I have cruised with Cunard and other similar companies before but I choose this specific cruise for its dates, convenience and pricing. The itinerary was not new to me and I embarked with mixed feelings about the voyage. I strongly feel Cunard's ships offer very elegant surroundings, ships that feel like ships unadorned with gimmicky features and, of course, excellent service. I like the fact that the dress code is stricter and smart wear is encouraged in the evenings but it is in no way stuffy or superior, everyone is very friendly and relaxed. There are a few areas solely for Queen's Grill passengers but I have never been aware of these or felt excluded as all the main areas and facilities of the ship are open to everyone. I am pleased that fellow passengers respect the standard Cunard offers and behave accordingly so that, for example, sitting in one of the bars sipping a cocktail and chatting or listening to live background music is uninterrupted by noisy behaviour. There is plenty of opportunity for fun and more informal surroundings in the Golden Lion pub and deck parties, etc. I particularly love the Queens Room ballroom as it is spacious with a superb dance floor and a big attraction to anyone interested in ballroom dancing which is held there every evening. There are dance hosts, too, for anyone travelling solo as I do. I found all the evening entertainment in the theatre to be excellent and also enjoyed the lectures on sea days. The itinerary was similar to other ships but mostly enjoyable, especially as we had sunny and warm conditions for most of our ports which felt like a bonus in November! Another bonus was that most of the ports were easy to get around independently, apart from visiting Seville, and it was well worth booking the coach transfer there. The embarkation and disembarkation were extremely efficient and the fastest I have ever experienced.