Dining onboard Thomson Cruises’ newest ships, TUI Discovery & TUI Discovery 2

Have you discovered TUI Discovery & TUI Discovery 2 yet?

In summer 2016 Thomson Cruises welcomed a new addition to its fleet, TUI Discovery. Her sister ship TUI Discovery 2 will be live in summer 2017. The onboard setup of the two ships is very similar, so whichever you and your family sail away on, you’re in for a treat.

TUI Discovery is one of Thomson Cruises’ largest ships and boasts fantastic facilities, including a climbing wall, a mini-golf course, an indoor pool and outdoor cinema. Naturally, you can look forward to all the usual Thomson Cruises facilities, such as smart, modern interiors, shows that give the West End a run for its money and of course, a truly excellent dining scene. There are hundreds of reasons to get excited about eating on TUI Discovery and TUI Discovery 2, but here are our four favourites:

1. Everyone goes all-inclusive

From summer 2017, all-inclusive is the standard onboard TUI Discovery and TUI Discovery 2; and this means drinks (yes, Prosecco, cider and cocktails are included), meals in a range of restaurants, most onboard activities (like the climbing wall, minigolf and the Kids’ Club) and extras like in-cabin safes.

2. Venues and service to suit every mood – and a huge choice of cuisine

The onboard restaurants have been designed to cater to your every mood, so whether you fancy a high-end sit-down dinner, or something more laidback, you’ll find a place that fits the bill. The Glass House is one of the most relaxed of all the eateries. During the day, deli-inspired bites and fresh juices are on the menu, and at night it’s all about Spanish-style tapas and meats sizzled on hot stones, for an extra charge. The Islands Restaurant sings to a similar tune. Here, it’s a buffet, so you can head up to try something new as many times as you like.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Surf and Turf Steakhouse is a fine-dining affair, with a gourmet menu of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. Kora La is another classy dining spot, except this one focuses on pan-Asian cuisine. The menu features cuisine from south and east Asia, with dishes like Indian spiced king prawns, and Indonesian beef rendang curry. Yum.

Formal or informal, buffet or a la carte, full English or continental – the choice is yours on TUI Discovery & TUI Discovery 2

3. Special kids menus in all onboard restaurants

Dining doesn’t have to be a formal affair on board TUI Discovery and TUI Discovery 2. The buffet restaurants have a huge choice of dishes for a relaxed family get-together. For children, there are favourites like pasta and fries on the menu, with ice-cream cones for pudding. Plus, each restaurant comes with a special children’s food and drink menu. What’s more, if you or the kids have any dietary requirements, mention it when you book and let the Maitre D’ know once you’re onboard. The TUI catering teams are happy to provide vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and diabetic-friendly options on request.

4. Opportunities to sample authentic Mediterranean food ashore

Both ships will visit key ports around the Mediterranean so you and kids will have the chance to taste a wide range of local foods from places like Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Naples and Lisbon. Spanish Tapas or real Italian ice-cream anyone?

Routes: In summer 2017 TUI Discovery will be sailing from Palma, Majorca and TUI Discovery 2 will be sailing from Malaga, Spain

Price: Highlights of the Mediterranean on TUI Discovery departs 6 May 2017 and costs £2,531 for a family of four in an inside cabin on Decks 2/3, flying from Bournemouth

Find out more about dining on TUI Discovery & TUI Discovery 2 by reading Thomson Cruises’ dining blog.