The idea of a world cruise seems fanciful, ridiculous, not to mention cliched. However cruising is well and truly enjoying a renaissance, and a complete circumnavigation is the Holy Grail for the committed cruiser (stop sniggering at the back). My partner first mentioned the idea many months ago, and slowly the idea took root, strengthening its position from fantasy to possibility until last weekend it became a reality. Last Saturday we edged the car down our icy road and left Brighton with a modest seven suitcases and a folding table (don't ask). After a night in cosmopolitan Southampton we boarded the P&O liner Arcadia, ready to wave goodbye to Blighty on a ninety-four day trip that will cross every ocean in a westbound lap of the globe, stopping at thirty-four destinations on route.

So here we are halfway through day three, and I'm currently bobbing up and down fairly vigorously in the western Atlantic on route to Madeira, our first port of call which we reach on Thursday. It's bright and mild outside, but a force 9 gale means all guests are involuntarily dancing their way down to lunch as the ship lurches unpredictably, although the Arcadia's stabilisers mean things are as good as can be expected. We are assured we will escape to calmer waters by dinner, which tonight is the first formal evening. This means black tie for gents & fancy frocks for ladies, and we all get to meet the Commodore for drinks before a lobster & steak dinner for 2,400 guests in two sittings. After that it's off to the theatre where tonight, for one night only, its 60's band The Bachelors, who, if they are still bachelors, must be attracting all kinds of whispers.

Food has been fabulous so far. The online harbingers of doom had given me cause for concern but I can only assume they are all regulars of Claridges if these standards do not satisfy. Last night we dined in The Orchid, one of two signature restaurants on board that provide alternatives to the main restaurant. More intimate, and specialising in modern Asian cuisine, it was first class, and our group made various appreciative noises as we enjoyed delicate sushi appetisers and spicy mackrel soup, before pigging on pork belly and scallops.

Food is of course, one of the main attractions on a cruise, but thankfully there are facilities to mitigate your burgeoning waistline. As well as offering healthy options at all meals there is a palatial, well-equipped gym with regular yoga and pilates classes. There is also an outdoor court, which plays host to tennis competitions as well as other sports. Lets see how that one works out...maybe I will setup a 24 hour bellycam.

As we head south the sun sets ever later, and should be around 9pm tomorrow, by which time the optimists among us are hoping to sunbathe. In the meantime we all look forward to calmer waters.

For more information go to:

www.pocruises.com