Three friends in their sixties choose to take a cruise and head to the Caribbean for Christmas.
Each needs a form of escapism from their own life and a little adventure at the age of sixty-three.

This was such a lovely read, written in the third person and from the three main characters' points of view. James writes with fantastic characters who you can’t help but warm to from the start and want to follow their journey throughout.
This was a feel-good read, which I couldn’t put down and one I would highly recommend to anyone for a great escapism. I will be reading more from this author in the future.

Last time I spent a couple of days with a Caroline James book I went to a Spa and had a wonderful time with so many special people. This time I rushed through this brilliant story in just over a day and I was on a cruise with 3 ladies in their 60s and I had a brilliant time! Kath, Jane and Anne had been friends since they were young and despite their differences they were the best of friends. I especially loved Jane and the complete transformation she went through while on the cruise. They had so many great and fun experiences together, but also each on their own meeting new people and dealing with whatever they needed to deal with. Some of their new friends were really memorable and I got so caught up in the story that I shed a couple of tears towards the end. This story was really amazing and a must read!

Rating 4.5 stars

“The Cruise” by Caroline James. What can I say other than I really enjoyed it and read in one day. Who doesn’t want to escape on a cruise with a couple of old friends.

When I read the blurb about 3 women in their 60s setting off on a cruise, I knew I had to read this book, especially as I’m almost there myself. The Cruise is the first book I have read by Caroline James and I can definitely say it won’t be my last.

Swapping Christmas turkeys and BBC reruns for crystal waters, white sandy beaches and smooth golden rum, Anne, Jane and Kath throw caution (and tradition) to the wind as they set sail on a luxury two-week Christmas cruise around the Caribbean.

Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star?

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. It’s about being true to yourself, losing you insecurities and making new friends along the way, what a delightful read.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from One More Chapter and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

At a school reunion three friends suddenly decide that it is time they did something different! Anne is divorced from her cheating husband, Kath is a widow, recovering from the sudden death of her abusive husband, Jane has recently lost the job she loved & is totally hung up on her weight & appearance. A Christmas cruise to the Caribbean sounds perfect!

When they arrive & get upgraded to a suite the girls are all set to enjoy themselves. They find themselves seated with Selwyn- a snazzy dressed West Indian widower; the Captain, an old man living out his days on cruise boats; a pleasant couple & one of the boat's guest speakers. Their adventures are enjoyable read. The description the sunny Caribbean was perfect for a chilly day in Shetland! I really enjoyed this book- & I loved Selwyn!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.

With my 60s fast approaching, I feel that I’m not adventurous enough. When I read the blurb about 3 ‘old’ ladies in their 60s setting off on a cruise, I knew I had to read The Cruise.

Three life long friends, Anne, Kath and Jane, each have their own reasons for taking this cruise. Each of them really needs a time of adventure, a bit of pampering and perhaps some romance. Discovering themselves deeper is not something they bargained for, but it happens. The cruise more accepting of themselves and brings them closer to each other.

Great characters, beautiful settings and some doses of romance and lots of reality checks made this a delightful read.Full of humour and yet not without emotion, this lighthearted book, makes me want to experience a cruise too.

The Cruise is the first book I have read by Caroline James and I can definitely say it won’t be my last.

The Cruise is the first book I have read by Caroline James and I can definitely say it won’t be my last, I absolutely adored this wonderful read. 3 life long friends going off on a Caribbean Christmas cruise , what’s not to love. This was a feel good read with wonderful characters . I especially liked Selwyn and loved his outlook on life. The 3 main characters Anne, Kath and Jane all had their own reasons for being on this cruise, which you will discover when you read this fabulous book. I have never been on a cruise but this book has made me want to go on one after the author has described so well the wonderful places in the Caribbean that the trio visited.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Cruise' by Caroline James


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Caroline James, One More Chapter Publishing and Rachel's Random resources Tours.

Publication date 11th May 2023


This is the first book I have read by this author.


I was originally drawn to this book by its unique eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being One More Chapter. I have yet to read a book published by One More Chapter that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 36 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based on a Mediterranean cruse ship 🛳

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Jane Bellwood, Anne Amberley and Kath Taylor. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'The Cruise' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Caroline discusses domestic violence and abuse.

