We are retired and live in a small town (Montagu) some 180 km from Cape Town and chose the cruise for its length of 21 days as well as for the countries visited culminating in Venice. The embarkation/disembarkation processes were well organized and stress-free. the dining facilities and food were tops as were the entertainment programmes. The staff in all sections of the ship were great and gave great service, especially our watrons/stewards on table 587 in the Il Galleone Restaurant.Of the ports visited we decided not to go ashore in Dakar as our travel agent advised us that no inoculations were required for any of the countries visited. We therefore had no protection against Yellow fever and were not prepared to take the chance of going ashore there.We loved all the other excursions with the harbours of Malta and Dubrovnic being spectacular and with the awe-inspiring entrance to Venice being the cream on the cake! I would recommend this cruise to anyone who loves cruising.