We began our trip with the extension in Tuscany, which was well worth both the time and money. Our Viking guide made it a very interesting and seamless time. The ship was very new, and the only problem was that the coffeemaker in our cabin was not working. No problem, as we loved having an American in the Living Room! The main dining room was excellent both for breakfast and for dinner. There is plenty of room in the public areas, so you never felt crowded. It is a very serene environment, just what we like after sightseeing. All of the staff was most eager to please, and provided service without intruding. We particularly enjoyed our excursions to Taormina, Bari and Venice. It was very hot, but they always had cold washcloths for us when we returned to the ship. This was our first Viking Ocean cruise after having taken two Viking River cruises. We enjoyed both experiences.