Wow!! Check out this absolutely laugh out loud perfect summer read!!!

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions and stunning surroundings I was absolutely captivated throughout. The cover and the synopsis work perfectly with the storyline.

I absolutely loved this absolutely fantastic and hilarious feel good book! Caroline's evocative writing skills ensures the reader disappears into the storyline with the are and characters coming ito life all around you. She leaves you smelling the sea air, feeling the sun on your skin and leaves you with a smile on your face and feeling much lighter and happier than before you started. It is one of those books that are rammed with feel good moments, laughter fun, friendship and absolutely everything that you could ever want in an addictive must read! The storyline is realistic and down to earth and the setting is picturesque. I was absolutely sucked in from the first to the last page of this laugh out loud feel good page turner. On several occasions I had to remind myself I was actually in the house and not on a cruise myself as I was that lost in the storyline!! It is one of those books that I just could not put down and I ended up walking around with my kindle glued to my hands. Every time I thought I will just read one more chapter and then get on with some chores it ended in a way that there was no way I could leave it there so I had to read another and then the same happened until I very sadly came to the last page and its absolutely fantastic ending. I genuinely felt like I was on holidays and I was devastated when I came to the end and realised I'd have to pack my suitcase to leave the gorgeous cruise ship and return to rainy Wales after a stunning getaway. I'm hoping Caroline will turn this into a cruise series as I would love to disappear back onto the ocean with her again. I am hoping she is busy writing her next book and I'm looking forward to escaping into more of her past and future successes!!! Each and every one of the characters are strong and realistic and thanks to Caroline's evocative writing skills they all came to life, jumping of the pages and sucking me deep into their lives. Whether I loved them or hated them they all came together to make a perfect story. The festive vibe makes this a perfect Christmas read and The Cruise ship atmosphere makes it perfect to read on the beach while soaking up the sun!!

A stunning story of friendship, romance, second chances and being true to yourself. I absolutely love, love, LOVED it!!


The characters are all realistic, a mix of strong personalities, memorable and larger than life. I loved the beautiful friendships between Jane, Kath and Anne. They had completely different personalities but they compliment each other perfectly. They all decide they want to go on a cruise to celebrate them all being single in their sixties. Anne is in the middle of a divorce with her horrid husband Barry who cheated on her, Kath is a widow after her husband fell down their house steps and died and Jane is single and has extremely low self esteem. Anne is on the cruise to do some husband hunting and catches the eye of dastardly Dickie, Dick by name, Dick by nature!! Dickie is the Cruise comedian and is a slippery snake. Dickie is the only character that I could not abide!! He is one of those men who loves himself and loved to swindle and cheat the passengers however he could. However, I must admit that he did make me laugh on several occasions so really the book wouldn't have been the same without him!! I wont say any more about him as I don't want to spoil the storyline for others but I did laugh out loud when he was subjected to some comeuppance by another entertainer Melissa!!! Jane and Kath are not fans of Dickie and cannot understand how Annie didn't learn after her problems with Barry. However, Kath has a bigger problem with Dickie when he discovers her secret!! Jane absolutely hates her larger figure and has absolutely zero confidence in herself but recently widowed Selwyn is captivated by her. Selwyn comes on the cruise against the wishes of his family and the church and scatters his wifes ashes in all the areas that she would have never gone herself. I thought he was a really sweet guy and I loved watching his and Jane's friendship blossom throughout. Selwyn is a real gentleman with a heart of gold and the difference he makes in janes confidence and personality is wonderful to see. Kath seems to have the strongest personality but also the biggest secret. I loved watching her enjoying herself especially since her horrid sons want to stick her in a home and she has had to put up with her abusive husband for too many years!! There were several other characters that I also loved and are going to stay in my mind for a long time.
The Captain is an eccentric elderly man who seems to be starting to show the signs of dementia. He absolutely loves cruises and has been on it for months. I love his wide variety of tops with cruise slogans on and he made me laugh out loud several times with his cheeky personality. Bridgette loves her plants and gives the cruise passengers several talks on gardening. She has taken it upon herself to become the Captains carer and helps him to spend some time off the ship while spending a lot of time on ship with him. Harold and Nancy are husband and wife who made me giggle on several occasions. they get up to some hilarious activities and it left me bewildered that Harold brought Nancy on the cruise knowing how badly she suffers from sea sickness!!! Each of the characters that came on the cruise had completely different personalities when they left it and I absolutely LOVED IT!! All of these characters and more make this an unforgettable, stunning book that will have you putting on your sun cream, grabbing yourself a cocktail and being whisked away on a gorgeous Caribbean cruise!!! They all came to life before my eyes and I am really hoping we get to meet them all again!!!



