Cruise ships in focus Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream is the newest Carnival ship, carrying over 3,600 passengers and she has some interesting new features: the first laser light show at sea is offered in the open air at the top-deck Seaside Theater – lasers project patterns onto the night sky, accompanied by rock music by the world’s most famous acts.

Dream's Lido buffet has become one of the most discussed casual dining options at sea – not only is there the traditional salad bar, there’s a burrito bar, an Indian tandoori oven, a grill for burgers and hot-dogs served American style, a pizzeria and even more exotic fare such as Mongolian wok dishes.

Then there’s something just for grown-ups, the Serenity area operates across two levels and can hold up to 200 people seeking a respite from the kiddies. There’s luxurious seating, including hammocks, a bar and two cantilevered whirlpool. It even has custom windscreens to ensure that if the weather’s not great, the facility still is!

But if you’re the kind who likes to stay in touch, rather than escaping from the world, the internet café option is also very different. Instead of having it in the library or in a coffee bar as has traditionally been the case, there are FunHub kiosks spread across three decks (3, 4 and 5) where cruise passengers can access the internet for a fee, or have free access to Carnival Dreams programme, using it to book events, plan days, reserve seats in the premium-pay restaurants and look at the weather predicted for the days ahead.