First-time cruiser KATHRYN SPENCER is wowed by her island-hopping adventure in a tropical paradise

IF IT'S  Monday, it must be St Kitts. Or was it Antigua?

Or maybe St Thomas? That's the beauty of cruising; every day was a different destination.
Each morning I'd wake up in my bijou floating stateroom, posh name for a cabin, and steal outside in my towelling dressing gown to enjoy breakfast on my sunny balcony and survey the harbour view of whatever island we'd arrived at.

Sometimes a man from a passing fishing boat would wave. Another time I saw dancing dolphins.

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I began my holiday in Barbados, the ideal place to ease me in to Caribbean life before boarding Carnival Victory for a week-long cruise.

After an eight-hour flight the all-inclusive Almond Casuarina Beach Resort, a popular choice for British families, was the perfect place to relax and kick-start a tan before setting off on my adventure.

The highlight of my brief fling with Barbados came on the last night after dining on seafood in the superb beachfront restaurant. A member of staff came rushing over to tell our group that a Hawksbill sea turtle had been spotted on the deserted beach laying eggs and burying them in a deep hole in the sand.

Quietly we tiptoed to where this huge endangered creature was laying some 200 eggs before watching her slope off, exhausted, towards the sea.

Boarding the floating empire of the vast 2,700-passenger Carnival Victory, I found I was among a small proportion of Britons, the majority being American or Puerto Rican.

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There were six stop-offs in as many days where passengers could go exploring, either on an organised excursion or independently, returning to the ship Cinderella-like, no later than late-afternoon ready for the evening's sailing.

Every day was different. We bathed in hot mud at a natural sulphur spring in St Lucia and visited Lord Nelson's former boatyard in the beach haven of Antigua. In St Kitts we learnt about the medicinal value of local plants on a rainforest nature safari. While on sophisticated Puerto Rico - which has an almost South American feel about it - we enjoyed a fabulous tapas lunch and sipped mojito rum and fresh mint cocktails before stocking up on great shopping at the discount designer outlets such as Ralph Lauren.

It was tempting to sign-up for every excursion but prices (£25 to £99 per trip) do mount up. One trip I was glad I didn't miss was the chance to learn how to sail and take part in a yacht race on a stop-off at the island of St Thomas. Guided by our handsome American crew, Thomas and Travis, we learnt such skills as grinding the rope that controls the sails and even took charge at the helm. It was well worth £65.

It was also fun to wander around at leisure and soak up the local atmosphere. I had a lovely day in Dominica, one of the less-developed islands, where we strolled around the supermarket and bought local Macoucherie rum (supposedly an aphrodisiac), then spent the rest of the day at La Robe Creole dining on suckling pig and prawns in coconut sauce, all for £30 including wine.

With all this island-hopping we felt like real-life Pirates Of The Caribbean. Scenes from the movie were filmed on a couple of the islands we visited but I doubt Captain Jack Sparrow's ship, the Black Pearl, had four swimming pools, a spa, fitness centre, a nightclub, shops, restaurants and bars to name but a few of the Carnival Victory's attractions.

I didn't go hungry with all the food on offer including endless buffets, sushi bar, a New York-style deli and a 24-hour pizzeria. Evening meals were more formal and served in the dining room by waiters who later entertained us with song-and-dance routines.

The ship also featured a casino and a theatre offering Las Vegas-style shows. On the top deck it was great to watch children and other thrill-seekers on the spiral waterslide while some passengers tried the nine-hole mini-golf course.

All too soon it was time to leave the ship and fly back to Blighty. I discovered cruising is a great way to explore lots of places in a short time. With so much to do both on and off the ship it proved an unforgettable experience. It was my first cruise but, hopefully, not my last.

THE KNOWLEDGE:

Virgin Holidays Cruises (0871 781 9893/www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk) offers a 10-night Barbados stay and Caribbean cruise from £1,299pp (two sharing).

Price includes a three-night stay at four-star all-inclusive Almond Casuarina Beach Resort, a seven-night cruise on board Carnival Victory departing Barbados and sailing to St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten, San Juan, St Thomas and Dominica and return flights from Gatwick to Bridgetown, Barbados.

Departs December 5, 2010.