This was my first time going on a cruise and I went on my own so was quite nervous but looking forward to it. I had booked through a travel agent and was not given much advice on what to expect or what to do. A friend advised me to book in for set dining times so I did that via the website and could only get early sittings as late was not available. This was ok with me. But I found the website very difficult and when trying to look up what excursions to do it was hopeless. I was especially wanting to do the 2 day St Petersberg tour and wanted to compare it to SPB tours but the website only told you what you were doing on day 1 so could not see day 2. My travel agent also tried and could not access this either. So I gave up and booked with SPB who were very efficient and answered emails quickly. I did 3 tours with them and thought it was worthwhile. The rest of the tours I booked onboard at the excursion desk the day we left Southampton. I booked on tours in every port.

Getting onboard I had stayed in Southampton and got a taxi from the hotel to the port rather than lug my bags even though it was quite close. Getting on was ok I more or less just followed everyone. They did give you a glass of bubbly and then I went looking for somewhere to sit. It didn't take that long for the bags to be delivered. I waited until others started moving then managed to find my cabin by myself. I did think that they would help with this but they didn't. Then they said you had to be on deck for a safety instruction. They put you into groups and we all sat round waiting. Then they said was a video on a small tv - I couldn't even see it through all the hordes of people. Then went back to cabin.

I went down to Moonlight Sonata at 6pm for my dinner and was seated at a table by myself. I sat there for 20 minutes without being offered a glass of wine or even a glass of water. I watched other people being shown to their tables and straight away being given a glass of water at least. About 20 minutes later another couple were seated at my table too. We started to get to know each other when another lady arrived later we had ordered by then. I asked for a glass of wine but it never came. I had to ask another 4 times for a glass of wine! In fact we never had a wine waiter for our table until day 10 of my 14 day cruise!!! I was shocked as I thought they would be trying to make you purchase drinks but was the complete opposite you couldn't get a drink (at least I couldn't). It was nerve wracking enough being by myself and I couldn't even get a drink without having to nearly make a scene. I asked the other lady at the table who had done numerous cruises was it because I did not purchase a drinks package that they wouldn't serve me any drinks but she said no. It was weird and embarrassing as made me feel like I was an alcoholic asking all the time for a single glass of wine! The food was touch and go too. I ordered lamb one night and it was basically a plate of fat and was inedible so I left it. They said they would give me another one but honestly was fed up so refused. My other poor experience with the food was room service I ordered one night as we got back very late from the day trip to Berlin and I went straight to the late show as was a very good comedian on so didn't get to my cabin till midnight. So ordered some food then and while eating my salad bit on something very hard and luckily spat it out as was a ring of plastic of some sort! Not ideal. I thought the food in the casual dining on L14 was good as at least you took what you wanted and the variety was good. The trouble was getting a table especially on your own as as soon as you got up to get something else it would be taken or the waiters would take away what you left there to try and hold your spot! They were too fast to clear! Read more