Firstly, let me say I am SO glad I did not let the negative reviews I read here prevent me from booking this cruise! I have just returned from an 8 night South Pacific cruise with my husband and two children, aged 15 and 10. Yes, I have cruised before - on a P&O ship, so am able to judge this one comparatively. All of us had an amazing time and can't speak highly enough of the staff who made it such an amazing experience. The embarking process in Sydney was very smooth - no mean feat getting 2,600 people on-board! From the moment we stepped into the terminal until the moment we left we felt important and valued. Of the literally hundreds of staff on the ship we had dealings with there were only 2 who weren't as friendly as the others and who weren't as committed to making the guest experience so amazing. The theme is 'fun for all and all for fun' and you see this in all that they do. The range of activities available for guests is impressive - you can choose to be busy all the time or to do absolutely nothing! Both of my children enjoyed the activities offered in their respective kids' clubs although some of the activities for the 9-11 year old group seemed a bit young and did not interest my son. The 02 program for 15-17 year olds was amazing, resulting in us hardly seeing my 15 year old! I am quite fussy about my food, and I found it quite good. Bottom line is, they are feeding 2,600 people at a time! I read reviews about cold food - ours was never cold, or even close. Sometimes the selections were more appealing than others, but that will always be the case. The wait staff in the restaurant were amazing - always referring to us by name and being extremely attentive. The entertainment in the dining room each night is good fun! The wait staff dance and sing and encourage all diners to participate - if this is not your thing, either don't get up or choose another cruise line - simple!!

Our cabin steward was the best! Our room was always spotless and nothing was too much for him. He was not intrusive by any means but was always available. The towel animals were a highlight upon return to our cabin each evening!! My husband and I did the 'Behind the fun' tour on the second last day which was great! Almost 3 ours of walking the ships and seeing all the usually unseen areas such as the kitchens, laundry, engine control room and the bridge - where we met the Captain! This is $95 each but well worth it. You must book as soon as you board or it will be sold out. Overall, we loved it - even more than the P&O cruise we had done previously. The water slides and kids' pool areas were excellent. If you do not want to go on a cruise with lots of families, and therefore children, then don't go on this ship! We found it a lot of fun and would recommend it!