The itinerary went to many more ports than a 14-15 day cruise for the same money; greater value. The ship is smaller allowing it to dock in ports where larger ships have to anchor and passengers are tendered in. Because Viking ships are exact in size and configuration, if you have been on one, then you will be familiar with the layout and amenities of all their ships; a big plus for passengers and crew. A positive for us is no one under 18 allowed and no casinos. With only 930 passengers, meeting new friends is much easier and interaction with the crew is enhanced. We may pay a little more up front for the cruise, but it is all inclusive and we aren't "nickle and dimed" with extras like other cruise lines, At the end, we pay less and the cruise is more enjoyable. No upcharges for specialty restaurants, free Wifi, free laundry and dry cleaning(depends on cabin) with 24 hour turnaround. We opted for the upgraded wine and spirits package which is a tremendous value. The biggest enjoyment of our cruise was the interaction we had with the crew in all areas; Captain and his staff, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Officers are visible, professional, informative and respectful. We appreciated the fun interaction of the crew with each other and us. Who you can have fun with on a cruise is very important to us and we had fun! If we could have the same crew, we don't care where the ship was headed, we would be on it.

Attention to detail is paramount with all Viking cruises, but this was taken to a new level from the time arrived at the embarkation terminal to the disembarkation terminal including the airport shuttle. We cannot say enough positive about Viking period.