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The Forever Cruise
An uplifting page-turner of travel and second chances.
When Halcyon Seas, a luxury alternative to retirement living, sets sail on her maiden voyage, three women on board dream of a better future.
Will Captain Marianne Moore prove herself capable in her new role? Her career depends on it.
Will Cabin maid Olivia Rose be able to keep her secret and her job? Her impoverished family relies on her wages.
And will pensioner Alice Wagstaff finally find the courage to live the life she wants?
When the cruise ship veers off course, the future is uncertain and dangerous.
Can the three women embrace this new direction, or will the journey of a lifetime turn into a living nightmare?
When Halcyon Seas, a luxury alternative to retirement living, sets sail on her maiden voyage, three women on board dream of a better future.
Will Captain Marianne Moore prove herself capable in her new role? Her career depends on it.
Will Cabin maid Olivia Rose be able to keep her secret and her job? Her impoverished family relies on her wages.
And will pensioner Alice Wagstaff finally find the courage to live the life she wants?
When the cruise ship veers off course, the future is uncertain and dangerous.
Can the three women embrace this new direction, or will the journey of a lifetime turn into a living nightmare?
422 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2022
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Klée
9 books17 followersDeborah has worked as an occupational therapist, a health service manager, a freelance journalist, and management consultant in health and social care.
Her protagonists are often people who exist on the edges of society. Despite the very real, but dark, subject matter her stories are uplifting, combining pathos with humour. They are about self-discovery and the power of friendships and community.
The Borrowed Boy, her debut was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, and voted book of the month by Chill with a Book awards.
Just Bea is her second novel.
Deborah lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea and in the countryside filling her pockets with shells and acorns and her head with stories.
Her protagonists are often people who exist on the edges of society. Despite the very real, but dark, subject matter her stories are uplifting, combining pathos with humour. They are about self-discovery and the power of friendships and community.
The Borrowed Boy, her debut was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, and voted book of the month by Chill with a Book awards.
Just Bea is her second novel.
Deborah lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea and in the countryside filling her pockets with shells and acorns and her head with stories.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 28, 2022
Having read and enjoyed another of the author’s books - The Borrowed Boy - I was delighted to be invited to read her latest book - The Forever Cruise - with its concept of a cruising as a lifestyle choice for retirees. I could totally understand why widow Alice, the MC, seized the opportunity when her daughter was all for selling the family home and moving Alice nearby. Like Alice, I felt sure that a retirement home was just around the corner for her. Instead, Alice stood her ground and opted for a life at sea, visiting new places and meeting new people.
At the helm of Halcyon Seas is the newly appointed captain, Marianne Moore, who has been waiting for this moment for many years, constantly feeling overlooked for the most senior position in favour of her male colleagues. She hopes that by safely and successfully steering the ship on its maiden voyage (or at least the first year or so of its itinerary), the powers that be will finally grant her the captaincy of a regular cruise ship where passengers come and go rather than the permanency of the “residents” of Halcyon Seas. As much as she enjoys getting to know those on board, seeing the same faces for the duration of her tenure is not all it’s cracked up to be.
The early weeks of the cruise seem to prove its idyllic nature, and Alice is loving the stop-offs at cities she’d never visited before. She even makes plans to visit her son when the ship makes its way to Australia. That said, being catered for all the time and never having to lift a finger to keep her cabin clean soon takes it toll, and when she befriends her regular maid, Olive, it’s not long before she and a few other like-minded passengers decide to help lighten the maid’s workload by tidying up for themselves. Alice does have an ulterior motive and enjoys hearing about Olive’s family who are relying on her wage back in Madagascar. But there’s more to Olive’s story than that, and when she can no longer hide her secret, Alice and her friends come up with an extraordinary plot that subsequently changes the ship’s itinerary for good. That change in the ship’s circumstances brings Halcyon Seas into the glare of the public eye. For the management, this is not a good thing, but for the passengers – who are now a little bored of life at sea – their new situation brings out the best in many of them and truly offers them the change in lifestyle they were seeking when they first boarded the ship.
