The one and only reason we went on a cruise is that I have a phobia of flying. As hubby & I both very much want to see the world, cruising seemed a good alternative. We were sceptical - especially hubby: it was a very expensive 'gamble', we were concerned whether cruising life would suit us being only in our late 20's, and whether Norway was the ideal destination for a lively 4 year old.

Embarkation took a little while, especially with a little one to entertain but was simple enough. Our hearts did sink a little when it seemed that our child was one of only maybe three children amongst thousands waiting to embark. We also felt we'd brought the passenger age down by about 30 years :) in reality, however, once on the boat there were other younger passengers - mainly holidaying with family or a few young couples. For the most part, it really wasn't an issue - our fellow passengers were mainly very friendly and welcoming to our little one. There were the exceptions: those who rolled their eyes as soon as they saw a child (even though ours is very well behaved) or, more frequently, those who felt the need to talk incessantly in very loud voices - on lifts, dining rooms, everywhere! - about how many hundred cruises they had been on and how many cars they had at home. But these were the minority, not the majority and it was lovely getting to know familiar faces around the ship.

My personal first impression was that the Ventura is not as grand inside as I'd possibly expected. Hubby and I said its like a 4* hotel when perhaps we'd expected a 5*. It was a lot more modern than I'd anticipated too but I loved the horse decorations throughout and 4 year old fell in love with the bubble columns in the lifts - a fun touch. It was all very clean and shiny. Read more