The ship was elegant, a perfect size, beautifully finished, with no crowding. Free wi-fi was a huge bonus. All crew members were super-friendly, while professional and efficient; they seemed genuinely happy in their jobs – we felt Viking looked after them particularly well compared with other lines. There were too many to mention all our favourites by name but Angelo stood out as a maître d’hôtel par excellence. Give the man a promotion!

There were no photographers, no art gallery, no hard-sell of anything – how refreshing. The entertainers (musicians, singers, dancers) were a significant cut above those on typical cruise ships. There were four outstanding “enrichment” speakers too.

Our cabin (5043) was spacious and comfortable. The shower room was superbly fitted with plenty of storage, a large shower cubicle, powerful shower, heated mirror and underfloor heating – one of the best. And…no towel animals! Read more