent Seven Seas Cruises fans. The two-part documentary chronicles the creation of the luxury line's Seven Seas Explorer, which was the most expensive luxury ship ever built at the time it debuted in 2016. Even today, only one ship -- Seven Seas Explorer's just-unveiled sister, Seven Seas Splendor -- rivals it in opulence. What we love about this documentary is the amazing behind-the-scenes access that Regent gave the filmmakers during the ship's construction. You see every little twist and turn in the making of a new icon of the seas.

"Jack and Jill"

Available on: FandangoNow , YouTube , Amazon Prime , Hulu , Google Play, iTunes, Vudu

Yes, we know: This is widely considered one of the all-time worst movies ever made. It only scored 3% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer! But, if you're a Royal Caribbean fan jonesing for a glimpse of one of the line's giant Oasis Class-vessels, there's simply no better movie. We won't even bother going into the inane plot of this 2011 comedy, which stars Adam Sandler (playing both a male and female role). Just fast-forward to the shipboard scenes, which were shot on board Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

"Speed 2: Cruise Control"

Available on: FandangoNow , YouTube , Amazon Prime , Google Play, iTunes, Vudu

This 1997 action flick starring Sandra Bullock got almost as bad reviews as Jack and Jill (which is a pity, as the original "Speed" is a classic). Still, we mention it because it was filmed on one of the great luxury ships of the past 30 years: The vessel now known as Star Legend. Star Legend sails for Windstar Cruises these days, but it originally debuted as the last new ship for legendary (and long-defunct) luxury operator Royal Viking Line. Back then, it was called Royal Viking Queen. By the time the film was made, it had moved to the Seabourn fleet, sailing as Seabourn Legend.

"Like Father"

Available on: Netflix

Another giant Royal Caribbean ship, Harmony of the Seas, is the star of this somewhat predictable "dramedy" from 2018, which stars Kelsey Grammer, Kristen Bell and Seth Rogen. The plot twist here is that Bell's character, left at the altar, ends up on her honeymoon cruise with her estranged father (Grammer), with resulting drama and hijinks. Royal Caribbean lovers can make it a game of spotting all the cool Harmony of the Seas features, from the ship's nine-deck-high zip line to the Rising Tide Bar. Scenes also were shot at Royal Caribbean's private beach retreat in Haiti.

"Cruising With Jane McDonald"

Former cruise ship entertainer Jane McDonald highlights a different river or ocean cruise every episode on this British television series, which ran from 2017 to this year (a new host will soon be taking over the show). Recent episodes have featured a wide range of vessels, including Oceania Cruises' Marina, Silversea's Silver Shadow and Princess' Sun Princess.

Related: Feeling wanderlust? Stream these 12 films set in spectacular destinations

"Monster Ships"

Available on: FandangoNow , Hulu , YouTube, Amazon Prime , iTunes

Just in case "Mighty Ships" doesn't provide you with enough of a giant ship fix, the television world also offers the similarly named "Monster Ships" and, as its name suggests, the eight-part series from 2019 brings an up-close look at massive vessels of all kinds -- one per 42-minute episode. In addition to a gargantuan car carrier and a crazy-looking heavy lift vessel, the series (which aired on the Science Channel) includes two ships designed for cruising: Crown Princess and Royal Clipper.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked"

Available on: FandangoNow , YouTube , Amazon Prime , iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, HBO Now

If you're even the least bit an "Alvin and the Chipmunks" fan, this is your cruise movie. The third installment of the live-action chipmunks series, which dates to 2011, is set on cruise giant Carnival's 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream. Or, at least, it is — until the chipmunks get blown away while flying a kite and end up on a deserted island. External shots and some interiors were filmed on the vessel. Some ship scenes, alas, were shot in a soundstage.

"Out to Sea"

Available on: FandangoNow , YouTube , Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime , HBO Now, Hulu

You can't go wrong with this Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau matchup, which involves the legendary comedic duo delivering their schtick as dance hosts on a cruise ship. Dating to 1997, it takes place on what's now the Marella Dream, a 1,132-passenger vessel in the fleet of British line Marella Cruises. Holland America fans will know this ship better as the old Westerdam (which was its name from 1988 to 2002). Just don't confuse it with the new Westerdam (Holland America likes to recycle names). It also sailed eight years for Costa Cruises.

"The Love Boat: Next Wave"

To make our list, a movie or television show had to feature a vessel still in service.

But we really can't do a story on cruise-related entertainment without at least mentioning "The Love Boat," which featured a Princess Cruises ship that's no longer in operation. While it doesn't offer a glimpse into a vessel you can book, this is, quite simply, the most iconic cruise ship show of all time. Indeed, many in the cruise industry credit the series, which ran from 1977 to 1987, for kicking off the great growth in cruising we've seen over the past four decades.

"The Love Boat" was set on the original Pacific Princess, which sailed for Princess from 1977 to 2002. But it was filmed not just on that ship, but also several others. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you can find the show on MeTV stations on Sundays and on YouTube -- or buy the DVD box set of the first four seasons at Amazon.

Also, in 1988, the series was revived with a short-lived remake, "The Love Boat: Next Wave" — and it was filmed on the Sun Princess, which still sails. Unfortunately, it's not available on any major streaming platform. But, if you can find it, please sound off in the comments below and let us know where we can watch it, too.

Looking for more of a cruise fix? Try these stories:

• How to plan a cruise with points and miles
• The most exciting new ocean ships of 2020
• The most exciting new river ships of 2020
• 6 new cruise itineraries you should book right now
• The best cruise lines for solo travelers
• The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler
• 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

• Cast & crew
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Observational documentary series following the lives of the crew and passengers heading out on the holiday of a lifetime on board the ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant in the Virgin Voyages fle... Read all Observational documentary series following the lives of the crew and passengers heading out on the holiday of a lifetime on board the ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant in the Virgin Voyages fleet. Observational documentary series following the lives of the crew and passengers heading out on the holiday of a lifetime on board the ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant in the Virgin Voyages fleet.

