We chose the cruise on the advice of friends. We were told that it is the best time to take this trip because of all the winterfest activities that we would encounter along the way. Our friends were correct. We had a memorable trip. We immersed ourselves in every activity and tour that we could fit into the schedule. We had one exception --- we had to take a slight detour and change boats along the way because of the low water level in the river. But, all things in stride, the cruise director and staff made sure that we were taken care of and provided us with a fabulous bus ride/ tour that made the day the most pleasant and enjoyable experience that it could be. That said, I was very ill with a flu virus that actually turned out to be pneumonia. I was on antibiotics during the whole trip and the crew made sure that I always had a box of tissues handy. Someone gave me a packet of cough drops like I have never had before; they worked like magic. During the trip we were able to find a pharmacy to restock. Even the pharmacy was a unique experience. There was a doctor in house. You tell them the symptoms and the doctor gives you the right thing to use. Fabulous. At the end of our trip we stayed a couple of days extra and explored Amsterdam on our own. There were four of us in our group, and we all had a very good time. We ate well every day, we drank loads of hot wine, we laughed a lot and walked our feet off while having a good time. What more can you ask for?