Negatives first. Oceana is not a new ship so make allowances. She shows rust streaks on the white paint that can make her look shabby when alongside newer cruisers. Inside she's been refurbished in places but a lick of paint and varnish would be welcome for example deck hand rails worn down to bare wood in places. Also our bathroom toilet seat was probably an original as its light tan colour now had an unappealing dark brown rim - quite clean I'm sure but a reminder of just how mnay backsides had been on it.

OK that's the negatives out of the way...positives...stunning central atrium, a real hub, superb waiting staff in dining areas, bars and cabin...excellent organisation of the 2000 passengers, good food even in the self serve (ignore moans you may have read - it's a running buffet after all but it has great views and some of the most hard working staff clearing up that I've ever come across...and you can eat for 21 hours a day).

Excursions were expensive so in places where you are not worried about getting back to the ship in time do your own thing...use the water buses in venice....take the train to Pompei, do Durovnik, Monaco on foot. We went on the Best of Corfu tour - what a rip off and what a dump theisland seems to be. Read more