Always had Antarctica on our bucket list, so when Viking launched it's new expedition ships, were hooked. We like Viking because of their subdued approach: no kids, no casino, no loud music. A beige color scheme with nautical themes abound. Rather, interesting talks and in depth learning are provided. We were upgraded to a larger room which provided additional storage space on deck 4. The dining staff and the room stewards were excellent, always friendly and very engaging. The food is good - quite good but not "blow your socks off" excellent. Often a bit bland. A guitarist and a pianist provide entertainment.

Antarctica is about the ice, the animals and the environment. The best for us was kayaking in the ice flows in the snow. Penguins swimming around. Landings provide an up close experience with the native animals. Zodiacs provide access and the clothing provided: jacket, pants and boots keep you dry. Underlayers are necessary but not provided. Lots of whales, penguins, seals as expected.

What prevents a 5 star review is that the expedition organization needs help. While changes due to weather are understandable, constant changes are not. And the Viking ap doesn't always agree with the on screen (tv) calendar nor does it agree with the info provided by Guest Service. Read more