I picked the cruise for the itinerary and have learned the hard way the ship is much more important than where you're going. This is my 7th cruise with 6 cruise lines, so I have a basis for comparison

The ship is 27 years old and feels like it. The crew spoke limited English and many seemed to hate their jobs. There is no heat in the cabins, and although I traveled in the summer it got down to 10 degrees at night. I asked what they do in cold climates and was told "we don't travel to cold climates".

The food is horrible and there is no buffet. Very few vegetarian options and, incredibly, all the food is so bland that most of it tastes the same, regardless of what it is. Read more