NOW and history means nothing when the toilet leaks and the air conditioning doesn't work. I never found anything elegant about hearing your neighbors snore through paper thin walls. When I go on a cruise, I want a modern ship that has the big show rooms, movie theaters and casinos. I like the Vegas-style reviews that can't be performed on a small ship. Big ships have a variety of lounges to choose from and are able to provide more activities and better facilities and more varieties of entertainment.
New ships deliver an abundance of hot water at a good amount of pressure in a modern bathroom.
I like picture windows instead of portholes and elevators and telephones that work. Hallways that are wide enough so you can pass a fellow passenger without turning sideways are nice, as well as eating off place settings that have not been dulled by 20 years of handling. I get a kick out of interactive television systems and I like the security of having a safe in my cabin. But then, that is me and my preferences. Your mileage may vary.