Marella Dream
Flights available from Birmingham, Doncaster Sheffield, East Midlands, Manchester or Newcastle
Price Includes:
Santa Cruz, Tenerife • Las Palmas, Gran Canaria • Santa Cruz de la Palma, La Palma • Funchal, Madeira • Lisbon, Portugal • Portimao, Portugal • Cadiz (for Seville), Spain • Gibraltar • Cartagena, Spain • Ibiza Town, Ibiza • Palma, Mallorca
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Santa Cruz is one of the Canary Islands’ biggest hitters. It shares its capital city title with Las Palmas, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and more than lives up to the role. In the space of just a few streets, the bustling port area melts into an inviting old town. A century-spanning mix of church towers and hotels peeks above the rooftops, and the whole town’s backed by the silhouette of a mountain range. You’ll find one of the Canary Islands’ most futuristic buildings by the harbour – the Auditorio de Tenerife, which looks like an edgier version of the Sydney Opera House. At the more historic end of the scale is the Basilica of Candelaria, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Further afield, you’ll find beaches hugging the south coast and the mighty Mount Teide rising up in the island’s centre.
Golden dunes drenched in year-round sunshine. Rugged mountains hiding pretty whitewashed villages. Bays and coves linked together like a magnificent sandy necklace. Nature’s been kind to Gran Canaria so little surprise it lures sun-worshippers back year after year.
Mother Nature had a field day with La Palma. All rolling mountains, plunging valleys and sweet-smelling pine forests, the little island certainly isn’t short on breathtaking scenery. Things are just as good looking along the coast, where dramatic black-sand beaches give way to hidden coves. Another great thing about the island is its relaxed, laid-back vibe. It offers up a more authentic picture of the Canaries than its bigger neighbours – one of quaint whitewashed houses, grand colonial buildings and sleepy squares. It’s no wonder the locals call it La Isla Bonita – the beautiful island.
Sweeter than wine, Madeira’s a fine excuse to binge on beautiful scenery to your heart’s content. Funchal is the island’s capital, a bewitching collection of cobbled streets, quaint museums and buzzing café and restaurant life.
Portugal’s electric capital stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona. You’ll find clusters of cocktail lounges in the Bairro Alto neighbourhood. In Chiado, meanwhile, lies the world’s oldest book store. The old town showcases a cosmopolitan café culture, with locals gathering in sun-dappled plazas to gossip over an espresso or ‘bica’.
Portimao is full of fantastic seafood restaurants and has one of Portugal’s best shopping scenes. As for beaches, they don’t come prettier than neighbouring Praia da Rocha. It’s one of the most photographed sweeps of sand in Europe, thanks to a frame of striking silver cliffs.
From its impressive harbour to its streets packed with Moorish relics, Cadiz is a great introduction to Spain. One minute you can be admiring medieval walls, the next browsing the racks of designer boutiques. It’s one of those cities where a new surprise awaits at every turn.
Affectionately known as Gib or The Rock, Gibraltar is a little slice of Britain in the Mediterranean. And, just like the motherland, it’s a small stretch of land with a lot to offer. The history here is largely military-related – you’ll find Nelson’s anchorage where the body of Nelson was brought back to land after the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Parson’s Lodge Battery that dates back to 1875. Elsewhere, wildlife steals the show. Check out the cheeky Barbary apes or go whale-watching in the Strait.
Tucked in a deep bay guarded by two cliff-top fortresses, this Spanish gem is steeped in history. In the 18th century it became a major Spanish naval base and reminders of its seafaring past can be seen down in the port, where you’ll find a prototype submarine.
Ibiza’s capital is the antidote to wild resorts like San Antonio and Playa D’en Bossa. Its old quarter has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and it’s haloed by Medieval stone walls and topped by a fairytale-looking fortress. Down on the waterfront, meanwhile, you’ll find chic seafood restaurants and one-off boutiques.
Palma. Think leafy boulevards that echo with the stilettos of stylish shoppers. Tiny tapas bars tucked down narrow sidestreets. Architectural gold hidden in the historic quarter. With its trademark cathedral dominating the skyline, cosmopolitan Palma never fails to impress.
At a glance....
Plenty of space and a brilliant selection of facilities - that's what you can expect on the Marella Dream.
This Platinum ship is well-known for its plush show lounge and fantastic West End-style entertainment, with performances and games geared up for the whole family.
6 restaurants, 9 bars, 3 lounges, nightclub, casino, 2 whirlpools, 2 swimming pools, card room, beauty salon, boutiques, health club, sports deck, Thomson Kids' Club, sauna, library, medical centre, internet access, air-conditioned throughout, stabilised, worldwide satellite telephone, telex and fax.
| Tonnage | 54,763 GRT |
| Length | 243 m |
| Beam (width) | 30 m |
| Speed | 19 knots |
| Decks | 12 |
| Lifts | 7 |
| Cabins | 753 |
| Cruise passengers | 1506 |
| Crew and staff | 600 |
| Electrical current | 110v/220v |
| Registry | Malta |
