We wanted to take a holiday to Italy or Croatia (had considered flying out) - when we found this particular cruise,only a couple of months prior to departure- it fitted some of our criteria - one factor was that it was sailing to and from Southampton - a port some 30 miles from where we live.

When we arrived and saw the size of the ship - !!!!!!!

Embarkation was a pleasure, we had a taxi from our home, was dropped off at the terminal, our luggage was taken without any fuss (We were told on our online documentation that we should check in at 1.45 p.m.) but we arrived about 11.45 a.m. There might have been one or two couples before us in the queue. In no time we had been given our Sea Passes and were boarding - handed the usual drink which in a way is cumbersome, as we were holding coats, bags etc . Read more