Background We are a couple aged 39 and 41; our children are now old enough to holiday with their friends. This was our 3rd cruise having previously sailed the Caribbean with Carnival and Mexico with Princess. Like the reviewer before we like a bargain, as we take between 3 and 4 holidays a year, usually hotels or apartments in Europe or the USA booked through the internet. We thoroughly enjoyed our last 2 cruises and were really looking forward to this one.

We had 3 days in Venice pre-cruise and stayed in the Hotel Mary in Campalto. This was a lovely hotel about 15 minutes bus journey from the centre of Venice, and much cheaper than hotels in Venice. The staff were very friendly and helpful and breakfast was plentiful. Venice is beautiful. We had been there before for a day trip from Croatia, so it was great to return and explore for 3 days, it is however a very expensive trip but well worthwhile. At the Hotel Mary, we bumped into 3 other couples who were going on the cruise and arranged to share a taxi; this was great for a trouble-free transfer to the ship. We arrived at the port around 11.30 and we were in our cabin for about 12.30, check-in was smooth and organized.

Ship Info We had paid for a guaranteed inside cabin, but we ended up with an outside with large porthole blocked by a lifeboat, which was nice to get some natural light, the cabin was well set out and always kept spotless by our cabin steward. The ship itself is absolutely beautiful and clean. The lounges were great and there is plenty of comfortable seating everywhere. There is plenty of choice between the sports bar, ice cream parlour on deck and they even have a chocolate bar. The shops on board were very small and don't stock a great range of goods. The buffet was extensive and food was very good, but it was difficult to get a seat and we ended up waiting to eat lunch at 3.30 as it was the only time you could be guaranteed a seat. Some other people online mentioned the milk, but as far as we could tell the milk was fine, definitely not goats. Dinner was great with a choice of 6 courses there was something for everyone. We had bought a wine package which included 7 bottles of water, but you would be as cheap to buy wine separately and pick the ones you like and opt for a jug of iced water with your meal. We opted for the 9pm sitting which was jam-packed and very,very noisy, we struggled at times to converse with others at the table because you had to constantly shout to be heard. Read more