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Viking River Cruises

r/b Viking Danube

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Rosemary Francis
# previous cruises: 10 to 20
Date of Trip: August 7, 2003
Itinerary: European Rivers

One thing that cannot be done is to compare a river cruise and vessel with an ocean-going cruise and vessel. They provide different experiences and should be evaluated as such. If one is looking for luxurious pampering with non-stop entertainment and amusement, this is not for them. If people want a change from the ocean-going vessels, if they want relaxation and easy access to charming ports and the ability to get to know their fellow-passengers well, then they should try a river cruise. We generally did a port a day (unfortunately not always enough time), most tours were included, the guides were very knowledgeable, coaches comfortable, and it offered a different perspective than doing a similar tour on our own (which we have done and will do again). It is a more relaxing way to tour as the boats dock in town so that the disembarkation/embarkation process is quite easy, especially in ports where there was extended time.

By necessity the boat is small. There is a lounge that can fit everyone if necessary. It was multipurpose in that a buffet lunch was available there as well as afternoon tea. In the evening it was a gathering place for drinks, dancing, and any shows.

There was an adequate library with books, games, and puzzles which was open 24 hours. It was a good place to lose oneself for a while. The boat also had a small but nicely equipped gym.

The upper deck had a small pool, plenty of room to sit out, and a covered area if one needed to get out of the sun. It provided an excellent vantage point to watch the sights and to enjoy a summer evening, and it also was the venue for several evening activities.

By necessity the boat is small. There is a lounge that can fit everyone if necessary. It was multipurpose in that a buffet lunch was available there as well as afternoon tea. In the evening it was a gathering place for drinks, dancing, and any shows. There was an adequate library with books, games, and puzzles which was open 24 hours. It was a good place to lose oneself for a while. The boat also had a small but nicely equipped gym. The upper deck had a small pool, plenty of room to sit out, and a covered area if one nedded to get out of the sun. It provided an excellent vantage point to watch the sights and to enjoy a summer evening, and it also was the venue for several evening activities. Food & Service : The food was quite good. The chef has had experience on several leading cruise ships and applied it well to the river cruise. Portions were generous and well prepared and cooked to order. The breakfast was primarily buffet though made to order items were available. Lunch was served buffet-style in the lounge or sit down in the dining room, while dinner was available in the dining room only. There were a wide range of choices, unlimited amounts, and desserts were excellent. Coffee, tea, and ice water were always available in the lounge. There were a few "specialty meals', including a German-style lunch as we sailed down the lovely Middle Rhine served on the upper deck. If anyone had special needs it was very easy to speak personally with the chef and he worked well with you. The serving staff was young, but they worked hard to please and they handled themselves quite well.

The only drawback I felt was that since the boat was marketed toward Americans and other English-speakers, they tried too hard to be "American" in some of the menu choices and the fairly early dinner-hour. Being in Europe, we wanted an European experience -- otherwise we'd have stayed closer to home.

Out cabins were adequate and there was plenty of storage space. The closets and shelves were ample, and the suitcases fit quite nicely under the beds so that they were out of the way. They provided electronic safes and hairdryers as well as daily toilitries. The bathrooms were adequate and space was ample; however, they could have been better lighted, especially in the shower, and unfortunately we had some problems with the toilet system. Noise between cabins was at a minimum, but at times it did depend on the placement of furniture in the cabin -- head-to-head cabins provided unneeded contact with a neighbor.

Entertainment was good considering it wasn't a megaship. While the nightly entertainer did need some improvement, he did provide dance and background music and was happy to accommodate you if he could. We knew going in that there wasn't the lavish entertainments common on other ships, but the staff tried and was was enjoyable. It also allowed for good conversation and fellowship.

The clientele was primarily older couples (40+) though there were several families with teen-agers aboard, and they seemed to enjoy it as much as everyone else did. While primarily American, there were people from the UK, Canada, and other European locales. It would not be appropriate for small children and there were no facilities for them. The crew was international and the cruise director was an American. The staff was efficient and tried to accommodate as best as possible.

The cruise was from Amsterdam to Basel along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, including stops in Cologne, Heidelberg, Cochem, Bernkastle, Rudesheim, the Black Forest, and Strousbourg. Most tours were included and they varied from royal palaces to music museums to cathedrals to canal cruises in Amsterdam, with several optional ones offered. Most were well-planned, though some adjustments could be made. There was free time where the docking was extended and it was very easy to go to and from the boat. Local entertainment was provided in some ports, including cafe singers in Strousbourg and Alpen Horn players. Other evenings included wine lectures and tastings.

Most of the passengers were well-traveled and were open to new experiences. People were for the most part outgoing and friendly. We made new friends and have kept in touch with them and yes, I would have them in my home. They have had a variety of vacation experiences, knowing that each in its way offers something different and valuable.