We chose it because we had never been on an expensive luxury cruise before and wanted to treat ourselves. We liked that we could relax and be served at each meal and not have to deal with buffet lines. I was picturing outstanding gourmet meals in a lovely dining room with creative menus and desserts. Instead what we got at each meal was diner food. For instance when offered a seafood salad with shrimp/scallops etc...the shrimp was the size of your finger nail and the scallops were half of that size. Shrimp almost always had the same rub all over it. Here we were outside of the Quebec City at sailing time, a city with great French bread and every meal the breads were hard rolls and tasteless. They need to change their bread vendor asap! Now most of the folks on this cruise were in their 70's and above and many felt the food was good or they were being polite as we were, but believe me when I say it was not. Most of the meals were not bad but it was at best average. We found it odd that they asked you if you wanted half portions. If you asked for a half portion of salad or pasta it was about 1/2 to 3/4 cup. The chef did have some skills but the first day our chicken lunch was hard and my husband's hamburger was dry and tough. On the first night we ordered mushroom soup and it was virtually tasteless, I mean hardly any salt. I tried 3 more soups before giving up on the soups, roasted red pepper (no flavor), ham and pea soup (watered down to the point of being PALE green little taste and no ham) and French onion (3 tiny strips of onion in it and tasted like it came from a very salty can). All of the cake deserts were not as good as a Safeway store bought and were often dry. The only desert that was outstanding was peach cobbler and it was only offered once. Almost every dessert was served with the same creme anglais and a dollop of whipped cream. The breakfasts were great however and the servers were excellent. No tablecloths at breakfast or lunch, only dinner. We missed 3 ports due to weather but that is not the cruise line's fault. Still they said we could not go to Halifax due to a storm yet we sailed right by it to the next city. They may have lost their port. Forget about going to Isle de Madeline because the last two cruises didn't get to dock there and neither did we. The rooms were large but sparse and simple like a Motel 6, bare bones. Entertainment was the same every night but one, two guys playing their guitars and singing, 60's night, 70's night, Elvis night, you get it. Really hokey. Adriana the cruise director was a doll. We enjoyed our tour of the bridge and think the Captain and his crew were very capable. The lectures were very interesting. There was no fitness center or spa to get a massage. The only two treadmills were outside on a side deck and it was too cold to use them. They need to replace the carpet and furniture, pictures etc to update this cruise ship. I felt like a kid at a bad summer camp and just wanted to go home. I guess if we had not paid so much for the cruise and it were half the cost I would not be so upset about it but this cruise was not at all a good value for the money they charged.