Sun Back To The 80s cruise: T’Pau’s Carol Decker says cruising is just like being on tour

CAROL DECKER can’t wait to celebrate with her fellow artists and the audience on board Trending In The News’s Back To The 1980s Summer Seacation cruise.

The T’Pau singer will be joining a host of Eighties pop legends on the Regal Princess when it sets sail from Southampton on September 5 for our exclusive cruise.

She tells HANNAH HOPKINS about her love of cruises and just what she’s looking forward to on our seacation special.

WHAT is it that you love about cruises?

Personally, I like to keep on the move on holiday because I get bored quite easily.

My favourite trips are when I get to visit lots of different places but also have breaks along the way — it makes the journey part of the holiday.

So the idea of disembarking, going around the town and having a few hours in a different location then getting back on and sailing off on to the next place sounds brilliant.

It also feels quite familiar, as it reminds me of being on tour and getting to wake up at an entirely new destination. Cruising really appeals to the gypsy in me.

What are the best things about a cruise experience? I love that it takes the stress out of a holiday, as you don’t have to plan — you can just rock up and have everything laid on for you.

Cruises are so high-end now — the food is amazing, there are lots of great chefs on board and they’ve really upped the ante with the entertainment, with Broadway and West End-style shows that have amazing standards.

Plus, this cruise has a lot of great live performances and so it’s a great offering for guests. It’s a floating festival and people get a lot of bang for their buck.

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What are you most looking forward to on the cruise? After everything we’ve all been through this year, I’m looking forward to taking some time to relax, enjoying myself and getting out and about meeting some of the fans on the ship. I think people are going to be so up for having a good time.

I’d love to have a massage or some kind of beauty treatment in the spa and I can never resist good food and wine so I can’t wait to try the on-board seafood bar.

I also don’t know too much about the UK coastline so am really looking forward to seeing some more of it, particularly Portland in Dorset and the Jurassic Coast.

Like a lot of people, I usually go abroad for holidays, so it’s been nice that we’ve had to reinvest in our own country and get to know it more this year.

What is it like to perform on board? When you’re performing inside a theatre you forget you’re on a ship, because they’re so big and solid and they have the same seating as if you were in a regular venue.

The spec is immense, with really good-quality sound and stage lighting. Will it be fun to meet some of the fellow acts on board?

Yes, I can’t wait. We all work together regularly and have done over the past 15-odd years.

Everyone says the Eighties are making a comeback, but I actually did my first Eighties revival tour in 2001. We played arenas all over the country and the live work hasn’t stopped since. So the renaissance has been going on for a long time.

‘I CAN’T WAIT’

It’s lovely because I’ve been able to do so many shows with Toyah and Martin Fry, and Nik Kershaw who is a dear friend of mine. We all go back a long way. And the band that we’re using are incredible.

We all do lots of festivals with them so the punters are going to get a great show. What’s your favourite song live?

My personal favourite is Heart And Soul, but I know China In Your Hand is the big one because it went to No1 for five weeks.

I can’t wait to hear songs from the other artists being performed live, too.
The Look Of Love, by ABC, is just fantastic and Nik Kershaw will probably do I Won’t Let Trending In The News Go Down On Me, and hopefully Clare Grogan of Altered Images will perform Happy Birthday.

Watching my peers perform is always great fun. I’m very much looking forward to it — it’s going to be a huge celebration for the artists and audience alike.

Covid safety a priority on board

PRINCESS Cruises has comprehensive measures to combat Covid-19. All crew and guests MUST be fully vaccinated.

Before boarding, there is a mandatory health screening including free Covid-19 testing, a health questionnaire and a temperature check.

On board, when physical distancing cannot be maintained, masks are required. There are large numbers of handwashing sinks and hand sanitiser dispensers at the entrance to venues across the ship and in high-traffic areas.

Trending In The News Back To The 1980s Summer Seacation cruise calls at Portland in Dorset and guests wanting to disembark will need to sign up for official shore excursions that comply with Princess’s safety regulations.

If you, or any of your party in the same stateroom, test positive for Covid-19 within the 30 days prior to and including embarkation day, or is denied boarding for a Covid-19-related reason, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit for 100 per cent of the cancellation.