We splurged on this Viking cruise for our 40th wedding anniversary = this was our first river cruise, having done many ocean trips in the last five years. Viking did everything possible to make our cruise wonderful (including a special anniversary cake on the 1st nite in the dining room) - The service, the stateroom, the food, the city tours. From the pickup in Budapestt to the drop off in Amsterdam the staff was engaging, personable and responsive to any request that we had. The ship was clean and very easy to navigate, being smaller and much more intimate than an ocean liner. Our stateroom (an upgraded suite!) was fantastic, roomy and a great view of all the passing scenery. The bathroom (roomy) and amenities were particularly nice. The dining and food service was very good. A nice variety (local dishes and American favorites) with a staff that responded to special requests and provided great service. The entertainment is not comparable to an ocean cruise, but we enjoyed the offerings very much. Particulary special was a glass blowing demonstration by a local artist. I would strongly recommend Viking and the Grand European tour as a very special two weeks.