We had taken a couple of ocean cruises and just hated them, but our friends convinced us that a Viking River Cruise was different. They ships were smaller, they said, with far fewer passengers. The food was excellent, the wine was endless, the accommodations were spacious, and the crew was uncompromisingly attentive. They were right. We took a cruise called the Danube Waltz from Passau, Germany to Budapest, stopping in Vienna, Melk, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Unlike the ocean cruises we were on, most of the sightseeing excursions were included in the price. We saw all sorts of cathedrals, castles, major cities and quaint villages. The guides were always informative, the Mercedes-Benz buses were comfortable and made to see out of, and there was always plenty of time for walking around and exploring on our own. Several optional excursions were available, too, for an additional price. We saw a nice Strauss concert in Vienna and had the most entertaining wine tasting experience we've ever had in Austria. The only problem we had was the airline losing one of our bags. But the concierge on the ship dogged the airline until they found the bag and delivered it a couple of days later. I can't say enough about the service on the ship. Yes, I believe we'll take another Viking River Cruise on a different river -- maybe the Rhine or in France.
Our cabin was spacious enough and efficiently designed. Our steward kept it clean and well -stocked with toiletries.
Old stuff, most of it gold-plated.