My husband and I got back today 4th Jan 2015 and felt I had to warn people not to go on this cruise ship. I wish I had done more homework prior to booking but had not had a bad experience and probably got a tad complacent. I have been on numerous cruises and found them all to be brilliant quality and what you would expect ie great food choice and quality, luxury surroundings, excellent entertainment and lots to do. This boat should be taken off line, and the staff responsible for how it came into its current condition, be severely questioned on all aspects of management.

Firstly the sanitary conditions, of which we had heard a lot about mainly Norovirus where only compounded by the terrible cleaning practices of using the same cloth to wipe down all surfaces. We saw first hand a cleaner using one damp cloth on handrails, elevators, door handles. All they did was contaminate clean surfaces and move around the germs. At no point was the cloth cleaned or substituted for paper or antibacterial wipes. The whole boat was filthy and we couldn't touch surfaces which had not been touched with water and elbow grease for some considerable time. There was fluff sticking to surfaces and kitchen equipment was grubby if not worse. Health and safety appeared non existent nor was proper training on basic hygiene.

Our cabin 831 was tiny with a great view of a lifeboat but what got me more was the sheets were grey and thread bare as were the towels which had been around the world more than a few times and not to mention the lovely yellow and brown shower curtain!! Read more