The cruise offered three days in Israel; it offered free excursions at every port; it served free wine or beers at most meals; etc. Viking also has an excellent reputation, and the cruise went at a most convenient time for us. My wife has traveled on river cruises with Viking and loved them, but this was the first time either of us had a Viking sea cruise. We especially enjoyed the Italian restaurant but not so much the Asian restaurant. The menus for the main dining room were very varied and enabled us to enjoy our favorite dishes. We did not avail ourselves of the fitness room, but my wife did have some service at the spa, such as a massage and hair dressing. The lecture on the Bayeau tapestry we found very informative, especially as most of the elevator stages had exceollent, enlarged c opies of panels from the tapestry.