All my friends were raving about their Viking cruise, so I wanted to check it out. I went on this particular cruise because the Tulips and Windmills offered interesting activities and shore excursions, as well as, some great incentives! I was traveling solo and it offered a safety element with a shuttle service to and from airport; very organized shore excursions and opportunities to explore. The ship was laid out well and quickly felt familair. The meals were always excellent and provided an excellent atmosphere to relax, enjoy, and discuss the day's adventure. A variety of fun and entertaining activities were available to energize the evening, stimulate your competitive edge, or create teams where none existed before! There were special performances by local musicians or regional craftsman displaying their traditional skills.The excursions were provided daily and the addition of optional ones let me select what best fit my interests and timed well to allow us to explore. The staff were amazing, always helpful, efficient, gracious, attentive, knowledgeable, flexible, and professional...........after years of travel I would say they far exceeded my expectations!