The days when you went on a cruise just to take the sea air are well and truly history. In the world of 21st-century cruising, your days at sea will be packed with things to do if you want a break from topping up the tan.

The big resort-style ships have all sorts of fun features, from water slides and rock-climbing walls to outdoor movie screens and surf parks.

There are swimming pools, action-packed clubs for kids and teenagers, loads of places to eat, gyms where you can work off all the food and spas that pamper and spoil with massages, facials and more.

You’ll find dance classes, cookery demonstrations, lessons in how to use computers, paint with watercolours, even mix cocktails.

Many ships – usually the smaller ones - lay on talks and lectures, usually related to the places you’ll be visiting. So there could be an expert in ancient Greece on a cruise around the Greek Isles, on wine if you’re visiting France, on geology or marine animals on a voyage to Antarctica.

If you are keen on cooking, golf or jazz, or a host of other special-interests, look out for the many themed cruises available. These will have experts on board, including some well-known chefs, to talk, give demonstrations and share a few tips.