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• June 19, 2022 (United Kingdom)
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Cruising with Susan Calman — release date, destinations and everything we know

Cruising with Susan Calman sees the TV star set sail as she replaces Jane McDonald on the Channel 5 travelogue.

Susan Calman had some big shoes to fill when it was announced she would be replacing singer and presenter Jane McDonald at the helm of Channel 5’s popular travelogue Cruising With…  

But after a successful maiden voyage showcasing the magical Norwegian coastline in Christmas Cruising with Susan Calman , the Scottish comedian is now heading into sunnier climes as she embarks on a full series of adventures.

In the six-parter, Susan will board three cruises, the first of which takes her to the Canary Islands, Madeira and northern Spain. The second cruise will see Susan sailing around the Mediterranean and the third begins further afield in Florida where she sets sail for a cruise of the Caribbean.

And she certainly packs in a lot on the way!

As well as getting involved in all the activities onboard the cruise ships, including a trivia quiz, a pampering session in the spa, an art class and a dance lesson, Susan has all kinds of fun adventures when she disembarks to explore each port of call.

In fact, Susan’s game for anything, even if it means having to face her fear of heights on a cable car and a glass-floored walkway on board the ship!

She also gets to know the crew and lends them a hand with their daily tasks, from helping out on the passengers’ help desk to serving afternoon tea from an unwieldy trolley!

As in previous series with Jane McDonald, each episode is rounded off with a song… but don't be fooled into thinking it's Susan who's singing classics such as "Copacabana" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"!

From anchors aweigh to the last port of call, here’s everything you need to know about Cruising with Susan Calman …

When does Cruising with Susan Calman air?

Cruising with Susan Calman begins on Friday, April 1 on Channel 5 at 9.00pm.

Cruising with Susan Calman — Episode Guide

Episodes 1 & 2: The Canary Islands, Madeira and Spain

For her first cruise of the series, Susan begins her journey in Southampton where she boards the Regal Princess.

After checking out her cabin, Susan goes out on the deck to meet some of her fellow passengers and some of the 2000-strong crew, including cruise director Andi, who makes sure that all the holidaymakers have a good time onboard. 

Susan's first stop is Gran Canaria where she goes jet skiing, enjoys a spot of shopping and finds out what the nightlife is like, meeting some of the drag queens who entertain the crowds at the famous Yumbo Centre. 

The next port of call is Lanzarote, where Susan goes diving to see the marine life before returning to the ship for a trivia quiz with Andi and some new friends.

In Tenerife, Susan turns petrolhead as she takes a motorbike ride to the island's live volcano, Mount Teide, and enjoys the amazing lunar-like landscape.

On the Madeira leg of her journey. Susan joins some fellow passengers on a trip to the island's stunning botanical gardens, but getting there involves a trip on a cable car which doesn't go down too well with our host as she hates heights!

The return trip is equally as hair-raising as Susan and her new friends take a downhill basket ride… which is just as it sounds!

One of Madeira's most famous attractions, it's a sledge ride in a wicker basket down the island's steep streets… They are steered by two 'carreiros', or sledge drivers, who control this unusual mode of transport by making use of their boots as brakes!

Also on this trip, Susan attends a dance class, has an art lesson and enjoys a pampering session in the spa.

She also gives the crew a hand by helping out on the passengers' help desk, serving afternoon tea and mixing a few cocktails in the bar!

Episodes 3 & 4: The Mediterranean

For her next sun-soaked adventure, Susan boards one of the biggest ships in the world.

On this trip, Susan visits Athens, where she explores Greece's ancient capital, and then heads off for an incredible trip around the Greek islands. 

The other destinations on this journey include stop-offs in Montenegro, Sicily, Italy and Spain. 

Along the way, she’ll wander through streets lined with whitewashed buildings, meet people who sell produce and handicrafts at colorful markets and visit ancient fortified medieval cities and archaeological treasures.

Episodes 5 & 6: The Caribbean

For her final trip of the series, Susan heads to the other side of the Atlantic where she sets sail from Florida to explore the Caribbean and onto the wonder of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica.

Q&A with Susan Calman!

We caught up with Susan to talk about her first series of Cruising With…

How are you finding being the new presenter of Cruising With…?

"Before I did the first show [ Christmas Cruising With Susan Calman ], I hadn’t been abroad in a decade, which was partly because I was usually touring or working. This is really making me spread my wings in so many different ways, which is great!"

What have you been enjoying most about life on a cruise ship?

"What I love is that you check-in, you unpack, and that is it. You get to experience lots of different places, but you’re not unpacking all the time. I absolutely adore that."

On board, you help some of the crew with their daily tasks. Who stands out?

"I loved meeting flower arranger Chantal. You walk past these big arrangements and you don’t realise there’s someone on deck beavering away on them. It’s nice to shine the light on some of the members of staff you don’t automatically think of."

You also get to serve afternoon tea to holidaymakers…

"Yes, the tea trolley was quite unwieldy! I tried my best but presentation was lacking as blobs of cream landed next to a fish sandwich! None of the jobs I had before becoming a comedian were in the hospitality sector and I think that comes across very clearly!"

Your itineraries are jam-packed. How have you found the more adventurous activities such as jet-skiing and deep-sea diving?

"I’m not someone who likes to do a lot of high-octane things. But one of the things I love about doing this show is that you end up doing things you never thought you would do. I never thought I would do something like jet-skiing, but I absolutely loved it! I’ve become more adventurous since hitting 40. I think when you get a little bit older, you think I really need to experience new things."

Is there any activity you wouldn’t do?

"I’ve discovered there’s only one thing I don’t like – jumping off things! I had a terrible time abseiling in Cheddar Gorge for my other series, [Channel 5’s] Grand Day Out . So, abseiling, bungee jumping and skydiving are out. Anything else I’ll have a go at."

Is there one experience you would like to repeat?

"The Portuguese custard tarts that I had in Madeira! I love a Portuguese custard tart and to have a proper one in Madeira was one of the greatest moments of my life! If I could I would like to have one every day until the day I die!"

