I choose this cruise for a number of reasons. Foremost being my experience with Viking on a river cruise, The people and quality were exceptional on it and I was hoping that would be indicative of any Viking venue. A second reason is my family heritage of being half Norwegian and half Swedish. I must also mention my love affair with St. Petersburg through college studies.

From the onset Viking did not disappoint my expectations. Check-in was quick and easy. Our stateroom , a junior suite, was perfect for us. Location was ideal to all the high points on the ship and spacious for our needs and comfort. We were able to score a number of reservations at the specialty restaurants. Manfredi's ended up being our favorite, but not by default. The Chef's Table also left our palates happy with the great wine pairings. We strongly recommend the Silver Spirits package. Every meal was excellent no matter where we ate. The Explorer's Lounge became our favorite watering hole. The ship's entertainment in the theater was surprisingly professional and well worth seeing. The atmosphere present at every section of the ship enhanced whatever the experience one was involved in. The crew, these folks are the decisive element raising Viking above their competition. The Spa employees in my estimation lacked technique and ability to deliver what they advertised. Won't partake in that again. Overall, we felt truly welcomed and pampered. It's why one goes on a luxury cruise after-all. Our excursions were well metered out and never had more than 36 people involved. An amazing feat considering the number of people on board. The only failure on the entire cruise was the woeful execution of our transfer to the post cruise event to Iceland. All those who chose this extension were basically abandoned at the Stockholm airport to figure out on their own how to get boarding passes and check into their flights. Many were not even able to sit next to their spouses. Too bad. A bad way to end the experience. Not withstanding this faux pas, Viking excels when it comes to running a cruise on the sea. The ship configuration and standard amenities along with the wonderful crew are a cut above in my experience. We have already booked our next cruise, sans post air options.