This was our fourth Viking River Cruise, ( plus one ocean vcruise), and our first that included a tour before the boat. The hotel in Lisbon was elegant, one of the best we’ve stayed at. The included excursions were great, as almost all Viking included excursions are. On the third morning we bussed to Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro from Porto, with a stop in the university town of Coimbra. Getting on the ship was smooth as silk, as was disembarking. Our cabin was pristine, as we have experienced on every Viking cruise. Housekeeping was efficient and friendly. I have a CPAP machine and they delivered distilled water right away. There were plenty of power outlets available as well as a couple of USB ports. We were docked across the River from Porto, but you can easily walk across a bridge to explore Porto on your own, which we did after being bussed in the morning. (Our only complaint was the morning rush hour traffic. It would be quicker to take a ferry across the River.) we then sailed up the River Douro. Each stop included a fantastic excursion, with some breathtaking scenery during your bus rides. The terraced hillsides with vineyards and olive groves are beautiful. Our ride up to the Sandeman vineyard was exhilarating, with multiple hairpin switchbacks as we climbed to the sky. My heart races even now when I think of it. The trip to Salamanca Spain was scenic, and the town itself was another special highlight. There are too many highlights about the other stops to go into specifics, but not one day was a disappointment. The staff on the Torgil were pleasant, professional and informative. The guides on the excursions knew what they were talking about. They were either local or experienced. We really enjoyed the meals on the Torgil. There was always a local dish that was available, as well as some of the standard steak and pasta dishes if you weren’t feeling adventurous that day. The chef was around all the time, making sure the food was meeting your expectations. The wait staff was great as well. I highly recommend the Viking River of Gold cruise.