Embarkation and disembarkation were organized very well considering there were over 4000 passengers onboard, also many crew got on and off the ship in Barcelona. Huge ship that was fully booked for our trip and because of this was very noisy most of the time, even the designated “quiet area” on deck 18 had loud musac (awful loud instrumental nothingness) all day long. Very busy in all bars and dining rooms at times, some days it was not possible to find two seats inside the Garden Café restaurant (this restaurant seats over 600 inside and over 300 outside) so we ate breakfast outside and it was very cold and windy that morning before a trip. It was warm and sunny most days and we could sit on loungers outside as apart from in the bars there is limited seating inside the ship and although there are covered areas on deck 15 they have a roof but are open sided.

Entertainment superb from the duo and pianist playing in the bars to the shows etc especially the Beatles tribute act and Siglo (who also play in the Cavern club bar on board ), Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Burn the Floor and of course Cirque Dreams. Food and service was very good in all restaurants. Not enough staff to keep the tables clean and free from dirty plates etc in Garden Court at times. Bar service could be slow in some bars and staff in Waves bar although not busy sometimes just ignored customers and or were quite rude, other bars had pleasant staff. Mix of nationalities on board including Spanish, French, German, Canadian, American, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, South African, Belgian, Australian, British plus many others. All the shows, announcements and 90% of the entertainment onboard were in English.

Very stable ship we felt very little movement the ten nights we were onboard. The cabin had four electrical sockets, 2 US flat pin 110 volt sockets that took 2 or 3 pin plugs and 2 continental round pin 220 volt sockets that took 2 or 3 pin plugs. Tours sold on board are very expensive, there are taxis, shared minibusses that sell seats separately until they have filled the vehicle, hop on hop off busses at almost all ports that are much cheaper. For example when we docked in Civitaveccia return sightseeing tours of Rome were being offered between €15 and €25 each depending on itinerary and time spent in Rome, the ships trips were €200 plus each. You must be aware that if you go on a ships tour the ship will not sail without you if you get back late however if you organize a trip and for any reason get back late to the ship it will sail without you and it’s then your responsibility to catch the ship up at the next port at your expense. Buyer beware, make sure you are getting returned to the ship well before the ship is due to sail as we have been on several ships where people have been left in port when on their own excursions.