I have traveled on many cruise lines, and Viking is my favorite. Many things are included in the price of the trip, so it may seem more expensive, but the value is good. For example, umbrellas are available for personal use as needed. On the ocean cruise they were in our cabin. While on a river cruise, the staff stood at the gangway and handed them out on rainy days. Bottled water is provided every day in the cabin, but also on the gangway - NOT for an additional cost as on other lines. The service was excellent in all departments, and all staff were very friendly, usually going above and beyond what might be sufficient. The educational seminars were fantastic - informative and appropriate, with a variety of speakers covering wildlife to culture and history. We attended almost every one, and those we missed were available for later viewing in the stateroom. There is also a selection of news channels, movies, etc. in the cabin, and the TV is also used to check reservations, account balance, etc. I was also struck by the young talent onboard - the cruise direcfor and assistant both sang and performed, and the shows were fun. The food was excellent, and we really enjoyed both specialty restaurants. Reservations are required for the specialty sites, and are limited at the beginning of the cruise to ensure that all guests get a chance to experience these. Again, NO additional cost for these restaurants. Viking also did a good job of serving regional foods as we reached each new destination. In Brazil the staff displayed and prepared a locally caught 196 pound pirarucu - amazing and delicious! I would also recommend the cooking classes, although they do have an additional charge. The students prepare and eat the dishes (I did Italian - yum!) and get to keep the Viking apron used during the class. All excursions were fun and informative. We loved fishing for pirhana, and the native village and show were great. Embarkation was very quick, and other than having to get up super early, the disembarkation went very smoothly. We loved this trip and would highly recommend it!!
clean and comfortable, comparable to other cruise lines
went to local farm that had exhibit of casava harvesting and processing, tasting local foods - enjoyed very much. also did city tour, which was okay