We chose Viking for two reasons: first, their support of PBS and secondly because of the ratings. We felt that we would get good value for the money and we were thrilled with the entire arrangement. First, the cabins were very well appointed and comfortable. We did have some plumbing questions about gurgling as we were on a lower deck, but that was minor. The heated floors and mirrors in the bath were a nice touch as were the storage options in the cabin. The ship itself was really well designed with a lot of space to relax and chill. The tour guides were the best! They really knew the areas, most were locals and had an incredible grasp of history, secret spaces, and layout. After the arranged tour we had plenty of time to explore on our own with a great orientation from the tours. There was no evidence whatsoever that Viking was trying to cut any corner at all in anything from food to accomodations to scheduling.