The itinerary for this trip is excellent in most respects. I had been to the area years ago when I was in the Navy and we had a strong desire to get back.

Viking did a wonderful job in the design of the ship; all the on-board facilities were excellent. The dining rooms and restaurants were very good with a good selection of high quality food and beverages served by professional and fun servers. The fitness facility is the best I have seen on a cruise ship. We even used the medical facility -- well-equipped with a competent, friendly staff. We took advantage of some of the enrichment lectures which were very informative and gave rise to good discussions with fellow passengers over dinner.

We went on a mix of Included and Extra excursions. Most were very good and informative --- except for the day in Stavanger. That seemed like a wasted port call for us. We booked a private tour in St. Petersburg ---- an excellent choice. We had our own guide and driver for the 2 of us and went at our own pace all day. That enabled us to see some different sights in this most interesting city. It was expensive, but worth it! Read more