We had heard so many rave reviews about Viking and this cruise that we had to go. We were totally blown away by the service, the staff, the accommodations, the food and the care and attention to detail every member of the staff and crew showed us. Our meals, crafted by Chef Russell, were amazing. And Chef Russell was very entertaining when describing each night's regional meal. Shout out to Ksenija our Maitre D' for a great dining experience and always being to upbeat and cheerful. David, our Program Director was entertaining and knowledgeable about our ports of call and took care of us as were ventured into new towns. Our cabin was well taken care of by Dragan. We could not have been happier with his help and guidance and answering our questions. The towns we visited were incredible examples of life along the rivers and we felt fortunate that every day we had time to explore on our own and sample local food and hospitality. The included tours were amazing, informative, and sometimes very funny and the guides shared local stories and personal experiences with us. We made many new friends on our voyage and we are still in touch with them. All in all, this was the best introduction to river cruising and to Viking as a company and we look forward to more cruises with Viking.