This was our first 'river cruise' and we are delighted that we chose Viking River Cruises to sail along the Rhine River. From the moment we stepped aboard we were warmly greeted and well cared for by an amazing team of crew members. The ship is less than 6 months old and it was a delight to be on board a clean, sleek, and well-designed boat. We had a cabin on the highest deck and while not huge, it was plenty big enough with lots of storage space for clothes and shoes, and space under the bed to store our suitcases. The big screen TV in the room was a nice bonus and the bed was very comfortable. (Pillows are on the soft side, which I loved.)

Each day included some sort of tour, mostly via bus trips. These were well-organized excursions on beautiful buses. Each person is issued a wearable headset so that everyone can hear the tour guide. These proved so useful. They were easy to use and worked beautifully. And each local tour guide was truly superb. They had great knowledge of the subject and the area and they were skillful in moving the group along and answering questions.

Food: there are two options for dining: the very casual upper lounge and the formal dining room. We found that the dining room offered a much better option for us with more choices. The food was excellent and one night everyone was welcomed into the small galley where all the chefs were proud to show off what they do in a small space. Breakfasts always included eggs and omelets made-to-order along with numerous meats and side dishes and breads/pastries. Lunch always included beautiful and tasty and creative side salads and a pasta dish along with several options for ordering off the menu. Dinners were creative and always offered a nice variety of options. We found it helpful to sit in the same area each night so that the server gets to know you and your preferences. Read more