Viking's West Indies Explorer was just the kind of cruise we were looking for. We like to spend more than one day in a particular area, which is hard to do on many cruises. The Lower Antilles brings a series of Caribbean destinations together in close proximity so we never completely left the islands, and we were able to visit a different one every day. Perfect!

Viking always offer an included excursion in every port. These always seem to focus on local geography, scenic points, and local culture. These are often not extensive in duration, so Viking arranges some much more immersive tours starting with some reasonably priced excursions into natural areas, historic landmarks sometimes recognized as UNESCO World Heritage site, or local industry or artists. For a bit extra we stepped up to a few more indulgent tours involving some great sailing on a catamaran, or special local cuisine.

Every cabin has a veranda, so we always had a quiet place with a fresh breeze to relax for an hour or just for fifteen minutes. The standard cabins aren't terribly large, but we never felt like we were cramped - the bath was arranged so effectively that even the shower had plenty of room. So much better than some of our cruises on other lines. Read more