I just returned from a seven day cruise aboard the Maasdam. We boarded in Montreal and disembarked in Boston. The highlight of this trip is the itinerary, so I'll begin there.
Montreal: We (mom, dad, and two of our children)flew to Montreal the day before the cruise. We stayed at the Springhill Suites by Marriot. It was a $40 cab ride from the airport. Included in the price was a good breakfast. We chose this hotel as we could fit all four of us in the one room. Had we been travelling without children, I would definitely choose one of the independent hoteliers. We ate dinner at one of the many outdoor patios and then visited Notre Dame Basilica. It may be cheaper to stay at the airport, but Old Montreal/Vieux Montreal is fantastic and I'd definitely recommend that you stay there for at least a day before embarking. We walked for miles along the waterfront the morning of the cruise.
Quebec City: Wow! What a place. I printed up Tom's port guide before leaving home and we followed parts of it. I printed his guides for all of the other ports of call too. This city is amazing. You could easily spend three or four days here. We walked the entire day and wished we could have had more time there. There are amazing restaurants, great artisans, etc. Perfection.