CLAIRE BRAYFORD is perfectly pampered and enjoys some surprise retail therapy during an exotic Caribbean voyage of discovery

I'M SIPPING a cocktail at a clifftop café at Paradise Point on the tiny Caribbean island of St Thomas following a sunset gondola ride to the top, and thinking I could certainly get used to the cruising lifestyle.

My partner Iain and I are on a seven-night voyage out of Florida's Port Canaveral aboard Carnival Dream on a trip that also takes in the Bahamas and St Maarten.

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The tax-free haven of St Thomas, with its red-roof, whitewashed houses and lush harbour front, is not only one of the West Indies' prettiest ports, it's also a jewellery shopper's paradise and just perfect for this fashionista. The former Danish colony's Main Street, lined with luxury shops such as Cartier and Tiffany, throngs with cruise passengers keen to snap up a bargain. I find the best deals at the myriad independent stores such as Jewels Forever, where I buy diamond studs for a third of the price I would pay in London's Bond Street.

As I gaze down over the cliffs on to our floating hotel in the harbour, it seems tiny but back on board it is a very different story. At 1,000ft long and 200ft tall, Dream is one of the largest and newest of Carnival's 23-strong fleet, with a water slide, mini-golf course and a 24,000sq ft spa. Getting lost, not seasick, is my major worry.

It certainly has the wow factor. I feel like I am stepping into a glitzy Vegas hotel when I walk into the dazzling, crystal-encrusted atrium with its glass lifts, grand piano and smart boutiques.

Our balcony cabin is less showy but vibrant paintings embellish its neutral décor.

The service is top-notch and each afternoon we return to a re-stocked ice bucket and made-up bed adorned with fresh towels folded into different creatures - the stingray a particular highlight - by our friendly steward George.

Most nights we dine in the red-themed Crimson restaurant on a mix of European and Caribbean classics such as black tiger shrimp cocktail, barbecued St Louis-style spare ribs and broiled mahi mahi fillet.

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We also treat ourselves to a meal in the more intimate fine dining restaurant, Chef's Art Steakhouse, where for a £20pp supplement, we tuck into tuna carpaccio, filet mignon and a medley of chocolate puddings.

After dinner, the best place to head is Sam's with its piano keyboard-topped bar. Barry the pianist, who reminds me of Rowlf from the Muppets, plays on a revolving central platform.

Unsuspecting passengers who stumble upon it are asked to do an impromptu dance, much to the delight of fellow imbibers.
There is plenty of choice entertainment-wise, including stand-up comedy, Broadwaystyle shows in the Encore theatre, a casino, karaoke bar and the Club 02 with its Eighties-inspired underlit dancefloor.

After shopping, an afternoon's sightseeing in an open-sided bus and a visit to the mile-long, heart-shaped Magens Bay, we are ready to chill out. This we do at our next stop, St Maarten, a lush, mountainous island split between the Netherlands Antilles and French West Indies.

An authentic Caribbean calypso band greets us at the quay before a taxi takes us to Orient beach in the French part, St Martin, on the north-east coast. It is an idyllic spot with pristine white sand and lined with shack-style seafood cafés.

We hire snorkel gear and take a hair-raising jet-ski ride to a nearby island where we swim among the coral and spot colourful sergeant major, parrot and angelfish before being whisked back to shore.

There's plenty of pampering available on board the Dream.

My favourite spot is the top-deck Cloud 9 spa. Everyone can use the ship's steam room and gym but for an additional fee we have unlimited use of the VIP spa, which includes the thalassotherapy pool and the beautifully tiled thermal room where heated chaises-longues offer a near-identical view to that of the captain a deck below.

I enjoy a soothing hot-stone massage before we head to the adults-only deck to while away the afternoon in a hammock sipping wine. The perfect way to relax after all that shopping.

THE KNOWLEDGE:
Carnival Cruise Lines (0845 351 0556/www.carnivalcruise.co.uk) offers a nine-night Eastern Caribbean fly/cruise on board Carnival Dream from £1,099pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from Heathrow to Orlando and pre-cruise hotel stay. Departs Port Canaveral February 11, 2011.