If you expect a typical cruise ship then forget it. No red carpet, no cinemas no swimming pool. BUT you get an experience of a lifetime. You are the 1910's explorer in a ship, we went on the MS Richard With, which has the high Savoy Hotel standards and decorations. The staff amazing and responded to your smile and interest. The food amazing. OK the evening meal was a pre set 3 course high standard quality sit down served meal with those smaller portions but you could over eat at lunchtime to counter this meal. If part of this meal didn't suit then a replacement was produced. If you find fault with these excellent conditions then why did you come on this cruise in the first case. It is an exploration boat; it is a working boat serving the many ports on Norway's coast. The trips covered a large range of activities and like the alcohol slightly on the pricey side BUT prices are higher in Norway anyway. This also applies to the onshore prices where the standard of living is higher than in GB. For instance the duty free prices in Bergen Airport are dearer than buying from Tesco back in Blighty. The weather cannot be guaranteed to be perfect which you have to accept - we had blue skies and saw the Northern Lights on 7 nights! Can't rate this 12 days 'cruise' high enough! Staff excellent who put themselves out to help you on every occasion! Just go for it with an open positive mind and blow your mind with sights, sounds, clarity of the scenery, food, companionship experiences of a lifetime. Can't rate this trip high enough and big tick on my bucket list! Mr Aitch