We chose this cruise because of the itinerary....Scandinavian counties, Poland, Estonia and Russia. Unfortunately, rough seas did not allow us to dock in Poland so we could not visit Gdansk. The embarkation and disembarkation process went very smoothly; swiping our key cards is a very efficient procedure. Everything was great about the ship, cabin, dining and entertainment/lectures. The staff was extremely friendly, helpful and professional. The lecturers on board were top-notch, and we received a bonus lecture on the Bayeux Tapestry, whose copy was on the walls by the staircases. Performers were also top-notch; really appreciated the variety of offerings, e.g., La Boheme at the Met, 3-D Cirque du Soleil, and Tribute to Broadway. One issue I had, though, was the "last-minute throw-together" excursion during our extra evening in Tallinn (in lieu of Gdansk); the excursion (which consisted of one brief photo stop when sun was not in the right direction and dinner) was not worth the money. We understand this was an unexpected excursion and Viking was doing its best to make up for our not going to Gdansk. Would definitely sign up for another Viking cruise, though!