Our first experience on an upmarket line was very interesting.
The cabin (sorry, suite!) was very spacious, comfortable and luxurios, especially the walk-in wardrobe and excellent high-powered shower.
The bed and furnishings were very comfortable.
Little touches like the cushions on the balcony chairs being put out and brought in each day by the excellent steward Savio, and the doorbell (!) when the laundry or breakfast was delivered were nice luxuries.
Compass Rose, the main dining room was nicely set out so that early arrivals requiring a rtable for two usually got a window seat with a good view of progress.
The food was very good, although the ‘always available’ dishes on the left hand page of the menu were usually enough to suit our tastes.
The desserts were very nice, if a little fancy and dainty.
The lounge bars were quite small and sometimes overcrowded.
The show lounge was really comfortable with plenty of room in each row for the waiters to bring drinks without trampling on your feet, unlike the theatres on the bigger ships.
Service was very friendly in the cabin, in the bars and in the Horizon cafeteria, where a table was always found for us.
The Prime 7 steak house afforded us a lovely view of Amsterdam as we sailed out and the filet mignon was very tasty, if a little chewy at the end.
We only visited once, although it was very popular.
On excursions, it was pleasant to have a large coach about half full so there was no rush for getting a good seat.
In summary, this itinerary from Amsterdam to St.
Malo, starting and finishing in Southampton, was probably not the best choice as it was all go with no days at sea to relax but it was a very pleasabt cruise which we enjoyed.
Would we do it again? Not sure that the extra comfort and luxuries were worth the extra cost we paid over a ‘run of the mill’ cruise line but good to have tried and enjoyed.