Avid listeners of the long-running BBC radio drama The Archers (anyone?) will have heard one of its characters waxing lyrical about cruising.
Businesswoman Lilian Bellamy, above, was trying to persuade her partner Justin Elliot to take a cruise to avoid an alternative holiday with their family.
She didn’t mention the cruise line she fancied (remember, it’s the BBC), but she sounded excited at the prospect of visiting 70 destinations in over 30 countries’ during the four-month long voyage.
“Exciting, yet relaxing,” she said.
Sadly, Justin didn’t seem too keen. He baulked at the cost – describing it as ‘extortionate’ – until he realised it was for four months, not four weeks. “Justin,” said an exasperated Lilian, “you’d have to travel by rocket to visit over 30 countries in four weeks!”
“Are you out of your mind?” Justin asked, while admitting that he couldn’t even face the thought of a week away with Lilian’s extended family, which was a bizarre request in the will of a late relative of Lilian’s (I forget who, it really doesn’t matter).
“If we happen to be away on a cruise then we can’t go,” replied Lilian, adding: “I thought this cruise with its multiple destinations could be a nice start for us. To our retirement. After that I fancy a nostalgic train ride through the Canadian Rockies and a tour of Western Australia.”
Justin didn’t sound keen, saying they’d ‘talk about it later’, but in the meantime, The Archers’ listeners have learned a bit about world cruises!
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*Image courtesy of the BBC