There's a lot of laughter on your trip, but there are a few teary moments, too…

"I cry at everything. There was one moment when I was working on the passengers' help desk and a woman told me she had just been given the all-clear for cancer, so I jumped over the desk and just wanted to throw my arms around her. That was absolutely genuine. We all know people who have had that moment and it’s a beautiful thing so that was me away! There were so many beautiful moments on these cruises so yes I was crying a lot! There were lots of people who came up to me with beautiful stories that weren't filmed. I think it’s a lovely thing to be with so many people and getting to know them. I love it."

There's also an emotional moment when you attend the wedding of two passengers who get married on board…

"I'm notorious for crying at weddings. At my own wedding, I looked like I was being held hostage because I was crying so much!"

What was the funniest moment on your trip?

"I absolutely loved formal night on the Regal Princess. People were having portraits taken by a photographer and they kept asking me to be in their photos, so I would find myself in the embrace of two strangers, smiling, as if it was my mum and my dad and me on a family cruise. It tickles me to know that all over the country people have got photos where we look like a family. I was in a lot of people’s photos!"

Of all the places you visit for this series, which is your favorite?

"I loved everywhere because I hadn’t been to a lot of the places before, so it was all new to me. I did really enjoy Rome because I’ve always wanted to go there."

At the end of each episode, you perform a dance routine. Did your time on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing help you prepare?

"On Strictly [Susan finished in seventh place in the 2017 series], we had a week of intense practice, but we didn’t do anything like that on Cruising With… It was the most high pressure dance situation I have ever been in, and having done Strictly , that says quite a lot! It was extraordinary, though, because we thought a few people would turn up to watch, but there were actually about 2,000 who came to dance along. It was quite something! I just think it’s lovely to end a show on a really happy and joyous note."

How have you found travelling alone?

"I don’t mind travelling by myself at all. My wife [Lee] might come on a cruise this year, though. I don’t think anyone else would put up with my foibles!"

If you could pick a famous travelling companion, who would you choose?

"Without question, Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Plus, about another 20 people, including Cheryl Baker — I think she’d be a hoot!"

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Michael writes about TV for Woman, Woman's Own, Chat, What's On TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week and regularly contributes to  whattowatch.com .

After graduating from the University of Winchester with a degree in English and American Studies, he chose a career that combined his great passions in life – magazines and television – and he has primarily worked as a TV journalist for more than 25 years.

He loves classic sitcoms such as The Good Life, Hi-de-Hi! and Man About the House , as well as shows such as Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, The Great Pottery Throwdown and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills . 

Some of his favourite people who he has interviewed over the years include Gillian Taylforth, Linda Robson, Sara Davies, Alex Polizzi and Bradley Walsh!

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EPISODE 191

Join Dan & Sam for our hottest cruise deals this week, cruising to the sun-kissed Canaries with MSC Cruises, the blissful Caribbean aboard Celebrity Cruises newest vessel, Japan during the Cherry Blossom season with Azamara and so much more!

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The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea Behind the Scenes

Channel 5’s new show, ‘ The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea ’ is a 20-episode series following groups of holidaymakers as they sail through the Mediterranean on Regal Princess.

We caught up with Anne from Northern Ireland, who features on the TV programme, to find out what it was like to be part of the show.

The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea

This fly-on-the-wall TV show looks at cruising from a range of perspectives and what it means for those setting sail on their dream holiday.

The first episode introduced viewers to cruising newbies and best friends from Leeds, expert travellers from The Isle of Wight and cruise lover Carla who brings her new-to-cruise friends along for the journey.

The cruisers enjoy delicious treats and tipples in Italy and Greece, combining travel and education in Turkey.

The new Channel 5 programme promises to showcase the exhilarating activities and cultural immersion that a dream holiday at sea can offer.

Whether you are new to the cruise world or a cruise veteran, we’re sure this show will inspire you to start planning for your next dream holiday at sea.” Eithne Williamson, Vice President, Princess Cruises UK and Europe

Anne’s Experience on TV

Anne Norwood is a fellow cruise lover, who is a regular at the weekly #CruiseHour Twitter chat I host every Tuesday at 8pm BST/GMT. Through our chats online, I’ve come to call her my friend, even though we’ve never met in person!

Anne from Northern Ireland is no stranger to cruising but has had numerous disappointing setbacks after the pandemic saw many of her recent cruises cancelled.

When I discovered that Anne was starring in this new cruise TV show, I wanted to know all about it and she kindly agreed to have a chat about her experience on The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea.

Q. How did you come to be on The Cruise: Fun-Loving Brits at Sea? 

Anne: Last year, I saw an advert on Facebook looking for cruise lovers to take part in a new Channel 5 series and I immediately fancied it.

I sent the link to my friends. Some said they’d not be able to get the time off work, one was a bit nervous about cruises and COVID; some just didn’t like the idea of cameras.

I left it a few days but it became like an itch that I had to scratch… so four days later, I decided I’d give it a go.

The advert invited people to email Title Role Productions telling them a bit about themselves and why they’d love to take part. I sat down at the computer and tried to write something that would make me sound interesting enough to stand out.

Once I’d finished, I discovered that the mailbox was full and applications were on hold.

I was a bit disappointed but then figured that I’d already invested the time to write it and had nothing to lose by trying. I sent it anyway and went outside to the garden.  About 10 mins later, I received an email thanking me and asking me to provide some more information!  

At first, I wasn’t sure if it was real or not, maybe it was an automated message that meant nothing? Or maybe it was an actual response as it did take a bit of time before I got it?

I decided to leave it…. but of course, I couldn’t let it sit, so the next evening I picked up the email again and followed the instructions. 

It asked: Why did I apply? If successful who would I take with me? And why?

I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I did refer to the beloved Jane McDonald at this point!

I proposed my husband would join me first of all or if he couldn’t go, then one of my friends, Wendy. She’s self-employed like myself, so potentially flexible with dates. I knew she wanted to try a cruise as we already had a wee four-night cruise booked in October.

She’d had a few tough challenges and her mother had passed away only a few months before so I knew that she needed a break.

