Lyon and other towns have so much history, especially as the headquarters of the French resistance during world war II. Viking does a great job of education and the guest lecturer that came aboard was very informative. I loved Arles, with the roman ruins and Van Gogh's historical presence, and saw where he painted several of his paintings. The ship was kept spectacularly clean by the staff! Our cabins were tidied twice a day and even the balcony was cleaned of water from rain, so we could sit out there comfortably. Trivia night and the cruise director's presentation about French culture was our favorite entertainment. The food was fantastic! We really enjoyed trying all the specialties of the area. The optional excursions were varied and catered to multiple interests of the guests. I highly recommend Viking River cruises! The optional extension in Paris was also wonderful! There was a Viking representative at our hotel that helped with sightseeing and tours, etc., which was very helpful. The tours selected gave the best overall sights of Paris in 3 short days! Monique, our local tour guide, was very informative and fun!