I loved how the passengers came together when faced with their new predicament and how they treated Olive’s family, friends and neighbours with such respect, a respect that was returned many times over. The author creates a stunning image of Madagascar, and you can completely understand why some passengers make the choices they do. Many have formed enduring friendships that they don’t want to walk away from at this point in their lives; they’ve been energised and stimulated in ways that they never imagined, and their forever cruise has turned into something so much more important to them.
Following Alice, Marianne and Olive, the story reflects different perspectives and challenges that combine to tell a heart-warming story of second chances, of romance, and of eternal friendships.
The Forever Cruise is inspirational in rewarding passengers like Alice for taking a risk later in life; it highlights the struggles of Marianne in her career path and how much she has given up personally to reach the top, and finally it is enlightening in showing how different cultures live and heart-warming in proving how those differences can be overcome with respect, kindness and compassion.
At the helm of Halcyon Seas is the newly appointed captain, Marianne Moore, who has been waiting for this moment for many years, constantly feeling overlooked for the most senior position in favour of her male colleagues. She hopes that by safely and successfully steering the ship on its maiden voyage (or at least the first year or so of its itinerary), the powers that be will finally grant her the captaincy of a regular cruise ship where passengers come and go rather than the permanency of the “residents” of Halcyon Seas. As much as she enjoys getting to know those on board, seeing the same faces for the duration of her tenure is not all it’s cracked up to be.
The early weeks of the cruise seem to prove its idyllic nature, and Alice is loving the stop-offs at cities she’d never visited before. She even makes plans to visit her son when the ship makes its way to Australia. That said, being catered for all the time and never having to lift a finger to keep her cabin clean soon takes it toll, and when she befriends her regular maid, Olive, it’s not long before she and a few other like-minded passengers decide to help lighten the maid’s workload by tidying up for themselves. Alice does have an ulterior motive and enjoys hearing about Olive’s family who are relying on her wage back in Madagascar. But there’s more to Olive’s story than that, and when she can no longer hide her secret, Alice and her friends come up with an extraordinary plot that subsequently changes the ship’s itinerary for good. That change in the ship’s circumstances brings Halcyon Seas into the glare of the public eye. For the management, this is not a good thing, but for the passengers – who are now a little bored of life at sea – their new situation brings out the best in many of them and truly offers them the change in lifestyle they were seeking when they first boarded the ship.
I loved how the passengers came together when faced with their new predicament and how they treated Olive’s family, friends and neighbours with such respect, a respect that was returned many times over. The author creates a stunning image of Madagascar, and you can completely understand why some passengers make the choices they do. Many have formed enduring friendships that they don’t want to walk away from at this point in their lives; they’ve been energised and stimulated in ways that they never imagined, and their forever cruise has turned into something so much more important to them.
Following Alice, Marianne and Olive, the story reflects different perspectives and challenges that combine to tell a heart-warming story of second chances, of romance, and of eternal friendships.
The Forever Cruise is inspirational in rewarding passengers like Alice for taking a risk later in life; it highlights the struggles of Marianne in her career path and how much she has given up personally to reach the top, and finally it is enlightening in showing how different cultures live and heart-warming in proving how those differences can be overcome with respect, kindness and compassion.
November 21, 2022
The premise of this book made it something refreshingly different from the very beginning – the whole notion of an alternative to traditional retirement living, one long holiday, living a life of luxury on a cruise ship, circling the globe and enjoying new experiences. And the first part of this story quite wonderfully explores that experience from the perspective of its particularly well drawn characters – yes, all conventional enough so far. But then the story shifts – a dramatic incident in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar, and the whole story becomes something quite different – and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment.
The author takes time and care to establish her characters, and I raged on Alice’s behalf as her daughter attempted to convince her to move into the claustrophobic environment of a retirement home – she’d lost her way a little after losing her husband, but most certainly hadn’t lost her marbles. After learning about the voyage on the Halcyon Seas, she shows considerable bravery in securing her berth – and goes on to make firm friendships aboard. Olivia has just completed a training course to become a cabin maid on the ship, and experienced first love – and although her income will be low, and the demands of the job greater than she might be expecting, her earnings will be life-changing for her impoverished family back in Madagascar. Marianne is to be the ship’s captain, a post she’s been promised for a very long time – the company are cutting corners, and she needs to be first officer and chief engineer too, but she hopes the experience will lead to greater things.
