I really loved the cruise. I've never been on a sailing with more than 25 people before, so I'm not an expert. But since you asked, I'll give you my opinion. First the good (and great) things. The accommodations were much better than I expected. The rooms were really quite large, the bathrooms more than adequate (Be aware that sometimes it can take a few minutes for the toilets to flush. There's no helping that!), the common areas very comfortable. The upper deck even had a pool, although I never got to try it since it was November in Germany.

The staff was friendly and exceptionally accommodating. I even got to speak to the Captain while he he was in the wheelhouse. His honest comments about modern seafaring life were fascinating. Fascinating as well were the tours off the ship. I know I would never have visited the Black Forest, downtown Basel, a working Dutch windmill, or a medieval Alsatian city on my own. I know how hard it is to travel on one's own and schedule everything without any mistakes. There is nothing like a cruise for taking the effort out of a vacation. I've talked to veterans of the ocean cruises. Viking's river cruise is head and shoulders above what they've described. No lines, no surprises, no wasted time. The tour guides are locals who speak the language and know every inch of what they're showing, whether it's the University of Heidelberg or the Cathedral of Cologne.

The few issues I had were mostly not Viking's fault. I was told in no uncertain terms that my payment included all tips in advance. That turned out not to be true. If someone tells you that, get it in writing. I did not work with Viking directly, so I can only blame the people I dealt with. I also had to deal with the fact that cruising and touring with a group means a certain amount of regimentation. The trip I took did include some free time at many of the stops, but you still have to keep your eye on the clock. The issue is really a philosophical one. To really get to know a place, you have to dawdle, to wander, to hang out, to stay overnight. It is inherent in the nature of touring that you sacrifice depth for breadth. Again, not Viking's fault. They handled the issue in an exemplary fashion. Read more