Gigi5747

From the moment we boarded we could see the cutbacks on service.  We remember the days when you were greeted with a beverage/champagne. 

We visited the casino once - the smoke was too much!  In one of the lounges the Cigar Room was adjacent and every time the door was opened you were exposed to more smoke.  It's difficult to enjoy the entertainment in that general area due to the smoke and smell.  The Garden buffet area was very noisy - probably due to lack of carpeting in the dining area. Wait staff was quick to clear tables, but they now carry bins to collect dishes and the bins are wet and drip on passengers. Also noticed, NO carts to reoffer coffee or other beverages. Some times change is not good!

Loved the itinerary. When we boarded we found the process a bit confusing - not very much help with signage to help us find our way. We understand the crew has a great deal to deal with on the first day but they appeared tired well into our trip.  We also noticed less staff was present.  We found our cabin steward was very helpful and attentive in many ways - kudos to him!  NCL entertainment is alway fabulous- we enjoyed all the performances we attended.

The Five O'clock Anywhere Bar was cold and sterile and atmosphere was cold including the seats -not conducive to staying for a second cocktail. Comment on the entertainment...terrible. More bars should have blenders.  That seemed an issue when ordering blended drinks.

Excursion tour guides were all very informative and pleasant except for the lady who did the Athens tour.  She seemed a bit disinterested and abrupt.

We were very pleased and surprised at how much we enjoyed River cruising.  There was always something to view along our journey.  The staff was very helpful and pleasant and available with answers to many questions.  Our dining experiences were beyond our expectations and always presented with a smile.  Our cabin was more than adequate with plenty of storage space. All in all a great experience with Viking.  We look forward to our next Viking cruise.