Ventura is a vast ship that takes a little while to orientate to. After two weeks I was only just getting my bearings. It is only possible to easily move around the ship on deck 7. Some decks are not available from some lifts. The disorientation was you were unsure whether you were heading in the right direction forward or aft.

The theatre entertainment was good though some of the women singers were challenging to listen to with more volume than melody. I avoided the comedians but the cruise company shows were very popular. I didn't attend any of the sailaway parties as the sound system was too loud and distorted and the sight of people waving Union Jack flags had me groaning with embarrassment. Hi- di hi! Having been on a longer cruise on a more basic vessel I have to make the comment that Ventura seemed to lack genuine fun. It appeared rather staged with staff going through the act of being fun.

Food was fresh, plentiful and perfectly fine. When hygiene levels were raised due to a Noro virus infection brought on board by a single family it temporarily stopped the colossally obese passengers from substantially overloading the already enormous platters provided. Some rolled back to the self service area 3 or more times each meal. You never saw these people in the serviced restaurants, presumably because the normal sized portions served there were too small. The people in the serviced restaurants were a very different size. However some of the women turned up at formal nights in clothes more befitting a strip club than a restaurant! Some of the bouffant hairstyles were an architectural spectacle, in particular when worn by ladies well past their prime - with their mothers dressed very much the same! There was no lamb here only mutton! Read more