My wife and I are cruise-a-holics. we have been on some 20 or more cruises and taken a variety of cruise ships. Now, we choose cruises based on the itinerary because we love to visit places we have never seen before. This cruise, however, my wife booked and informed that it will be unlike the others in that it is considered a foodie cruise and is more upscale than all the others cruises. So, I was looking forward to this like a hungry hippo. :)

What I LOVED about the cruise? Being served- more hygienic; The ports of call-Germany where I had 2 AMAZING donors at the kebab shop in the middle of the town..YUM; The room, very nice with a tub and a shower; Our steward was a nice, Jamaican man, Edwin. Very nice man. Tea time (pretentious snacks, but I was hungry..I would not buy..yucky..nice environment and I enjoyed the teas); Specialty restaurants (though I had better steaks on a Carnival with a specialty restaurant, yes, a Carnival cruise! we took it many moons ago. It is the standard by which I measure all other specialty restaurant meals..but the meals were okay..nothing blew me away or came close to doing that); The weight room and exercise classes with Carlos ROCKED; The food was warm..unlike on a Norwegian cruise we took sometime ago; Easy to find a table; Not crowded; Wait staff in the dinning cafe really attentive.

What I HATED about the cruise? The internet..TERRIBLE, it does not work properly. Slow as molasses, if not slower. You wont be able to keep in touch with your office via that medium. So, forget it! The band. Oh, my goodness! It was awful. I thought I was in an episode of Ground Hog Day. They played the same old, tired songs every night! I wish they had a d.j. Once, the crew in the dance club turned out the lights and stopped the music while my wife and I were in the middle of a dance on the dance floor! Very rude. It was 10:30 p.m.! Rudest and most disrespectful thing I have ever encountered on a cruise ship by Staff members in my 20 or more cruises! I guess they wanted to go party in their cabin. There were other guests present too! They never approached us or the others and apologize. I guess, they figured old folks ought to retire to bed at 10:30 pm. We are in our early 50s! After I complained the following morning, the Bar supervisor was very apologetic and said it should not have happened as the Staff were night-shifters who should have known better. he was very nice. I liked the guy. The ship goes dead as soon as the band quits. So, don't expect a nightlife on this cruise or late night snacks. Fuhgettabouit! :) I detested the fact that the folks on this cruise, the old men, kept peeing on the floor. Disgusting. They literally peed on the floor and it had to have been intentional. Never experienced that on any other cruise, though i would have expected that sort of behavior on some of the others I cruised on. When you get back tired and hungry after your tour, do NOT expect there to be food ANYWHERE, unless it is tea time and you can get some pretentious, finger snacks. Seriously, I HOARDED food in our room drawer! Yes, HOARDED food so we would have something to eat upon our return from our tours. Ugh...Made me crazy because this was supposed to be a "foodie" cruise. This cruise was not a "foodie" cruise at all. NO WAY. The shows? LAUGHABLE. They were SOOOOO BAAAAADDDDD. Honestly, the WORSE I have EVER seen on any cruise. My wife and I would go in there for a few mins to laugh as the acts were so TERRIBLE! The stores only had t-shirts for $77 or more. Yes, I understand that this cruise caters to a pretentious set (practically everything about this cruise screamed pretentious), but come on now. Ree dicku lous! This cruise was NOT worth the price. If you are young at heart with a few dollars in your pocket, this ship is not for you. If you are an old, fuddy-duddy,pretentious, ascot wearing sort with a penchant to buy overpriced goods, then this ship will be right up your alley. It sure wasn't up mine. :)