The story unfolds from the perspectives of those three main characters, but with an equally well drawn supporting cast – the ship’s other passengers with all their back stories, the hard-pressed crew members – and a few incidents along the way that raise some red flags about the care being provided for the vulnerable passengers. The initial excitement of visiting a new port each day begins to wane a little – one long holiday can become a little wearing. And Marianne finds that every small incident is being reported back to base, drawing adverse attention from the press for the maiden voyage – and she begins to suspect everyone. And then all the small incidents pale into insignificance – the ship’s under-maintained engines begin to fail, an act of kindness by the passengers is misunderstood and results in an announcement of “Safe Haven” (the code for a pirate attack), and the whole story moves into a different gear and in an entirely unexpected direction.
I really don’t want to spoil this book for anyone – along with the relationships, the romances in the lives of all three women, the strong friendships forged, a great deal of the joy of this book was in the surprises that follow. And I absolutely loved some of the messages that emerged – society’s perceptions and treatment of the older generation, the gulf between Western entitlement and those living in poverty, the small acts that can make such a difference, the fact that it’s never too late for new beginnings. The book is laced with gentle humour – I certainly read it with a constant smile – but its diverse themes are satisfyingly hard-hitting but never pressed too hard.
And did I mention that it’s a wonderfully told and compelling story? I really took its characters to my heart, found their stories quite inspirational, and felt I was with them on every step of their journey. It’s fair to say, I think, that this book really wasn’t at all what I was expecting – but I absolutely loved it.
The author takes time and care to establish her characters, and I raged on Alice’s behalf as her daughter attempted to convince her to move into the claustrophobic environment of a retirement home – she’d lost her way a little after losing her husband, but most certainly hadn’t lost her marbles. After learning about the voyage on the Halcyon Seas, she shows considerable bravery in securing her berth – and goes on to make firm friendships aboard. Olivia has just completed a training course to become a cabin maid on the ship, and experienced first love – and although her income will be low, and the demands of the job greater than she might be expecting, her earnings will be life-changing for her impoverished family back in Madagascar. Marianne is to be the ship’s captain, a post she’s been promised for a very long time – the company are cutting corners, and she needs to be first officer and chief engineer too, but she hopes the experience will lead to greater things.
The story unfolds from the perspectives of those three main characters, but with an equally well drawn supporting cast – the ship’s other passengers with all their back stories, the hard-pressed crew members – and a few incidents along the way that raise some red flags about the care being provided for the vulnerable passengers. The initial excitement of visiting a new port each day begins to wane a little – one long holiday can become a little wearing. And Marianne finds that every small incident is being reported back to base, drawing adverse attention from the press for the maiden voyage – and she begins to suspect everyone. And then all the small incidents pale into insignificance – the ship’s under-maintained engines begin to fail, an act of kindness by the passengers is misunderstood and results in an announcement of “Safe Haven” (the code for a pirate attack), and the whole story moves into a different gear and in an entirely unexpected direction.
I really don’t want to spoil this book for anyone – along with the relationships, the romances in the lives of all three women, the strong friendships forged, a great deal of the joy of this book was in the surprises that follow. And I absolutely loved some of the messages that emerged – society’s perceptions and treatment of the older generation, the gulf between Western entitlement and those living in poverty, the small acts that can make such a difference, the fact that it’s never too late for new beginnings. The book is laced with gentle humour – I certainly read it with a constant smile – but its diverse themes are satisfyingly hard-hitting but never pressed too hard.
And did I mention that it’s a wonderfully told and compelling story? I really took its characters to my heart, found their stories quite inspirational, and felt I was with them on every step of their journey. It’s fair to say, I think, that this book really wasn’t at all what I was expecting – but I absolutely loved it.
December 5, 2022
What a fantastic read! A feast for the imagination. From the very beginning, I was hooked. The story focuses on a new concept, the ‘Forever Cruise’, which sees a group of pensioners move permanently onto a cruise ship. The idea is that they spend their lives being waited on, whilst exploring the world - the plan is for them to be care homes on water! There’s a variety of unique characters from cruise passengers to the captain, and (my favourite) Marianne, a cleaner on the ship. Each character has their own unique story, but they’re all brought together as they try to find their place in an ever changing world.
