Round Trip Hidden Gems

These cabins have 2 single beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed or a fixed double. The en suite bathrooms have a shower and WC. 3- and 4-berth cabins have additional upper berths that fold away. Size-wise, they’re 12-13m².

For solo travellers, these Single cabins have a smaller bed. A picture window and pale-wood panelling keep them light and fresh. The bathrooms have wood-decked floors and tiled walls, and they come with a shower and WC.

These cabins are centrally located. They measure 15-16m² and feature a picture window. As well as offering 2 beds that convert to a queen-size bed, some of them have additional foldaway upper berths or a sofa-bed to accommodate an extra 1 or 2 people. The en suite bathrooms have a shower and WC, or a shower over a bath.

Some cabin views may be obstructed by lifeboats. Reserve your cabin for a clear view.

Each of these cabins has a porthole or a picture window and measures 12-15m². As well as offering 2 beds that convert to a queen-size bed, some of them have additional foldaway upper berths or a sofa-bed to accommodate an extra 1 or 2 people. The en suite bathrooms have a shower and WC, or a shower over a bath.

Some cabin views may be obstructed by lifeboats. Reserve your cabin for a clear view.

There's only 5 Suites on board, so book one early for a cruise with all the trimmings. Each one has a well-dressed living area with wide windows and 2 corduroy sofas around a glass coffee table. The separate bedroom has calming fabrics and a queen-size bed. A large ensuite bathroom has a wood-decked floor, a shower over a whirlpool bath, and a WC. A walk-in wardrobe, bath robes, a DVD player, and an iPod docking station make for a comfortable stay. For families, there are additional foldaway upper berths. You won’t be short of space, either, with 35m² to play with.

Fresh and modern, these Deluxe cabins accommodate up to 3 people – 2 single beds are convertible to a queen-size bed and the sofa becomes a bed if it’s needed. There's a roomy lounge area with a sofa, table and chairs, and a picture window. The en suite bathrooms have a shower over a bath and a WC. Towels and bathrobes are provided. Size-wise, you've got 20m² of space.

Some cabin views may be obstructed by lifeboats. Reserve your cabin for a clear view.

This cabin comes with Premier Service extras included:

• Priority luggage delivery
  
• Free pressing service – up to 3 items per person in the first 24 hours onboard
  
• Free continental breakfast in bed – 1 per person, per week
  
• Express check-in, subject to availability
  

Waiter service and bright and spacious surroundings make the Orion Restaurant a relaxing place for breakfast, lunch and multi-course dinners. It’s got an open-seating policy, so you’re free to dine where and when you like. Simply pick your spot and order the likes of just-the-way-you-want-them breakfast eggs or slow roast lamb from the evening menu.

Marella Dream's newest à la carte restaurant opened in winter 2014, offering up pan-Asian cuisine with suitably themed interiors. Just so you know, a cover charge applies.

You’ll find a room service menu in the Life Onboard magazine in your cabin. You can order 24 hours a day and the bill will be added to your onboard account.

Set on the top deck next to the ship’s adult pool, this self-serve restaurant has tables for 2 and crescent moon-shaped booths for the whole family. It offers buffet breakfasts and lunches. And don’t forget to pop in for afternoon tea when naughty-but-nice treats include mozzarella and cucumber mini sandwiches and oven-warm home-made scones.

The Terrace Grill is an open-air eatery that’s open throughout the day. Expect big omelettes in the mornings, and salads and pasta dishes throughout the day. In the evenings, it's where steaks are cooked to perfection on hot stones.

There’s a quiet bustle to this help-yourself eatery. It’s the main dining venue and keeps meals coming from late morning ‘til well in to the night. The central food station has everything from full cooked breakfasts to salads, meats, breads, and cheeses. There’s pizza, fries and soups on the side, plus lunchtime barbecues out on the deck. Themed nights throughout the week bring the likes of Italian or Mexican flavours in to the limelight.

The wood-panelled card room is stocked with playing cards and board games like Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. It’s light and bright, with a dozen or so tables and chairs with chequer-board backs.

