This cruise was chosen by friends and they asked us to go along. They had cruised Viking before; we hadn't. From the minute I boarded the ship I knew I was "home". It was beautifully appointed and had so many small areas where people could sit and read, do puzzles, look at the scenery, converse...etc. Our cabin also was well appointed. Though the balcony was small, it accommodated two comfortable chairs and a table large enough to eat breakfast on. Room service was free. There were several dining options and the two specialty dining venues were at no additional cost to us. My husband needs gluten-free and his needs were met at every meal. He actually got to choose, ahead of time, what he wanted them to cook. He was spoiled! Entertainment in the evenings ranged from excellent to, a couple of nights, mediocre, but the real treats for us were the lectures. There were many and the topics were varied. We learned so much! The ones that were so different from our other ship experiences were the "Port Talks". On the other ships they were all about "where to buy diamonds, etc. in port". These were really talks and a power point presentation about the port - some history, what to see, how to go on your own if you wished, what money to use, etc. And, yes, it also included information about the included tour plus the optional ones. Port Talks were excellent! Service on the ship was excellent - all the time. We were treated like royalty! Another thing we enjoyed immensely was no passengers under the age of 18. And, honestly, the ship would not have appealed to children. It was specially made for older people who enjoyed the amenities above, and wanted to do so in a quiet atmosphere. Would we go again, you ask? We have already signed up for one Viking ocean trip next year and are in the process of signing up for another. We discovered a home away from home...and it is Viking.