The description was simply marvellous, and I felt as though I was amongst the characters, under the scorching sun of Madagascar. Watching the people come together to help the village and learn that there’s much more to life than a luxury cruise was heart-warming. There is also a little sprinkle of romance throughout, which I particularly enjoyed, and a certain couple had me tearing through the pages.
The Forever Cruise is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It was a pure delight to read and I’m very much looking forward to the author’s next release!
The description was simply marvellous, and I felt as though I was amongst the characters, under the scorching sun of Madagascar. Watching the people come together to help the village and learn that there’s much more to life than a luxury cruise was heart-warming. There is also a little sprinkle of romance throughout, which I particularly enjoyed, and a certain couple had me tearing through the pages.
The Forever Cruise is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It was a pure delight to read and I’m very much looking forward to the author’s next release!
December 11, 2022
In this season of stress, it was lovely to sit down with a book I knew I'd enjoy (having read the author's prior novels) and still be surprised by just how much I enjoyed it.
The author takes the idea of a retirement cruise ship and turns it around, showing is three stories: Alice, a retiree who booked passage to escape her controlling daughter's plans for her future; Olivia, a cabin maid whose job keeps her family afloat, but who is carrying a secret; and Marianne, passed over many times in her quest to captain a ship, who finally gets what she wants - then realizes all is not as it seemed.
The Forever Cruise is filled with travel, details of shipboard life, and relationships between passengers and crew. That would have been almost enough. But then things go wrong, and that's where the fun really begins.
No spoilers, except to say everything turns out for the best, even if it's not what you expect. Highly recommended.
The author takes the idea of a retirement cruise ship and turns it around, showing is three stories: Alice, a retiree who booked passage to escape her controlling daughter's plans for her future; Olivia, a cabin maid whose job keeps her family afloat, but who is carrying a secret; and Marianne, passed over many times in her quest to captain a ship, who finally gets what she wants - then realizes all is not as it seemed.
The Forever Cruise is filled with travel, details of shipboard life, and relationships between passengers and crew. That would have been almost enough. But then things go wrong, and that's where the fun really begins.
No spoilers, except to say everything turns out for the best, even if it's not what you expect. Highly recommended.
October 27, 2022
Award-winning Author Deborah Klee writes “page-turning, uplifting and feel-good stories about friendship, self-discovery, emotional courage and second-chances”. She believes in the magic of storytelling.
I read Ms. Klee’s second book, “The Borrowed Boy” and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was pleased when the author provided me with an advance digital review copy of a “The Forever Cruise”. The idea of a story about cruising drew me in, and I knew I would enjoy spending time at sea with her heart-warming characters.
There is an ensemble of characters on the cruise ship. The main characters are Marianne Moore, who has finally made Captain, Olive Rose, young cabin maid with high hopes for her future and Pensioner Alice Wagstaff. Alice lost her way when her husband passed away; for her, the cruise on the ship “Halycyon” is the opportunity to come to life again. The first half of the book focuses on the cruise experience as everyone on board gets used to their new, idyllic “forever life” of endless care-free cruising with their fellow cruisers, enjoying their visits to many countries as the ship circles the globe. Does a lifetime of cruising sound like more fun than life in a care facility?
The second half of the story really changes direction as the ship ends up beached at Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean east of Africa. Author Klee excelled at bringing this far-off island to life, with amazing descriptions of the people, and flora and fauna. Many mysteries and problems need to be solved and Alice Wagstaff and her friends do their best to do the right thing. I didn’t totally buy-in to the Madagascar story line, but it will surprise and entertain you!
5 stars for one of the most enjoyable and creatively-conceived plots I have read. I encourage readers to relax with Captain Marianne and Alice Wagstaff and enjoy their entertaining story.
I read Ms. Klee’s second book, “The Borrowed Boy” and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was pleased when the author provided me with an advance digital review copy of a “The Forever Cruise”. The idea of a story about cruising drew me in, and I knew I would enjoy spending time at sea with her heart-warming characters.
