My husband and I had never done anything like this before & were totally thrilled at the end of our cruise! We began with a pre-extention in Budapest, staying at the Budapest Hilton in the Buda Castle District. That was an eye-opener as we pulled aside the curtains to see Fisherman's Bastion right in front of us. The tours and the tour guides were excellent and informative, and encouraged us to see more of this beautiful city before our departure up the Danube River. While on the cruise, each stop became a beautiful window into the past with its culture. Life onboard was comfortable and delightful, as our rooms were clean & well taken care of and our meals were gourmet 5-star 'yummies'. The ship's director- Joey kept things 'rocking' with opportunities to go & do things at each port. I especially loved the small size for the number of guests on this trip. At the final end of our cruise, which was at the city/port of Passau, Germany, my husband and I felt that it was just too short a trip, and talked of doing it again in the future. Thank you Viking River Cruises and thanks to each of the crew members who made our stay 'perfect'!