We chose this route because we are interested in Reformation history, medieval architecture, and we had been on Danube, Rhine, Rhone, and Main. Astrild is smaller (94 guests) than other Viking longboats but has all the same amenities in suites, dining room, lounge, etc. The balcony (rooms on the right side; rooms on the left have French doors and a rail but no place to sit) is actually useful on this route because the schedule means that you are frequently cruising in day light so can relax in the deckchairs and enjoy the pastoral views. Smokers gather at the rear rooftop so chose a room mid-ship or front to avoid the smoke smells. I liked the undemanding approach to tours - you head to the bus without any loud announcements, participate in just how much you want to, and there's always a more robust option with extra walking, etc. We were delighted with several surprises like Matt cruise director, leading us on an evening stroll through Torgue after dinner one night. This historic itinerary is filled with several over night stops allowing for time off the ship on your own in the evenings. The ship is always docked in a town. Guides are very knowledgeable and often have personal/family connections to the stormy history from the wars. Evening entertainment frequently included music and dancing although there was no dance floor aboard. Food was presented well and was fine but not shockingly yummy. 2 things that were a miss for us was the lack of a somalia (true! a couple bar tenders but no one who had been trained in wines to assist guests. Secondly, a silly practice of not serving tea in a pot. They had tea pots and when pressed would get one for you but not without being ugly about the request. A little thing that had a big negative impact on a lot of Brits, Aussies and Canucks! **The post-cruise trip to Poland was fantastic. I wish I could remember the director's name. She was so good. A former teacher, she passed out maps while she shared details of what we were going to see. And gave us treats from little towns and even a vodka tasting on board! She was very organized and friendly. What a treat. Read Less

This was our second Croisi Cruise. The first was for 5 nights out of Bordeaux. Fabulous French food and relaxed itinerary. Just 8 English speakers 2 Americans and 6 Australians We have started mixing a short cruise between busy land tours for R and R Eastern Europe overland 14 days- CROISI cruise 8 days -Russia and the Baltic States 14 days We were aware of low river levels distrupting river cruises so I contacted Croisi 10 days before our Cruise to ensure we would be sailing. They never replied and after we embarked in Berlin and sailed we were then informed of changes to the itinerary . We completed the first 4 days by doing a "rat run" down Canals and had to moor in isolated spots and spend long days on a coach instead of being able to walk from the ship to places such as Dresden and Meissen. After 2 long bus days we stayed on board and following a complaint on our return home we received a refund of our excursion costs 700 Euro. The company did their best and can't be blamed for the drought but I did object to not being informed beforehand of the changes. We were lucky in that many river cruisers at that time did their whole "cruise" on a bus!! The food onboard did not compare to the first cruise ..French Versus Eastern European Cuisine There were 6 English speakers 2 Irish 2 New Zealanders and 2 Australians. We all received a 700 Euro refund. Croisi is designed for Europeans and is not for everyone. We like their product and it represents good value compared to other companies. We had been to busy Prague on our land tour and loved a second opportunity to get up early and walk over all the bridges with hardly anyone else around. Don't do as the Europeans do GET UP EARLY and you will be rewarded. Read Less

Overall, we had a fantastic time. We chose this cruise initially because it included Berlin which had been on our bucket list for a few years - and it seemed overall like a great value (free air/all inclusive, etc.). We were more than a little reluctant because we had a poor experience on a large cruise ship and vowed we would never take another cruise. Even though we weren't able to actually cruise because the depth of the Elbe was too low, the work arounds (travel by coach bus) worked out well. We loved the intimacy and décor of the ship and our veranda cabin was very comfortable. The food was incredible with multiple choices and local flavors and specialties. The evening entertainment was low key but fun and encouraged non-intrusive interaction with other passengers. An unexpected surprise was we forged a great friendship with another couple and made plans to take another Viking Cruise with them next fall. Berlin was just as incredible as we expected/hoped and Dresden and Prague were delightful and fascinating. The shore excursions were all excellent with local guides who possessed deep historical knowledge yet kept things light and enjoyable at a comfortable pace. We have never taken an "escorted" vacation before so we felt extremely pampered by all the attention to detail including pre-arranged transfers, luggage handling, pre-check in at the hotels, etc. If I could write a more glowing review or stronger recommendation, I would - but this is the best my limited powers of expression can muster. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of interest in the history and evolvement these Eastern European countries; and a personal Polish ancestral history. We were very impressed with a previous Viking sailing and felt positive about booking with Viking once again. The modern baby longship was beautiful; the crews at both stationary ports were awesome; the local guides,Heike, Jana and Nandor were knowledgeable and fun; the food was delicious, especially on the ship (somewhat North American which was a nice alternative to the local food which was good as well); the bus drivers were polite and most importantly, they were safe. We all appreciated the cold water bottles on those particularly hot days! The shore excursions were fantastic for us. No complaints. Viking went out of its way to make amends for a situation they had no control over. We were in no way disgruntled because we could not actually sail. All was verrry good and even tho we didn't rate everything as EXCELLENT because you must have some motivation to keep everything top notch! We have booked another cruise for January. Thank you. Read Less