There is an ensemble of characters on the cruise ship. The main characters are Marianne Moore, who has finally made Captain, Olive Rose, young cabin maid with high hopes for her future and Pensioner Alice Wagstaff. Alice lost her way when her husband passed away; for her, the cruise on the ship “Halycyon” is the opportunity to come to life again. The first half of the book focuses on the cruise experience as everyone on board gets used to their new, idyllic “forever life” of endless care-free cruising with their fellow cruisers, enjoying their visits to many countries as the ship circles the globe. Does a lifetime of cruising sound like more fun than life in a care facility?
The second half of the story really changes direction as the ship ends up beached at Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean east of Africa. Author Klee excelled at bringing this far-off island to life, with amazing descriptions of the people, and flora and fauna. Many mysteries and problems need to be solved and Alice Wagstaff and her friends do their best to do the right thing. I didn’t totally buy-in to the Madagascar story line, but it will surprise and entertain you!
5 stars for one of the most enjoyable and creatively-conceived plots I have read. I encourage readers to relax with Captain Marianne and Alice Wagstaff and enjoy their entertaining story.
February 9, 2023
Strangers soon become friends, I didn’t want The Forever Cruise to end
As with the passengers and crew of the Halcyon Sea cruise liner, I didn’t know what I was about to encounter when I started The Forever Cruise.
This was an experimental venture, a perpetual cruise for the retired, and with the eyes of the world and the cruise industry on them its success was important. And you know it, things were bound to go wrong.
Without giving spoilers, I can say nothing about the hiccups encountered except that Deborah gives her readers a range of calamities of escalating severity and consequence.
Will the venture prove successful? You’ll have to take that same voyage to discover the answer.
100% worth the read
As with the passengers and crew of the Halcyon Sea cruise liner, I didn’t know what I was about to encounter when I started The Forever Cruise.
This was an experimental venture, a perpetual cruise for the retired, and with the eyes of the world and the cruise industry on them its success was important. And you know it, things were bound to go wrong.
Without giving spoilers, I can say nothing about the hiccups encountered except that Deborah gives her readers a range of calamities of escalating severity and consequence.
Will the venture prove successful? You’ll have to take that same voyage to discover the answer.
100% worth the read
February 17, 2023
A unique cruise
This novel is actually a number of stories connected by a chain of events during the first forever cruise sailed. I've always wanted to go on a cruise, and now I have. Most of this story takes place on Madagascar. Reading about the ports of call was a dream for me. The love, the angst, the drama, and the way the novel evolved ensured something new was happening every day and people's lives changed for the better.
This novel is actually a number of stories connected by a chain of events during the first forever cruise sailed. I've always wanted to go on a cruise, and now I have. Most of this story takes place on Madagascar. Reading about the ports of call was a dream for me. The love, the angst, the drama, and the way the novel evolved ensured something new was happening every day and people's lives changed for the better.
December 22, 2022
What an unusual story! Told from three viewpoints and with a large cast of characters, readers board the cruise ship for a tempestuous journey to distant places. With a spy amongst the passengers and unexpected happenings, there's never a dull moment. Long live the Halcyon Seas and all who sail in her.
February 6, 2023
Deborah Klée's unique novel focuses on retired people residing permanently on a cruise ship. The story follows 3 women - Alice, a passenger, Olivia, a cabin maid and Marianne, the ship's captain.
It's a lot of fun with twists & turns, stunning locations and wonderful character development. Great moments of comedy too!
Highly recommend!
It's a lot of fun with twists & turns, stunning locations and wonderful character development. Great moments of comedy too!
Highly recommend!
May 29, 2023
This is the second of Deborah's novels I have read and it has been rewarding to see the maturation of her prose. This is a great story, an unusual scenario and a satisfying end, written in an engaging way with a lightness of touch.
Would recommend as a holiday read.
Would recommend as a holiday read.
August 30, 2023
A lovely heartwarming story of the lives of three women on board The Halcyon Seas cruise ship.
To me, the way the author weaves in the topical issue of climate change, makes this book into a masterpiece!
I love the characters and all the twists and turns; a thoroughly enjoyable read.
To me, the way the author weaves in the topical issue of climate change, makes this book into a masterpiece!
I love the characters and all the twists and turns; a thoroughly enjoyable read.
May 30, 2023
Page turner
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews