Cruise chosen as it was high quality and all inclusive. Pricing would encourage appropriate passengers. Being out of holiday season, very few children on the cruise. Embarkation was very efficient and finding our cabin was no difficulty, despite being our first time on board. Ship to shore transfers, including when tenders were used, were efficient and polite, with staff doing all they could to ensure safe transfer. Selection of port destinations was excellent, with a range of interesting locations with a variety of different things of interest. Valletta and Monaco were probably the highlights, with Xlendi/Gozo and Palamos probably the least interesting. The shore guides were particularly good, with a good depth of knowledge and good communication of the subject matter. The group sizes were always reasonable.

Food was always good quality and well presented. The Restaurant was particularly to our liking as the portions were good sizes and the range of options considerable. The variation of Thomas Keller dishes introduced an interesting range of alternatives. The wine selection was satisfactory, with a wine, from the standard wine list, to suite most palates. The Thomas Keller restaurant was a little too pretentious for us, but the food and service were first class. The Thomas Keller meal served in the Colonnade was rather too American for our taste, but was nevertheless tasty.

The on board entertainment was generally of a high standard, with the Entertainment Director and Seaborne Singers particularly good. The comedienne and baritone singer were average. Read more