From the first couple of Viking commercials I saw on public television it became my dream to take a river cruise. To my delight, it exceeded my expectations. From the booking of the trip through its conclusion at the departure airport, everything about it was superb. We booked a pre-cruise extension in Prague - highly recommended - Viking had a presence at our hotel and provided tours and transportation to and from Old Town throughout our stay there. We were taken to Passau on a very comfortable motor coach. Boarding was a snap on the small, elegant ship. Our veranda stateroom was very well-equipped and space utilization was outstanding. As just one example, the bathroom was more functional than most hotels despite its relatively small size. Our steward provided excellent service and the room was maintained in excellent condition at all times. We dined at the buffet-style restaurant and lounge for breakfast and lunch, often eating outside on the deck. The food and service were always excellent. We had dinner nightly in the main dining room and always ordered the chef's selections - he prepared regional dishes reflective of where we were at the time. The food and wine pairings were superb. The Moonlight Duo provided an eclectic blend of music in the lounge that was at perfect volume and of high quality. In addition, special programs, including a night of opera, were offered there. We took several optional shore excursions in addition to the ones included and all were exceptional and educational. In Vienna, for example we took tours from 8:30 am until 11:00 pm. The last tour was to an excellent performance by the Vienna Residence Orchestra at Palais Auersperg - it was perfection, itself. Realizing many of us had missed the evening meal, the chef had prepared an excellent goulash soup served on the lounge deck. Our tour director, Terry, was great! He was exceptionally helpful and patient and had a wonderful sense of humor. His evening presentations on the next day's activities in the lounge were a highlight of each day. I cannot say enough good about this trip. Everything about it was meticulously managed and, helped by the small number of guests, it became obvious that accommodations were made based on what most people were doing and when. We met many people from many places and will have lasting memories. As I told one of my traveling companions on a trip to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, Viking has ruined me for anything else :-). We have already booked a Viking cruise for 2019, this time on one of their small ocean ships for a voyage along the Mediterranean shores. We are very much looking forward to it and to future river cruises. .