We had wanted to do a Viking river cruise and also Russia was definitely somewhere we wanted to see. So when the offer came through the post for a significant discount we jumped at it.

We hadn't travelled with Viking before but everything we read about them beforehand was good and that certainly proved to be the case. We can't fault the organisation of Viking - everything ran like clockwork and we were always well informed. The staff onboard were wonderful - very attentive and friendly. Nothing felt like too much trouble. The food was excellent and a very high standard. The only problem was not eating too much! You could have a cooked meal for breakfast lunch and dinner, or a continental breakfast and cold lunch if you preferred. There were always several choices and often a local option. The portions don't seem very generous at first glance but in fact with the number of courses and because you eat three times a day, it is more than enough. The times of the meals were always adjusted if necessary to accommodate the excursions.

The Akun was a lovely boat. It was spotlessly clean and well maintained. We were told by the staff that it is their best boat but that might just be banter! There were two bar/lounge areas but one closed at 7 which only left one with music. It would have been nice to have a choice in the evening. Read more