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Most people write their reviews based on whether they had a "grand" time or a "miserable" time--both emotional responses that are not much help to someone trying to find out more than just the marketing copy you get in cruise brochures. When I write reviews, I try to give a good overview of the ship and its services. Cleanliness, responsiveness to requests, how problems are resolved, and value for the dollar are all criteria I use. I also try to give a heads up when I sense that a cruise line's offerings might not fall into the general standard--for example, smaller cabins on older ships vs. roomier cabins on newer ships. I include an "I didn't expect that" section--for both bad and good things. However, I still feel that the main ingredient in having a "grand" cruise is the passenger and how he or she responds to life. If you are a negative person, you'll fall on any problem, large or small, and enlarge it. If you have a postive outlook, you may tend to gush more than is necessary. I aim for a balance. Every cruise I've been on has had its "issues," but they tend to be more than balanced out by the positives.