This was our first cruise. We didn't know what to expect. We'd seen all of the ads on TV, so our expectations were high.
I must say, absolutely everything was perfect. Every detail was carefully thought through, from the moment we embarked until the moment we disembarked. The boat was practically brand new. The staff was very attentive-- they truly wanted this to be your best cruising experience ever, and went out of their way to make it happen.
The food was excellent, and with several options for your entree, there was always something that would please every palate. The "house" wines, complimentary with lunch and dinner, were good quality. (We were in the wine business, so we know the difference between cheap wine vs. good wine.) The breakfast buffet had everything you could want, including yogurt made right on board, made-to-order omelets and eggs benedict.
We used our frequent flyer miles for this trip. That meant that the time frame limited which cruise we could take. This cruise fit perfectly in the time frame, but all that was left for cabins was the standard. This cabin had a portal window, about 2 feet high, at eye-level. At first, I thought this might bother us. But, we spent so little time in our cabin, I did not even once regret that we did not have a balcony in our cabin. Actually, on future cruises, (and we will do more with Viking), I would choose a lower cabin again. I'd rather spend the additional dollars elsewhere on my trip.