I enjoyed this cruise very much. The ship is dated and definitely needs some work. What really makes this cruise special is the staff. We had the best steward (Sanjay). We got to know some of the musicians. The cruise fun staff are really friendly and make the events a lot of fun. The waiters and bartenders work really hard and do an excellent job of taking care of everyone.
We didn't purchase any excursions which wound up being the best plan. Instead we took advantage of the shuttle buses and the red hop on/off buses. This worked especially well in Malaga. The ticket price included admission to so many things! I went to the Picasso museum and saw a real Flamenco performance and got round trip transportation into town for $29. Unbeatable! In Madeira, they only take cash and it has to be Euro so be prepared.
The buffet food needs improvement. We dined at all of the other restaurants. The french and Italian restaurants were the standout winners. We also especially love the Teppanyaki experience. The chef, Warren, was delightful!