We moved into a community of active cruisers. Having never river cruised, they explained what we were missing, and the Viking Gefjon cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam proved them right! From the welcoming at the airport, outstanding hotel for our pre-cruise stay, to the final sad moment of heading home, their attention to detail, and our happiness, never diminished. Our 3rd floor balcony cabin was cozy yet comfortable and any extra request was completed by Monika with a warm smile. After a day, staff greeted us by name and so began the feeling of extended family that spread to all on board. Having only 190 passengers made dining and excursion adventures delightful! The menu was exceptional, and we particularly enjoyed the local cuisine and wine pairing. Stephan, Stephan, and Lucia were always ready with tempting options from the bar! The staff, from captain, Sam delightful cruise director, to head chef (who took us to the local outdoor market) and all others, were the best coordinated cruise team we have experienced in our 34 years of cruising! We were quite impressed with the quality of the included excursions, giving you options for additional tours, or time to cruise the beautiful towns and meet the locals (and taste the great beers)! Truthfully, it will be quite hard to return to big ships! We will certainly be enjoying more Viking cruises. Thank you Viking Gefjon for making our first river cruise spectacular ❣️