We had been considering 15 day The Grand European Tour Viking River Cruise for a long time, and we finally decided to indulge ourselves. We were on the May 26 - June 9, 2017, cruise. This was an outstanding experience, and one that far exceeded our expectations in almost every way! First, we opted for Viking to make our travel arrangements, which included our transfers between airport and ship. Not only did they welcome us in the arrivals hall in Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) at the beginning of our journey, they also had a representative stay with us all the way until we arrived at the security checkpoint when we departed from the Budapest airport. We opted for the Veranda Stateroom (upper deck) because we wanted a little more room (205 sq. feet plus balcony) versus the French Balcony Stateroom (135 sq. feet). We are very happy with our decision. Although we really did not use the balcony very much, we very much appreciated the extra space! Rey, our cabin attendant was superb! We don't know how he always seemed to know the moment when we left our cabin, and when we came back from breakfast, he had already been in to clean the room. He frequently asked if there was anything else we needed or wanted, and reminded us that he was there to do whatever he could to make our vacation enjoyable. That attitude was prevalent among ALL the staff! Every staff member consistently provided exceptional service, and made us feel so welcomed and valued as customers. The front desk staff was always friendly, efficient, and very helpful. The maitre d' Ksenjia always handed each of us a bottle of water to take along as we left the ship each day for our excursions, and she then offered us a warm welcome and a smile when we returned. She made sure the food service operation went smoothly, which it did! Our waitstaff Mae, Barbara, Dessi, and Michael were all fantastic, as were the bartenders in the lounge: Tamas and Christian! Chef (Gabor) was a master at his profession, provided a varied menu of expertly prepared meals, including a number of regional specialties. It was a real treat to be able to visit the galley after dinner one night and hear the chef explain the culinary operation of the ship. Each day during lunch time and again after dinner, we enjoyed going to the lounge and listening to musicians George and Magdalena. Program Director Barry did a great job of managing all the onboard activities, as well as the daily excursions.

The ship was absolutely beautiful, was spotlessly clean, and was well-maintained. We went on all of the included excursions. It is difficult to say which was best, because they were all excellent. If I had to choose, I would say that the tour of Marksburg Castle in Braubach, Germany, and the visit to the windmills at Kinderdijk were personal favorites. The guides were all friendly and knowledgeable.

The only thing lacking, in my opinion, was some sort of fitness room. It would have to be very small, but even a room with a couple of stationary bikes or treadmills would have been appreciated. The sundeck does have a walking track, but the sundeck was closed for five days because of the need to be able to lower the railings and equipment on that deck so that we could pass under some of the many bridges on the rivers. A small fitness room would be a welcome addition, especially for those times when the walking track is not available. Read more