We chose this cruise because friends had taken it the year before and really enjoyed it. The cabin was small but everything fit and the bed was comfortable. The excursions were the heart of the trip. Most of the local guides were outstanding, and the group size was perfect to see and hear everything. It was pleasant to relax in the lounge at night. The glassblower was interesting. The staff on the ship was very professional, and they all went out of their way to be helpful. The food was good to very good, but I would have liked more local specialties. Most of the food was just generic American. The only complaint I had is that the ship docked far from the place we were visiting, in several cases other Viking ships were much closer. The on shore hotel in Bruges was well located and a good choice, but the hotel in Amsterdam was far from everything and it was a annoying trying to find a place to eat dinner since we didn't want to eat in the hotel.