We have taken many Viking river cruises. Unfortunately this was the non cruise cruise as the Elbe did not have enough water to allow the ships to navigate the river. Therefore we were bussed everywhere and there was zero cruising. If you take this route ask what months are best to give the chance of water in the river as apparently this happens quite a bit around the time we took the cruise. Other than that the places we visited were interesting but it would have been much better to have seen them from the river versus through a bus window. The staff tried to do as much as they could to make this a good experience but that was difficult given the circumstances. Viking did not notify us of the situation until two days before embarkation. Not good for us as we were already in Europe so no chance to defer. They then offered a very small amount of compensation for the cruise. Finally senses prevailed and they gave us a credit for half of the cruise value. The only issue was it had to be used within a year of the cruise date. I would have made that two years as people already had booked 2019 cruises. Read Less

We had not been on a Viking Cruise prior to this trip and had always been told how marvelous they are. I can now fully understand the comments. Never having been in Berlin we were looking forward to seeing the city of such important parts of history. Our tour guide had lived behind the Berlin Wall. Her stories became a tremendous lesson of perseverance of life as she shared of her family before, during and after the wall came down. History previously read became alive in most excursions in Berlin and other cities. This was the smallest Viking ship, but lacked nothing. The service was wonderful and no details were left out. The food was delicious and much more than needed, but oh so enjoyable around a table with strangers who became friends. A highlight of the ship was to be in the wheelhouse to talk with the captain and learn details of this smallest ship and bits of information of the river and why the ship was the smallest in the Viking line. Our visits in other ports and tours were educational, fulfilling, beautiful and not to be forgotten. It was wonderful to stand in Martin Luther’s home and be in churches and buildings which carried importantance in the history of the Reformation. Having a history buff as a tour director helped prepare us for all we would see and experience. The stories of triumphs and the stories of suffering were shared in each stop. The beauty of architecture and the beauty of people. All imprinted in the memory. We have already booked a cruise for May of this year and the next year. Such a joy! Thank you Viking Cruise. Read Less

My husband and I chose the river cruise as a new experience. We normally travel internationally alone, but we have heard very good things about tauck tours and thought that the boat was small and the group would be a manageable size. We are around 60 years old we had asked what the ages will repeat of the guests on the boat. We were told 60% over 60 years old 40% below. We were dismayed to find that generally speaking the primary age was mid to late 70s till early 90s, with very few below this age range. The cruise was half land and half sea. From the very first evening that we met as a group it was clear that we were to be herded around like cattle and it would be a very impersonal experience. Tauck reps spent all there time telling you what bus to get on with no interaction personally. On the bright side the hotel in Berlin was incredible. The tours were very good and the river ship was beautiful with wonderful staff. The food throughout the trip was very good. And the countries we visited Germany Austria Poland were fabulous. Much time was spent on buses literally entire days were spent on buses where we were herded iaround. Although I have wonderful memories I will not be repeating this experience in anyway shape or form. Read Less

We have been on many Viking cruises both River and Ocean. We have always been pleased with the customer service. The entire crew on this Elbe River cruise were wonderful. Our Tour Director, Jamie Wilson, was the best we have ever had on the cruises. Each stop along the way he was very informative. The entire crew on the ship was very friendly and always trying to please us. After our dinner each night in the lounge he had many things for us to do. He played group games and one night he sang with the piano player. When we reached Prague we were introduced to our Tour Guide, Andrea, for our extension into Poland. She was also wonderful. At each stop along the way she gave us a history of the cities and a list of restaurants for our dinner on our own. She gave us her cell phone number in case we got lost in the cities. In Krakow we took the optional tour into the salt mines. I would highly recommend this tour. Our only negative was the Folklore Dinner in Prague. The dinner was just average and the entertainment only involved us in one song. We had been to a different Folklore Dinner another time in Prague with another River Cruise and it was excellent. we feel that viking should look for another venue for this Read Less

