We have enjoyed the Viking River cruises, and trusted Viking to please us once again on this new ocean cruise. They did not disappoint! Although we were greatly unhappy that the tour of Istanbul had to be cancelled (our main reason for choosing this cruise), we loved all the other ports of call and excursions. We consider every aspect of Viking cruising of 5-star caliber, and Empires of the Mediterranean lived up to this expectation -- except for the pre-cruise, post-cruise options. Viking River cruises always offer accommodations and guided tours at each end, that allow for adjusting to the time zone, etc. This cruise did not. Little planning went into thinking through what guests might want and need at each end of the cruise, as we would have loved spending more time in both Istanbul and Venice, but no accommodations were forthcoming. Except for that, everything was exceptionally well-planned. The ship was spacious, and we never felt crowded -- in fact, we were surprised by how evenly distributed guests seemed to be at all times throughout the journey. Our cabin was comfortable and kept very clean. The food was marvelous, the Enrichment Lectures superior, and the service everywhere provided well and with a smile. We were also fortunate in that the weather could not have been better throughout our journey. The seas were calm, and we only needed a light jacket a few of the mornings. The entire experience was amazing, interesting, fun and educational. Kudos to Viking! Thank you.