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Reviewed by:  Mark and Sharon Manley
# previous cruises: 3
Date of Trip: August 24, 2002
Itinerary: Mediterranean

Forget any negative reviews you have read. This is a really nice ship. The service was fantastic. The food was fantastic. We have been on 3 cruises - this was the best.

The ship is very clean and the entertainment was very good. This is a balanced review - some small criticisms appear below - overall though, family of 4 had great holiday

Very clean and well presented. 6 Decks, never once struggled for a sun bed even when cruising all day at sea in fantastic weather. Wooden decks were quaint and spotless.

Go straight from your evening meal to the lounges to get good seats for the entertainment - lounges a little on the small side.

Quality and quantity of food was fabulous. The spectacular presentation of feasts at 11.30pm chocolate feasts, fruit feasts etc where food was all carved into flowers etc was beautiful and delicious.

The waiters are mainly Filipino and were exceptionally friendly throughout. First class service for less than first class prices.

We had an inside cabin on Main deck for a family of 4. Sure, it was smallish. We expected it to be - its a ship not a 5star hotel. If you want space don't cruise - or pay through the nose for a cabin you will use between midnight and 7am. There is too much to do or see to ever be in the cabin in the daytime. The cabins are cleaned more than twice per day. They were spotless. The bathroom was bigger than we expected having read some of the reviews on this site. The shower is a small area - but more than adequate unless you are over 6 feet high. At night it was noisy sometimes and each morning when the sun loungers are being set out at 6.30am they are thrown into place by the crew - it woke us a few times. When you book make sure you don't get a cabin close to the sunbathing areas

Very good shows. Jon Courtney (pianist and comedian) was fabulous. Malcolm (singer) superb and the resident dance and singing cast were very very good - and I am an entertainer myself. The shows were well worth seeing and there was something for everyone. The lounges get packed so get a seat early.

Bizerte was dirty - isn't all of Tunisia? - but fun. The market is worth going to for the experience. The people are friendly. Its not the hell hole people make it out to be - but the worst port on the trip - yes.

Our main gripe about the trip is that Chivittevechia and Livorno are NOT close to Rome and Florence. The excursions cost a fortune ( over #200 for a family of 4 to go to Rome). You can do your own thing - its much cheaper and the trains are ok - but Rome and Florence are more than 1 hour journey from the boat so you feel like you spent 2 hours out of 8 on the train and seeing the sights of these majestic cities (and they were beautiful) is hurried. Check the return train times as well - these ports are small towns - not many trains to and from. Get off the boat as early as possible to maximize the time.

At Villefranche (very pretty) get the train to Monaco - only takes 15 mins. Fabulous place.

Suprisingly young passengers. Not the old fogey bunch you usually get. Not millions of kids (although we had ours - 2 girls 10 and 11).

We are not the "meet lots of people on holiday" type - but we did meet some very nice people some of whom we will keep in touch with. The staff in the restaurant were truly unforgettable - excellent.