Waterfront Restaurant offered some of the worst food at dinner that it has ever been my misfortune to attempt to eat. The cheapest possible cuts of meat, dry, tough and never cooked to order. Vegetables that were served cold and tasteless. Illustrating this disaster: one evening 5 of the 9 people on our table requested medium rare beef wellington cooked, it was served well-done sent back and returned again cremated. Three times this happened each time with the same result. Naturally, the Restaurant Manager was always noticeable by his absence, probably too embarrassed to face the diners with their complaints. No soup spoons, or steak knives were available. The dinner buffet was just as bad, It reminded me of the worst kind of rationed school dinners in the late 1940's.Three types of wafer thin cold meat remained constant throughout the cruise. Thankfully the Grill was excellent, selections cooked to perfection and served by smiling waiting staff, well worth the extra money.

Breakfast fine, drinks packages represented excellent value for money, comfortable cabins, entertainment in lounges somewhat childish and unnecessarily loud, waiters and cabin steward provided outstanding service. Formal nights now need a rethink as a great number of passengers did not bother, many men in shorts and sweaters were still allowed in the main dining areas.

It appears obvious that, since my last cruise on Columbus 12 months previously, cutbacks have been made, both in quality food and staffing levels. It is a great pity because Cruise & Maritime are one of the very few cruise lines that encourage solo passengers by offering reasonable single supplements. However, along with many others I spoke to during the cruise the company has lost our custom.