Sister to Solstice, Equinox, Silhouette and Reflection, the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse is much-loved by British cruisers as it's based in Southampton all summer, with special touches added for Brits, including excellent curries in the Oceanview Cafe and proper bacon for breakfast.

This sleek, elegant ship has all sorts of unique features which, combined with its cool, contemporary design, add up to create the ambience of a luxury yacht, albeit a large one. Bask in the sun on the half-acre living lawn on the upper deck, or spend the day in the new Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Visit the new photo studio, where photographic portraits can be turned into artistic prints, or sample the 40 new beers and cocktails in the Gastrobar, a new feature for 2015. Another new bar, Slush, serve frozen cocktails, the perfect treat for a summer's day as the ship steams across the Mediterranean.

Dining on board, in addition to the main Moonlight Sonata dining room, features Celebrity favourites such as the Tuscan Grille, for great steaks; and Murano, for European classics. Not to be missed is the quirky Qsine, where you order as many small dishes as you like from an iPad, each one with a twist, from sushi lollipops to 'disco shrimps' (with flashing ice cubes), mini burgers you assemble yourself and cupcakes that come with a decorating kit.

After dark, there's a superb Martini bar with a frozen top; a nightclub and casino; and in the Eclipse Theatre, high-tech shows that as well as song and dance, include daring acrobatics with the performers suspended right over the audience.

The ship has excellent children's facilities and because it sails from Southampton, is popular with families in summer. 'Over 85% of staterooms have their own balcony' and several are large enough for four, or have interconnecting doors for families.