IT IS no wonder that cruising is the new must-try holiday. When you feel like pushing the boat out, a modern fleet of gleaming megaships gives you five-star luxury with all the razzle-dazzle of a glitzy US resort hotel.

We sampled the thrill on a four-night mini-cruise aboard Royal Caribbean International's mighty Jewel Of The Seas.

And for someone whose sea-going experience consists of booze cruises to Calais, the first impression was jaw-dropping.

You walk into a stunning 10-storey atrium that cuts right up the centre of the ship. Unnervingly, there's the sound of rushing water. But it's OK, the boat hasn't sprung a leak - it's just the waterfalls.

Going up to the cabin on the ninth deck was another eye-opener. Glass-sided lifts whisk you up a glass wall built into the side of the ship that lets you watch the horizon sink as you soar.

Exploring the ship takes some doing - three days in, I was still finding bars I didn't know existed.

But if you have the idea that you'd be bored by being "stuck on a boat", a cruise ship like this will blow you away. The US owners have styled it for young, hip travellers.

There's a volleyball court, five-a-side footie, a fitness centre and spa, jogging track and three pools. Most amazing of all is a 30ft rock climbing wall built up the side of the funnel. The view from the top, 15 decks up, is terrifying - so I was told. I just watched from the bar.

And that's another thing.
If all that activity doesn't feel natural on a holiday, you can easily put the calories back on by chilling out at one of the 12 bars.

There's something for everyone, from bars with bands to the sweeping topdeck observation lounge.

Booze doesn't work out as pricey as you might expect because of an unexpected bonus - everything's in US dollars.

At the worst, drinks are no more expensive than bar prices in the UK. It all helps to wash down the food - which was free and fabulous.

The main two-deck restaurant seats 1,000 for three meals a day but the superb service, in true Yankee style, never flags.

We found ourselves on a table for 10 with two waiters serving nobody but us.

But just as popular was a help-yourself buffet on the pool deck with a massive range of choices.
Two posher restaurants offered steaks or Italian cooking.

And anyone missing their fill of junk food could get their umpteenth meal of the day at a top-deck cafe which rustled up beer, burgers and more until the early hours.

Once you'd eaten, you found that this is a floating city that never sleeps - at least not until well after midnight.
The choice of show spots is amazing considering you're on a boat.

Every night there's a different show in the 900-seat theatre, where a fleet of waiters serves drinks at your seat. And one more thing you could almost forget about this luxury hotel - it takes you places too.

We picked up the ship at Oslo and flew home from Hamburg. Our one stop was Copenhagen.

There are packages for all pockets on a ship like this. Ours was a fly-cruise that included scheduled British Airways flights from Heathrow.

It meant a dawn take-off, so we stayed overnight in the Ibis Hotel at the airport. A comfy room with a king-size bed.

And from then on, it was all plain sailing.