The Waterways of the Tsars is definitely the best way to see Russia. Viking knows how to pay attention to every detail! The service on the ship was excellent! Luigi and Rey in the dining room were perfection; they knew our names by the second day and had our drinks ready when we sat down. Valeriya kept our stateroom so neat and tidy - it made us feel comfortable after our busy days in the different ports. We like to stay active and were happy with the number of shore excursions. It was unusually hot when we visited; Viking had water bottles for us every time we left the ship and another beverage available when we returned. It was nice while in port in both Moscow and St. Petersburg to be able to walk off the ship and experience everyday Russian life. tWe loved the experience so much we booked another Viking cruise a week after returning from Russia!