We chose this cruise as our good friends wanted to take this trip - it had been recommended to them by others - but they backed out. We knew nothing about cruises, having never been on one - except the perception that you had either the choice of: 1. Travelling with 10 million children dressed up as characters from movies; 2. Travelling with the equivalent of a floating frat party; or 3. Spending a considerable amount of time makking sure you were dressed 'suitably' for your fellow passengers.

We both needed a break, it was our 40th wedding anniversary and we decided to take a chance. After all, we both loved the cities of embarcation and departure -Dublin and Barcelona - if the ship experience was bad, we could stay in our cabin, have room service and read and watch movies.

The ship experience was amazing! We arrived by cab at the port, our suitcases were collected, we immediately went aboard and fifteen minutes later we were sitting outside, waiting for wine and fire-baked pizzas. We bacame so relaxed over the next few days that one time we got on the elevator and after about 90 seconds, we looked at each other noting that neither of us needed to push a floor button. Read more