I hit the send button and thought that would be it but the next morning my mobile phone rang. It was one of the representatives from Title Role who wanted a chat about my application !

To say I was in shock was an understatement but there I was, talking about myself and why I’d like to go, who I would take etc. The call lasted half an hour or more.

A short while later she called back to ask more about my friend and if it would be ok to speak over Zoom.

I have to admit, the Zoom call seemed to go pretty well, Hollie from Title Role was lovely and we had a bit of craic! We went back over what I had put on my application and the earlier phone calls so that she could record it and present it to the channel to see if they felt the same as her – that I would be ideal for the show!

She then arranged the same for Wendy. Her sister, Pamela, helped her with the Zoom call. This is how there became three of us on the TV show.

We were asked to send some photos and videos showing us having fun so I dug out photos of me:

• driving a Formula Ford racing car
• on a zip line
• horse riding
• dressed up for an annual charity ball
• line dancing
• in a microlight plane
• visiting places abroad, some with a cruise ship in the background
• with friends, enjoying drinks and a laugh

Q. How did you find out you were going to be on TV?

Anne: A couple of weeks after the Zoom call I got an email with a proposed cruise date in August. Unfortunately, I had to decline as I was scheduled to have lens replacement surgery on my eyes and would not be able to travel.

Cheekily I saw a cruise itinerary which I really liked, and proposed that I would be able to travel on this later date if that suited.   I didn’t want to miss out and hoped that the channel would wait for me and not choose someone else instead. 

Fortunately, they agreed!

Title Role got back to me after a couple of weeks and started to make travel arrangements for us – all the while Wendy and Pamela were chasing after passports as they hadn’t got any!

Q. What did the selection process involve?

Anne: During the selection process we had to provide character references and complete some questionnaires regarding our integrity. We had to tell them if we’d ever appeared on a show before. We also had an interview with a Psychologist to determine if we could cope with any negativity that might arise as a result of the programme.  

The next week we got our travel details, had to do an LFT Covid Test and before we knew it, a taxi was picking us up to take us to the airport!  

Q: How long did the whole process?

Anne: From start to finish it was all done and dusted, filming in the can, in 9 weeks.

Q: Which cruise did you do as part of the TV programme?

Anne: We took a 7-night cruise on Regal Princess. It was a Mediterranean cruise with Greek Isles and Turkey.

The ports we visited were:

We embarked in Civitavecchia with our first stop in Naples.

Day Two was a sea day with a formal night, which included the Captain’s Champagne Reception.

Next was Crete followed by Kusadasi and Istanbul. The film crew had problems with customs on their first visit so we enjoyed Kusadasi and Istanbul on our own.

Our last full day was spent in Mykonos and we disembarked the next day in Athens.

What were the highlights of this cruise?  

Anne: We had so many, and quite a few were off camera!

The formal night topped them all. We were invited to pour the champagne and were introduced to the Captain.

The onboard jewellery store lent us diamonds to wear for the occasion (but that bit wasn’t allowed to be shown as it wasn’t pre-approved!).

Wendy and Pamela were scheduled to get their hair done in the salon but there were only two spaces left. Wendy is a hairdresser, so she did my hair for me in the cabin before formal night.

While they were in the salon, I went to the Effy jewellery store and the manager, Jason, chose a diamond necklace, bracelet and earrings for me to wear with a diamond and sapphire bracelet. I was able to arrange earrings and a ring for Wendy. Jason and I then went down to the salon to surprise Wendy with them.

It was a real Cinderella moment: all dressed up with expensive gems and we had to have them back before the store closed!

We were introduced to Captain Aldo Traverso. Funnily enough, the Captain had been slightly concerned that conversation would be difficult, as previous people were nearly afraid to speak. We laughed that in our case, it would be more of an issue of getting us to stop talking!

I remember him asking what was our favourite part of the cruise was so far, and given we had really only had one stop (where I had got eaten alive by mosquitos) I couldn’t think and found myself saying “the bed!”

In truth, it was a highlight as it was just so very comfy. I remember comparing it to sleeping on a giant marshmallow – it was so soft and comfy. I don’t think he was quite expecting that answer!

How did the filming work? Did the crew follow you around or were you asked to do certain things?

Anne: There was a planner who arranged activities for us. Each night, we were sent a schedule of what they wanted us to do the next day. This included what time we had to meet and where and what we would be doing.

We just turned up, got wired up with mics and off we went.

On the very first day, when we arrived in the port of Civitavecchia, they asked us to take a selfie stick to record some footage, so Wendy took that.

I’m rubbish with technology, but I was fine with the crew following behind as I could switch off, pretend they weren’t there and just be myself.

The funniest part was when we were being filmed on deck about the experiences we had shared and there were people on their balconies watching and taking photos with their phones as if we were some sort of celebrities that they didn’t know about!

Q. What was it like to be on The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea?

Anne: It is quite surreal to think that we were chosen out of absolutely thousands of applicants.

It all happened so quickly, from the application to the interview and then being picked up to go to the airport.

I love to travel and our kids have always described our trips as ‘adventures’ so this was another adventure.

This time, I wasn’t involved in deciding what we would do so that was quite interesting. There were definitely things that I would NOT have chosen to do myself!

We had great craic (common Irish word for fun), saw new countries, had new experiences, met some really great people and had lots and lots of laughs along the way.

I would like to return to some of the places because we didn’t get to see any of the historical sites.

The programme was put together so quickly and they hadn’t arranged permission to film in any of those locations.

Q. Would you do it again?  

Anne: Absolutely! In a heartbeat! We had a great team and a good rapport with everyone, which really helped. We all clicked straight away which helped us to relax and just be ourselves. Even the Carnival guy was taking selfies with us after a few days!

‘Cruising with Anne and Friends’ – has a nice ring to it!

How to Watch The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea

Tune in to Channel 5 at 4pm every weekday from August 14 to watch The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea or catch up on  My 5 .

Anne and her friends will feature in week four, starting 4th September.

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

Find me on: Twitter

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Our TV Debut on Channel 5’s The Cruise.

Lights. camera. anchors up — because we’re making our tv debut on channel 5 this sunday, starring in the cruise..

Lights. Camera. Anchors up — because we’re making our TV debut on Channel 5 this Sunday, starring in The Cruise; a brand new 20-episode series narrated by the enigmatic Sheridan Smith. Produced by Title Role Productions, the first episode premieres in the UK at 9 p.m. this Sunday, June 19th. And you really can’t miss it.

Filmed across both our Scarlet Lady and Valiant throughout the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, The Cruise takes audiences behind the velvet rope for a glimpse into the lives of our incredible Crew and Sailors (like you) as they sail across the open ocean on our adults-only voyages.

Stopping at some of the world’s most dazzling coastal cities and islands like Bimini, Ibiza, Marseilles, and Cannes; the series gives you a peek into the inner workings of our ships and what it takes to create our amazing onboard experience. Tasked with “making ship happen,” our Crew navigates the world of quirky Sailor requests, last-minute weather challenges, and unexpected surprises for milestone celebrations.

From Captain Giovanni, a seasoned Italian seafarer with decades of experience, to Selma, one of the brand’s RockStar Agents whose role includes making Sailors feel like Richard Branson, The Cruise shines a light on the people who make our voyages so special. Because at the end of the day, it’s about creating unmatched experiences you can’t find anywhere else. And we want to show you how that happens.

So if you’re in the UK, head to Channel 5 at 9 pm this Sunday, June 19th, to watch The Cruise documentary series featuring us, Virgin Voyages. And if you’re not in the UK, or if you have plans (we get it), you can stream it anytime on My5.

We’re ready for our close up.

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Princess Cruises to star in new TV series

Author: Kaye Holland

Published on: 15 August 2023

Updated on: 15 August 2023

Regal Princess takes centre stage in Channel 5’s new show The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea

The 20-episode which follows groups of holidaymakers as they sail through the Mediterranean aboard Regal Princess , aired earlier this week (Monday 14 August). Set to run Monday to Friday across four weeks, the series will look at cruising from a range of perspectives and what it means for those setting sail on their dream holiday. Yesterday’s inaugural episode introduced viewers to cruising newbies and best friends from Leeds, Andy and Rachel; expert travellers from The Isle of Wight, the Walker Green family, who combine home-schooling and holidays; and cruise lover Carla who is bringing her new-to-cruise friends along for the ride.

Eithne Williamson, vice president, Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said: “Channel 5’s new TV series promises to be a real celebration of all things cruise and showcases just how unique each journey is to our guests. “We’re looking forward to viewers seeing the Princess difference as each group enjoys the amenities Princess is renowned for, from exceptional dining to our Medallion Class experience and extraordinary service from crew.” The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea is on Channel 5 at 4pm every weekday or catch up on My 5.

The July/August issue of World of Cruising is out now

Shortlist announced for the 2024 wave awards, celebrity cruises announces first president’s cruise for norwegian fjords, meghan trainor named godmother of utopia of the seas, travel companions enjoy five consecutive voyages on new cunard ship queen anne – who only started sailing in may, sail croatia adds two more ships to its fleet, celestyal to expand in the arabian gulf with a second ship, regent seven seas unveils first ship in new prestige class, riviera travel waives single supplement on select 2024 yacht sailings, heritage evicted: ss united states ordered to leave berth by september, follow us on socials, about kaye holland.

Kaye is a London-based wordsmith who has written for a range of publications including The Times , The Independent , The I , Culture Trip , The Sun , and ABTA among others. In June 2022, Kaye joined the Real Response Media where she looks – together with Lucy Abbott – after the World of Cruising website. Want to get in touch? Kaye can be reached at: [email protected]

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• Aug 6, 2023

The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits At Sea | Preview (Channel 5)

New series following three groups of holidaymakers on a cruise around the Mediterranean’s most glamourous spots.

Across a week onboard we follow the highs and lows of life at sea and get to take in stunning locations, treats and tipples and the culture and commerce of everywhere they visit. But will worse things happen at sea, or will it all be plain sailing?

For our three lucky groups of intrepid travellers it is Day One and they get to explore the Italian capital Rome before they board the cruise ship Regal Princess as she sets off on a week-long cruise around the Med.

Newbie cruisers and best friends from Leeds, Andy and Rachel toss coins and make wishes at the famous Trevi fountain before indulging in a few scoops of traditional gelato. Cruising pros, The Walker Green family, from the Isle of Wight, combine home schooling and holiday as kids Noah and Maisie learn what it takes to be a soldier at an Ancient Roman battle camp.

And Cruise lover Carla navigates her girl gang straight to the ship as she is keen to get a head start on her mission to convert little sister Jamie to life on the high seas, with a little help from their pal Karen.

After a day exploring all that Rome has to offer, our travellers board the ship ready to check out their new home for the next week before enjoying an evening of mini golf, cocktails and fun as they set sail for Naples on the first night of their holiday.

The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits At Sea begins Monday 14th August at 4pm on Channel 5.

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New Channel 5 show goes behind the scenes on Virgin Voyages cruises - and it's not always plain sailing...

• The Cruise offers an 'unfiltered glimpse’ into the lives of crew and passengers 
• Episode one goes on board Scarlet Lady on a five-night Caribbean cruise 
• It shows a 'trashed' suite bathroom and a second officer battling seasickness

By Ailbhe Macmahon For Mailonline

Published: 07:20 EDT, 17 June 2022 | Updated: 10:02 EDT, 17 June 2022

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A brand-new TV series is lifting the veil on what goes on behind the scenes on Virgin Voyages cruises, from unusual passenger demands to crew battling seasickness. 

Channel 5 's new reality show The Cruise offers an ‘unfiltered, energetic glimpse’ into the lives of Virgin Voyages’ crew and passengers, with the first episode diving inside the £500million Scarlet Lady as she sets sail from Miami on a five-night Caribbean cruise.

The ship, which launched last year, is 278m (912ft) long, can accommodate more than 2,770 passengers and a crew of 1,160 – and has engines, we learn from engineer David, that produce power that’s ‘the equivalent of about 600 family cars’.

