The first "Carry On" film in colour, this is enormous fun. Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Sid James (once again playing the straight man) are at the top of their game, although the absences of Charles Hawtrey (for the only time until he was dropped from the series in 1973), Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques are very noticeable. He has a fairly small role but the untalented Lance Percival makes for a very poor Hawtrey substitute. All I could think was how much better Hawtrey would have as Haines, the violently seasick ship's chef who can't cook. The comic potential of the character is wasted. On the bright side, Dilys Laye is more than worthy of filling Sims' shoes, particularly in the drinking scene. Esma Cannon gets more to do than in the last two films and is absolutely hilarious. The contrast between her and James is brilliant.

Generally amusing Carry-On farce with a smaller than usual Carry-On cohort (James, Williams and Connor the only regulars aboard) sees hijinks on the high seas as the crew of a cruise ship encounter zany guests like the imbibing old duck Esme Cannon who can apparently drink anyone under the bar, even Ronnie Stevens who remains permanently submerged in a cocktail binge to mark each destination. Meanwhile Liz Fraser supports Dylis Laye desperately seeking a husband, initially enamoured with James, later settling for the romantic doctor Connor who's smitten by the vivacious blonde (there's a great scene where he serenades the drunken Stevens by mistake).Light, early Carry-On isn't nearly as bawdy as the series later became, with James playing a straight character for a change, while occasional Carry-On alumni Liz Fraser has her chance to impress with a sizeable supporting role showcasing her comic seductions. Good also to see Australian actors Ed Devereaux and Vincent Ball in small roles, while future "Fresh Fields'" Anton Rodgers also appears in the cast.The best scenes include Esme Cannon as the seemingly kindly old lady whose mental alacrity and physical stamina bely her age, while the stern and stoney-faced James cheerfully conceals his inner child as a bystander to the unfolding madness. Williams as usual is a scene-stealer and his jealous exchanges with most of the other characters at some stage throughout the cruise make for rib-tickling humour. If you prefer the more austere Carry-On variety, then your ship's come in with "Cruising".

A delightful romp.This film has several layers; the cruise ship could be described as a cage, a stage, a maze but I believe the most apt metaphor for the situation the characters find themselves in is a carousel. You're going around in circles looking at all the people with smiles and joy and oblivious to the rest of the world; you're all just in it for a good time.And a good time is had.In a way, I think we've all had a time where we could see ourselves as the characters on this ship. It's time in our lives where we're not in control and things work out for the best because of the company we keep and where we are at the time. You can feel the charged atmosphere of people who aren't exactly lost but are in fact looking for something.The thing I think I'll take away from this movie is Liz Frazer's line "Prove you're not shy" is probably the culmination of the doctor's decision making. He's a bumbling character played by the talented Kenneth Connor who gives the everyman a sense of poetry. Perhaps his ultimate decision may sound impulsive or rash but it's not at all unseen. I think we could all do with a Liz Frazer to give us a push in the right direction.Above all though, it's just a fun flick. With a typhoon of comedic abilities from man of the world Sid James and crew, this is a movie I would recommend for anyone in any generation. For anyone who's been on that carousel.

With a story by "Carry On" alumnus Eric Barker, this is a fairly weak entry in the series – and, as I said with respect to ANTS IN THE PANTRY (1936; The Three Stooges short which preceded it), going through a succession of films featuring the same actors, one becomes rather weary of the repetition. In this case, it's the characterization of individual members which hardly changes from one outing to the next (particularly at this early stage in the series, when the style of comedy more or less followed established rules rather than going all the way for double entendres and general tastelessness)! For instance, Sid James is once again the flustered authority figure who has to mould his underlings – these are forever eager but incompetent, led by know-it-all Kenneth Williams and nervous Kenneth Connor (who, invariably, is given a hesitant romantic attachment); their effeminate usual cohort, Charles Hawtrey, is absent here but his replacement is the resistibly goofy Lance Percival as the new chef on James' ship. In fact, what drowns the film (pardon the pun) is the latter's schtick – as well as the presence of diminutive and dotty old lady Esma Cannon (also seen in CARRY ON REGARDLESS [1961] and CARRY ON CABBY [1963]). It doesn't help, then, that the most prominent actresses during this early phase of the "Carry Ons" – Hattie Jacques and Joan Sims – are also missing from this one…though it must be said that the two young female leads (Liz Fraser – also from REGARDLESS and CABBY – and Dilys Laye, who proves to be a surprisingly adept comedienne) are highly appealing.Incidentally, this was the first film in the series to be shot in color and, as such, has added curiosity value – even if the overall quality isn't really up to the usual standards.