“IT’S Cinderella!” a young girl exclaims, rushing past.

Nostalgia floods over me when I turn around to find the fairytale princess floating towards us in her dazzling blue ballgown complete with shimmering tiara.

Alice Penwill

Steven Diaz Photo LLC

Aladdin is one of the West End-style productions in the onboard theatre on the ship[/caption]

I may be in my late twenties but I can’t help feeling giddy with excitement over meeting one of my childhood icons.

And this magic happens everyday on a Disney Cruise.

I was on board the Disney Fantasy sailing across the Med as the ship embarked on its first ever season in Europe.

It’s easy to see why they named her Fantasy.

As I explored the 14-deck vessel, I still had to pinch myself as I regularly came face-to-face with other childhood heroines I’d grown up watching, such as Jasmine and Mulan.

Many kids relished the opportunity to don their favourite princess costumes every day.

However, I wasn’t expecting the cruise to be such a big hit with the adults, too.

In fact, there are so many adult-only areas around the ship where parents, couples or solo travellers can kick back and relax, away from the excited giggles.

The spa is a haven away from the action with heated loungers and rainforest showers as well as a Jacuzzi that looked out over the endless ocean.

For a sophisticated evening, classy champagne bar Ooh La La serves elegant tipples like the Elderbubble, a champagne and elderflower concoction topped with a raspberry.

Or there’s the Irish-inspired, O’Gills, and lively club-bar, while The Tube serves drinks late into the night.

Aside from the watering holes, there are two adult-exclusive restaurants too — Remy, which dishes up fancy French plates in a glam setting, and Italian-style Palo which serves traditional dishes but with a modern twist.

For a properly-personalised experience, though, check out the three main restaurants: Royal Court, Animator’s Palate and Enchanted Garden, which serve three-course dinners as part of the “rotational dining”.

This gives guests the same waiting staff every night who will get to know likes and dislikes and suggest dishes accordingly.

I had the lovely Sheree from the Philippines who made sure everyone was thoroughly fed, and Adroy from India who gave our table puzzles every night to keep us entertained.

When it comes to on board activities, the list is as long as Rapunzel’s hair, with everything from Disney trivia quizzes to crafts, silent discos, and character meet-and-greets.

It would take weeks do them all.

Luckily, on day one I’d met a passenger who was on her fourth Disney cruise and was happy to share all of her tops tips.

It’s from her that I learned about the onboard tradition of “pixie dusting”.

Experienced guests spread the Disney love by leaving little goodie bags filled with either soft toys, door magnets or smaller knick-knacks on fish extenders attached to neighbouring cabin doors.

They don’t expect anything in return. It’s simply a gesture of goodwill.

The magic continued up on the top deck where many of my days were spent flopped on a sunbed, soaking up rays and tucking into ice cream, all while watching Disney favourites on the outdoor screen where films are played on rotation from morning til night.

To cool off, there are three small pools, one of which is adults-only, and the famous AquaDuck — a 765-foot long water coaster, which features on several ships in the fleet.

Or you can head inside to watch one of the West End-style productions in the onboard theatre.

I saw amazing shows like Aladdin and Frozen as well as Disney’s Believe, a musical exclusive to Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream which didn’t leave a dry eye in the room.

If that’s not enough Disney for you, guests can get stuck into themed evenings, including a formal night where fans waltzed around in glittering ballgowns, as well as pirate night.

Although, to my relief, you won’t be judged if dress-up isn’t your thing.

I was having so much fun on board, I’d almost forgotten that we would soon be docking in a new destination.

My trip started in Barcelona and we’d had an action-packed day at sea before arriving at the first stop, Civitavecchia, a quiet costal town an hour away from Italy’s bustling Rome.

Alice Penwill

A stop off in Italy allowed Alice to see the famous landmark of the Leaning Tower of Pisa[/caption]

Then it was on to the port of Livorno where I joined an excursion into Pisa.

Soon, I was standing outside of the famous Leaning Tower, snapping away with my hands held up, replicating the famous leaning pose.

Despite being the most recognisable view, the tower still didn’t compare to the one at the next stop, Genoa.

From D’Albertis Castle, a fortress carved into the hillside, I was able to look out over pastel-toned buildings, backed by rugged mountains, with the sea in the distance.

Those who have the energy can climb their way to the top on foot but I chose to take the funicular.

Our final stop was Toulon in France’s Provence region, a haven for wine lovers and the perfect place to toast our Disney adventure.

If Disneyland is the happiest place in the world, then the Disney Fantasy must be the happiest place on the Mediterranean Sea.

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“WOW, this is the best house ever,” scream my two kids. 

