Our first cruise. Was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to go from US to Europe. The transfers went smoothly. The cruise itself was fun, fun, fun. Cruise was above expectations. A small ship rather than a large one (190 guests) made the trip more romantic and easygoing. The ports of call were super and the ship was within easy walking distances to some of the sites (if you chose to walk rather than ride). The excursions were wonderful and the guides helpful. We read the booklet provided by Viking before we started and felt like we knew some of the places already. The cathedrals, castles, small towns provided a good mix of sites to see. Enjoyed the free time to explore the small shops and cafe's. Kuchen in Heidleberg, lunch at a café in Strasbourg were fun experiences. Shipboard food was excellent. Not a cheap trip but worth every penny. Bonus was spending a few hours in London on the way home.