This was our first trip with Viking and our first river cruise as well. We recently retired and had seen the Viking ads on public television and decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed. The Kvasir was just the right size... enough people to be interesting, yet small enough to still feel intimate. The crew and staff from the captain to the wait staff were accessable and all worked hard to make us feel like we were special. The cruise director was personally engaged and participated in tours himself and was always offering constructive suggestions. The ship seemed new and the staff kept it clean and tidy. The food was always good. I have a tomato food allergy and everyday I was sought out by staff to go over the menu to make sure I had a selection of meals I was happy with. The wait staff as well went over backwards to accommodate our needs. The excursions were interesting and the local tour guides were clearly selected for their fund of information and personalities. I might agree with some reviewers that a couple of the excursions were a little long on the bus, but over all, we would give the shore excursions high marks. Based on our experience on the Kvasir, we will be trying a Viking sea cruise next.