We had never been to France and this was a special trip. Our 40th Anniversary. Viking was the right choice in every respect. We added two extensions, both through Viking. The French Riviera (Nice, Monaco, Cannes & Paris as a Grand Finale). Accommodations, Hosting, Dining and Transportation were outstanding. The ship was well appointed and modern. The staff extremely courteous and professional in every respect. The river, villages and sites were pristine, historical and stunning. If you choose to go out on your own and explore, you can do so and the staff will offer pointers. If you choose to remain in a your group and gain insight from the host tour director then that is also a fine way to enjoy the history and various sites. The option is entirely yours. From meeting you at the airport to recommending fine dining on shore, the list is endless of the assistance that Viking offers each passenger. We will most definitely be traveling with Viking again in the future and highly recommend to the traveler wishing to encorporate quality, comfort, convenience, information, fine dining, luxury and value. Viking, in our opinion is simply one of the very best if not the very best all around cruise experiences in the industry.