This cosy coffee shop is located in Marella Dream's Explorers' Lounge. By day, it's the place to grab cappuccinos, cake and ice-cream. At night, meanwhile, it turns into a cocktail corner.

Dark-wood panelling and chock-a-block bookcases set the scene here. You can help yourself to daily sudoku challenges, and pick out paperbacks from the shelves. Plus, there’s a good hoard of jigsaws and board games to borrow. A bank of PCs and chargeable Wi-Fi means you can email and Facebook loved ones back home.

This brand new sunbathing area has a beach club-style feel, with comfy daybeds as standard and a bar.

This 2-storey show lounge sparks in to life every evening with musical entertainment and comedy from UK guest acts. It’s a large space, dressed in shades of crimson and walnut and subtly lit with ceiling spotlights and pumpkin-shaped table lamps. Comfy bucket chairs, semi-circular sofas and just-for-2 seats give it top marks for cosiness. There are 2 shows every night – early and late – that cover off anything from West End-style musicals to classics from the Eighties. You can expect high kicks, dry ice, and plenty of costume changes.

Huge table lamps and big solid tables set the scene here. By day, it’s a low-lit spot for relaxing over cappuccinos and quiet chitchat. It’s also one of the ship’s WiFi zones. By night, the maroon silk curtains are drawn and the tempo is upped with a soundtrack of smooth tunes, courtesy of the resident pianist.

Low lights and maroon bucket chairs give this space an intimate, pub-like feel. It’s the calling card for post-dinner drinks while a piano vocalist tickles the ivories.

This is the ship’s biggest lounge. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep it bright and airy, making it a lovely place to watch the world go by. Live bands and spotlight cabaret take to the stage here, and there’s a dance floor. Plus, there are plenty of seats grouped around small tables to get stuck in to the likes of bingo and game shows. For drinks, there’s a well-stocked bar in the corner.

Right at the top of the ship, the bar staff here mix and shake cocktails like a pro. It’s then over to you to relax by the pool, drink in hand, and enjoy the sea views.

This large space with banquette seating is home to late-night discos and the ship’s dance floor.

Here, you can try your luck at the slot machines and enjoy a light-hearted flutter at the casino’s roulette and blackjack tables.

Dining doesn’t have to be a formal affair onboard. Their buffet restaurants have a huge choice of dishes for a relaxed family get-together. For children, there are favourites like pasta and fries on the menu, with ice-cream cones for pudding. The afternoon teas – all gooey cakes and freshly baked scones – are a firm favourite, and there are regular barbecue lunches out on deck. Don’t miss our Baked Alaska Parade, either.

One of the perks of cruising is visiting lots of new places one after the other. They’ve got a range of shore excursions for the whole family. For little ones, they organise trips to waterparks, aquariums and beaches, plus once-in-a-lifetime experiences like swimming with stingrays and dolphins. If you’re travelling with children aged 10 and over, there’s also the option of 2 wheels. Most of their ships have mountain bikes onboard. At almost every port, you can join an experienced guide and pedal your way around the best sights.

Wannabe Harry Styles and budding Lady Gagas will be in their element at the Showtime Stage School. Here, 9 to 16-year-olds can learn the tricks of the trade from the professionals, as the onboard show team puts them through their paces with acting, dancing and singing workshops. At the end of the cruise, there may even be a live performance. Three 90-minute lessons cost £35 per child. Just so you know, though, they only run if there’s enough demand.

Keep your eyes peeled for Thomson the Dog during your family holiday. He’s been known to pop up at the poolside for story time, and he’s rather fond of a photo session or 2. 

The accredited staff at the onboard Kids’ Club do a brilliant job keeping youngsters entertained. There’s messy time with arts and crafts, dressing-up, movie nights and pyjama parties. Trips to the bridge to high-five the captain and behind-the-scenes backstage tours also make the line-up. They’ll even take your little ones to breakfast a couple of times a week while you get a lie-in. Groups are split in to 2 or 3, depending on ages and numbers. Tots is for 3 to 5-year-olds and Team is for 6 to 8 years – sometimes these 2 are combined. They’ve also got lots of activities that hit the mark for the 9 to 11 age group, in Tribe. Best of all, the club is free.