This was our third Viking river cruise; we like the small ships and the small towns along the river. The boat was new and beautiful, and we love the modern decor. We choose Viking Cruises for the itineraries, the way the target culture is explored onboard through food and special presentations, and the leisurely pace. The Elbe itinerary included small, quaint towns along with big cities, and interesting and varied excursions. A special plus on this cruise was the activity director - a young man with lots of knowledge and a great sense of humor. It was a pleasure to meet him early every evening and hear about the next day's activities. We were happy with both the embarkation and disembarkation, and with our hotel in Berlin, where we extended the trip by three days. Before leaving the ship we bought a voucher for our next Viking cruise, and we are looking forward to our first ocean cruise with Viking in the New Year.