Viking is the master of river cruises. Everything is first class - the ship, the staff, the food, the programming. It started from the time we arrived by taxi to our ship. Crew members greeted us and took all of our luggage to our stateroom. We were there in time for a buffet lunch and sat out on the Aquavit Terrace to enjoy it. A free walking tour occupied our afternoon as more guest arrived. We enjoyed getting to know different guests each night at dinner as there are no assigned seats and most tables hold 6-8 people.

One of our new friends asked the chef if we would be having sushi. He said it wasn't on the menu but he would be happy to make some. While in Vienna, he took a group shopping at a local market and purchased the items needed for the sushi. The chef made it for the lunch the next day and we got to join in on the treat!

Each port included a guided tour (included in cruise price) and each guide was excellent. Our program director on board gave informative pre-destination lectures so we knew what to expect. He also explained things like water management in the Netherlands, an overview of EU, etc. Due to high water, our schedule was altered occasionally but Viking did an excellent job of making sure we got to see everything that was planned. Read more