We have never cruised on the Meditterean. The ports were all on our "bucket list". Viking has proven over and over it's commitment to personal service. We opted for the air upgrade to economy premium which was well worth it for my tall husband. Flights were all on time with a Viking representative there to meet us. Transportation was smooth and flawless. Once on board, the food was delicious, the staff attentive, and amenities (like the thermal pool) were amazing. The specialty restaurants were very good. Even the buffet was a step above other cruise ships we have been on. Sanitation was an important aspect of this cruise. All of the ports were breath-taking, the excursions were well planned and just the right amount of exercise. We extended our stay in Madrid for two days and took a high speed train there from our last port, Barcelona. Viking took us first class, with a representative with us all the way, and we arrived in under two hours. We couldn't be more pleased with our experience.