A friend recommended this cruise line. We enjoyed both the itinerary and the small ship experience. It was more casual than we expected - comfortable and friendly. The captain was flexible and would stop or turn around if he spotted wildlife we would enjoy seeing. The staff definitely wanted to please us. The on-ship entertainment was perfect; no big productions, mainly a couple of multi-talented performers. Excursions were educational - some more interesting than others. Living in a flat-land Midwestern state, we were awed by the vistas every day of the cruise. The other passengers were as enthusiastic as we were spotting bears, mountain goats, seals, sea lions, eagles, puffins, otters, and icebergs. It was thrilling to hear the "thunder" prior to seeing a piece of a glacier fall and plunge into the sea. Birds rushed to that location to feast on the small fish that were brought to the surface. Our best cruise yet.