We chose this cruise to celebrate my 60th birthday. This was our first cruise together and my first one in 20 years, so we weren't sure what to expect. We had an Explorer Suite at the the front of the ship. It was spacious and beautiful - as nice as any 5-star resort anywhere. The bathroom was incredible - heated floors, double sinks, a full bath and separate shower enclosed in glass, creating a "wet space" of sorts. It was amazing. The ship itself was also lovely. We were surprised at how much they leaned into the Viking theme - the spa has a snow room and multiple versions of the hot to cold plunge, for example, and the all-day cafe is all Norwegian cuisine. The decor is very peaceful, light and airy.

The food on the ship was good, but not spectacular. Even the Chef's Table was just ok. We ate there twice and were not overly impressed either time. They promote it as a 5-course meal, but they count the amuse-bouche (which is just a one-bite thing) and a sorbet palate cleanser as courses, so it's not really 5-courses. And, on both nights, it was good, but not great. Same for the specialty Italian restaurant and the other food options. It is hard to make amazing for such large groups, I suppose.

There's not much in the way of nightlife or entertainment on the ship, unless you're interested in classical trios and karaoke singing by the crew. Viking ships don't have casinos either, so it's a very laid back, relaxing environment, but there's not a lot of high energy. And even though it was my 60th birthday, we felt that we were two of the youngest people on the ship.