We wanted to experience Christmas in Switzerland, Germany and France along the Rhine River. We were not disappointed! I have never seen so many Christmas markets in my life! Excellent buying experience with great food and drink. We felt welcomed everywhere we went. The tours were interesting, but frequently unavailable due to capacity limits. Most of the tours were filled to capacity before we booked our trip (7 months in advance). Regardless, we still had at a least one tour in each port. The tour guides were excellent (as they always are with Viking.) The only exception was one guide had a tendency to walk too fast for the group of 70-80 year old passengers. We later learned that they offered a slower group that was available each day. I especially liked sailing during daylight hours to enjoy the river, castles and towns along the way. The food was excellent as well, but the menu is somewhat limited. I enjoyed the opportunity to eating an example of the local cuisine every day. The ship's crew was exceptional! It did seem that the ship was somewhat understaffed. This did NOT effect the quality of the service. Every crew member was friendly, helpful and had great attitudes! The cruise could not have been better!