Star on board: Sally Gunnell

What did you think when you were asked to be Ambience’s godmother?
It came out of the blue and I thought ‘Hello? Yes! Amazing!’I didn’t expect it but it was a very welcome invitation. I’m from Essex so I love the fact that Ambassador Cruises’ ships will sail from Tilbury.

What are your duties as ship’s godmother?
To make sure the word gets out about what a great ship she is. I’ve also been given the opportunity to go on a couple of cruises of my choice, which is great. I’ve been to the Caribbean and the Med so I’d like to do a Northern Lights and fjords trip next.

When was the first time you stepped aboard a cruise ship?
I was asked to do an advert for one of the big lines and my payment was a family cruise around the Caribbean. None of us had been on a cruise before and when we first got on board we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was staggering – big screens, loads of pools, so much to eat and drink. Our three sons loved it, and since then it’s been a natural choice for us.

Are you a keen cruiser?
Yes, I’ve travelled as a guest speaker on various cruise ships over the past 10 years. Audiences like to hear about the journey of my life – from growing up on a farm to howI became an athlete and what I’m doing now.

Do you get recognised much on board?
Yes, but people are lovely and they leave me alone. They will say hello, but if John [Sally’s husband] and I are sitting having dinner, they will respect our privacy.

What do you love most about cruising?
I love the variety of things you can do on board. You could go to the cinema one night, then dress up for a gala dinner the next. Or you could just veg out in front of a big screen. It’s your holiday and it’s up to you what you choose to do. I totally get why people love cruising – you don’t have to fly, you can take as many bags as you like and all your belongings stay in one place for the whole holiday.

Do you exercise when you’re on board a ship?
Yes, I have my routine so I always get up in the morning and go to the gym to use the treadmill and the weights. If the weather is good, it’s also fun to have a walk ora run around the ship and see the sea.

What do you eat on board?
Like most people I go a bit mad for the first few days and hit the buffet and bar with a vengeance. But then I calm down a bit and regulate what I eat. It’s very tempting to try everything because the ships’ buffets are always amazing but I still think it’s possible to enjoy a healthy diet when you’re cruising. You’ve just go to be a bit disciplined.

What would be your top cruise tip for World of Cruising readers?
Get into a bit of a routine from day one. Find a physical activity that you enjoy, so you’re getting a bit of exercise every day. Try learning a few new things on board and chat to a few new people too. And don’t forget it’s your holiday – so if you want to sleep in the afternoon or hit the cocktail bar – go for it.

Since retiring from athletics, what do you do for a living?
Most of my work is motivational speaking – I like to talk about health and well being and how you can stay fit, whatever your age. I’ve found that now I’ve hit my fifties, I need to be as active as I can. It’s very important to look after your body as you get older.

What’s next on your cruise travel hit list?
I’d love to visit the Galapagos and see all those amazing animals in their natural habitat. I travelled the world when I was an athlete but I didn’t see much of it, so now’s my time to discover what I missed.

Are you a good or bad packer?
Pretty bad – I always take far too much. But on a cruise you can do that, can’t you?

Find out more about Sally at sallygunnell.com