Years ago when I was a university faculty member, I had a reputation as a tough grader who didn't award many "A's." So with that in mind, here are my thoughts about what, overall, was a first-rate cruise experience.

We chose Silversea for our Baltic cruise in large part because we wanted to enjoy a true "first-boat" experience. Which is what we enjoyed during our days onboard along with another couple who have been friends for over 50 years. Our trip began with a long, but unavoidable, business class flight on SAS to Copenhagen, which Silversea arranged at a price well below the standard prevailing rate. Prior to embarkation, we enjoyed two full days in very sunny Copenhagen, burning "points" at the Marriott, walking extensively and doing a very "touristy" but delightful canal boat ride. The Glyptotech museum's collection of impressionist painters was especially impressive.

Check-in at boarding time couldn't have been run any better. We were whisked to our cabin in a blink without ever having to endure the long lines that are so common with cruises on mega-ships. And miracle of miracles, Silversea provided two luggage racks, an amenity that even many top-flight hotels fail to provide. Our butler from Nepal provided a thorough and efficient introduction to shipboard services and we headed quickly to the LaTerraza restaurant for our first taste of Silversea's fine and diverse dining experiences. Read more