"Paris and Heart of Normandy" was our second Viking cruise in France. Our daughter had visited Normandy and the D-Day beaches and told us it is a must visit destination. We were not disappointed with Normandy or Paris. This was our sixth cruise with Viking, so we knew what to expect. The ship, Viking Lif, and its crew were wonderful -- as we expected. Very helpful and friendly.
It is very nice to have your hotel travel along with you as you explore new cities and countryside. This is a key advantage of river cruising. Another key advantage is freedom from concern over where to eat. For sure I like eating in European cafes and restaurants. But I do find it mildly stressful to have to pick one from the many choices available. Eating on the ship is easy and the food and service are first rate. And already paid for.
One thing Viking is very good at is improvising whenever local conditions cause problems for the intended itinerary. On this trip, a lock master went on strike, so the ship had to dock downstream from Paris. Viking quickly put together a tour of St. Germaine where the ship had to stay overnight, and this turned out to be a highlight of the cruise. We saw where Louis XIV was born.