We choose this cruise due to the variety of destinations. Originally our itinerary included St. Petersburg but and another major stop but due to political reasons we had two very small islands (Bornholm and Mariehamn) added which were a disappointment. Now for the good news! The ship size was very manageable. There is an excellent variety of restaurant selections. Breakfast can be buffet or menu style (two separate restaurant options).The specialty restaurants have rotating menus so even if you go twice on a voyage, there is a chance it's a different theme with more ambiance. You do need to make reservations at the specialty restaurants. Manfredi's does an incredible wine pairing with the dinner. We all used the fabulous spa for massages, etc. There is a steam room and ice cave which was really cool!! The gym is well appointed with treadmills, weights, matts, etc. All the staff went out of their way to make you feel welcome. Moses is the sommelier who truly has passion for wine and pairings. We did purchase the beverage package which I would recommend. The entertainment on board was much better than our previous Viking trip. Pablo plays acoustic guitar and is wickedly talented! Finally, the excursions book up quickly. I recommend scheduling those as soon as they are available. Demographics are 55+ years oldwith the rare exception of a few 24-30 year old grandchildren in our group. I highly recommend the Viking Mars Ocean Cruises!