It is a big job to keep over 2800 people happy on board a ship for nearly two weeks but I think they did it OK. The "Voyage of the Damned" reporting of the gastro bug was just the usual over reporting and not accurate at all.
This ship boasted restaurants, specialty restaurants as well as the buffet. We ate at the Japanese specialty restaurant and it was a nice experience. The buffet was poorly organised, had long queues and encouraged people to pile food so they didn't have to come back and queue again. The restaurants were the pick. They all had the same menu which changed each evening and as long as you were a seafood fan, you were well catered for.
There were plenty of swimming pools, with and without kids. The usual entertainment you have on cruise ships plus art auctions (I really don't understand why you would think of buying a painting on a cruise but that must just be me)
The highlight of this ship is its Japanese baths. Nude and segregated bathing was timetabled for the morning and evening. You could wear your cossies during the day if you were shy. It was an excellent experience.
We travelled around New Zealand in a clockwise direction and the most spectacular scenery was in Fiordland (I can now appreciate Slartibartfast's work) read more