Embarkation and disembarkation process were easy and stress free apart from one luggage piece missing until dinner time. We had a suite on B deck which cost over double the price of a balcony stateroom and was not at all worth the difference. First 3 days were all at sea and the weather was dull and raining. Can't think why we couldn't have called somewhere en route to Stockholm on outward journey. St Petersburg exceeded expectations. We spent 2 long days with local guide from Alla tours. They were excellent and much better value than P and O. Departure was delayed by a couple of hours in Russia and were told by Capt. Hurley that this was because a fellow passenger had died and arrangements had to be made to put the body ashore and make arrangements to assist his partner. There was no further mention made and life onboard continued just as scheduled. Don't know if this is normal procedure when a passenger dies but I thought that a minutes silence or similar mark of respect might have been observed.

Our one stop in Germany was at Travemunde with tours to Lubeck and Hamburg promoted by P & O . We choose to take the courtesy bus to this local resort town on a lovely sunny day and it was a great decision. Ate on the beach and shopped in quaint and interesting locally owned outlets. We got a great surprise at sail away when locals gathered on the quayside and a German Choir sang would you believe - God save the Queen in German. Truly the war is really over !

Entertainers Tom O Connor and Robert Meadmore were excellent but the Headliners troupe seemed to be on almost every other night. They really worked hard but lacked the wow factor for us.. This was our third cruise with P & O but unlike the Ventura and Oriana the age profile was significantly higher than we had expected and everything seemed to move at a much slower pace. Read more