We left Venice May 6th on Viking Star on the "Empires of the Mediterranean".....a long anticipated trip which turned out to be almost as wonderful as we imagined! Our cabin (6087) was spacious and we did spend a lot of time there enjoying the view from our balcony. The Star is a beautiful ship from one end to the other and we quickly discovered our favorite spot was the Explorer's Lounge with wide windows and comfortable seats and a great bar (be sure to get the Silver Spirits package!). We enjoyed our meals in the speciality restaurants much more than the World Cafe which is pretty much a buffet with lots of choices but it became not as special after a few days. However, our time on the Star was compared at every turn to our River Cruise last year on the Viking longboat, Mani. WE LOVED THAT CRUISE! Having a small number of people on a ship certainly makes it easier to make friends which makes for a much happier time! We met three couples almost

immediately and we bonded for the whole trip and still are in contact. I hear a lot of people saying the same thing about making friends on a River Cruise. The Ocean ships have over 900 people and not as much opportunity to make friends as there are so many options available for activities and dining. We truly love anything Viking though! Hope for more cruises but the trip over the pond is getting harder and harder.