We sailed on the Insignia for a 23 day cruise from Montreal to Southampton. Although the ship was said to be recently refurbished, much of it still needed to be updated. The TV in our stateroom was small and the picture was awful. The stateroom was average and much like any other balcony stateroom on an older ship. However, the bed was great.

The food in the specialty restaurants was very good, and we ate in each 3 times. The offering in the dining room was very similar to other cruises, perhaps a little more limited. We felt the buffet was very redundant and soon lost it's appeal. The service was ok, but not even close to exceptional. It seemed that the staff was more focused on their schedule than on the needs or desires of the passengers. They were anxious to clear your table and set it for the next diner. Dining and bar venues were only opened during specific times and if you missed it, the only other option was usually room service, which was hit or miss. Most ships have the buffet or snack bar open most of the time, but not on the Insignia. The Grill which served hamburgers and hot dogs closed at 4 pm and after that it was cookies until dinner. Again, this option offered the same choices day in and day out.

On sea days it was difficult to find somewhere to play games, as the fan tail, the buffet and all the restaurants were always set for the next meal. The stern of the ship was the only outdoor area with tables and chairs except for a very few in the pool area. Read more