Yes the ship is ready for retirement, and the cabin decor is dated, but the ship is spotless in the public areas. The staff are very polite and attentive and always had smiles on their faces and couldn't do enough for you. Everywhere on the ship, hand gel machines were evident and staff at the restaurants squirted gel on hands before entry was allowed so any norovirus was down to the ignorant people who couldn't be bothered to use basic hygiene and wash hands before touching food. It was a regular thing to see staff cleaning the stair rails and hoovering the carpets at midnight.

The ship had been in dry dock for 3 weeks prior to this cruise and for the first few days there were teething problems, water not heating up, warm food etc. but when brought to their attention, staff quickly rectified the problems.

The entertainment was first class in the Jubilee Show lounge and the party band Muzzik Unlimited certainly got the crowd going where ever they played. But the resident band Status had to be seen to be believed. From the vocalist Sarah who had a lovely voice to Lee the guitarist who must be the most talented guitarist I have listened to ( and I have seen some of the biggest bands since the sixties). Read more