Ventura ----- Venice,Kotor, Corfu, Civitavacchia (Rome),Ajaccio, Genoa

My wife and I have done a number of cruises all over the world and congratulate P and O Ventura and the entire staff for getting it right ----- here's why.

a) Once we checked in our baggage at Gatwick airport we did not see it again until it arrived outside our cabin door, and at the end of our cruise the cases where left outside of our cabin to be collected later on the baggage carousel at Gatwick.

b) Tea making facilities in the room.

c) Complimentary water offered in the restaurant automatically.

d) Alcohol can be brought onto the ship.

e) We chose freedom dining in the Cinnamon restaurant and the food and service was 5 star.

f) The evening shows were excellent and the 'Headliners' equalled the best that Broadway can offer.

g) All the ports of call were excellent and not chosen to make up the numbers.

h) Hygiene was taken seriously and everytime you visited a restaurant you were requested to apply antiseptic hand gel.

i) You could eat outside in the buffet restaurant.

j) Good choice of food in the buffet late at night

k) The condition of the ship was immaculate and clean.

l) The majority of passengers were English so announcements were not made in six languages ---- believe me after a few days that can be really irritating.

j) Our cabin was near the back of the ship and there was no vibration.

There is always going to be something not right but for that we have to go to heaven but Ventura is not far behind, so stay happy and enjoy yourself, and remember if you want to see Venice from a big ship do it now because by the end of the year they will be banned, and when you are sipping your 6th Gin and tonic you will realise that the logistics of running ships like this is staggering.

Best wishes to you all,

Chris and Anne

Our rating 5 plus.