A relaxing, fun-filled cruise aboard the Carnival Breeze

I’M engrossed in the movie on the big screen when my husband sidles up with two groaning plates of food and a guilty look.

“I am ashamed to say this,” he whispers, “but this is my NINTH meal of the day.”

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Glancing over at the juicy burger and nachos with all the trimmings, I simply raise my eyebrows and grab a chip.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!

Welcome to my husband’s idea of heaven — the Carnival Breeze cruise ship. And as I relax back into the comfy cushions and gaze up at a clear, star-lit sky, mine too!

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We’re sailing the warm, calm waters of the Caribbean and as the sun has set, we’ve hunkered down in armchairs under the stars to watch the movie that plays nightly by the main pool.

Tonight it’s the new Transformers blockbuster and while we’ve got a great view of the screen and cocktails in hand, there are still kids splashing about in the pool.

For me, this is just what I want from my cruise adventure.

A chilled night, kicking back with a frozen margarita from the BlueIguana Tequila Bar and a couple of tacos from the Cantina snack stop by the pool.

But the other half had other ideas.

A self-confessed foodie, he had to try EVERYTHING. And to be fair, he gave it a good go.

The burger, from Guy’s Burger Joint — another poolside gem from US celebrity chef Guy Fieri — is declared one of the best he’s ever tasted.

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Come midnight, he’s feeling peckish again. There’s only one place to go: Pizza Pirate, at the back of the ship overlooking the Tides pool.

Here, they make each pizza for you fresh on the spot, 24 hours a day.

And while he may have been happy to remain in his swim shorts for six days straight, the lure of the gastronomic even tempted him to pull on a pair of trousers the next night for some more formal dining fun.

Cucina Del Capitano is a relaxed, cosy trattoria serving up fabulous Italian classics.

It’s an extra $15 (£10) to eat here but well worth it. As was the Steakhouse. Also at an extra cost, this time $35, it’s a blow-out extravaganza.

From the buffet restaurant offerings through the SeaDogs cart by the zip-wire course on the sports deck to the breakfast burritos, we enjoyed some of the best food we’ve eaten at sea.

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And when you take a look at your fellow cruisers, you’ll understand why. Carnival is as American as apple pie and attracts a fun, young, up-for-it crowd that works hard and plays harder.

From the gorgeous girls and their spontaneous dance-offs on the pool deck to the multi-generational families making the most of the incredible waterpark, everyone is having the time of their life. They expect the best — and they get it.

Incredibly, though, our seven-night cruise will cost from around £370 FULL BOARD. Obviously, you have to factor in flights to get you to the States but the value is still staggering.

This is a fun ship with more than 4,000 passengers and can be loud and busy with non-stop action — think DJ tunes by the pool, kids galore enjoying the sports, clubs and more plus Broadway-style shows, cabaret, live music and clubs by night.

But there is another side. Our Cloud Nine Spa balcony cabin was the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.

These rooms are close to the spa and give you unlimited access to the Thalassotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite at no extra charge as well as two free fitness classes.

You’ll get pamper products in the bathroom, too, as well as spa towels, robes and slippers.

And it’s not just the room where you can escape.

On days where we called in at ports — on our cruise, we enjoyed Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel — we discovered that while the majority enjoyed the sail-away pool parties, the rear of the ship on Deck 5 was deserted.

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We had the back of the ship to ourselves, settling down on sun loungers to enjoy the tropical islands slipping into the distance while we sipped frozen cocktails and enjoyed a snack or seven from the Tastes Bar that offers samplers of dishes from all the ship’s restaurants.

This being a Caribbean cruise, the outside space onboard comes into its own.

From relaxing on our balcony to a spot of mini-golf on the sports deck, the ship has plenty of space for catching the rays and there were more than enough loungers to avoid the dreaded towel baggers.

There’s even an adults-only Serenity retreat deck area away from the kids, complete with hammocks, comfy day beds and, crucially, no children.

The ship is incredibly family-friendly and my lone just-teen Ben — awkward at the best of times — was an instant celebrity with his British accent the perfect introduction for making a bunch of new friends.

Younger kids will love the Camp Carnival activities as well as a special tie-in with kids’ classic Dr Seuss, with an onboard parade, interactive story time, arts and crafts fun and even a Green Eggs & Ham character breakfast.

Carnival’s all-American party cruises serve up the perfect mix of food, fun, sun and relaxation. Now it’s time for us Brits to enjoy a slice of the action!

GO: Caribbean cruise

GETTING/STAYING THERE: A six-night full-board Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Breeze is from £1,199pp, including Gatwick flights on April 15 and two nights at the 3-star Universal Cabana Bay Resort.

Visit or call 0344 488 3084.

WIZARD TIME IN ORLANDO

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WE turned our six-night cruise into the holiday of a lifetime with some savvy booking at Virgin Holidays Cruises.

Opting for one of their cruise-and-stay packages, we kicked off our trip with a few days at Universal Resort, Orlando before heading down to Miami to pick up our cruise.

It meant we could check out the latest addition to the Harry Potter fun at Universal – Diagon Alley – and stay at their latest great value hotel, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Families will love the suites, complete with kitchenettes, that have more than enough room for up to six people.

Plus, as an on-site hotel there are free transfers to the parks as well as early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Diagon Alley is a triumph – an incredible recreation of the Harry Potter world with an obsessive eye for detail.

The Hogwarts Express that links the new area with the original Hogsmeade park is brilliant. And star of Diagon Alley is the Escape from Gringotts thrill ride that, in keeping with the rest of the Wizarding World, is incredible in its level of detail.

In my opinion, both worlds knock the socks off their theme park rivals and are well worth exploring.