The Cruise

by Caroline James

‘Girl power for the over sixties!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three women.
One widowed.
One unmarried.
One almost divorced.
All aged 63, but not ready to give up on life!

Leaving behind the heartache, guilt and disappointment of their real lives, three friends decide that now they’re in their sixties, it’s time they finally did something for themselves!

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?

Praise for Caroline James:
‘Fabulous to read…It’s about a girls’ weekend with characters in their 60s and determined to have a good time’ Woman & Home

‘A laugh out loud, naughty, enlightening heart-warming story about friendship and discovery’ Yours Magazine

‘The escapades of these three women are funny…Their voices come alive on the page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A tale of friendship that has lasted through the decades which I found hard to put down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my word …I couldn't put this down it was so good, following the adventures of Anne, Kath and Jane was brilliant and happy endings throughout’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This author was new to me, and I am already downloading more of her books because she writes in a way that makes me keep reading and because I feel good at the end… What more could anyone want?’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What an enjoyable read! …a fun filled trip for sure’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Christmas, Holiday, Relationships

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2023

About the author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, is out now.

Her new novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.”

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.


Books by Caroline James:

Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
The Cruise Club
The Cruise
The French Cookery School
The Spa Break
Boomerville at Ballymegille
The Best Boomerville Hotel
Hattie Goes to Hollywood
Jungle Rock
Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me
Coffee Tea the Chef & Me
Coffee Rea the Gypsy & Me

Contact Caroline:

website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter: @carolinejames12
Facebook: Caroline James Author
Insta: Caroline JamesAuthor

Reviews for Caroline’s books:

"Caroline is a natural story-teller with a gift for humour in her writing." The Write Stuff, London Book Fair.

"A fabulous Story, it made me shriek with laughter and I loved every twist and turn." Valentina Harris, Author, Chef and International Cookery School Host.

"Caroline James has spun a tale that is enjoyable, funny, charming, believable and page-turning." Nigel May, TV Personality & Author

"A strong plot with likeable characters makes it a great read." Ebook of the week - The Sun:

"Caroline writes quite beautifully - great descriptions, vividly drawn characters, sparkling humour, a touch of real sadness - this book was the perfect escape."

"A thoroughly enjoyable read that takes you from the loneliness of single life in the wet UK through to the magic of the Caribbean. An indulgent feast of the best things in life - sun, rum, fun, love and laughter."

"Caroline James has served up a comedic masterpiece that proves retirement doesn't mean retreating—it means going full throttle with absolutely zero effs left to give."

Reviews

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dani Burley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate not finishing a book so I pushed through but it’s a bad sign that this took me this long to read. Nearly didn’t finish but stuck by it and skim read the last 25%. Really didn’t like it, was quite boring, didn’t relate to any of the characters and the storyline just wasn’t good. No twists or turns, quite bland in my opinion!

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of tosh!
I expected more because it’s about people in their sixties but it turned out to be a travelogue and fashion listing in a chick lit story.
At 63, Jane should be more confident in public too.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun journey these three women embark on, leaving their problems at home and setting off into the sun. One widowed, one unmarried, one almost divorced, all aged 63, but not ready to give up on life. I enjoyed seeing them experience new things, slowly revealing more about themselves and coming into their own as the cruise progresses. There is a great cast of minor characters too, each one brought vividly to life. I particularly loved Selwyn, discreetly scattering little handfuls of his dead wife's ashes around the Caribbean as he lets his old life go and embraces the new. If you enjoyed the author's previous novel, The Spa Break, you will love this one too. Girl power for the over sixties!
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review..
A longer version of this review will be published in the SWWJ members Journal.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Atrocious!!!
Absolutely no plot, full of cliches, unbelievable or farcical (and not funny) scenes and very poor dialogues.
I just couldn't wait for it to end, and forced myself to read on, naively hoping for something better. Now two questions remain unanswered:
why did I inflict myself with this terrible read?
But most of all, why is it rated 4 stars on Goodreads?!?!?

[Carly Rushforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[The Reading Cove Book Club ❦ · Rating 2 out of 5]

*We will discuss this book in an upcoming episode of our podcast — Stay tuned!

~COVE OPINION: C, Average story

December 2024
289th Cove Pick: THE CRUISE by Caroline James
Chosen By: Mary
Trivia Winner - Monica

[Pippa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute junk ! Don’t bother

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted a nice light, feel good. escapist read and this is exactly what I got. Highly recommended for such times.