Channel 5's new reality show The Cruise is lifting the veil on what goes on behind the scenes on Virgin Voyages cruises, with Scarlet Lady (above) starring in episode one 

The new series offers an ‘unfiltered, energetic glimpse’ into the lives of Virgin Voyages’ crew (pictured) and passengers

The voyage gets off to a shaky start when it’s revealed that a departing passenger has ‘managed to trash’ one of the 78 ‘Rockstar’ suites, cracking several marble tiles in the designer bathroom. It takes a team of 16 engineers and crewmembers to repair it before guests board.

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Then we learn that the captain’s second in command, Briton Georgia, suffers from seasickness – and there are high winds ahead.

Another wobble emerges when a pair of Rockstar suite guests miss their dinner reservation. It’s Montenegrin ‘Rockstar Agent’ Selma to the rescue.

It’s revealed that a departing passenger has cracked several marble tiles in the designer bathroom of one of the 78 ‘Rockstar’ suites 

We learn that the captain’s second in command, Briton Georgia (above), suffers from seasickness – and there are high winds ahead

Rockstar Agents are there to make the VIP passengers ‘feel like Richard Branson’.

By the time passengers board the ship, these Rockstar Agents already know their preferences - what they're drinking, where they like to eat, and how they like their service.

Selma reveals that she works seven days a week and can’t clock off until she’s checked on each and every one of her VIP guests.

When she learns of the guests missing their dinner reservation, cameras follow her as she races down the corridors to find them, before quickly securing them a table at one of the more than 20 eateries on board.

A wobble emerges when a pair of Rockstar suite guests (pictured right and centre) miss their dinner reservation

The trip goes more smoothly for first-time cruisers Damien and Paul, who admit they were under the impression that cruises were all about blue-rinses and buffet food before they boarded Scarlet Lady.

They are also Rockstar suite guests and discover that their tickets give them access to exclusive parts of the ship and special attention from the crew.

'We boarded as rock stars, we're going to disembark as divas,’ says Damien.

First-time cruisers Damien (left) and Paul (right) admit they were under the impression that cruises were all about blue-rinses and buffet food before they boarded Scarlet Lady

Damien shows off the fully stocked bar with a ‘full-on cocktail-making set’ in his Rockstar Suite

One couple insists they need a green drink ‘because it’s St Patrick's day’. Above is the tipple that the obliging crew prepared for them

They give the cameras a tour of their £4,000 suite, showing its turntable, bathrobes with the word ‘rockstar’ stitched across the back, and a fully stocked bar with a ‘full-on cocktail-making set’.

The TV show reveals how most meals on the ship are cooked on demand, and that there are occasionally unusual customer requests to be met – one couple insists they need a green drink ‘because it’s St Patrick's Day’.

Viewers also learn of the delights of the Razzle Dazzle bar. Here cameras show crewmember Ryan entertaining passengers on a pub crawl, which includes curated cocktails and drinking games in four different bars, finishing with a ‘pyjama party’ under the stars on the deck. ‘Sir Richard Branson outdid himself,’ says one of the happy revellers.

‘Sir Richard Branson outdid himself,’ says one reveller during their voyage on Scarlet Lady

Viewers learn of the delights of the Razzle Dazzle bar, pictured, where crewmember Ryan entertains passengers on a pub crawl

Above is one of the Rockstar Suites. Guests in these suites are assigned a 'Rockstar Agent', who are there to make the VIP passengers ‘feel like Richard Branson’

And the extravagant evening entertainment doesn't stop there. At a 'dance party' show, where the main prop is a pink PVC whale named Nugget, Scottish stage technician Callum is placed on ‘whale wobbling duty’, meaning he stands behind the enormous whale throughout the dance performance, wobbling it back and forth to keep the crowds entertained.

Commenting on the series, Shane Riley, Vice President of International Sales, said: ‘We’re so excited to give our UK fans a peek into life below deck. It’s rare to see the inner workings of a cruise ship or to follow the crew beyond sailors’ time on board. That’s what makes this series so unique and fun to watch.’

Watch The Cruise on Sunday, June 19, at 9pm on Channel 5 in the UK or stream it on My5. For more information, visit www.VirginVoyages.com .

Share or comment on this article: New Channel 5 show goes behind the scenes on Virgin Voyages cruises

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Princess Cruises to feature in new Channel 5 TV series

Experience the ultimate adventure at sea as Princess Cruises ’ Regal Princess sets sail in Channel 5’s new show, ‘The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea’. Premiering Monday 14th August at 4pm, the 20-episode series follows groups of holidaymakers sailing through the Mediterranean aboard the beautiful Regal Princess.

Airing from Monday to Friday from 14th August for four weeks, the series will look at cruising from various perspectives and what it means for those setting sail on their dream holiday. The first episode will introduce viewers to cruising newbies and best friends from Leeds, Andy and Rachel; expert travellers from The Isle of Wight, the Walker Green family, who combine home-schooling and holidays; and cruise lover Carla who is bringing her new-to-cruise friends along for the ride.

From exploring the historic city of Rome and enjoying delicious treats and tipples in Italy and Greece, to combining travel and education in Turkey for the Walker Green family, the show promises to showcase the exhilarating activities and cultural immersion that a dream holiday at sea can offer.

“Channel 5’s new TV series promises to be a real celebration of all things cruise and showcases just how unique each journey is to our guests. We’re looking forward to viewers seeing the Princess difference as each group enjoys the amenities Princess is renowned for, from exceptional dining to our MedallionClass experience and extraordinary service from the crew.” Eithne Williamson, Vice President, Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said.

“Whether you are new to the cruise world or a cruise veteran, we’re sure this show will inspire you to start planning for your next dream holiday at sea.”

Tune into Channel 5 at 4pm every weekday from August 14 to watch ‘The Cruise: Fun Loving Brits at Sea’ or catch up on My 5 . Find out more and discover Regal Princess’ itineraries here  or speak to our cruise experts on 0808 278 3940. Share this:

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Paul Gauguin Cruises Unveils 2026 Voyages for Moana Explorer Program for Kids

P aul Gauguin Cruises has something for everyone, including younger guests. The cruise line recently unveiled the 2026 voyages for its Moana Explorer Program, a free program designed to help kids make the most of their time in Tahiti .

The program will be offered on 11 summer and holiday voyages aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin next year. For the sixth year, Paul Gauguin Cruises is partnering with Te mana o te moana, a South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation.

“It has been a privilege to partner with Paul Gauguin Cruises to help inspire the visions and interests of our youngest global citizens,” says Hélène Duran, general manager at Te mana o te moana. “We look forward to continuing to share the unique culture, wildlife, and wilderness of French Polynesia with the kids both on board and ashore.” 

Through the program, kids ages six to 15 can enjoy hands-on, interactive activities that help them discover more about the world around them. For instance, they might hike to the top of a volcano one day, then learn about the impacts of water pollution the next. Other activities include snorkeling in lagoons, playing beach “Survivor games,” creating natural jewelry, conducting water experiments and embarking on treasure hunts.

The program is free. In addition, kids 17 and younger sail for free when traveling in the same suite or stateroom as their parents on all Paul Gauguin Cruises voyages.

The Moana Explorer Program is also available on six voyages in 2024 and 12 cruises in 2025 . 

“In partnership with Te mana o te moana, our Moana Explorer Program continues to be incredibly popular and we are thrilled to offer our young guests activities led by local naturalists that are both educational and fun,” says Susan Robison, general manager of sales and marketing for Paul Gauguin Cruises. “The result is one of the most deeply authentic experiences children can experience when exploring French Polynesia with Paul Gauguin Cruises.” 

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With cruise traffic booming, Alaska’s travel industry looks to boost independent traveler numbers

It’s been a busy season for tourism in Alaska. This summer, some remote communities welcomed their largest cruise ships in history – while others turned thousands of tourists away due to wildfires .

The Alaska Travel Industry Association hasn’t released numbers yet regarding how big of an economic impact visitors had in 2023, but it’s confirmed the state broke a cruise ship passenger record.

ATIA president and CEO Jillian Simpson said most sectors of the tourism industry have recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Jillian Simpson: In particular, the cruise sector definitely has recovered from COVID, which I think has been great. We are still seeing a lot of businesses from that time still trying to earn back to the level that they were at before. But I think people have been really optimistic, especially with the last few seasons that we’ve had. 

On the independent traveler side, though, I think the businesses that cater most to those are still in recovery. And it’s unknown, really how that’ll keep going for them. So I think that there’s still opportunity for growth in those sectors. 

Ava White: Some Southeast communities, like Juneau , are considering limiting cruise ship passengers. How worried are you about these proposals?

JS: Juneau has been a really great example of a community led process when it comes to tourism. It certainly comprises the people that are showcasing their destination, the people that are visiting. And it’s a cultural exchange, as well as being really good for the economy. 

Juneau has the tourism manager, Alexandra Pierce, and she has worked really closely with community stakeholders to actually try to have a community led effort that really addresses what they want tourism to look like in Juneau, and they’ve actually done some really amazing agreements with the cruise lines. 

It’s unfortunate that there’s also other initiatives that are out there to further limit this important component of our economy. I think having those informed conversations with each other and coming together, and everybody agreeing with what the path forward is, is really the way to do that.

AW: Nome recently welcomed their largest cruise ship in its history recently, and Kodiak has also seen an increase in cruise travel this summer. What strategies are being implemented to increase tourism in the state beyond cruise travelers?

JS: The independent traveler is an extremely important part of our travel makeup. Right now in the summertime, 65% of our visitors are on a cruise ship and 35% of them are traveling independently– and that’s either driving up the highway or taking the ferry. The vast majority of them are obviously flying in and out of the state. 

Then in the wintertime, they’re all independent travelers, because cruising doesn’t really happen in the wintertime. They’re [independent travelers] a very important segment and definitely one that the Alaska Travel Industry Association focuses on in order to help them plan and inspire them to choose Alaska as a visitor destination. 

I think that there are a lot of communities now that are mindfully looking at ways to grow tourism, either by building new ports or developing new tour products.

AW: I could see how other Southeast communities might view the proposed cap as an opportunity to increase tourism in their respective communities. Have you seen any communities trying to increase cruise traffic?

JS: There’s been some real interesting developments happening with Huna Totem Corporation. They started at Icy Strait Point, actually, this is their 20th anniversary. They have been really mindful about what the development is going to be and how many ships, and how many passengers, and how it was going to interact with the village of Hoonah.

It’s been such a success story, and it has grown incrementally year over year, and is an amazing positive experience. They have partnered with Doyon as well Klawock and have now developed a new tender port. 

Klawock saw its first ships earlier this season for the first time. And again, kind of the same model where it’s going to be a slow development, but I think it provides a huge opportunity for the community to lead the way of what they want their tourism product to be and to have local tour providers providing that and then utilizing the distribution channel of the cruise lines who are bringing those passengers up.

Ava White, Alaska Public Media

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A Wedding Puts India’s Gilded Age on Lavish Display

Many Indians cheer the rise of moguls like Mukesh Ambani, whose son’s wedding has become a global spectacle. To them, India’s poverty is predictable, but such opulence is not.

By Anupreeta Das

Reporting from New Delhi

The younger son of Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, is set to wed his fiancée in Mumbai on Friday, the finale of a monthslong extravaganza that signaled the arrival of the unapologetic Indian billionaire on the global stage — and introduced the world to the country’s Gilded Age.

For much of the year, the festivities surrounding the nuptials of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, the daughter of a fellow business tycoon, have grabbed eyeballs for their lavish displays of wealth. Millions have been spent on diamonds and emeralds the size of credit cards, on haute couture saris, on wedding invitations made of silver and gold.

Billionaire businessmen, Bollywood stars, models and politicians were among the more than 1,200 guests at a pre-wedding bash in March. Bill Gates stopped by. Rihanna performed. In May, the bride and groom-to-be threw a four-day party on a luxury cruise ship in the Mediterranean; Ms. Merchant told Vogue India they couldn’t find a land venue big enough to host all their guests.

Jay Gatsby would have been awed.

The spectacle has served as an invitation to peek inside India’s uppermost echelons, where a few individuals and families have amassed astounding fortunes in recent years. Buoyed by booming growth and a cheerleading government, the number and wealth of Indian billionaires has soared. They are overlords of the Indian economy, running the phone networks that connect millions of people, the hospitals that treat them, the supermarkets where they shop and the high-rises in which many live.

A lot of money, in the hands of the few.

In 2000, India had nine billionaires, according to Oxfam. Now, India has 200 billionaires, who collectively hold around $1 trillion in wealth, according to Forbes — nearly a quarter of the country’s 2023 gross domestic product.

Their dizzying rise is stark in a land where many live below or just around the poverty line, mirroring the extreme inequality of America’s Gilded Age, when robber barons flaunted their jewels amid extreme destitution.

Kavil Ramachandran, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Indian School of Business, said there were more billionaires with fatter wallets because India has sustained a high growth rate for more than two decades. That’s created a deep domestic market for goods and services, and pushed Indian companies to pursue new businesses, pairing opportunity with ambition.

“It’s a consequence of rapid growth and entrepreneurialism,” Mr. Ramachandran said.

In 2002, Radhakishan Damani spotted the opportunity for an Indian supermarket and launched his first store in Powai, a suburb of Mumbai. More than two decades later, his company Avenue Supermarts runs one of the country’s most popular supermarket chains, DMart. Mr. Damani, who has a net worth of $17 billion, is sometimes called India’s “retail king.”

A recent study about wealth and inequality in India subtitled “The Rise of the Billionaire Raj” found that the total wealth of billionaires has steadily increased from under 5 percent of national income in the 1990s to more than a fifth in 2022.

“All of this suggests that at least the very rich seem to be doing very well in recent years,” the authors wrote.

India’s opening set off breakneck growth.

India has come a long way from its socialist origins. Until 1990, the country operated under strict government supervision and protectionist policies. Companies could only run after procuring multiple permits and licenses from the government, leading to the name “License Raj” — a play on the term British Raj, which referred to colonial rule.

Once India opened up its economy after a series of reforms, some domestic companies embraced the logic of free markets while remaining family-run and tightly controlled, diversifying into new businesses.

In the 2000s, India’s software and services boom — for a time, the country was nicknamed the world’s “back office” — created a slew of new billionaires. Azim Premji successfully transformed Wipro from a hydrogenated cooking fat company into an IT giant, becoming one of India’s first tech billionaires. Fellow tech billionaire Nandan Nilekani co-founded Infosys and helped create Aadhar, a unique identification system for Indian citizens that is somewhat similar to a Social Security card.

Gautam Adani, whose conglomerate the Adani Group is India’s biggest ports operator, has ridden the country’s shipping, infrastructure and energy boom to build a net worth of more than $80 billion.

Mr. Adani’s rise has matched that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he shares close ties and whose ambitions for India have unleashed a construction frenzy. Everywhere, there are new bridges, highways, tunnels and high-speed rail tracks — and Mr. Adani’s company is at the center of many of them.

The Ambanis are the first family of Indian capitalism.

Mr. Ambani, whose $115 billion fortune also makes him Asia’s richest man, has long sat atop India’s explosive growth in wealth. Reliance Industries, the giant conglomerate founded by his father that is the source of much of his family’s fortune, has sometimes served as a proxy for India’s economic rise .

Its businesses include one of the world’s largest oil refineries, India’s biggest mobile phone network, television and entertainment ventures and a popular chain of grocery stores.

Many Indians see in Mr. Ambani’s staggering rise in stature and wealth a version of the India they want: a country that doesn’t make a play for attention but demands it. Some even feel pride that his son’s wedding has attracted such global attention. To them, India’s poverty is a predictable fact, such opulence is not.

“Based on the level of the Ambanis’ wealth, the wedding is perfect,” said Mani Mohan Parmar, a 64-year-old resident from Mumbai.

“Even the common man here in India spends more than his capacity on a wedding,” Ms. Parmar said. “So it’s nothing too much if we talk about Ambani. He has so much money due to God’s grace, so why shouldn’t he spend it by his choice?”

The Ambani family’s wealth and influence are so unquestioned that even the use of public resources to aid his private festivities can be a source of pride. In March, the pre-wedding function they hosted in Jamnagar, a town in the western state of Gujarat where Reliance’s oil refinery is based, threatened to overwhelm the town’s small domestic airport.

With hundreds of private jets carrying guests hovering in the air, India’s top civil aviation body and its air force stepped in to help Dhananjay Singh, the airport’s director, manage the air traffic.

“Although it was a demanding period with little sleep, the effort was well worth it,” Mr. Singh wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

Some question the showy displays of wealth.

Rashmi Venkatesan, who teaches human rights law and popular culture at the National Law School of India University, found the “consciously explicit public nature” of the Ambani wedding peculiar.

To Ms. Venkatesan, the celebration was about more than the wealthy getting wealthier; she was bothered by what she called the “valorization” of this kind of wealth.

It’s not just the mind-boggling rise of billionaire wealth that is new, but also the way that wealth has created a new kind of royalty in a country well acquainted with maharajahs.

Like yesteryear’s royal families, today’s billionaires are increasingly keeping their wealth within their class — either through dynastic succession or by marriage. Each of Mr. Ambani’s three children are heading up three different lines of the Reliance business.

In 2018, Mr. Ambani’s daughter Isha married Anand Piramal, the son of the billionaire Ajay Piramal, who runs one of India’s pharmaceutical giants. On Friday, his son Anant is marrying Radhika, the 29-year-old daughter of Viren and Shaila Merchant, the multimillionaire founders of a health care company on whose board she sits.

Sadiba Hasan contributed reporting from Mumbai.

Anupreeta Das is the finance editor of The New York Times, overseeing broad coverage of Wall Street, including banking, investing, markets and consumer finance. She was previously the deputy business editor of The Wall Street Journal. More about Anupreeta Das

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