I had not planned to write a review of our first ever ocean cruise with Viking, as there isn't really anything new to add to the praises sung by many previous posters. The ship is stunning, the crew is fabulous, and the food excellent. We enjoyed the enrichment lectures, met many friendly and interesting people, and toured wonderful ports of call. However, I decided that when a company provides such a terrific experience, they deserve a public commendation for it. So, I am happy to add my five star rating for the Viking Star!

We selected the least expensive cabin, yet we were able to book a satisfactory mix of included and optional excursions. Some of the guides were better than others, but all of the tours were enjoyable. Once on board, we were able to book reservations for Manfredi's and the Chef's Table, which was delightful. There was a bit of difficulty with our Viking Air return flights, as my instinct that a 70 minute connection time in Frankfurt was not adequate proved correct, and we missed our connecting flight home. Even that difficulty did not diminish our enjoyment of the trip. Next time, however, I will trust my instincts! The hard part now is whether to book Viking River or Viking Ocean for our next adventure. Thanks, Viking!