I met the Turkish Paul Hollywood on my small ship adventure

Younger, with brown eyes, unlike the Great British Bake Off' leader's blue twinklers, but nevertheless, the resemblance is striking.

It's as hot as an oven in Ephesus, the well-preserved ancient city of Western Turkey. Once an important site in the Western World, Ephesus was home to the marble Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In 356 BCE, attention-seeking Herostratus assured his own place in history by setting fire to and destroying the reconstructed temple.

We travel from Kusadasi to visit the ruins, which lie just outside Bodrum, are a Unesco-listed World Heritage site which attracts millions of people every year. I'm open-mouthed at the sight of the impressive, double-facade Roman Library of Celsus. At approximately 12 metres high with a width of around 18 metres, it once housed around 12,000 scrolls and was built around 117 AD. On our 'Easy Ephesus' 2.5 hour tour, we tread carefully, encountering lots of loose stones underfoot, large rocks to step over, uneven pathways and other hazards to view this incredible historical wonder.

I'm on Fred Olsen's Turkish Treasures 12-night cruise, part of a 57-nighter. Following just over a four- hour flight from Manchester to Rhodes, it's merely a short coach trip to the cruise terminal and seems only minutes before I'm on board Balmoral. The stunning, central golden staircase winks a welcome. I love my balcony cabin, which extends the room and provides a private sitting out area, a retreat if I want some time on my own. There's plenty of storage space for all my clothes and shoes, particularly, plus a bottle of bubbly, which I share with my dining companions on a solos' table in the stylish Ballindalloch Restaurant.

I enjoy the best view at sea and an al fresco breakfast on the terrace of the Avon Restaurant. Food is of a high standard with plenty of choice. If you want to wear your joggers and a sweatshirt in the evening, the buffet-style restaurant offers a more relaxed dining option. White-gloved Traditional Afternoon Tea in the elegant Observatory with tinkling piano is very Downton Abbey and the Colours and Tastes speciality restaurant sizzles with a fusion of tastes and flavours.

Fred Olsen has a loyal following of regulars. Margaret, 78, from York tells me she wouldn't sail with any other cruise line, having been a Fred. Olsen fan since she was widowed. Margaret says: 'It's so easy to make friends and I'm never alone unless I want to be'. Solos on their first ocean voyage are settling in nicely and it's rumoured that the current Fred himself is sailing on this cruise!

The family-owned brand is more than175 years old. In 1848 the first Olsen family ship-owner, Fredrik Christian Olsen, began operating two small sailing ships in Hvitsten, a small village on the Oslofjord in Norway. Fred Olsen prides itself on being at the forefront of the British cruise market. The fleet of small ships which delivers comfortable, traditional-style cruising - no sky-high, bubblegum-pink plastic slides and booming music - attracts a more mature audience. Cruisers are flattered when friendly, efficient crew members remember their name. It makes people feel special.

In 2026 new, inclusive pricing will coverhouse wine/beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner and gratuities at the time of booking. Perhaps it's a bit late for my Anti-Ageing Facial, but following this indulgent treatment in the Atlantis Spa

I'm all aglow and my skin looks fantastic, which I'm pleased to say, invites a few comments. On slow- paced sea days, weather permitting, find me with a book from the library on a sun lounger. I join a quiz team every evening. We don't win. The lively entertainment team present nightly West End-style shows and there's dancing on some evenings. In the Neptune Theatre, dashing dance host John walks up to my seat, offers his hand, leads me to the floor and guides me through a slow jive. He makes me feel almost as young as he is.

My fly cruise starts from Rhodes, historically famous for the Colossus, a symbol of prosperity, power and strength but the statue couldn't withstand the force of an earthquake in 226 BC when it shattered at the knees and collapsed. Walk through the central archway next to the tourist port of this Medieval walled cityand wander the cobbled back streets to admire the historical treasures and fascinating stone architecture of the Old Town. It's a shopper's haven, a gourmet's delight and a beach lover's Paradise with a vibrant energy.

We discover the cultural heritage and customs of Etrim, an ancient village which dates back to the 4th century BC. Chickens scratch and peck in the dusty ground. Hot dogs and lazy cats cool off in the shade while cows wait to be milked. Many of the younger village women leave the village to move to the nearby city of Bodrum But within the Etrim Carpets' family workshop, artisan weavers, including the mother of the family, Ummuham, sit cross-legged on cushions at their looms, preserving the ancient techniques and producing magnificent, hand-knotted and flat woven Turkish rugs and kilims.

The madness of Istanbul is a world away from the tranquility of Etrim. Inside the buzzing Grand Bazaar, stallholders call out from more than 4,000 shops, willing to offer Turkish tea and a smile in the hope of a sale. The hypnotic fragrance of spices hangs in the air and I could wander around here for hours. But there's a boat to catch – a rather impressive white motor yacht in fact - which takes us across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia. We cruise along the Golden Horn estuary, enjoying splendid views of the old city, passing the glorious Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, stunning summer residences and castles and sailing under the Bosphorus Bridge, the first ever to span two continents. It's a bit disappointing not to have a stop on the Asian side, though. Maybe next time.

From my balcony, I watch the sun rise, lighting up the honey-coloured stone as Captain Victor Stoica navigates Balmoral through Malta's incredibly beautiful Grand Harbour. One of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, it's one of the most impressive in the world. From the Upper Barrakk Gardens, facing the harbour the Saluting Battery in Valletta fires a cannon at noon and 4pm daily from Monday to Saturday.

Overnight, Captain, Victor Stoica from Romania, steers Balmoral to Malaga, our last port of call. The humorous Master Mariner, who delights in being 'King of the Ship' says: 'The cruising industry is booming and many people are choosing small ship cruising'.