Viking Aegir Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We took the Viking Grand European Cruise, starting in Budapest, Hungary and ending in Amsterdam. We cuised the Danube River, the Main-Danube Canal, the Main River, and the Rhine River. There were over 60 locks on the journey.
Viking really has their act together. They are so organized. Every tour is organized into different groups ("A", "B", "C", etc.) and the buses are clearly labeled, as well as the local tour guides themselves. They have radio receivers so the tour guides aren't shouting over each other and you can listen conveniently at a comfortable distance away. They have long-sticked paddles with the Viking logo and the letter of the tour so you can find your tour guide from afar. Many cities (not all) had the opportunity to take a "leisurely" tour if there were passengers who find it difficult to walk long distances or deal with stairs. The buses were very comfortable and they all had a toilet on board. That was handy.
The city tours were okay. It depended heavily on the tour guide you got. Some were outstanding, some were average. The cities along the route are steeped heavily in history. Those tour guides were able to spit out all kinds of facts, dates, and names. It was a little overwhelming. If you're really into European history dating back to medieval times, you'll enjoy the tours. I was only able to focus on the history from WWII. The rest went in one ear and out the other!
Cabin Review
Our Veranda room was superb and was worth the extra cost. It was laid out very functionally and we were able to unpack and fit everything we brought. The beds had no box springs under the mattress so there was plenty of room to store our luggage and whatever we didn't need. The bathroom had shelves and towel racks. The shower stall was very practical and sealed well. The Veranda room had more interior space than a room with just the French Balcony. The Veranda room was a little wider (about 18 or 24 inches more) and had enough room for an extra chair next to the bed. The Standard and French Balcony rooms did not have the space for the extra chair and the bed was very close to their wall (Standard) or sliding glass window (French Balcony). The people in the Standard rooms (below water level on the lower level) were not happy with their choice, even though they saved money. They said it was noisy (from plumbing pipes and the water hitting the side of the ship), had absolutely no view, and would never choose that Standard room again. Most of them booked late and the Standard room was the only choice available.