First time cruiser with Oceania. We were not disappointed. The service and food reminded me of when I first starting taking cruises. We enjoyed being on a smaller ship and the lack of climbing walls, skating rinks, etc. It was pure bliss being on the pool deck and not having children running up and down, screaming as they splashed each other.

The main dining room was not well populated for lunch and breakfast. I guess that was people were either off on tours or in a hurry to catch a tour. We found it quite relaxing to eat there when we were not in a rush to see the port. The Terrace Cafe was great if you wanted to eat in a hurry or simply wanted to be up on deck. Loved the sushi and sashimi. Breakfast omelets were cooked perfectly every time we had one. I was not impressed though with the pancakes or French Toast. Our favourite restaurants were the Red Ginger and Jacques.

We had Toulon substituted for Marseille at the last minute due to a strike. The cruise director did a terrific job of giving information so that those not an organized tour could enjoy the port. The market was fascinating to walk through. We did ship tours and private tours and since we have done both now know that we will book our own private tours from here on in. The private tours allowed enough time to take pictures and you did not feel as if you were being herded around like a flock of sheep. Read more