Interesting you posted this, I have saved the last several brochures because I'm interested, as well.

A recently divorced friend traveled in May to Amsterdam and spent a week in the area and a week on a river cruise, although I am not positive it was the Viking tour. She said the vessel was small, but the food was very good and the service and other passengers friendly and she recommended the trip.

It's funny that you mention Viking. We are on their email list and in the past few months have been receiving a weekly email with offers, after years of once-a-year contact. I'm sure the economy has taken it's toll and they are trying to stimulate business.

One of my DH's partners did a Viking Cruise and highly recommends it. He is someone whose opinion I would trust about this sort of thing. We are considering doing one as part of our next trip to Europe.

I did a Caribbean cruise once and I'll never do that again. I didn't like the huge ship, the big crowds, the mediocre food, and the bizarre atmosphere of gluttony that pervades the ship. I didn't like being stuck in the middle of the ocean, with nothing to see, for days.

I'm hoping a smaller river cruise would not only avoid those things but I can get off the ship in Paris, or somewhere, and see the sites & go find a decent meal if need be.

The Viking ad firm is really doing its job. We too have been talking about going on a cruise after seeing the commercials and looking at their brochures.

We took a Rhine River cruise this time of year and it was wonderful (don't remember which cruise line). I would highly recommend river cruising.

I also would recommend cruising the Greek Isles. There is not a lot of time spent out at sea (and when there is, it's at night), so most of the time you're in port, and oh how spectacular the ports are!

Hhireno, my first cruise was a Caribean cruise and I felt like you....never again. Too much time at sea.

I have a friend who has gone on at least two river cruises. She loved it both times and said it was so much better than the ocean cruises she has been on. Not sure where she went each time . I'd ask her but she's now in Spain!

She did say it was much more initimate in that you get to know the people better and you travel at night, pacing it so that you get to the places where you stop early in the morning so that you have a full day to sight see.

We have friends who do European river cruises and they always have a great time. I don't know the cruise line though. Years ago as a kid I did a river cruise on the Rhine and it was wonderful. Not sure I would want to travel only at night. I enjoyed the scenery-that was a large part of the enjoyment of being on the river!

I'm so happy to hear that many of you have heard the cruises are great~~makes me want to take advantage of one of those 2 for 1 deals right NOW! Like a couple of you, I have no desire to do the big cruise ship'~~if I don't see land, I think I might go into a panic. I like the idea of less people, too.

I noticed in the brochure the cruise can be extended for an extra 4 days@$699. I don't know if that's a fair price, but since i'll already be there, feel I would take advantage of extra time.

Here's a site I found on line that's for women only, but looks to be a little pricey. But then again, at my age, I feel it's all relative. The trust just won't have as much for the kids. ;o)

Here is a link that might be useful: tour...

I've always avoided cruises because I thought being stuck in a huge floating hotel where you can't get away from all of the tourists would be like vacationing in H$&@ (I'm an 'off the beaten path' kind of vacationer). But, I've been debating an Amazon river cruise for several years now, and may eventually do it. A smaller boat, fewer people - that I could see being fun. I love boating, just not huge crowds, and there are some things you can only see from a boat - worth doing!