It was perfect. Some say "it is better to be lucky than good" -- in our case, that is so true. We arrived at the very height of tulip season and the flowers were at their peak for the entire 10 days of our cruise. The staff of the Viking Skadi was one of the best! They were friendly & accomodating and couldn't have been any better at making our first cruise one to remember forever. Our fellow cruisers said that the Skadi had the best crew they have ever cruised with and many of them were on their 7th or 8th cruise. A great example was when we were asked what "our song" was and although he had never heard it -- our entertainment director, found it and learned it. On our last night, while my husband & I were dancing, he played it without being prompted -- he had taken the time to get to know us personally! Viking you get it! and you get it right! We are booked on another Viking cruise in the near future, this time with friends who have never been on a river cruise. We can't wait!!