First cruise and we were in a group of four couples,we chose it as a new adventure ,we've done luxury all over but wanted to try a cruise to see would we like it.before I start I'm a smoker,love any type of food and speak my mind.the first view of the vessel was a wow,very easy customs entry and a card for all needs is a great idea.inside cabins for us a very welcome surprise,we expected a tiny gloomy room,but they are quite spacious,nicely decorated with loads of storage,a big bed,a decent size bathroom and very quiet.special mention to Prakash and his friends they can't do enough for you and work such long hours with a smile.on route to any section of the ship there is great artwork and some very good views of areas inside or wherever you are sailing to,plenty of sea views here without forking out for external cabins(they see less than you do,they can only see the view on one side.)tried all eateries,main restaurant (islands)a bit of hit and miss trying to find seats a few times but we simply changed our visits to less busy times.if there's only two of you then don't take a table for four settings,and if you can't find anything British to eat ,your visiting six foreign stops,look it's easy,chips are called fries and salad is good for you.if you can't put a meal together with the fare on offer then you have just won every slimmers world award.for the ones that can't eat a bit posher a brilliant idea is snack and go on the same deck,fish and chips,burgers and sandwiches all day,great idea.restaurant 47is on two decks,need to book but well worth a visit,there's two other restaurants but we simply ran out of nights to visit them but they are posh.visited live shows three times and the entertainment team of youngsters have rehearsed so hard to create the shows with songs ,music and dance to tap your feet to.all bars (and there's lots )are spectacular in there own way,there's live acts in all and the service staff are brilliant,you don't wait forever to get served.evening entertainment by crew is great and the game shows with passengers can be hilarious,also a very funny resident comedian on several nights.for anyone feeling a bit fit there's a climbing wall which is a genius idea,a pitch and putt and a marked a walking deck.its nice to wake up in a different country each day,getting off and on shore is a bit of a bind but security is paramount so grin and bear it,it's the world we live in.this was a great experience for us and yes we will cruise again,it was a very pleasant way for us to try one out.heres my buts,I smoke so don't sit in the smoking areas if you don't smoke,especially if your eating.people sitting in the smokers areas eating and drinking all day made it look like the bad part of the council estate(the smokers have a reason to be there(and after hearing several moaners,if smoking was banned on board,you would pay a lot more for your all day binges without the vat paid on tobacco products..the staff are not your slaves,treat them with respect(you know who I'm talking about you lazy man.its impossible to fit any more launches in a berth designed for one,again you know who I'm talking about you very rude Scotsman.just because the captain(very nice man) is dining it doesn't mean nobody is driving the boat.anybody thinking of a first time cruise,do it,try the ship you'll love it,don't listen to the moaners comparing it to the dream,it's a different ship.watch the world go by and wake up to a new language every day.on a bum note to finish,sorry about this,one of our party won a £25 voucher for spa treatment,there's nothing there that they wouldn't have to put money to,quite a poor excuse for a competition.