From beginning to end, this was the trip of a lifetime! Excellent accommodations and facilities and stateroom on the ship. Every single crew member, from captain to chef to concierge to housekeeper, was incredibly welcoming and helpful and beyond friendly. The itinerary was well planned and clearly communicated on a daily basis, so we always knew what to look forward to. Every single excursion, whether included or optional, was excellent and every guide was informative and helpful and more than willing to answer any question (that goes for all the crew members as well). The beautiful scenery we enjoyed, the fascinating history we learned, and the wonderful people people we met, will remain in our memories for a very, very, long time. We traveled with two other couples we’ve known for many years and as the trip neared its end we agreed it had been an incredible experience and we should start planning our next cruise ASAP. If there weren’t so many other places to see, we’d do it all over again!

The staff, especially the program director Ivan, were terrific at making all our gatherings fun, even if they were just for sharing information about the next day's activities. We had an amazing time in the lounge the night of the international music quiz. Danced the night away, and even the staff seemed honestly impressed with the energy of the passengers - they made us feel very special that night, as they did every moment of the cruise.