On the whole, our cruise from Montreal to Portland, Maine in September and early October, 2014 was everything that could be expected. The ship's size, including passenger capacity, was just right for a river cruise. Other than one night in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the ship handled the turbulence of the water with ease. The cabin was more spacious than some that we have experienced, the food was served in smaller quantities but was, for the most part, quite good. The chef does need to work on the quality of the soups and remember that the gravy goes over the biscuits and not the other way around! The daily happy hours had plentiful appetizers and ample wine. The crew of the ship was good ... the dining staff gave us considerable personal attention and remembered our particular tastes and preferences. The cabin steward was a bit hard to find at times but kept the cabin clean; the complimentary laundry service was a big plus. As a smaller ship, the activities on board ship were limited. The ambience of the lounge with spectacular views of the shoreline made for good reading times, though. Embarkation was a bit ragged but that was due to the fog-induced late arrival of the Pearl Mist into Montreal. Disembarkation was very well managed, much more so than on some of our other cruise experiences.

The shore excursions were good for the most part. We particularly enjoyed Quebec City which even in the fog and drizzle is spectacular in his sights. Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island were a real plus as we visited the home of Anne of Green Gables. The train and boat trip on the Gaspee and to Perce were most memorable. The Madeleine Islands were a special treat with the quaint houses, the tour of the sand museum and shop and all. Eastport is a delightful and quaint New England village and our point of entry back to the U.S. Bar Harbor and the excursion to Acadia National Park was a terrific end to the trip. Portland, Maine is a well-kept secret as a port of disembarkation and has much to offer for those who extend their cruise a day or two. There were some stops along the river that ought to be reconsidered because they had little to offer ... Saguenay was saved by a marvelous theatrical production; the fall color heading downriver and up the fjord was spectacular but our timing was such that we missed the whales at the mouth of the Saguenay River. Sept. Iles had little to offer. Baie Comeau was a cute community but alas we were there on a Sunday morning when most venues were closed. The tender arrangements for Bar Harbor (weather prevented us from going to Lunenburg) need to be re-thought. The pricing for the cruise was reasonable and the all inclusive nature of the ticket was a real positive. At the very personal level, we appreciated the many ways in which the ship's crew assisted the mobility of my wife through a loaned wheelchair which could readily be put on the bus for excursions or made available for private "walks" in the smaller communities. Were we to engage in another river cruise, the Pearl Mist would certainly get our consideration.