Marjorie Cochran, world cruise passenger on the Rotterdam VI.
Age: 82.
Career path: I was born in Georgia but grew up in Tampa, Florida, where I have lived for 80 years. I am widowed and have my own penthouse there, and spend most of my time socialising. My first husband, a surgeon, passed away in 1970; I then married a friend of his and we had 23 wonderful years together. He contracted Alzheimer's disease, and died 14 months ago. I have three children and seven grandchildren.
This is my first cruise, and all my friends and family thought it was an heroic thing for me to do at my age. Being on this ship has been so wonderful I wish I hadn't waited so long to do it.
Margie's Day: This is a three-and-a-half month trip, and the maiden voyage for Rotterdam VI. We sailed from New York in mid-January and the cruise will end in New York on May 1. We have stopped in Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Honolulu, Fiji, Auckland, Sydney and Cairns. Before we reach a port we have briefings and lectures, and are offered excursions. Cairns was wonderful because I went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. During our three days in Hong Kong I've been sightseeing and doing lots of shopping. Vietnam is the next stop.
Every day on board is special. On the days we are at sea we have glamorous, formal evenings, when everybody gets dressed up and the food is even more wonderful than usual. I follow a routine: get up at 7 am and work out in the gym, walk for 30 minutes around the deck, then have a light breakfast, usually at pool-side.