Excellent cruise! We were attracted to the small ship experience after hearing horror stories about the small cabins others told us about. The small ship Viking river cruises had great reviews and their attention to detail made the cruise a great value. The room, the food and the staff all surpassed our expectations. The excursions were a delight and the optional ones (even though they were pricey) really added a lot to the total experience. We would have liked to spend more time in the "Red Square Department Stor" When we arrived We were greeted by a Viking host that really eliminated the travel stress. Moscow is an exciting and vibrant city; the Moscow shopping was an amazing surprise. We wish we had booked several more days there. Most of the shore excisions were fun and informative but we would recommend that you diplomatically insist more individual photos of you and your party if you plan on purchasing the photo thumb drive at $45. Our next trip will be booked with Viking because they are a great company!