This was my sixth VR River Cruise and it was by far, my least favorite. The food was mediocre, at best and there was very little to see at each of the stops along the way. The best part of the trip was the three day precruise trip thru the Loire Valley. The Captain of the ship didn't even attend the Aquavit party for Viking Explorers. Everything on the trip seemed to be a little cheaper, e.g., the Silver Spirit Package did not include a hat nor a bag like it had, in the past.

All of that being said, the boat and the crew (except for the Captain) were fantastic. This was my first trip on a Longship and the boat is far superior to the standard boats from the past. It was a shame to waste such a magnificent boat on such an ugly river. Distances were so short, sailing times never seemed to exceed two hours.

This trip should not be included as a future Viking destination.