I've taken a couple of river cruises with Viking, but this was my first Viking Ocean cruise. It exceeded my expectations. I've cruised with a couple of other ocean lines and really like the smaller ship. The lounges and shows were more intimate, the food was fabulous - the "specialty" restaurants were excellent and no extra expense! We were able to get a reservation easily on the same day. With the smaller ship we were able to dock right at the port. We simply walked off the ship, no waiting for a tender, so our time on shore was maximized. The excursion choices were bountiful and the quality superior. I highly recommend the 2-day St. Petersburg excursion. While a little pricey, totally worth it. You go to the head of the line at the Hermitage(the lines are VERY long) and the guide we had spoke perfect English. She was the guide to several of our Presidents and her knowledge invaluable.

Viking is known for its service and bar none, it's at the top of the list. From modifying meals to accommodate asks, to finding something for you, to the smiles and greetings from all of the staff, to dropping you off right at the door to picking you up at the door instead of making you walk in the rain, to making sure everything in your cabin is perfect - top notch service!

I booked 2 additional ocean cruises with them and am very much looking forward to them!