What a fantastic river cruise! While all of the Viking employees went out of their way to ensure everyone enjoyed the trip, two employees deserve specific mention. We can't say enough good things about Alex, the Bragi"s Program Director. He possesses a great sense of humor and is very, very knowledgeable about the history of Europe and all the sights along the route of our trip. He worked hard night and day to ensure all passengers enjoyed the voyage were given a 5 star vacation. Natalia, the Bragi's concierge, also made this cruise a great experience. She was always there to make sure the shore excursions went as well as possible and that extra activities were available wherever desired.

Shore excursions were the highlight of our travel through five countries. Each was well planned and local English-speaking guides made each one informative and very worthwhile. We also liked that on many days there is time to do some extra exploring on your own. We had a veranda cabin and loved the many times we could sit outside and enjoy the sights. Both formal dining and buffet dining offered excellent food each day with super service. The cabin was well appointed and kept immaculate.

Unfortunately, the Danube was closed to traffic for approximately 150 miles because of low river levels. While most other river cruise lines had to move their passengers each day to hotels from the river closure point (Nuremberg) to the end of their journey, Viking accommodated it's passengers with a 2-hour coach trip around the closure and a swap to a duplicate sister ship, the Skadi. A definite Viking plus. Read more