This was our 1st Viking Cruise and we were very happy with our overall experience. The service throughout our time onboard was amazing! We've been on other cruises, and never have we had the personal attention as we did onboard the Viking Mars. I have Celiac Disease and I never had to worry as all the waiters and chefs were aware of my dietary restrictions. The cleanliness throughout the entire trip was impeccable. The entertainment was better than we expected. Tea time was wonderful. There are many common areas where one could engage in conversation, paly games, or simply enjoy the peacefulness of one's own company. The only 2 areas of concern that we were a bit upset about were the fact that one must wait much too long to schedule their excursions prior to boarding, and also that the Specialty Restaurants were not often available at a reasonable dining time. However, we were always happy with all of our dining experiences. With regard to excursions, Viking needs to better educate their Excursion Staff so that they can better answer questions. A few of the "included" excursions are almost a replica of paid excursions with just a bit less included. We found ourselves duplicating excursions on 2 days. We would have preferred either staying onboard during 2 of those included excursions, or venturing out on our own. But this was a fantastic journey and we are so glad we did it and look forward to cruising with Viking again. Yes, cruising aboard Viking Ocean Cruises will likely cost you more. However, that old saying, "You get what you pay for!" can be applied here and you won't be disappointed!