After great experiences on Viking River cruises, I trusted that a Viking Ocean cruise of the Baltic would be the best way to cruise the Baltic. I was right. Yes, the Viking Star was larger than a Viking longship; however, the way it's configured gives you a sense of intimacy that the really large ships lack. The spaces are comfortable and inviting, especially during the serving of afternoon tea. The food choices are also many and varied. The designers of the cabins thought of everything from plenty of storage space to bathrooms full of conveniences such as cabinet space and a decent sized shower. Getting off and on the ship was also easier than on the really large ships. Viking is so organized, right down to the staff that unloaded our luggage at the airport, took it inside, and stayed with us to ensure that our check-in went as promised. We did the pre-trip to Stockholm, where Viking placed us in a lovely and convenient hotel with lobby service staffed by Viking to attend to our touring needs. I highly recommend the Viking Homelands cruise and the Viking Star!