While their reactions slightly rile me — having just decorated both their bedrooms back home — I can see where they are coming from. 

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Enjoying a stroll along the beach[/caption]

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We had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge[/caption]

For starters, our eight-man Platinum lodge at Unity Beach in Somerset has a hot tub — and it comes complete with undisturbed views of Brean’s windswept coastline and a clear sky at night. 

Everything inside is sleek and stylish, with a statement electric fireplace in the centre and Scandi-style wooden furniture that makes the place look more like a fancy prize draw house than a holiday park lodge. 

I was staying there with my partner Bianca and two little ones, Frank, six, and Pearl, four. 

The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a £15million “Comes Alive in 25” campaign and was reopened only last month, backed by The One Show host Alex Jones. 

The presenter said: “There’s a misconception that British seaside parks are outdated. Unity Beach proves that’s no longer true.” 

I can’t argue with her. 

Even though there was so much to do at the 240-acre resort, we could easily have spent a few hours relaxing in our new home. 

As well as a decking area with hot tub, it included a spacious lounge with a giant TV (as well as televisions in every bedroom), a fully-fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, plus two more twin rooms. 

The lodges are really close to most of the activities and restaurants, too. 

These include the new Wonky Donkey, which serves brekkie and pub grub such as scampi, lasagne and burgers, and the Sports Cafe, where kids can play arcade favourites and cutting-edge VR games in between bites of pizza, while adults watch live sport on the large screens. 

There’s also the revamped Pavilion Theatre, where guests can tuck into wings, loaded fries and kid-sized lighter bites all while watching live game shows and tribute acts. 

And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. 

Then there’s the retro-decorated RJ’s, which offers American diner-style classics such as pizzas, wings and build-your-own burgers. 

And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. 

When we weren’t sampling all the food, we had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge. 

It costs extra to visit (from £3.25pp) but it’s well worth it, with a kids’ pool, play areas and plenty of slides. 

Ninja Zone 

The pre-booked 90-minute pool sessions were just enough for our two, although bigger kids, who can go on all the flumes, might want to stay longer. 

Despite tearing around the pool for an hour and a half, Frank and Pearl couldn’t wait to go straight to Brean Play indoor soft play afterwards. 

If one thing’s guaranteed to tire them out, it’s soft play. 

The area includes the Ninja Zone, with a challenging obstacle course for older kids, and a state-of-the-art ball court with an interactive screen that lets kids play all manner of games. 

If that’s not enough, there’s also the Brean Theme Park, which was again just yards from our lodge. 

And I could see why our kids were so desperate to go. The park has a great mix of rides for kids of all ages as well as adults. 

Thankfully, Bianca was happy to take Frank on the scarier rollercoasters while I made sure Pearl was OK on the carousels. 

You’ll have to pay extra for entry, but Unity guests get discounted wristbands meaning it won’t end up costing a fortune. 

Unity is not all about the kids, though. Adults can have their fair share of fun at the 18-hole golf course. 

Whatever you end up doing, there’s a good chance you’ll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. 

Or they might want to try their hand at new must-play sport padel, with Unity being home to Somerset’s only two courts. 

We barely had enough time to try everything within the resort, let alone to venture out. 

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The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a £15million ‘Comes Alive in 25’ campaign backed by The One Show host Alex Jones, above at Unity Beach[/caption]

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The nearby Bream Theme Park was is winner for kids[/caption]

But for those keen to explore the area, Weston-super-Mare, Burnham pier and Cheddar Gorge are all nearby. 

However, try to make it back in time for the evening entertainment, which includes discos and parties for the little ones, games shows and entertainers. 

Whatever you end up doing, there’s a good chance you’ll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. 

And you’ll certainly be grateful for those comfy beds, too. 

Truth and lies 

WILL those ministers and officials running our public bodies ever understand the harm which is being caused by them taking the public for fools? 

Left-wing ideology has infected the civil service so much that anyone questioning the wisdom of allowing millions to arrive from overseas is automatically considered a “far right” threat by the Prevent programme. 

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Some 70 per cent of those illegally arriving here by dinghy are men, many of them economic migrants[/caption]

Meanwhile, police still fail to properly record crimes committed by foreign nationals, or have to be forced to come clean by brave opposition politicians. 

The latest example of trying to warp reality concerns the ongoing chaos at Britain’s borders. 

Appearing on BBC Question Time, Treasury minister Darren Jones made the totally false claim that small boat migrants are mainly “women, children and babies”. 

Yet — far from correcting the record — Downing Street tried to shut up shop. 

The reality? 

Some 70 per cent of those illegally arriving here by dinghy are men, many of them economic migrants. 

