We chose this cruise because of the itinerary. For the most part the included itinerary trips are always informative and seem to do a good job of immersing you in the culture. The guides are delightful, the busses are first class. Although we have no negatives about the cruise, we do prefer the river cruises as they are more intimate and you meet more people on a personal level. We liked dining with different couples each evening on the river cruises. We have done ocean cruises with other lines and this far exceeds all of our previous trips because Viking ships have less people thus less feeling of a cattle call. The experience is more about the culture and stops and not about the extras that have no value. But what trumps all the other cruise lines is Viking's service which, of course, is always impeccable, there is a reason they are #1! If you decide to cruise, Viking is your only choice. Once you make the switch you won't go back.