We've just returned from an Iberian Cruise on Fred Olsen's Black Watch and had a brilliant time apart from choppy seas on the Bay of Biscay. Everyone on the ship was so friendly especially the captain who spoke to you every time you met him. There was a bottle of champagne and a big basket of fruit in the cabin when we went in and the maid kept it spotless. The waiter was really good we had quick service and nothing was too much trouble for him. There was a good selection of food every day and there was always something you liked. The entertainment wasn't so good as it was on the Balmoral but maybe it's because the Black Watch is a smaller ship.

We originally booked a superior outside cabin on the 5th deck but were given a superior balcony suite on the 9th deck with two bedrooms, settee, easy chair and fridge so we were quite happy sitting on the balcony in the sun! We were talking to a couple who only paid £299 for the ten day trip and were in an outside cabin on the 5th deck so it's maybe worth waiting until the last minute to book. They told us they'd left their car at a house in Southampton for £42 apparently there's a site on the internet 'Park your car here' or something like that which is much cheaper than parking at the port. We travelled down the day before and stayed the night at the Days Inn on the Rownham Services, left our car there free and got a taxi to and from Southampton which worked out cheaper than leaving the car at the port.

We were so lucky as two P & O ships which went at the same time as us had the norovirus but no-one on our ship had it.