I have never been famous, important or worthy enough to ever warrant a police escort, writes Tony Collins.

But all that changed when I found myself in Algeria as part of an adventurous and entertaining cruise to the coast of North Africa.

The police escort greeted us as soon as we stepped off our Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship Boudicca in the port of Algiers - one of the largest city in North Africa with more than four million people.

Fortunately, it was only provided to ensure that our coach got us through the occasionally heavy traffic during our six-hour shore excursion, which took us outside the city to the Roman ruins of Tipaza.

Algeria is certainly one of the moreunusual holiday destinations I have been to, but the country has been working hard in recent years to restore its tourism industry under a new, apparently more liberal, president.

Certainly, the Roman town at Tipaza, which was discovered in the 19th century, deserves to draw in many more tourists, while the bustling capital Algiers boasts a fascinating old quarter which contrasts impressively with the enormous Martyrs' Memorial sculpture built in 1982 to commemorate their bloody independence from France.

Algiers was clearly one of the highlights of our no-fly 14-night African Escapade & Easter Parade cruise with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, which set sail from Southampton.

But there was so much else to enjoy, with the African and Moorish influences to be found in Algiers, the equally exotic Casablanca, and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on the Moroccan coast blending wonderfully with the perhaps more familiar European destinations of Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga and Cartagena.

It is a snapshot, perhaps, of our growing love for cruise holidays that Fred Olsen is due to sail to a record 253 ports in 84 countries around the globe during 2016/17.

Included in that programme is a growing number of adults-only voyages, although I only noticed one child out of the maximum 880 passengers that we sailed with.

It was surely a sign of good things to come - if you're an Aston Villa football fan - that the taxi taking us from the train station to the cruise terminal in Southampton bore a registration starting AV57 - echoing Villa's previous FA Cup win in 1957. And maybe an omen for this year?

Our first port of call was Casablanca, perhaps best associated with the 1942 film of that name starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

Although set in the Moroccan city, the film was made in Los Angeles. But there is now a recreation of Rick's Café in Casablanca, which opened just over a decade ago and actually shows the movie on a continuous loop in one of its bars.

Casablanca, which was constructed by the French following their occupation of Morocco in 1906, also boasts another major attraction in the shape of the enormous Hassan II Mosque, built on nine hectares between 1986 and 1993 which can fit in 100,000 worshippers.

In between the North African ports of Casablanca and Algiers we docked at Gibraltar, which remains steadfastly British after nearly 300 years. Although the main attractions include the famous Rock of Gibraltar and the Barbary apes that live on it, it is also a great place for duty free shopping.

A further stop before Algiers was to Melilla, a mere 12 square kilometres which is one of two permanently inhabited Spanish cities in mainland Africa. History can be found in the formof more than 500 years of Spanish presence in what was built as a city fortress, but with a 20th century expansion that resulted in more than 900 Modernist buildings.

The inevitable voyage home began with a visit to Cartagena in Spain, home to a remarkable 1st century Roman theatre and a medieval castle, and from there it was on to the lovely city of Malaga.

However, we took the opportunity to travel on the quaintly titled Mr Henderson's Railway - named after British engineer Alexander Henderson who initiated the line in 1896 - to the town of Ronda in the picturesque mountains.

And after a day at sea it was sadly our final port of Lisbon in Portugal which we explored on the back of an electric-powered tuk tuk - definitely an advisable way of getting around a city spread out over several hills that provide a series of spectacular views.

While the fabulous destinations were the obvious attraction on ourcruise, there was also plenty to enjoy on the ship itself with a full programme of events and entertainment to occupy those days at sea.

For the energetic, there are fitness classes, a fully equipped gym, dance sessions, or the 'walk a mile' challenge around the ship, while among the more relaxing pursuits there is a well-stocked library, card games, yoga, arts & crafts, as well as a series of guest talks and lectures.

And, in the evenings there is 'food, glorious food' to be had in the restaurants plus excellent entertainment provided by the show's own company and visiting performers from the world of music and comedy.

Factfile Prices for our 14-night cruise began at £1,199 for an inside cabin.

For further information on Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, or to make a booking, visit www.fredolsencruises.com You can also call reservations on 0800 0355 242.