I have cruised the Danube with another cruise line. I was looking forward to comparing that line with Viking. Vikings ships are modern and well maintained. Port stops on the Rhine were good and the excursions well chosen. The tour guides I had were well educated and excited to talk about there country and where they live. The Rhine River is very busy with barges continuously taking all kinds of materials to ports on the river. The food on the Viking cruise was very good. A nice diverse daily selection to choose from. There could have been more planned evening activities and less daily talks by the cruise director. I felt the staff could have been more relaxed and friendly. The wait staff was excellent but you could tell they needed more time off. In my opinion the Danube was a prettier river. I would travel with Viking again but can't give them 5 stars.