We love Viking and this trip was no exception. We were previously on the Jarl for the Romantic Danube from Nuremberg to Budapest with extensions in Prague and Budapest. This trip was different in that it was more educational and less site seeing. The Passage to Eastern Europe on the Atla and the tours did site seeing, but we were also provided a more in depth view into how Communism, the Serbian-Croatian War (& Yugoslavia), affected Eastern Europe and how it still affects it today. Some of it is sobering, but I learned a lot! Countryside is beautiful! The only downside was that some of the ports were not on cities so you could not simply walk off the ship and browse around town. Some excursions were an hour+ away.

The ship, as on our previous cruise, was nice and clean. The staff go out of their way to know you by name and your preferences for everything from how you like your room to what you prefer to drink with a meal. And, as for meals! Well, if you walk away hungry it is your fault. The staff always makes sure to take care of you. If you order something and want something different they are always accommodating. This is no different with the rest of the staff - everyone will do their best to accommodate you if you just ask.

We are in our 40s and were concerned the first cruise that we would be outcasts. We should not have worried a bit! We have managed to make friends of all ages (40 & up, that is) onboard. We are already booked for another Viking trip, but next time it will be on one of their cruise ships. i can't wait!