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Interview

This fruit could help you get lucky on a cruise reveals Real Housewife star

Solo cruises are rising in popularity as cruise lines continue to improve their offerings to single passengers and travellers recognise the benefits of going it alone. So, is a cruise a good way to find romance? We quizzed Real Housewives of Cheshire star Ester Dee.

By Harriet Mallinson

The Real Housewives of Cheshire cast have become unlikely spokespeople for cruising in recent weeks after the ladies appeared in a three-part ITVBe series called The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising.

The show – the final episode of which airs tonight – sees the group join their first-ever cruise onboard Princess Cruises ship Royal Princes and reuniting with ex-cast members Tanya Bardsley and Ester Dee.

Sailawaze sat down with Ester, 38, to find out what she really thought about the voyage and whether she’d recommend it for anyone in want of a (house)wife or husband on solo cruises.

“I think cruising could very much be the answer for single people,” enthused Ester (below), who noted she saw plenty of folks onboard in their glad rags and on the lookout.

“It did feel like some of the ladies and gentlemen were looking for a partnership and in fairness, it is a good place to find love because you’re already doing something that you both like – cruising.”

 

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A post shared by Ester Dee (@esterdee)

Not only are you meeting people with whom you share a passion on solo cruises, but you also won’t necessarily be spending the earth as these days not all cruise lines demand a full single cruise supplement.

In fact, many brands have a raft of solo cabins to choose from, with such cruise companies as Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises all adding specially designed cabins while Virgin Voyages even provides condoms, lube and a cock ring!

Cruise line deals and promotions are also an excellent way to snap up savings if you’re a solo cruise traveller – luxury brand Silversea Cruises has been known to ditch the single supplement entirely.

Ships also put on an array of singles cruise events to help make your solo cruise as sociable as it can be. Maybe you’ll meet a new pal or maybe, just maybe, you’ll meet your romantic lead.

“That would be fun, go cruising and find love,” said Ester Dee. “My mum is single and I did tell her you should go cruising!”

It’s not just love you can find at sea, though. If you’re just after some hanky panky then there’s a handy trick you can keep your eyes peeled for.

“I learned that [some people] put a pineapple on [their] door and if the pineapple is upside down you can actually knock on the cabin and join the person,” giggled the ex-Real Housewives of Cheshire star

And she’s quite right, the exotic fruit is a secret sign used by swingers to fellow cruisers that they’re up for sex.

Did the Real Housewife spot any while onboard Princess Cruises? “I did not see any pineapples but I wasn’t looking,” Ester admitted (she is, after all, currently loved up with her boyfriend Glynn).

“Maybe they weren’t horny or perhaps they took the pineapple down because they’d already been having fun in the room,” she added, laughing.

Talking of horny, the cast of the Real Housewives of Cheshire (above) got in touch with their naughty side during the cruise thanks to vibrators handed out to the ladies.

“It was a nice touch for viewers, I think it’s really nice to have lighter humour,” said Ester of the unusual early Christmas present.

Hers was not required though, she revealed. “I had [my boyfriend] Mr Dee on the phone every day and in fairness, because I get plenty of sex when we are together, it was a nice break on the cruise ship. I was like, ‘I don’t need to shave, yay!’”

Fun fact, although the pair aren’t married, Ester likes to refer to Glynn as Mr Dee, lending him her own surname. “It reminds me of Sex and The City and Mr Big,” she shared. “I quite like the mysterious thing and I’ve got double-D boobs!”

 

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A post shared by Ester Dee (@esterdee)

As for how their romance is going now, “The future is exciting because we are in a really good palace,” she explained. “I am just enjoying every day as it comes – you never know what life will bring tomorrow.”

Marriage is not on the cards right now but Ester and Glynn (above) are not ruling it out. “I just feel very solid… but maybe one day in three years or four years we will change our mind.”

And how does she recommend the solo travellers of the world go about finding their own Mr Dee? “Just don’t look, because if it’s meant to go your way it will come your way,” replied Ester.

“I’m a great believer that you should get busy with your own stuff and something will come, because that’s what I did.”

Wise words they may be, but we might sign ourselves up for a solo cruise just in case.

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Duration: 6 nights

Where: Southampton (London), England | La Coruna, Spain (for Santiago de Compostela) | Bilbao, Spain | Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France | Cherbourg, France | Southampton (London), England

Ship: Sky Princess

Price: From £1,099 pp

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Author

Harriet Mallinson

Sailawaze Editor Harriet has been a travel writer for nine years and specialised in cruising for nearly four. She recently won Specialist Travel Writer of the Year at the Travel Media Awards 2024 for her coverage of the cruise industry. Globetrotting highlights include flyboarding in Malaga, exploring waterfalls in Belize, ziplining in Costa Rica, truffle-hunting in Tuscany and whale-watching in Iceland. Next on her cruise bucket list is Antarctica – or any opportunity to see the Northern Lights!

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Published 19.12.22