Caroline congratulations on an absolutely fantastic novel and welcome to my top author list. Your book is a page turning laugh out loud and soul lifting success and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books!


Overall an absolutely gorgeous book that will whisk you off on a cruise ship and lift your heart and spirit. A page turning, addictive compelling novel that will leave you wanting more



Genres covered in this novel include Cruises, Romantic Comedy, Food & Travel Writing, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Aging Parents & Eldercare, Women's Friendship Fiction, Senior Travel, Women's Literary Fiction, Aging, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Love & Relationships, Women's Romance Fiction, Contemporary Lifestyle Fiction, Romance Novel, Travel Guides: Cruises, Contemporary Fiction, Romance Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Literary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of ReaAnne Thayne, Debbie Macomber, Sarah Morgan, Milly Johnson, Jenny Colgan, Robyn Carr, Cecilia Ahern and anyone needing a gorgeous break away.


320 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £8.27 in paperback via Amazon,at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Loved this book about three sixty-something women deciding that it’s time to have some fun in life as they set off to cruise the Carribean. It’s also time for them to face the future and make some changes about loving and living. A delightful read!

Spurred on by an enlightening experience at the latest reunion for Garstang Grammar School for Girls, three old friends decide to take the plunge and book a cruise to the Caribbean over the Christmas break. Each one of them has good reason to take some time out from their real lives - Anne is going through a messy divorce with her philandering ex; Kath is recently widowed after a long marriage to a controlling husband; and never-married Jane feels overweight, frumpy and uncomfortable in her own skin. They figure at sixty-three it is time to do something they want for a change, and look forward to an adventure aboard the Diamond Star with the over-50s crowd.

Cruising the exotic Caribbean islands proves to just as exciting as they thought it would be, with all the glamour and luxury they have been hoping for, but will it also bring them the Christmas magic they crave?

The Cruise is a sweet, escapist story about three old friends that have reached a crossroads in their lives, and are looking for something more from the years that spread out before them in retirement. Anne is the glam-queen of the bunch, laid low by a amorous antics of a husband she should have ditched years ago, and she is on the hunt for a new romance among the wealthy bachelors of the cruising scene. Kath is reeling from the death of a husband that has kept her firmly under his thumb for the entirety of their married life, but she also feels guilt over a secret she is harbouring - and a fear that she might well be losing her marbles, as her ungrateful sons keep telling her. Jane (my favourite) has always felt in the shadows, has zero confidence, is terrified of letting herself go, and is convinced she has made a massive mistake going on a cruise where she feels exposed to the scrutiny of others. Each of them is looking for something different from this experience, and there are surprises ahead for all three.

James fills the pages with the sights, sounds, smells and culture of the Caribbean islands and makes the most of all they have to offer through her characters. On and off board, there are enjoyable moments of drama and romance, and she touches on subjects that are very relatable to older readers around loneliness, post-retirement, tricky family dynamics, and secrets about what goes on behind closed doors in outwardly seeming happy marriages. There are some intriguing case studies among the passengers too - even some melodrama around the unscrupulous charmer dodgy Dicky. I am a cruise phobic, as can imagine nothing worse than floating round the ocean with hordes of people you cannot get away from, but I think if you are a fan of sailing the seven seas you will find yourself giving a wry chuckle to much of the situations that play out in these pages.

This is a light and easy read, about second chances, with plenty of gentle warmth and humour. I especially enjoyed Jane's story arc, and the heart warming ending made me smile.

