This was our first European river cruise; we chose Viking because of its reputation and reviews. I must say Viking DID NOT disappoint! Despite traveling during a time when COVID-19 was concerning, I & my traveling friends felt confident and safe traveling aboard Viking Hiln. The staff was professional, friendly, and capable! I especially appreciated that there were only 82 guests aboard; it was a perfect-sized group. We appreciated seeing and talking with the Viking staff; we saw the captains several times during the day, but always in the morning. They made themselves available to answer questions or just chat. My favorite staff member was Radim - the program director! Viking picked the right person for the job - professional, knowledgeable, organized, helpful, personable, friendly... the list goes on! We had an issue that our cruise planner recommended inquiring about with guest services when we boarded the ship. Radim was on it & connected with us about it several times and found the solution. Another impressive part of the cruise was the cuisine aboard - not surprisingly, it was delicious! I was impressed that there was a special menu centered on the area in which we were sailing during the day, as well as a standard menu from which we could order. It was obvious that Chef Klaus and the maitre d' ran a tight galley, as the fare and wait staff were spot-on! We sailed from Basel to Amsterdam and the only variation we experienced in our itinerary was not being able to sail into Amsterdam - as The Netherlands closed its borders the evening before we were to disembark. This was only a concern for about 30 guests who were scheduled for a post-cruise excursion in Amsterdam. Viking made up for it in grand style, however, by inviting us to Bruges, Belgium to stay at the Hotel Duke's Palace. Though we missed seeing Amsterdam, Belgium was an unexpected surprise that was delightful! I would highly recommend sailing with Viking!