We chose this cruise based on the itinerary and on our enjoyment of previous Viking River cruises. Viking hit the nail on the head with their Ocean cruises. We loved the size and feel of the ship. The decor is light and airy without any fussiness, yet Viking made it feel warm and friendly by creating gathering spaces throughout the ship - each with a unique feel to it. The inclusion of hi-tech details such as a huge screen in the atrium with ever-changing scenes kept us wandering back for another look. We often found ourselves stopping to enjoy one of the resident musicians who played in the evenings in the atrium - not something we typically do on cruises.

The food was excellent (we've sailed with Regent and Seabourn as well); we especially enjoyed Manfredi's Italian Restaurant. The main dining room could be noisy at times - difficult for those with hearing issues. We sometimes ate dinner in the World Cafe as a result, but the food there was also very good. For the most part the service was excellent - a couple of days the World Cafe was so busy during the breakfast rush that the staff wasn't able to clear tables as quickly as would have been nice, but I'm searching here for things to be critical of.

We found the enrichment to be interesting and worthwhile. We didn't mind not having a casino, and honestly we didn't miss the fact there were no young children on board - love 'em but don't need 'em on a cruise with me. :) All in all, we felt it was a wonderful cruise and a great value. I hope Viking continues to expand their itineraries as we will definitely sail with them again.