For all you ocean cruisers on the huge ships with all the stuff they've put on them...this is NOT that cruise. On a big ship, the ship itself can be the destination...not so with the river cruise. It is your floating hotel with many amenities, but it is NOT the cruise ship you are used to.
That said, this was a wonderful cruise. This ship was small...only 190 passengers and a crew of around 40-50. The rooms were small even by cruise ship standards but it was lovely. The food was excellent, with open seating dining or an indoor/outdoor buffet. Although nothing was ever more formal than casual, the buffet was the more casual of the two.
This is a port based cruise. We embarked in Amsterdam after a day of touring, and sailed down the Rhine. At each stop, we were treated to an (included) excursion with local, well informed guides. Be advised...there is A LOT of walking. Each tour gave us history, local sites and local color. Viking makes sure you are well informed and well taken care of. The transfers, guides and content of all the tours were exceptional.
Small but efficient. Very comfortable. Some TV...some weird stuff there. Very clean. Balcony was a big plus. I highly recommend it.