My roommate had sailed with Viking before and made all the plans for this cruise - which I highly recommend!! The staff was terrific, food was great, accommodations very comfortable, and the excursions fun. Entertainment was entertaining, with an excellent pianist. I especially liked hiking in the Black Forest ( awesome), and the village had the most beautiful glassblowing shop. The cathedral in Strasbourg, France was so beautiful, with amazing stained glass windows. The UNESCO palace in Cologne was definitely worth the extra visit (although it would have been nice to take photos!). It was interesting to see the interiors of the windmills (and how a family could live in such cramped quarters!)- be aware that the weather in April can be downright cold (like snow flurries!). Overall, the trip was everything I expected (and more); the flight connections were handled very professionally by the Viking staff. I do not recommend an overnight flight in an economy seat - next time would spring for an upgrade.