We chose this cruise for the highly recommended Viking experience and the itinerary. We embarked in The Netherlands and were immediately warmly greeted and offered lunch at the buffet. There was an unannounced walking tour of Amsterdam with a local guide. It was drizzling, and Viking had big umbrellas waiting on the deck. The Mani was modern, spacious, and immaculate. Our stateroom was on the lowest passenger deck and had two high windows. Someone 5'10" standing up could easily see outside. A shorter person could see out standing on the bed. The stateroom had ample space. The bathroom had heated floors. We enjoyed sitting with different people in the dining room. The food was appealing and delicious. Everyone was well traveled and friendly. Viking had their own modern buses for the included tours. There was something of interest at every stop. The local guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had time to shop, browse, walk around independently, etc. after the tour at each stop. We highly recommend the Colmar WW2 optional tour. The evening entertainment was either a piano player, local musicians, or a cultural presentation. Free wi-fi enabled us to keep in touch. We appreciated that there was no selling and no casino. The tour director and daily bulletin kept us informed. The crew and Captain were visible throughout the cruise. We were taken directly to the airport in Basel. We were so impressed with Viking that we plan to book one of their ocean cruises and one of their Christmas market river cruises.