Collectively, my wife and I have been on over 40 cruises and this was our favorite. The Paul Gauguin's itinerary - Society and Cook Islands - was arguably a bit better (hey, we're talking the South Seas!), but for overall service, food, layout and ambiance, the Viking Sea wins.

The ship itself is a dream. It's beautiful - outside and in. The clean lines and sharp bow make it a very pretty ship, but it's the interior decore and layout that are the real winners. At times the Nordic look can be somewhat austere, but I'm a fan of the uncluttered look and functionality of same. The ship was full and at no time - even on the single sea day - did we ever feel crowded or that there wasn't a nook you could escape to.

The cabin was well-appointed (we had a deluxe veranda) with a ton of electrical connections and USB ports. Could have used more drawer space, but this was countered with a very large closet, so it was a wash. Bathroom was big and bright with a lot of storage. More ventilation would have been a plus; it could get close and stuffy with the door closed and the floor heating on. Read more