We enjoyed every minute on the ship for our ocean cruise around Italy. Never felt crowded. If you needed to be alone, no problem, on deck or inside. And every single room had a private balcony. Otherwise, a lounge chair was always waiting someplace, with no one else around. There was nearly always a remarkable view; seldom did we see just water except at night. The quality of the window glass was superb, nearly invisible which is good for photography. No loud music. Light classical music (piano) accompanied a slide show, presented on a screen several stories high featuring paintings of the artist that was featured on the cruise (Munch). A jazz combo, with several singers, performed nightly. Food was varied and expertly prepared and served. Unlimited wine and beer at lunch and dinner. We often took our meals on deck. A waiter would show up immediately and offer to bring us wine. If your glass got down to 1/3 level, someone would notice (again, immediately) and offer to top it up (no exaggeration!). 2 pools (indoor and out) were seldom crowded and a spa with sauna and Nordic ice room were graced with another pool to relax in. Small libraries were sprinkled about, with comfortable chairs and replicas of Viking (what else!) artifacts. The excursions were variable. Careful planning, knowing exactly what you want to do, and not leaving everything up to Viking, is important, if you want to make the most of one day spent in each port. We will do this again.