Think cruises are just for the old and unadventurous? Think again. Amy Rich takes a trip onboard easyCruise Life.

Forget stuffy, pretentious, dressing-for-dinner scenarios, women endlessly preening themselves and over-aftershaved men discussing the size of their pay packets.

Because this isn't just any cruise, this is easyCruise – a whole new concept in travelling from that stalwart of budget travel, Stelios.

And it was a trip onboard easyCruise's newest addition to its fleet – easyCruise Life that I chose for my summer holiday.

At the end of June I sailed around the Aegean Islands and Turkey. And while this type of travel may not necessarily be the epitome of style, it's – unless you've got a private yacht – certainly the best way to see the Aegean Islands and even a bit of Turkey.

Factor in a cabin for two from £70 per person for a week-long cruise, and you'll realise that your money is going exactly where you want it to go – on getting you around some of the prettiest islands in Greece.

Islands such as Mykonos, Paros and Syros that would otherwise be well off the budget traveller's radar. So, forget those extra little bits of cruise-style chintz that easyCruise doesn't entertain (except perhaps for the onboard duo playing hits like Zorba The Greek and The Girl from Ipanema).

Ditch those notions that cruises are just for the rich and lazy and embrace a new way of seeing things.

The next thing on everyone's lips, when it comes to the idea of an easyCruise is, 'Is it all orange?' Never mind important questions like where do you go, how much does it cost and what's the ship like. Oddly enough it seems all anyone's interested in is the colour of the ship itself. And the fact is this – no, it's not orange. There's hardly a hint of orange to be seen – except for the easyCruise logo on the ship's funnel.

Instead expect rather chic settings, in a minimalist style. Think plump grey sunbeds on sundecks, miniature citrus trees on tables and orchids in the chill-out bar. Then there's the three whirlpool tubs, swimming pool and the spa and gym.

And if you're staying in a panoramic suite (pictured) you'll get plenty of room, lots of windows and little extras like slippers adorned with 'pinched from easyCruise' on them, too. It's fair to say that, no matter what your preconceptions of an easyCruise are, you'll be proved wrong if you take the plunge and go on one.

Sailing from the port of Piraeus in Athens, a course of seven days took the ship and all its company across the Aegean to the islands of Kalymnos, Kos, Paros, Mykonos and Syros. And a trip to Bodrum in Turkey, too.

Excursions were organised (for the not too bleary-eyed) and took in sights like hill-top monasteries adorned with frescoes (Kalymnos), castles festooned with ancient relics from BC centuries (Bodrum) and trips to mountain villages such as Zia (Kos) where you can climb up away from the main tourist drag and find the most charming shop full of treasures at the top – Maria's gift shop.

But, probably due in part to the Ouzo dished out on the kaiki, the best of all the easyCruise excursions has to be the trip to a secluded cove on Kos.

Greek music playing in the background as you bob gently towards your destination and Ouzo dished out by the boat's captain (who may have had a drop or two beforehand), you swing round the coastline to a deserted sandy beach with little thatched, make-shift pergolas and a barbecue sizzling away ready for the hungry travellers to swoop on.

Even if you don't have the cash to spend on extras like excursions, the beauty of an easyCruise is the fact that it takes you everywhere. Quite simply you never need worry about haggling for a taxi, hiring a moped or hitching a lift in order to find a great place to while away the day. easyCruise does it all for you.

Each night – or early morning, while you sleep, easyCruise sets sail for its next port of call. When you wake up the next day you're usually there. If not, you can lounge about on the sundecks, grab a delicious, freshly-squeezed orange juice or pamper yourself silly in the spa.

And it doesn't matter who you are, where you're from or how old you are – because you can bet your last euro, the mix of people onboard easyCruise is just about as broad as you could get. And it's no surprise they're so popular. The islands that the ship docks at are picture-postcard perfect. There's no shortage of whitewash, sugar-cube buildings and cobbled alleyways that loop and curl past olive trees, churches and shops bursting with goodies on Paros and Mykonos.

And Kos, where ancient sites litter the town and nearby areas, is a history buff's dream. But if all you want to do is soak up some serious sun on a sandy beach, you'll be more than happy with the itinerary, too.

easyCruise has very few airs and graces. You can get as involved as you want – with the excursions and some low-key onboard activities, or keep to yourself and do things your way. But one thing's for sure, for a stress-free holiday that hands you sights on a plate, easyCruise is the way forward.

easyCruise website