We went on this cruise at the instigation of long-distance friends who had been with Scenic before. This was a chance to meet up again and to visit a country and cities that we'd never seen but always had a fascination for!

We were certainly not disappointed, either with the ship or the shore excursions. Both Moscow and St Petersburg more than met our expectations (in fact, Moscow was a real eye-opener) and the places visited en-route offered plenty of interest. The ship was comfortable, although we felt that the top deck could have made more welcoming. Our cabin was also very comfortable and beautifully clean every day. Our only (objective) criticism was that the balcony furniture was functional rather than comfortable.

The high point of the cruise was the staff who, without exception, were all wonderful and made everyone feel special. We were particularly impressed with the cruise directors and local guides. The on-board singer and pianist were excellent-the pianist particularly so-and the 'home-made' entertainment led by the cruise directors made for great cameraderie amongst the guests. The service, food and drink were of a high standard throughout. All in all, a great success and a lovely holiday!