We are Lutheran and wanted to see Wittenberg. We were met at the Berlin airport by our escort Lisette, who was fantastic, and stayed with us through the land portion of Germany as well as the actual cruise and did not leave us until she turned us over Jana in Prague so Jana could take us through Poland (Krakow and Warsaw). Jana also was fantastic. For us it was just terrific two have two wonderful Viking escorts on our first Viking cruise. This ship is one of the smaller Viking river ships holding about 96 guests so you get to meet almost everybody. The whole crew on our trip were terrific. We were in cabin 225 and thought it was great. We had breakfast in the dinning room every morning and the food was great. Lunches and dinners were also fantastic and the whole ship's crew seemed that they just could not do enough for you. All of the shore excursions were great and we would recommend Viking to all the people we know as well as those people we do not know. The next river cruise we take will be with Viking. We can not say enough about how wonderful all the employees of Viking were from the local tour guides to the whole ships' crew. the bus drivers to our two fantastic escorts. Viking is the way to go!!! Read Less

The trip offered 2 nights in Berlin and 2 nights in Prague. I wanted to see those cities combined with a river cruise. The Elbe River is not a commercial waterway like the Rhine and offered an almost private cruise of the countryside. The cruise was very relaxing as well as informative of the cities we visited. The river depth was low and we could not make the last port. But that really only translated into a longer bus ride to Prague which was scenic. Overall I’d recommend this cruise for people wanting to visit Berlin and Prague as well as visiting the cities along the river. The side trips available were also attractive - many people went on to Krakow and Warsaw. I’m Berlin there was a 4 hour river tour through Berlin that was interesting to see the city from the water view perspective. Chef Oliver excelled as he prepared local foods as we moved along the river. His personality is infectious- you feel like he’s cooking for a family get together rather than a cruise. He is an asset beyond his pay. He is the type of person that makes your clients to want to cruise with Viking again! Sergio and Jamie were outstanding. Jamie went way out of his way to show guest the sites. One day in Prague he walked 6 of us to restaurant for lunch that offered real local cuisine. We would not have found this place on our own and the restaurant experience was fantastic. I did compliment Sergio on his staff because they all attentive to the cruisers. Our housekeeping person (his name escapy me) was over the top as exceeding our needs. Just little things like finding an extra blanket or water it was like he was pulling it out of his back pocket. Read Less

This trip was an excellent overview of the events leading up to WWII and its aftermath as well as an opportunity to see beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace. The staff of the Beyla was friendly, helpful, and fun! They were willing to help however anyone needed it. They always served with smiles and went the extra mile. Our servers even took time to help us learn a few words of their language when we asked! Both the included and optional excursions were excellent. Our tour directors and the local guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We always felt comfortable asking questions and for recommendations. We love the small size of river cruises with Viking. This was our third river cruise with the company and we have never been disappointed. Even when our cruise has been disrupted due to water conditions, Viking has made arrangements that were positive and and fun. Read Less

It was actually my friends & travel companions who picked this particular cruise. I was intrigued as it was an areaic never visited nor had I done s river cruise before,just ocean cruises. The size of the boat and being able to have a view of something everyday appealed. The meals were great. We mostly ate in the dining room...just one seating but the choice of tables and dining companions was unrestricted. I found the meals were of excellent quality and size... no need for the big all day buffets found on the huge cruise ships. I found this to be quality not quantity. Can honestly say I never left the dining room hungry! I found my room with a little balcony more than sufficient for my needs. I was a solo traveler but don’t think the cabin would’ve been cramped for two. The tours were exceptional with wonderful tour guides. Locals with excellent language skills and knowledge. They were all personable and friendly. Never felt rushed or that the tour was lagging. What I loved was that we were embarking in the middle of communities so we could walk into the shops. Liked the hotel in Berlin better than Prague, but Prague has such winding streets it was just a practical choice. It was still walkable. Read Less

