This was our first cruise. We travelled for more than 30 hours to reach Sydney and then were told that we could not board the ship for 5 more hours. We were exhausted and just wanted to get to our cabin and crash, not spend 4 hours on a bus tour of Sydney.

The ship was very good and offered a variety of activities and dining options. The cabin service was also very good and the staff was very hospitable. The restaurants had interesting menus; the wine lists were touted, but were limited. The onboard barista was terrific as were the chef instructor and cooking classes.

The port and shore excursions were a BIG disappointment. Many were no better than field trips for elementary school children. The excursions usually included large groups of people herded onto buses for long drives with few stops and limited guidance/education regarding the activity. The shore excursions were NOT AS ADVERTISED. Read more