We had never cruised because the thought of a floating city with 1000s of people sounded like a nightmare. We liked the idea of a smaller ship and the longer times on shore really appealed to us. We also liked the ports of call.

We were pleased beyond our wildest expectations! From our cabin steward to the captain, including the hotel director, Cruise director and Assistant cruise director, the singer/dancers, the amazing gentlemen who ensured we always had a cappuccino or coke zero in hand, every single person greeted us with big smiles, kind words and excellent service. The food was heavenly. I dont metabolize sugar well, so I was thrilled to find no sugar added treats at every meal. Cheesecake. Cookies. Cream-filled pastries. Fruit-topped custards. And, of course, gelato.

We originally thought we would skip the onboard entertainment. I'm so glad we didn't! The music and dancing were lively and very well done. The entertainers seemed to love what they were doing. Read more