ATLANTIC adventures

From cruising to rowing, three women reveal the very different ways they crossed the ocean

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‘I'm like a child; I find it really exciting’

Alison Morgan, 60, lives in Nottingham with her husband Adrian, 64.

My first cruise was on the Atlantic, 16 years ago. Sailing to New York sounded amazing. I've done a dozen now, to different places.

The minute you get to the ship everything is taken care of and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. The ship is beautiful, the food is fantastic, everyone is polite and pleasant. When you leave port there's a band playing. I just love it. I'm like a child, I find it really exciting.

On that first cruise, we had a few stops - the Shetland Islands, Iceland, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, then New York. But we had a horrendous storm that lasted two-and-a-half days. The waves were enormous. We met a couple who reassured us; they'd done hundreds of cruises and we kept in touch for a number of years. 'It's surprising how much you chat to people. It's a very friendly place,' I tell friends.

I go with my husband, Adrian, my daughter, Laura, 35, or a friend, Maureen, 73, and I choose big ships - for about 5,000 people. They feel safest.

We did the Caribbean a few years ago. We were away for 19 days with seven days totally at sea. There's so much going on, though, and I love that about cruising - you can do absolutely nothing, or you can be chasing around all day.

You can have your hair done, go to classes or talks. I like the formal evenings - white tablecloths, lovely music and getting dressed up. Some people really go to town!