We had been on Viking before so I am comparing this cruise to the Viking cruise we took last year - plus other cruises we have taken. Dollar for dollar you are not going to do better than booking a Viking cruise - we were so impressed that we booked a river cruise for 2020. The food was very good (not 5* but definitely 4*) - The entertainment was surprisingly good - not as many entertainers or length of shows that you will see on other cruises - but very enjoyable 45 minute show.

Here comes the miss - and it was a big miss - where I am only giving it 1*! Excursions: they were awful - totally unorganized - drivers that didn't stick to the itinerary - drivers and travel guides who were completely lost (subjectively and figuratively). Admittedly, the hot and humid weather and rain surely didn't help - but I have the feeling it would have turned out the same if the weather was different). Example of poor planning by Viking: one of our major excursions was to the island of Komodo - they tendered us in where we all joined groups to hike around the island. I would say that we were there about an hour to 1 1/2 hours. It was so hot and humid that a few people passed out. Arriving to the dock to get back on the tenders and (surprise) - no tenders. At this point there were over two hundred people waiting in line for the tender - none were in sight. The time from the ship to the dock was at least 20 minutes to perhaps 30 minutes. There was no protection from the sun and people were about to jump into the water to cool off (a few more people on the dock passed out as well). That evening the cruise director apologized but it was a little late. I am probably being generous by giving the excursions 1*.