This cruise provided an excellent opportunity to see and experience new and different places from our previous adventures and being our 7th Viking cruise (river and ocean combined), we were confident that it would be done well. Our expectations were met and exceeded in many ways. We have cruised with others on the oceans and Viking continues to provide an outstanding experience. This is not to say that everything was perfect but Viking clearly strives to meet an "outstanding" standard throughout.

We began the adventure with the pre-cruise extension in Helsinki, primarily to take the opportunity to ride the train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. We did a similar train trip from Oslo to Bergen on another Viking cruise and I would have to say that the trip to St Petersburg was not nearly as picturesque as the one in Norway. Having said that, the stay in Helsinki was well worth the time and money. Helsinki is a beautiful city with lots to do and something for everyone. We used the Hop on-Hop off bus to gain an appreciation for the city and then returned to several places to spend additional time. Places not to be missed are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Uspenski Cathedral, the University Library (next to the Helsinki Cathedral), and the Temppeliaukio Church (more commonly known as the Church of the Rock). A boat ride in the harbor and on the canals is also a great way to see the city (note: we bought tickets for the bus and boat at the same time for a small savings in the total cost). Each of the places provides a unique look into something different and elements of history. Like so many cities, a few days were not enough to really get to see even all the highlights but we really enjoyed the time before we began the trip in Russia. One evening, we ate at the Vltava Restaurant (Czech cuisine) and found it to be quite good. It is located across the street from the train station and since our hotel was close by, it was also very convenient. The bottom floor was a bar and we went to the third floor for our meal.

The train trip was fast and efficient (if somewhat devoid of beautiful scenery) and we were check by both Finnish and Russian security personnel. No issues and all the process took place while riding the train. Read more