We took the Danube Waltz cruise on the Viking Prestige from Budapest to Passau. It was our first river cruise and, overall, we enjoyed the experience. On the upside, the ship was immaculate. It was modern, comfortable and well fitted out. Our stateroom was just the right size for the time we spent in it, with good storage, a well designed, compact bathroom and, as we were on the top deck, good views out. We were glad to have the big sliding French door when cruising in the daytime. As someone who hates loud air conditioning I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was virtually silent. It really was useful in the heat of eastern Europe in July. Our stateroom was about half way along the deck and because the ship has a hybrid propulsion system, we noticed almost no noise or vibration when sailing. As a lot of the cruising on this trip is done at night, this was a real boon.

The food and drink were excellent. We had read reviews which said that the wine which comes as part of the ticket price was not up to scratch, but we know a bottle of good red and we found the house red to be very drinkable. We had thought of picking up some local wine (Viking don’t charge corkage) but didn’t feel the need. I also tried the house white, which was crisp and refreshing. There was plenty to eat and it was never less than excellent. The chef and maitre d’ were constantly checking that everything was OK (and topping up our glasses!), as were the waiters. Service was friendly and accommodating. We liked the fact that dishes influenced by local cuisine and ingredients were the norm. The culinary highlight was a “Taste of Austria” evening, when our Austrian chef shared what must have been most of the signature dishes from his homeland. Exactly how he and his team produced so much variety to such a high standard from a river cruiser’s galley wasn’t clear but they did it with panache.

Having worked with some top performing teams, I can honestly say that the crew of the Viking Prestige were one of the best I have encountered. Nothing was too much trouble, information was presented clearly when it was needed, help was on hand when necessary, and we were never in any doubt that a trouble free, enjoyable and fun experience for the passengers was the goal. The Cruise Director was particularly impressive. On one occasion we were in a cafe in Salzburg when a minor problem arose. The Cruise Director appeared as if from nowhere and sorted it, even though there was nothing to identify us as his passengers. The cruise was my wife’s 60th birthday treat but we hadn’t told the crew. On the final evening the maitre d’ and some of his staff appeared at our table with a cake and sang happy birthday. We are still trying to work out how they knew it was us in a full restaurant. Read more