We booked our cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean with 2 other couples about 18 months prior. The time flew by, and before we knew it November 2015 had arrived and we were in the air on our way to Istanbul! After trouble-free flights (stopover in Frankfurt) we boarded the Viking Star!

Beautiful ship, spacious and well appointed stateroom with balcony! (Every stateroom had a balcony!) We explored the ship and found the pools and hot tub, the entertainment venues, the lounges, and the restaurants! Throughout our cruise the food was unfailingly plentiful and delicious! The wine and beer (included at meals) enhanced our dining experiences.

Each day (except the one day at sea) we participated in the included shore excursion. We found that this was sufficient for our needs and didn't book the extra cost ones, except for the trip to the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus (which was well worth the cost). Read more