Ambience Review
Rating by category
Additional details
The cruise had been revised to Grand Mediterranean before we booked. The Black Sea was inaccessible because of the war in Ukraine.
We booked this for the itinerary and didn't know what to expect for such a reasonable price. We had a contingency plan to fly home from Rome if we really didn't like it. We were pleasantly surprised and it exceeded all expectations.
There is a nice atmosphere on board. The public areas are welcoming and comfortable and offered a variety of bars and lounges. The ship doesn't really show it's age. The Observatory Lounge and the Pub were too noisy for my taste but that's part of the variety and the music is live. There are plenty of peaceful options whether you want a quiet corner or a piano and violin duo.
Cabin Review
Our cabin on Deck 11 was fine. Spacious and without upper bunks; you move around and pass each other easily. Plenty of storage and hanging space, tucked out of sight, and the suitcases easily fitted under the bed. The beds and pillows were very comfortable, we started with twins which we pushed together and our cabin steward added a topper. The cabin decor is dated, the lighting is a bit yellow, but all is in good repair. Good bedside lights so you can read without disturbing your partner. The bathroom is clean and neat. I dislike shower curtains, however the cubicle is large enough for it not to be a problem. You might want to take your own soap, the soap provided smells awful.
The TV service in cabins could be improved. It's a small flat screen. There is no bow cam channel; when it's useful in an inside cabin to know when it's light! There are film channels on a loop with no schedule and poor-quality video. Only the news channels work properly.
We had some rough weather and this midship cabin didn't suffer the same movement other passengers commented on.