We spent the first week on board MV Ocean Paradise, with about 30 other guests (the ship was only a third full).
The food was good, but repetitive, mostly serve yourself, buffet style. For example, there was really tasty fish curry and rice on the menu at every meal (even breakfast). Well, this is the Maldives. Someone mentioned to the Skipper that we'd like a bit more variety, so the next evening meal we had four different kinds of fish curry, with four different kinds of rice!
The open air bar (on the top deck) was free (well, all-inclusive) until 11pm. The (Sri Lankan) barman was a great character. He quickly learnt all our names and drink preferences, often starting to build your favoured cocktail as soon as he spotted you climbing the steps onto the deck. Most people spent most of their time around this bar, reading, sun-bathing, keeping their fluid levels topped up.
Watch out for the sun (I sound like Patrick Moore). The very first day they took us all for a day to an uninhabited island (from where the picture above was taken). Fabulous island - fantastic beach, nice barbecue lunch, great snorkelling, but not surprisingly everyone went bright pink and had to avoid the sun for several days. This trip would have been better scheduled later in the week.
Two black marks against the ship - firstly, there was no shade at all on the sun-deck - it's a lot more comfortable to sit in the shade, and you still go brown. Secondly, we were descended upon by the Maldivean Minister of Tourism, with a huge pleasure yacht and retinue of family and advisers. Understandably, the skipper was anxious to please him, and show him how well the ship was catering for tourism. So for four days the entire cruise seemed to revolve around MoT, rather than the paying guests. Itineraries were arbitrarily changed at the last minute, and we paying guests often felt that we were exhibits in a circus. I wish to put it on record that I saw MoT have an alcoholic drink - there, hope that gets him into trouble.
The ship had its own well equipped on-board dive centre, which I used four times (to Shark Tilla (near Elaidhoo), Elaidhoo House Reef, Malhous Tilla (near Feridhoo) and Maaya Tilla (near Maayafushi). The last was the best - loads of sharks, a turtle, huge tuna, great reef top. Thanks to Ali, Hassan and Sechiko in the centre!