On the Rhine Rhapsody (this April) our first two nights in Paris were at the Le Meridien Etolie. This is a very large Hotel with a much less personalized experience as compared to life on the ship. Viking is best at providing excellent service on the ship. For future Viking cruises we will look for trips that are exclusively on the ship and without a included stay over in a hotel. Our first river cruise with Viking was more enjoyable from Paris to Paris including Normandy Beach. On that trip we were on the ship the entire time including two nights in Paris.

The ship was very new, beautifully decorated with many conveniences. The cabin is arranged to accommodate your needs comfortably. The food in the restaurant was excellent. The Chef came to the tables at every dinner and was delightful in sharing conversations about his food. Service from all of the staff was excellent; everyone was eager to assist in any way. Special thanks to the wait staff in the restaurant, the front desk and housekeeping.