Sue Bryant

Sue Bryant - Profile

Cruising is addictive, there's no question, whether it's the romance and nostalgia of crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2 or the decadence of sipping champagne on your private balcony as your ship glides along Venice's Giudecca Canal. I've been hooked for about eight years now, so much so that I launched a magazine, Cruise Traveller, here in the UK and have also contributed to the Insight Guides to Caribbean cruising, Mediterranean cruising, and co-authored the Insight Guide to Great River Cruises. I also freelance for national newspapers in the UK and cruise magazines worldwide, including Cruise Passenger in Australia and Deckchair in Canada, and I edit the onboard magazine for Star Clippers.

Being lucky enough to go on so many cruises, I get asked the inevitable question: 'What's your favourite?'. It's a tough one to answer, as there's a ship or a cruise for every occasion. I love the classic sailing ships of Star Clippers and the unashamed luxury of Silversea. Well, who wouldn't? With my children, it's hard to beat NCL and Royal Caribbean, both of which are great for family cruising. But then, Celebrity Cruises has fantastic food, and the service on Crystal is superb. Brit-friendly Island Cruises does a great curry, while Ocean Village has the best stand-up comedy. Let's not forget the alternatives to mainstream cruising, too: the sparse beauty of northern Norway on Norwegian Coastal Voyage, or the ultimate indulgence - chartering your own yacht.

Cruising is an emotive topic and I hope it generates plenty of discussion on these pages, whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned cruiser. Please email me, too, at Cruiseislandtravel@suite101.com.