When asked "why did I choose this ship", I would have to say the value of the cruise and the itinerary. I was on this ship about 20 years ago when it was called the Nordic Empress and now since the ship was totally refurbished it's just as wonderful as before, and better! Our servers in the "My Time" dining room were the best ever! This is the first cruise that we couldn't stop raving about them!! The brunch on the third day was the best ever too! I have never seen anything quite so delicious! The entertainers, singers and dancers were excellent as well. The only disappointment was that our room steward never made us any towel animals or characters when we came back to the cabin after dinner. That was very surprising since we do cruise quite frequently! However, if you're looking for a relaxing & enjoyable cruise, this is the one for you too!