I, a 41-year-old mom, took active Grandma and my very active sons, 10 and 6, from Boston to Montreal on the Maasdam. We had a great time. Positives: We only ate in the Lido (one exception below) and found the food finethe same food served in the Rotterdam, but the boys could have a casual atmosphere and look at what they wanted. Grandma and my oldest ate one night in the fancy dining room and had tea. They liked the dinner, they thought the tea was just OK. We had room service breakfast on days we went early to port. We all liked that, food was highest quality of all of our meals, and we took some leftovers with us for a snack while in port however, some days we got what we ordered, some days we got something else, but we did not mind. We sampled the Lido lunch, and the poolside lunches as well. Grandma thought the mediterranean one was OK, the Asian one we both found excellent. Club HAL was great for the boys, they went every evening from 7-8:30. They luckily were with a nice group of kids, and the activities were interesting. My oldest son said the boys loved the scavenger hunt, but they annoyed other passengers with their detective work. My 6-year-old had tons of fun there also. The Quebec City bike ride shore excursion was amazing, the guide friendly, all ages, including 6-year-old, rode 16 miles to Montmorency Falls. All 4 of us enjoyed the college student guide on the Harbour Hippo in Charlottetown. Cabin staff was always nice, our steward was August, a hard working friendly man. Cabins, adjoining promenade outside, were more than adequate. Fitness room well stocked. Spa services were high quality. I can't comment on value, grandma generously paid the bill. We would all do it again.

Negatives: The very loud noises upon arriving in port early in the morning were unbelievable. On some days, we were going to get up early anyways, so it was no problem. The last day we arrived in Montreal, the shaking rattling and vibrating started at 5am. My son did not like the fact that they wouldn't let him take his hot dog off the ship when we were running to catch a shore excursion. My 6yo's comment was that the one children's tv station worked intermittently and always seemed to go out at docking time, which was then he would watch 1/2 hour before heading out for the day. Grandma's shore excursion in Quebec City was a dudtea at Chateau Frontenac was a cup of tea and a 1/2 sandwich, but guide was nice. Fitness room would not let my 10yo ride the exercise bike, and the $10 pilates class was too much lying there and not enough doing something.