Discover the Ultimate Girls' Getaway: A European Cruise with Speakeasies, Prosecco Walls, and Beach Club Pools!

IT’S 11pm and I’m at the all-night cafe in pyjamas and slippers, unsure whether to order six or eight chocolate-chip cookies.

The lady next to me, by contrast, is dressed in a glamorous ballgown and buying an espresso.

The Sun’s Sophie took a European cruise that’s the ‘ultimate girls trip’Credit: Princess Cruises Sophie, right, and pals sample cocktailsCredit: Supplied The dome pool can transform into a stage for entertainmentCredit: Princess Cruises

Peering down into the Piazza below — my eight cookies in hand — I spy a lively crowd who are throwing their best shapes to dance music at the silent disco.

A is like no other holiday.

While I was preparing myself for a girls’ night in, with room service and a movie, other passengers were rolling out of glitzy restaurants and heading off in search of late-night fun in the Piazza or pouring out of the theatre after another -style show.

Couples were taking a stroll around the outside deck in the warm Mediterranean air and the casino’s bright lights were still drawing in crowds.

Where else can you get such varied fun rolled into one small(ish) space?

That’s why, when it came to deciding our girls’ trip this year, a voyage on the high seas came out on top.

My work pals and I can’t take credit for coining the girls’ trip at sea.

More and more women are swapping long weekends sipping pina coladas in Marbella for action-packed sailings.

And major cruise lines, including , have begun flogging packages designed solely for female groups — championing the on-board shopping and sleek bars and the appeal of the multiple destinations in one trip.

Princess Cruises’ Suzanne Korff says: “It’s the ultimate girls’ trip — the perfect blend of luxury, laughter and adventure, all with incredible value.”

It’s certainly true that cruises offer more bang for your buck — a huge perk in a time when people are more cash-strapped than ever.

My week’s sailing on board Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess cost my pals and I around £900 per person.

When we weren’t pounding the sunny streets of Palermo in Sicily, or gobbling up pizza in Naples, we were aboard the 21-deck ship soaking up the sun.

That included not just our flights and cabin, but all of our food and all the entertainment — from Broadway musicals in the large theatre to Celtic bands in the traditional Irish boozer.

When we weren’t pounding the sunny streets of Palermo in , or gobbling up pizza in Naples, we were aboard the 21-deck ship soaking up the sun.

And there were plenty of places to gather for a good dip and gossip.

There are two sparkling pools on the Lido deck, complete with plenty of loungers, as well as a fantastic Wake View pool with infinity edge overlooking the back of the ship.

Mixologist tricks

For those chillier, early-morning swims, the indoor/outdoor pool in the glass-ceilinged Dome was perfect — again with plenty of places to chill with your pals.

Those wanting to really up the ante can splash out on a suite, which will give you access to the Sanctuary Club.

A feast of fun, as a chef puts on a show for dinersCredit: Princess Cruises Sit back and enjoy drinks at the pool – delivered direct to your loungerCredit: Princess Cruises

Think your ultimate Mediterranean beach club but with a chilled, tranquil atmosphere and cushioned beds and loungers, scattered between hot tubs.

There’s also a decent-sized pool, as well as a bar that can whip up all manner of cocktails, including an excellent frozen daiquiri.

Some afternoons, a DJ or live singer appear, perfect to lull you into a serene snooze while you tan.

But the highlight of this exclusive zone is undoubtedly the prosecco wall.

Several times a day, during the afternoon, guests are encouraged to ring a large bell protruding from a plant-covered wall.

Moments later, a hand will emerge from the shrubbery, as if by magic, clutching a complimentary flute of prosecco for the bell-ringer.

On sea days, the magical wall even serves up mimosas from 9.30am to 11am.

Of course, drinks can be delivered directly to your sunbed. Food can be ordered anywhere within the Sanctuary Club, too, so you really needn’t lift a finger.

But with 30 restaurants and bars on board, you would be mad not to dine around.

Among complimentary options are Soleil and Eclipse dining areas, each serving a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner in a grand two-level setting.

For something more casual, The Eatery is Sun Princess’ take on a buffet, where you can flit between Mexican, Italian, American and almost every other cuisine imaginable.

Elsewhere there’s sushi, pub grub and a gelateria, all included in the price of your cruise. And that’s before you get to the specialty joints, for which guests pay extra.

Spellbound, created in partnership with American arts venue Magic Castle, is a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar where mixologists perform tricks.

The teppanyaki restaurant is well worth the dosh. Sat at a horseshoe-shaped bar, around a huge steel griddle, we watched as our chef turned dinner into a show — tossing eggs with a flick of his fish slice and transforming an omelette into a snake that slithered before our eyes.

The magic did not end there, though. What makes this cruise ship truly stand out lies behind an unassuming door on the eighth deck.

Spellbound, created in partnership with arts venue Magic Castle, is a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar where mixologists perform tricks.

Welcomed into a cosy, low-lit room with a flickering fireplace and panelled walls covered in black-and-white photographs, we were transported back in time to the roaring Twenties.

We were listening as an ominous voice recalled the story of a family of magicians — when suddenly the wall ahead slid open, revealing a hidden bar.

Spellbound, created in partnership with American arts venue Magic Castle, is a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar where mixologists perform tricksCredit: Unknown Food and entertainment were all included in the priceCredit: Princess Cruises

Every detail within, from paintings that follow you while you walk, to the ghost of a pianist who even takes song requests, has been carefully schemed.

And the sorcery doesn’t end there. Smoke-billowing cocktails are accompanied by card tricks — leading up to a grand finale that will have you gasping in awe.

Not even the sunrise view from our cabin balconies could top that magic.