The Grand European Tour Viking River Cruise was a great itinerary. We spent one day in Istanbul before departure. The embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. Our cabin was one with a French balcony, which was perfect. The weather was cool, but the covered deck on top made it comfortable to sit out. The local guides were excellent and very knowledgeable in all of the cities. The beautiful fall colors were an unexpected pleasure. Riding in the comfortable motor coaches to several of the featured towns was a great opportunity to see the countryside, including the many vineyards. Only one day was foggy, but the captain seemed to slow the long ship down, so that by the time we arrived at featured points along the river, the fog had lifted. The food was excellent, and the wine was very generously poured at lunch and dinner. Our servers were friendly and efficient. We loved the whole cruise!