After cruising with Royal Caribbean last year, we wanted something a little quieter this time but taking a similar route around the Mediterranean. The TUI Discovery was recommended by our travel agent as she has recently been acquired from Royal Caribbean and refitted throughout. She sailed from Palma de Mallorca down to Messina, Scilily and coming back up the Italian coast calling at Naples, Marina Da Carrara and then onto Villefranche Sur Mer on the French Riviera, Barcelona, Spain and back to Palma.

We had a standard cabin upgraded to have a sea view and it came with complimentary tea/coffee making facilities, room safe and en-suite shower/toilet. Our attendant was really good, introducing himself to us on our arrival and always remembered us by name in passing! The cabin was made twice daily with little chocolates left on the pillows at night plus the odd towel animal!

We ate in all the restaurants and they are all good in their own way. The food was excellent as was the service all over the ship. We made our way to reception upon boarding and booked a night in both the Surf & Turf and Kora-La as we heard that both restaurants fill up quickly. They are not part of the all inclusive but the supplement we paid was less than a meal for two in the UK and well worth it too. We also dined at 47 and the 47 Gallery. You can't book but if you don't mind sharing then you can get in promptly. That said, we got a table for two straight away when it came to breakfast. Heads up, breakfast in the Islands restaurant is a scramble when it comes to getting a table. We thought it was the busiest restaurant on board however, once you get a table, you can just help yourself from the buffets. There are numerous bars both inboard and up on deck. We had the all inclusive drinks package so can't complain. Some drinks do carry a supplement charge but the applicable drinks are marked with an asterisk as a warning. Read more