This cruise was chosen mainly for the destination and the ports visited on the way. We usually travel on Seabourn but this itinerary suited our travels to Africa.
Boarding at Dubai was a breeze. We found out shortly thereafter that there were only 140 passengers on board, less than half full. Some of my impressions of the cruise will obviously take this into account.
The staff on board were extremely friendly and competent with a few very minor exceptions. The ship is getting on in years and despite ongoing maintenance it still has some weak points, the most noticeable is the room to room noise.