I love Caroline’s style of writing – the humour really is infectious throughout her writing – which I experienced when I read The Spa Break. I was hoping The Cruise would provide that same fun and lightness to the story – and I am so pleased to say that it really did. This time we are introduced to characters Anne, Jane, and Kath who have been friends ever since school. After attending a school reunion, they decide to throw caution to the wind and book themselves on a 2-week cruise over the Christmas holiday period.

Each of the three ladies is recovering from some really difficult experiences in their lives – so taking some time out for the cruise gives Anne, Jane, and Kath some real time to come to terms with their emotional journies, and begin to heal. The Cruise is such a fun and easy read, with brilliantly written characters as well as the humour that makes me just love Caroline’s writing so much. A definite must-read for me, and if you haven’t already read it, then definitely add The Spa Break to your TBR pile as well.

4.5*
Three good friends in their 60s, Anne, Jane and Kath, all dealing with the changes in their lives, made a spur of the moment decision to go cruising for Christmas. Jane is single, has just been sacked from the job she loved and is uncomfortable with her appearance. Kath is a widow who had been downtrodden and abused during her marriage, leaving her lacking in confidence and prone to second guessing herself. Anne, a former air hostess, is divorced from a cheating husband. It’s time they had some fun and the Caribbean, sunshine and cocktails sounded like the perfect panacea.

There are some wonderfully realised characters on the cruise, apart from the ladies who had a wonderful friendship, most notably the lovely and recently widowed Selwyn, who is taking the trip his wife never would. Also The Captain, an elderly man whose favourite place is sitting at the bar on a cruise ship. The other side of the coin is Dicky Delaney, the second rate ship’s entertainer, full of schemes and untrustworthy.

I enjoy stories with mature characters who are relatable, and following the ladies’ stories was a pleasure, especially seeing Jane gain confidence and really start to enjoy herself, thanks in no small part to Selwyn. There’s humour, compassion, more serious topics and a twist I didn’t see coming.

The vivid descriptions of the ship and the destinations really put the reader right there, the imagery was delightful. A very enjoyable read with satisfying conclusions, showing second chances can materialise at any age.

The food, the islands, the music, and secrets abounded in this book about three friends in their sixties who decided to take a Christmas cruise after attending their high school reunion and discovering that is how Sylvia, one of their classmates found her husbands. They booked a trip on the Diamond Star to the Caribbean, which was for singles over fifty. I enjoyed learning about the characters that they met and the trips and the places they visited. It made me want to book a cruise just like theirs.

I enjoyed finding out how this idea came about and what prompted each of the women to go. I liked how the cruise seemed to change the women, especially Jane, who had no confidence in herself. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for the Cruise, I hope you enjoy my review.

This delightful read begins at a school reunion in Lancashire for the class of ‘74 who attended Garstang Grammar school for Girls.

Three 63 year old friends called Ann (Divorcee), Jane (Single) & Kath (Widowed) who are attending the reunion bump into a rude/glamorous ex classmate called Sylvia who always thought she was better than them and they can’t resist knocking her down a peg or two when she tries to humiliate them one more time after all these years. (Go Girls!)

The conversation that follows leads to a Caribbean Christmas Cruise being booked aboard an over fifties ship called The Diamond Star, the ladies are hoping for new beginnings and doing something for themselves for a change and enjoying life.

What follows is a lovely story of making new friends, being your true self for the first time in your life and letting go of all your insecurities and loving life.

The Cruise is just lovely and keeps you smiling all the way through, you’re in for a real treat when you buy it.

Three friends in their sixties spend Christmas on a cruise in the Carribbean. A laugh out loud comedy with a great bunch of characters that are easily relateable. I have never been on a cruise but I feel like I have after reading this and I loved it. I instantly liked all the characters as they are introduced and they all have there own parts to play in the well written story. I always know that when reading this authors books that I will definitely smile and have a chuckle and this one did not disappoint. It's a story of friendship, love and life's dramas, living life to the fullest but most of all you are never too old to have fun!

