We chose Viking for the tranquil atmosphere and small ships. The service was top notch. The food in all the restaurant was excellent. The included excursions were ok, but the paid excursions were much much better. It was my husband’s first cruise. We liked it so much that we have signed on for two more Viking cruises! We traveled with family, which made the cruise even more enjoyable. Our cabin steward was always there and attentive. Laundry service was a pleasant surprise. The binoculars in the cabin could have been bigger though. Oh - One other thing - For our bus trip at the end of the cruise from Seward to Anchorage we were not told we we going to making sightseeing stops along the way. We thought we were going directly to Anchorage, and had made our own plans there that we had to cancel. Next time we would like to have all the information ahead of time.