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Приятна лятна история, която ни води в прекрасни гръцки градчета и ни среща с историите на няколко от пасажерите на круизен кораб. Това е мечтан начин за прекарване на ваканцията на мнозина от нас. И затова е удоволствие да съпреживеем пътуването на борда на " Diamond Star " .
Цветна палитра от образи, характери и поведение оформят типажите в книгата. Но цялото ми внимание беше насочено към Кармен и Тео.
Кармен беше като осъдена да бъде доживотен безплатен болногледач на симулиращата си, но иначе напълно здравата си и деспотична майка. Не можех да се побера в кожата си от възмущение! Талантлива и симпатична, Кармен се беше поставила на разположение на една безмилостна, злобна и мрънкаща старица, изоставяйки всяка възможност за продължение на писателската си кариера и за шанса да намери някаква връзка. Беше ме жал да наблюдавам умората, примирението и подчинението, с които се справяше ден след ден. И едновременно с това ми се искаше да я разтърся и да й покажа как " възрастната й и стара " майка пие коктейли като шотове, яде по цяла кутия бонбони и се разхожда без проблеми, когато реши, докато охка и се оплаква от всичко наоколо, за да предизвика чувство за вина у дъщеря си по каприз. В такава обстановка нищо чудно, че Кармен беше споходена от писателски блок! Аз мога да бъда споходена от мисли за бягство! Или за извършване на няколко криминални престъпления!
Тео също имаше какво да предложи като емоции и преживявания. Характерът му беше това, от което се нуждаеше жадната за приятел Кармен. Описанията на пристанищата в маршрута кораба извикваха желание да посетя всяко едно. Слънце, лазурно море и апетитни местни ястия добавяха към реалността на една ваканция на " Diamond Star".

* ‘We all deserve a good life and to fulfil our dreams.’
* ‘Let’s put it in our memory bank,’ Sid said, ‘for the days when we can’t make memories like this anymore.’

[Franko · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 friends attend a class reunion, while their they examine theirs lives comparing them to their classmates. The snob of their class has married repeatedly finding each more wealthy elderly husband on a cruise.
Why not? Anne convinces her friends Jane and Kath, that could be us. So the girls, mid-sixty women, set sail on a Christmas cruise not knowing what adventures lie in store.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Fransy Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

4'75/5: ¡Brutal! Me ha parecido un auténtico descubrimiento este libro y lo he disfrutado muchísimo, tanto por la historia como por la ambientación. La autora me ha transportado perfectamente a las islas de las Antillas, un escenario del que desconocía todo lo que la autora nos narra y me he sentido un pasajero más de Diamond Star, aunque yo bajaba la media de edad considerablemente. Anne, Kath y Jane son tres mujeres inglesas de 63 años que deciden pasar la Navidad en alta mar y es que tras una reunión de antiguos alumnos, ven que sus vidas necesitan un soplo de aire fresco. Anne está en trámites de separación, Kath es viuda y Jane es soltera, tres mujeres que deciden abrir su corazón y dejarse mimar tras tanto pasado en la vida.
Mientras el barco va atracando en diferentes puertos, vamos a ir conociendo todo de ellas y además de muchos pasajeros: Selwyn, Bridgette, Dicky... personajes que suman y dan momentazos de todo tipo. El haber hecho yo un crucero me ha traido tantos buenos recuerdos: el diario a bordo, las actividades que se solapaban. Un disfrute muy grande el vivir con ellos todo esto.
La ambientación es que no tengo palabras. Todos esos países y territorios chiquititos del Caribe, no se ha ido a lo típico de Cuba y tal, sino a Antigua y Barbuda, San Cristóbal y Nieves, entre otros. Parten desde Barbados.
La historia es un sinfín de enredos y de mensajes optimistas hacia la vida. Con 63 años se puede seguir haciendo de todo y disfrutar sin tapujos, una oda ante el edadismo que cada vez más la sociedad tiene. Además de muchos otros temas, que tenéis que descubrir.
Se les coge cariño a los personajes, es díficil olvidarse de ellos. Al principio me costó un pelín entenderlas y es que me parecían más mayores de lo que las autores quería relatar. 63 años no puedo considerarlas ancianas y ellas tenían una filosofía de más mayores, menos mal que mi percepción cambió y he disfrutado tanto de esta novela.
El desenlace me ha gustado mucho, se sale un poco de la norma, pero está bastante bien.
Se lee muy fácil porque los capítulos son de esos que enganchan. Narrado desde una perspectiva omnipresente, nos deja entrever muchísimos personajes y camarotes del crucero.
Una novela de corte feelgood que hace que esta autora desembarque en España por la puerta grande, ojalá traduzcan más de ella.

[enjoyingbooksagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

When three 63 year old women one divorced on widowed and one unmarried set out for some fun at sea over the Christmas holiday and wanting to leave their problems at home and just have fun they do just that. This journey made for a fun fast and easy read. I am ready to go on my cruise now.

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could you ask for. The three main characters are all in their 60’s on a cruise in the Caribbean. What a fun journey they had. Read this book in a weekend I wanted more. Love Caroline James such a good author.

[Karen Farrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the thought of reading a book about the adventures of older ladies on a cruise for the holiday of a lifetime, then I realised I’m nearly as old as them and don’t feel old! However this actually made the book better as I could picture myself on that cruise with my friends. Anne is husband hunting, Kath is recently widowed and Jane has just lost a job she loved. Each one of these women goes on a voyage of discovery but with the most fantastic backdrop, the Caribbean.

Although this book is pure escapism, it does have some underlying messages. The book was absolutely peppered with comedy from the descriptions of people and places to the wonderful one liners! Despite the comedy I really felt for every one of these women and some of the friends they made on their cruise. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a lovely light, comedy infused escape.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely the case of its me and not the book; it was well written and the characters well developed, I just didn't gel with either, and ended up finding it tedious.

I liked Jane's storyline. It's always nice when a fat characters main motivation isn't dieting, and when they exist as more than comic relief. I also liked Kath, but the Anne and Dickie storyline was annoying.

This was more of a slice of life story than anything else, so not a lot really happened - it felt very like how a bunch of british people on a cruise would be, so if realism is your thing it definitely has that.

[Netta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book intrigued me as the main characters are three sixty-three year old best friends. The book did not disappoint. Jane, Kath and Anne decide to take a two week cruise over the Christmas holidays. Each woman is dealing with her own grief and feeling their age. The cruise experience opens them up to new friends, new looks, new confidence and new love. I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it for a fun, easy read.

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book, almost quit several times, but powered through. Wish I hadn't wasted my time. If this book was supposed to boost the self-image of people with weight-problems, it failed miserably! The fat-shaming never let up! And if it was supposed to be sympathetic to people with memory issues, it also failed miserably. The coverage of this matter was woefully lacking. Too fragmented, too long. My advice - don't bother.

[Jean P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious and hard going, I really couldn’t have cared any less about the characters. Having said that I did persevere to the end which it was a relief to reach. I don’t understand what anyone found funny in the book, obviously humour is a personal thing but I found nothing to laugh at in this book.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cruise by Caroline James.
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.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked Anne, Jane and Kath. 4*.

[lisa bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whilst I admire authors, I wonder how some ever get published. Where do I start? I skimmed through half of this book because I was bored, irritated and intensely dislike “fattist” humour.
The characters were unlike able, shallow and nasty to each other. The plot was thin and held no interest for me.
I won’t be reading this author again, life’s too short!

Notes are available to view

[Sue Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped this would be a fun and easy read for a long train journey. Unfortunately it’s quite lacking in energy and not particularly engaging. The three main characters are all a bit stereo typical and the portrayal of the one woman who is larger in size than the others is actually quite insensitive at times.
All a bit twee really and very predictable.

[Beryl Weller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it always takes me a while to get into them but it was worth it. Had a bit of everything - which was very entertaining and held my attention. Loved the character of Selwyn the best he was my favourite.

[Miss R · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever given up on a book half way through, but I couldn't even force myself to skim read this. Unlikeable and irritating characters and a very slow and dull story. It's a shame because I'd been looking forward to reading it for ages.

[Kathy Averbeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an older woman, I am always on the lookout for books about my contemporaries so I was drawn to this book. However, I felt the author created characters that were caricatures of people and did not capture their true essences. In other words, I could not relate to them at all.

[Sammy Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy fluffy read

[Izzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried but couldn’t get into this book, just a very weak story. Ended up skim reading most of the book just to get it finished