Three older ladies, well they are all 63, looking for adventure on a cruise, what will happen, you must read this lovely story to find out. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I enjoyed this humorous yet often poignant tale about three friends and a festive cruise. Anne, Kath and Jane get the cruise idea at an old school reunion and embark on a life-changing holiday for all. The travel aspect of the story is escapist and vividly described. The three women are believably flawed and likeable characters; I particularly liked their dynamic, accepting each other faults and the love they had for each other. There's deceit, humour, romance and sadness on the cruise that is an engaging read.
I like the characters, the humour and the Caribbean setting.

So glad I picked this up , wanted a light hearted read and this is what I got . Lighthearted ,funny moving, could actually picture myself on that cruise, such a beautiful read and git me out my slump .

At the Garstang Grammar School for Girls reunion, three friends in their sixties – Anne, Jane and Kath – hear about the joy of cruising, and decide it’s just the holiday they all need. Anne, a former air hostess, now single and contemplating her future after her pilot husband proved to be a philanderer, is attracted by the idea of finding a new husband – well, it certainly worked for Sylvia Double-A, she’s already found four. Kath is becoming a little forgetful – recently widowed, after a long marriage that certainly had its secrets, and fearing that her sons have their own plans for her future. And Jane, after a career behind the scenes in the world of celebrity cookery, remains resolutely single – overweight, lacking in confidence, and convinced that she’ll remain that way. And that’s how they find themselves escaping Christmas – never the easiest time for any of them – on a fortnight’s cruise to the Caribbean, with all the delights it has to offer.

This book was just the most perfect escape, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent with these three lovely ladies, so enjoying their special friendship as they rediscovered themselves and their zest for life, and proved that it’s never too late to have some fun. And as well as the fantastic locations they visit – this book is a real whistle-stop tour around the Caribbean, each new destination really brought to life and quite wonderfully described – the people they meet on the Diamond Star have a lot to do with that too. There’s the lovely Selwyn who’s recently lost his wife Flo – but she really wouldn’t have enjoyed a holiday like this – and, while on his own personal mission, hopes to bring Jane out of her shell and bring some joy into her life. Anne’s choice of companion is less well-judged – Doncaster comedian Dicky, an entertainer on the cruise, ducking and weaving and with an agenda all of his own – and it seems she learned little from her time with husband Barry. And, as the story builds, it looks like he might rather prove to be Kath’s nemesis too – she has some hidden secrets that really can’t be allowed to surface.

And there’s a wider cast of characters who really made the book for me – Bridgette (who readers may just have met before… what a treat!), on board to deliver talks on gardening, and caring for the elderly and eccentric Captain, an old sea dog who props up the bar in a selection of appropriately captioned T-shirts. Yorkshire couple Harold and Nancy are great fun too – providing many of the laughs along the way. And all the book’s humour is just perfectly judged – slapstick at times, but I thought it was dialled down just a little from some of the author’s other books and that hit just the right note for me. There’s a lot of poignancy too – the author really does have the perfect emotional touch – especially with Jane’s touching story, and she was the individual who really won my heart.

The whole cruise experience is just wonderfully done – in fact, when I finished the book I spent the evening planning one of my own, with an eye on my seventieth birthday. I already know that age is no barrier to new experiences and living a little – and this book only reminded me how much fun a cruise could be. And the ladies themselves – they’re just so perfectly drawn and, at times, I identified with every one of them really strongly. Second chances and a lot of fun aren’t just for the young – and this whole book really captured that feeling. This really was the loveliest read, my favourite from the author so far, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to all – perhaps slathered in sun cream, with a cocktail in hand, reggae music playing in the background, but just as thoroughly enjoyable on a rainy afternoon in Yorkshire.

(Review also copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

This book is an absolute delight! It is hardly surprising that Caroline James is a best-selling author as this book had me in stitches. Like all good comedies it is also tinged with pathos. Although I have never been on a cruise, the author depicted life on board so well that I could easily imagine myself there. the characters jump off the page and I felt as if I knew them well by the end of the book. There are some lovely developments and a great ending. A cracking book.

3.5 stars
A fun lighthearted read about friendship and second chances. I really enjoyed the friendship between Anne, Jane and Kath - they’d all been through so much in their lives and deserved their break in the sunshine. The other characters on the cruise were brilliant additions to the story - I could imagine them all creating havoc for the crew and I especially enjoyed Brigitte and the Captain.