A cruise is the perfect getaway if you're bored of the beach, says author Jill Mansell

BEST-SELLING author Jill Mansell has built up a devoted following of readers thanks to books such as Three Amazing Things About You, The One You Really Want and The Unpredictable Consequences Of Love.

Jill, who lives with her family in Bristol, is a self-confessed stationery addict, and has written all of her 27 books by hand.

You And Me, Always is out now (Headline Review, £16.99, Kindle £8.50).

WHEN we went on a cruise for the first time I absolutely fell in love with the idea.

I know it’s not for everyone. I’m a person who always likes to have tons to do on a holiday and the thought of lying on an empty beach on a sun lounger leaves me cold.

The first time we went on a cruise we simply adored it.

The children loved it, too. We didn’t see much of them because they were always off with their friends, and it was so completely safe.

We loved visiting different cities in different countries every day, and there were so many things to do.

On a cruise you can find yourself going to a belly dancing class followed by a lecture about astronomy – it’s just endless.

There’s as much activity as you want. I think that’s my fear – I’m scared of getting bored.

People say: “I wouldn’t like to be trapped on a ship”, but it doesn’t feel like that because the ships are huge.

If you find yourself near people you don’t like, you can move away from them!

At the end, when you get off, you see loads of people you never saw on board.

We’ve done the Caribbean, going across the Atlantic. We have sailed from Southampton and experienced Mediterranean and Adriatic cruises.

The next one we want to do is Scandinavia.

It’s the scenery. I’d love to see all the snowy mountains and fiords. Iceland is so strange and magical.

There are so many different things to do and see on a cruise. You can strike up lovely friendships, but you don’t get stuck with people.

I’ve done a couple of signings on board. One of my friends, the author Milly Johnson, absolutely adores giving talks on cruise ships but it’s not my favourite thing to do.

It’s my holiday and once I’m on board I prefer to be anonymous.