The overwhelming majority of Brits are decent, tolerant and warmly welcoming people. 

Those in charge would do well to treat them as such. 

Not seek to suppress debate or massage away uncomfortable truths.

A just mission 

ISRAEL was entirely justified in launching its surgical strikes on rogue terror-state Iran. 

The mad mullahs in Tehran are hell-bent on developing nukes and then wiping out Israel. 

Iran — bank-rolling both Hamas and Hezbollah — has repeatedly failed to comply with the UN on its uranium enrichment programme. And ignored Donald Trump’s ultimatums to stop. 

How else was Israel supposed to react to this intolerable situation? 

Our Government should recognise another breathtaking Mossad operation has done well to take out the leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. 

Ordinary Iranians will be silently giving thanks, too. 

Britain and America now have a duty to stand by Israel. 

The destruction of Iran’s nuclear ambitions would do the world a great favour. 

Gongs & arrows 

The King’s Birthday Honours this year celebrate Britain’s finest achievers — from the youngest to the oldest. 

Luke Littler, just 18, deservedly gets an MBE for his darting heroics. 

There’s a gong, too, for 99-year-old war hero Geoff Roberts, a veteran of the Arnhem campaign. 

Both are the very best of British Bully. 

FROM Alexandra Palace to the Royal Palaces, what an extraordinary ride it has been for Luke Littler.

Two years ago, he was just a normal, kebab-eating kid from Warrington who dreamt of one day making money from darts.

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Luke Littler has risen to the top of darts in a rapid rise[/caption]

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He became world champion in January[/caption]

What has happened since is one of the most sensational stories in British sport.

A shock World Championship final run in 2024, turning pro, taking the oche by storm, global popularity, the 2025 world title at just 17 and more than £2million in prize money and sponsorship.

Littler has even had novelty kebabs named in his honour.

And now he will go, by royal appointment, to collect an MBE as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list.

It is not often Littler swaps his darts shirts for a suit but, at 18 years old, he is one of the youngest people to be bestowed a gong by the Royal Family.

Littler’s ranking rival and England World Cup team-mate Luke Humphries, 30, is also set to receive an MBE.

They are two of only eight darts stars to have been acknowledged for their exploits.

The late Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Trina Gulliver, Fallon Sherrock, and Keith Deller are the other tungsten members of the British Empire.

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Sixteen-time world champ Phil Taylor had been set to receive an MBE in 2001.

But his nomination was annulled after a controversial court case saw him found guilty of assaulting two female fans in the back of his camper van and fined £2,000.

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Luke has a deal with boohooMAN[/caption]

Barry Hearn, the promotion mastermind behind darts’ global rise, got an MBE in December 2021 and pins it to his cricket bat when he plays for Essex over-70s.

And Deta Hedman is set to receive an OBE, having won world ranking titles in each of the five previous decades.

Honours committees have tended to be snobbish towards working-class sports like darts and snooker.

But with Littler’s five major titles, added to eight for Humphries — and two PDC world crowns between them — there is no denying their incredible impact.

Particularly Littler. Grown men wear his shirts, emblazoned with his nickname The Nuke, while magnetic dartboards with his face on them sold out.

As an amateur, he reached the Ally Pally world final — aged 16 — losing to world No .1 Humphries.

Littler’s rookie season was one of sport’s most incredible debut years, seeing him voted second behind Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson in BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Littler has been a credit to the sport, constantly polite and co-operative with the press, the PDC and their sponsors.

This kid from humble stock — his dad was a taxi driver, his mum worked in a Yankee Candle shop — now joins the establishment.

Who knows, maybe one day he will work his way all the way up to a knighthood?

Sir Luke Littler? That really does hit the bullseye.

DARTS world champion Luke “The Nuke” Littler has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. 

The kebab-loving arrows ace became the youngest world champion at 17 years and 347 days earlier this year. 

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Darts world champion Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours at just 17 years of age[/caption]

He has raised the sport’s profile with millions of youngsters. 

Slow Horses star Gary Oldman, 67, is given a knighthood recognising his incredible career in TV and films.  

Here’s how the awards were divided up among the wider spectrum of British life, from sport to showbiz and business…

SPORT 

Darts champs given MBEs

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Luke became the youngest world champion at 17 years and 347 days in January[/caption]

Reuters

Fellow darts champ Luke Humphries, 30, has also bagged an MBE[/caption]

DARTS is celebrating a double top in the King’s Birthday Honours after world champion Luke Littler and Humphries become MBEs. 

The arrows aces — more used to Ally Pally than Buckingham Palace — have massively boosted the sport’s profile. 

