This was our first river cruise and we really wanted to visit Giverny and the D-Day beaches. Paris, of course, is always wonderful. The whole experience was efficiently arranged without seeming regimented. The ship is clean, comfortable and well designed. We never felt crowded and there was always ample seating in the dining room, aquavit terrace or on deck. We never felt cramped in our cabin (veranda stateroom). The food was quite good- always a good selection at every meal with attentive service. The cruise director gave daily briefings of the next day's activities that were short and informal but gave us everything we needed to know. The ports of call were varied and well chosen. We took advantage of many of the shore excursions, which were very well organized. The trip to the D-Day landing beaches was a highlight. A very moving experience with a great local guide who shared her family scrapbook of photos and letters with us that painted a striking picture of life in Normandy during the German occupation and subsequent allied invasion. Overall, I would give the cruise an A+ rating. The experience fully met our expectations and we would certainly try another.

We opted for a pre-cruise stay in Paris organized by Viking. That portion of the trip was quite expensive and, we frankly felt the value was not great. The hotel was a brisk 25 minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe in the opposite direction from the Champs Elysees. It's fortunate the Paris metro is so good- else we would have felt quite isolated. We have found more centrally located hotels in Paris and other cities for less money. We had two great walking tours (to Le Marais and St. Germain de Pres), but we could have arranged those independently. We probably would not repeat a pre-cruise stay through Viking.

Overall though, a super cruise- we'll certainly do others!