Sailing past Lady Liberty at dawn is a lifetime memory

IT’S wonderful unpacking my suitcase once, and that’s it until the end of the cruise. Then I am free to enjoy all the good food on offer. Breakfast, morning coffee with pastries, a bloody mary before lunch, afternoon tea, a five-course dinner, a midnight buffet and room service are all temptations – but I do discipline myself to walk around the ship at least once a day.

Sometimes, when I just want peace and quiet, I slope off to the adults-only VIP sanctuaries with cabanas and fluffy towels.

Rough seas never interrupt my enjoyment. In fact, sometimes they make it even more exciting. During one terrifying storm I went up to the bridge to stand with the captain, and watched lightning crack above us like fireworks. But I never felt frightened – these ships are the big beasts of the high seas.

I’ve had many other memorable cruises.

After I became King Of The Jungle by winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! I went on the last Queen Elizabeth 2 voyage with my husband Neil, back in 2008.

We flew to South America and sailed to Tonga, Tahiti, Easter Island, New Zealand and Sydney, where everyone came out to say goodbye to this beautiful ship. I thought for a minute they might have been waving goodbye to me.

Also, after seven days at sea, the sail-in at dawn on Queen Mary 2 past Lady Liberty was very special – the Statue of Liberty rose before us as Manhattan’s skyscrapers came into view.

But probably my strangest cruise was on Sky Princess when I was hobbling about after a knee operation.

There, some British passengers I met, who lived in Florida, became quite concerned and told me they knew of a fantastic drug to help me. They sent the pills through the post to my home – but they didn’t work. Still, it was a fine example of the camaraderie that builds up on a cruise.

Luxury cruising is my favourite treat. I will be 75 at Christmas, so Neil and I are splashing out on a Cunard Queen Elizabeth sailing in the new year.

Leaving from Tokyo, we will explore the Japanese islands and – as it’s my birthday – we’re pushing the boat out with a spacious Queens Grill suite.