We wanted to visit the capitals of the Baltic sea, as well as Russia. Very pleasant time of the year, sea was calm and ports were beautiful. St. Petersburg was great, having arranged a private tour, which was outstanding, a Mercedes van and very knowledgeable and candid guide. We did not take the train to Berlin, which we thought spent too much time in transit for the time allowed in the city. We hardly saw our daughter while on board, except for dinner. Everyone was very cordial.

The entertainment was very good and the food fine, even catering to our vegan diet, with a little creative adjustment. We will probably cruise again, since my wife wants become a cruise nurse, which offers some benefits like having the flight to and from the ship paid for (for her) and allowing her husband to share her cabin, albeit a small one low in the ship and close to the medical facilities. That way, the whole medical staff can respond quickly to an emergency. Passengers on Holland America tend to drink moderately, and demand less medical care than some other cruise lines.