We chose this cruise originally because of the itinerary. We were meeting our daughter in Bordeaux in order to tour the Dordogne and the Loire Valley. We came with no expectations. Our only prior river cruise was on AMA on the Danube which we loved. This one surpassed our expectations. The food, the service, the tour guides, the special dinner all were amazing. From the time we boarded the ship, we were welcomed as old friends. The decor is restful and serene. Every staff member went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. The food was outstanding and the dining room setting was inviting as it was so open- no partitions to block views and the ability to see everything including the views. There were different size tables- up to 10, so as we gathered new friends, there were tables to accommodate us. We found the tour guides to be exceptional. On our prior cruise, they were acceptable, but these were significantly better. Their knowledge, their friendliness, and handling of our groups. Truly an amazing river cruise.