We chose this cruise because we had heard good reports about Viking, and we also liked the length and destinations of this cruise. We had been to several of the stops along the way before, but we wanted to return to see them again. The cruise exceeded all that we had heard. The service, the staff, the food, the itinerary, and every other detail were absolutely perfect. When river conditions (high water) altered our normal itinerary, Viking handled the logistics seamlessly so that we did not miss anything and they did it without any inconvenience to us. For those who are not sure about a cruise, I would say several things. First, the ride was smooth as glass - no worries about seasickness. Second, it was wonderful to see so much while only unpacking once, unlike bus/train tours between hotels with multiple packing/unpacking episodes. Third, we really enjoyed getting to know other people on the ship - it was small enough that you could really do this. Fourth, the ship was very comfortable and virtually noiseless. I would DEFINITELY book with Viking again.