What a great cruise!

This was our first Viking cruise and we have already booked another one for 2019. Viking certainly sets the standard for Ocean cruising and ship amenities. We had been on another cruise line that also catered to adults and was a small ship. The 900-1000 passenger ships are much more accessible and you don't feel like you are waiting in line to eat or running into people as you move about the ship. Viking's restaurants are excellent, well spaced out around the ship and Viking does not charge extra for their specialty restaurants or the wine and beer served with lunch and dinner. I'm sure that cost is built into the fee, but it is nice not to get a huge bill at the end of the cruise.

We enjoyed the choice of shore excursions but wish we could have spent more time in some ports. The included panoramic bus tours are OK but you don't get to see a lot. The more personal excursions are more expensive and sometimes fill up fast. There were great musical opportunities on this cruise - a Grieg piano recital, an evening performance at the ballet in St. Petersburg and a Sebelius concert in Helsinki.

There are more extensive reviews listed but I would agree with many of them that all the crew took exceptional pride in themselves and their jobs and Viking holds them to a high standard. Everyone is always greeted with a smile.