Ok, so we have never been on a cruise. Before deciding to jump in and book a really expensive one for our wedding anniversary, we thought that we would try a 'cheaper' short cruise. This looked just the ticket. We knew from reviews roughly what to expect. An older ship, a bit tired and supposedly noisy. Well, yes it is a bit tired but apart from an occasional place and time, little noise was experienced. By way of any compensation was the food and the staff. Good quality fayre with a really friendly crew. The after dinner entertainment was a bit limited and we expected a disco of some sort, but this wasn't until 11.30 and when you are up and out on a tour early the next morning, this is a bit silly. Overall, a good learning curve. This ship has one more year so if you like a friendly but older ship, give it a try.