Kebab fan Luke “The Nuke” Littler, 18, became the youngest world champion at 17 years and 347 days in January.

Humphries, 30, pipped him in the 2024 PDC final. 

Deta Hedman, the first black woman to play at the worlds in 2020 and who has won titles in each of the past five decades, is an OBE. 

Last week The Sun revealed David Beckham had been awarded a knighthood after years of waiting. In a statement yesterday he called the honour “truly humbling”. 

He said: “It’ll take a while to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.” 

Billy Boston, 90, is the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood in its 130 years. 

Wimbledon champ Virginia Wade is made a CBE. 

Two-time Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee is made an OBE. 

Rachel Daly, part of the Euro 2022-winning Lionesses is made an MBE.

The Aston Villa star said: “This award is for everyone who has supported me.” 

In cricket, England pace bowler Devon Malcolm becomes an OBE.

Wicketkeeper Steven Davies has been made an MBE, as has bowler David Lawrence, who took 625 wickets for Gloucestershire. 

Monica Vaughan, ten-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist, becomes an OBE. 

Andy Lapthorne, a 17-time grand slam champion in wheelchair tennis, is an MBE. 

The same honour goes to boxer Natasha Jonas, motorcyclist Michael Dunlop, golfer Trish Johnson and gymnastics commentator Christine Still. 

PM Sir Keir Starmer said: “Each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.” 

• By Julia Atherley 

SHOWBIZ & CHARITY 

It’s Knight service for Sir Gary

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Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman — favourites of Queen Camilla — get MBEs[/caption]

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Slow Horses star Gary Oldman, who plays sharp-minded spymaster Jackson Lamb, is knighted[/caption]

PA

Love Island’s Georgia Harrison is made an MBE for her fight against violence to women — after ex Stephen Bear was jailed for revenge porn[/caption]

ACTOR Gary Oldman who plays the shambling but razor-sharp spy boss in Slow Horses is knighted. 

The Londoner, 67, was the only major-category Oscar winner yet to be honoured. 

Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman — favourites of Queen Camilla — get MBEs. 

Tess said: “This came as the greatest surprise of my life.

“I don’t think I’ve come back down to earth.” 

Claudia, who also fronts The Traitors, added: “I will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.” 

The Who rocker Roger Daltrey is knighted for work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. 

Love Island’s Georgia Harrison gets an MBE for campaigning on tackling violence against women. Her ex Stephen Bear was jailed for sharing a sex tape. 

West End star Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods. 

Actresses Anita Dobson and Samantha Morton get OBEs. 

Angel of the North sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is a Companion of Honour. 

Three family members receive British Empire Medals for Calum’s Cabin, a charity which provides holiday homes for children facing cancer.

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PA

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Duncan Caroline and Jenna Speirs, from Bute, Scotland, said the idea was started by Calum, Jenna’s twin, who had an inoperable brain tumour at 12 and died in 2006. 

Jenna said: “Calum spoke to children who’d never seen the sea, or been on a ferry. 

“It’s special for us to be honoured together.” 

Alison Magdin and daughter Carly Barrett who have fought to end knife crime in the North East, following the death of their daughter and sister Samantha, get MBEs. 

The youngest Honours recipient is 11-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson MBE, who fundraises despite a life-limiting muscle-wasting condition. 

• By Julia Atherley

WAR HERO 

Arnhem survivor Geoff, 99, bags accolade

Arthur Edwards / The Sun

War hero Geoff Roberts, 99, who survived the ill-fated Battle of Arnhem in 1944, is made an MBE after decades of returning to honour fallen comrades[/caption]

A SURVIVOR of doomed Operation Market Garden in World War Two has been made an MBE. 

Geoff Roberts, 99, has returned more than 60 times to Arnhem in the Netherlands to mark the battle in 1944 where more than 1,700 Brits died. 

Every time, he has visited the graves of his two best pals who took part in the nine-day airborne invasion immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far. 

He was the only survivor last year from the 3,500 who took part who was fit enough to return. 

Geoff, a Private in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, said: “We failed, and the people of Arnhem paid a heavy price for us trying to liberate them — but they’re still thanking us after all this time.” 

Geoff, of Peterborough, received his gong for services to the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and to charity. 

• By Mike Ridley

POLITICS

Borders boss gets rewarded 

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BORDER Force’s boss is getting a gong — despite a record number of small boat migrants arriving this year so far. 

Director general Philip Douglas becomes a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), given to the military and civil service figures. 

The honours also include a damehood for former MP and Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, who had a key role in the King’s coronation when she presented the Sword of State to the monarch.

The former Defence Secretary said it was “lovely to be appreciated in this way”. 

• By Julia Atherley

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