This was to be our first cruise,ever, to celebrate our golden wedding.The two nights spent in VENICE hotel were lovely. We made our own way to the ship with no problems. The ship looked quite impressive, until you looked closer.The shower was a disgrace, no water pressure, the taps were rusty and the chrome peeling off.The drawer doors were very hard to open,sticking, and in need of replaceing.The "Windjammer" restaurant.Do not look at the chairs too closely! They were FILTHY.There was a constant complaint from the guests about running out of various things.But my biggest complaint would be about the cost of THE DRINKS. Approximately £6 for a pint of "beer"? PLUS 15%.The cheapest bottle of wine in the dining room was £19, PLUS 15%!! If you decided to purchase the WINE PACK, at approx' £160,PLUS 15%. You were really being ripped off! In fact,one of our fellow table guests worked out that you were paying the same price as was on the wine list.If you had paid "up front", your Gratuities for the cruise, WHY was it ADDED to the bill,when you signed for your drinks?The "Explorations" or excurcions, as we British say,were absolutely extortionate. I have to say that we did NOT go on any of them. We did them ourselves. For example:"Athens on your own" SOTS price $58 (£36) We did it for 2.80 EUROS EACH!!All in all, I would say that our first cruise expierience has put us off ever doing it again! (Unless it was with SAGA, where ALL gratuities and tours are included.)