We chose this particular cruise because of its Itinerary. We've enjoyed Viking River in the past. The ship, its amenities and staff exceeded our expectations. The Service from all the crew was "over the top'. Everyone is so friendly and outgoing and it is very clear the entire crew is very happy to be with Viking. Viking is very good to their guests and apparently to the crew as well. There is a larger group of travelers on the Ocean Cruises and some of the included excursions were rushed and didn't provide much free time in a number of ports. Popular European destinations with tiny streets and lots of traffic are always going to have congestion and traffic delays. My only suggestion for improvement would be to build more travel time into the excursion schedule to allow more free time for guests to wander a bit. The local city guides were outstanding. Food was very good in all of the ship's venues. Our particular favorite - The Chef's Table!