Previous excellent experience with Viking River cruise, new ship, inclusive cruising, comfortable luxury. Viking takes excellent care of its clients in my opinion. An example of this care was on an evening when we returned to the ship without having had a chance for dinner, and we were rather late for the standard dinner alternatives. Much to our surprise, a lovely light supper awaited us in our cabin upon our return. It is also wonderful to have a ship with only 930 guests total. You never felt crowded or lost in the shuffle. The spa was spectacular, many activities were available, and we especially enjoyed having an included tour in each port. We did participate in some extra events, but the included tours we attended were also excellent. Our tour in St. Petersburg of the Hermitage was the best and most complete museum tour I have ever encountered. Well worth the fee!
The dining venues were delicious and, yes, we tried them all over the course of the cruise. My husband also appreciated that there were no "formal" nights, and we both appreciated the lack of a casino, art sales and children.
Our Penthouse Veranda cabin was a wonderful 338sq. ft. of elegance. From the heated floor in the bathroom, to the luxurious king size bed, it was truly spectacular. We also thoroughly enjoyed our veranda, both for the view and for the lovely room service luncheon we enjoyed. The accommodation was better than we had anticipated, with plenty of room for us, including a generous sitting area.