There are many ways to travel, but I think this river cruise thing has me hooked.

It’s just so damn easy. My cruise partner and I arrived in Paris on Sunday morning, were met by Viking representatives at the airport, had a comfortable transfer and arrived at the Viking Fjorgyn docked on the Seine with the iconic Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

In less than five minutes we were checked in to our stateroom (at 11:30 am), and our bags were delivered.

A wonderful first impression to be sure. And when you add to that efficiency the warm welcome of crew members and the calming, embracing appeal of the Viking longship’s Scandinavian décor, it was as fine a start to a trip as we’ve ever experienced.

Tired but energized by the thrill of being in one of the world’s great cities, we walked off the Fjorgyn and into an unseasonably warm November day. Parisians by the thousands were out seizing the day -- jogging, strolling, working out under bridges and generally looking fabulous.

After cocktails and a delicious dinner, we enjoyed a combination of opera arias and Parisian favourites from a four-piece piano, accordion, soprano and baritone quartet. It was the perfect end to a first day in the City of Lights.

Day 2 offered a welcome full day in Paris, before an early evening departure. We chose an included morning panoramic tour by coach, which oriented us to key sights on both the right and left banks of the Seine.

We stopped first at Notre Dame, where work continues with hope that the medieval cathedral that burned in a catastrophic 2019 fire can be restored in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024. A second stop delivered a postcard-quality photo opportunity of the Eiffel Tower.

An afternoon optional tour brought us closer to Parisian life. A group of a dozen – including an 89-year-old woman -- followed a Viking guide into the Paris Metro for a trip to Montmartre, a 130 metre hill topped by a small village, which also gives its name to the surrounding right bank district.

A funicular took us to the top of Montmartre, where we toured the impressive Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, before wandering through the village made famous by the presence of some of the greatest artists of the early 20th-century, including Picasso, Renoir, Pissarro, Mondrian and Toulouse-Lautrec.

Letting guests travel in a group on the Paris Metro is a bit of a bold move for Viking. Managing tour groups is always a bit like herding cats, and it would be easy to mislay a guest or two on the crowded subway. But another thing I’m learning through successive river journeys is that enjoyed the experience.

Fellow guests are another highlight of the river cruise experience. In our experience, they are thoughtful people who love meeting new friends as much as seeing new places. We’ve shared meals with several different groups already on this cruise, and the conversation has always been wide-ranging and stimulating.

Back onboard after a wonderful Parisian sojourn, it was cocktail hour again, with a sail-away champagne toast followed by a fine meal featuring French specialties like a perfectly executed goat cheese soufflé, chateaubriand and a hazelnut chocolate tart. Magnifique!

After the bright lights and big city, Day 3 of the cruise promised a very different experience, with two stops at small Medieval villages.

A couple of notes on the Viking experience. The line with the largest river cruise fleet in the world has clearly created and honed a crowd-pleasing product. Most of the people we’ve met onboard are veteran Viking cruisers, many with multiple river journeys under their belt, and a good number who have sailed with the company’s ocean fleet as well.

They’re fiercely loyal, though quite a few have tried other brands in the past. As one guest told me: “Viking river cruises are consistently excellent. When you find a company that delivers on its promises every time, it just makes sense to keep using them.”