This was our first Viking river cruise and our last Viking river cruise. We have done over 10 European river cruises in the past, and decided to try Viking. We were very disappointed. First, we were given a SICK ship. The previous cruise had a number of sick people on it and although Viking claimed they sterilized the boat, about 40 people on our cruise became ill. Viking tried to play it down, but many of their crew were sick also. They treated everyone who was ill terribly.
We asked about a doctor, and they stated we could get one, but we would have to [pay for it. Grand Circle River Cruises had a similar (but smaller) situation on one of our past cruises and they provided a doctor at each port for their crew and the passengers. The Viking passengers even formed a committee to contact the main company, but to no avail.
I will admit the ship was new and very nice, but this was a Christmas Cruise: the ship was poorly decorated and there was nothing Christmas about it. I have been on many Christmas Cruises and this was the first time I didn't feel like Christmas.