This was our first time on a cruise, and we really enjoyed ourselves! Every aspect was top notch- from Andrew, the program director, to the kitchen, the cabin, the food, and the excursions with the local guides who were very informative. We plan to go on another cruise with Viking again. We prepaid for the excursions and gratuities, which allowed us to space out the cost of the trip. We really liked the size of the cruise- there were `183 passengers on board- we never had to wait for anything.
I really wanted to explore the Christmas markets, we were given ample time to shop and explore. The only thing I wish I'd known was that most of the market booths only accept Euros, so either plan ahead and bring plenty or you can exchange them at the airport or at an ATM.
Another issue that didn't impact us was lost luggage. There were several people who arrived on board without any luggage. Viking did what they could to help, though this was an airline issue, not a Viking issue. They helped get patrons to local shops to buy a change of clothes, luggage, etc.
We had a cabin with a balcony. We had read that some people commented about ships being docked next door and didn't recommend these rooms, though there were some mornings where a ship would be next door, they would set sail before it really affected us. We did enjoy the times we were able to sit out on the balcony as we sailed. Take into account that you really don't spend a lot of time in your cabin if you want to get the most out of your cruise.
We took the Tastes of Alsace and literally ate our way around the city. It, like all the excursions we took, was well worth the extra cost and we learned a lot about the city, culture and the food & wine in the process.