Chose this cruise from a Viking email with a great price. Everything was excellent except the return home. Our flight was late getting to Frankfurt and our flight to Philadelphia left us. We had to wait several hours for a flight to Washington and then another flight to Philadelphia. The overall quality of the cruise however was excellent. The ship and cabins were very lovely and cozy. The included shore excursions were excellent. The entertainment in the lounges was very good. The optional tours in each port were well thought out and very well run. We explored Berlin before we departed and loved that city. The service on the ship was excellent including being interviewed and welcomed by one of the officers interested in marketing the cruise to African-Americans and how did we find out about it The dining room experience and wine tastings were a nice exploration. I even bought a case of one of the wines when I returned home! Read Less

This is a great cruise for those who want an intimate, small cruise experience. We met just about all the passengers and the staff got to know us as individuals as we did them. For those who have sailed with Viking before the service, food , shore excursions and accommodations were exactly what one would expect. For first time cruisers you won't find a better river cruise experience. We also had the river to ourselves as Viking is the only line cruising the Elbe. The local cultural enrichment programs were perfect. The small guest population allowed plenty of time to interact with the cultural representatives. Word of caution. There are stairs to navigate to the dining room. Quite a bit of walking on the tours as well. We did have some guests who had difficulty walking but experienced no issues. For those with severe mobility issues, however, I would not recommend this cruise. Otherwise, I recommend this cruise and ship without hesitation. Read Less

This was a group trip with Lancaster Bible College from Pennsylvania, USA. The ship was so impressive from the moment we boarded with the welcoming crew and the beautiful new ship. We were ushered to our rooms and were just so happy with room 225. Loved the balcony and the views along the way were intriguing. Because the weather was chilly , windy, and cloudy it was not pleasant to be up on the deck much of the time, so our private balcony was really used. It blocked the wind so we could sit out and read and enjoy seeing the countryside. The food was better than most restaurants, and the service was exceptional. Every meal far exceeded expectations. We felt like we got to know everyone on the ship including those guests who were not with our group. The quality of the other guests and the crew was very impressive. One complaint was our group had a reformation expert along that was going to give us informative talk on the reformation every day. The crew could not give us any room or time other than the lounge at 7 am each morning. Read Less

Although this 16 (in my case 18) day "cruise" should have been on the Beyla, only 5 days were spent on the wonderfully serviced ship. Included were 3 paid gourmet meals and excellent service. The rest of the days were spent pack, unpack and get on the early bus. There were only hotel buffets for breakfast. All else was out of pocket. There were too many "optional guided tours" to pay for and not enough free tour options. The Viking staff was accommodating, but the so called five star hotels were sometimes not helpful. A few of the hotels used fancy fixtures but terrible installation with cracks in the baseboards and terrible electrical installation. It is too bad that Viking has deteriorated to this although its ads still show passengers floating down the river instead of riding down the road. Maybe that is why they are pushing Ocean Cruisers. The Oceans still have water. Read Less

We traveled from Berlin to Prague on the Astrild. It was our first Viking Cruise and we were so impressed! The shore excursions were interesting and enjoyable. The amount of time spent at each location was sufficient and the accommodations were fine. The crew really made all efforts to ensure that we were served well, and our program director was awesome! The program director was very knowledgeable and helpful. The food was great but there was so much! Many times we ate in the lounge for a light meal instead of eating in the dining area. We liked this option. Even more impressive was that I learned that Viking is a privately held company. It is apparent that the owners take very good care of their employees. They have a philosophy that a happy crew promotes a happy customer. You have to respect that! It works! We will definitely travel again on Viking. Read Less

This trip was first time for many of the stops and we were well pleased with the accommodations and quality of the tours. The cruise director was exceptional in many ways with a masters degree in european history. We were pleasantly surprised that the food quality and other services matched the other river boats we have been on (4 of the long boats). We have used other river cruise lines and Viking is very competitive in price, quality of visits, and ship board amenities. This trip took us into Berlin and Prague for about 3 days each and these great cities were connected by the Elbe River which is smaller than many other rivers thus the smaller ship. We really liked the extended time in Berlin and Prague where we stayed in quality hotels and did day trips in and around the city. Viking was quite visible in the hotels and led many tours of these cities yet we had sufficient time for our personal agenda and the staff helped us with shuttle, taxi and public transportation. We have enjoyed a family cruise offered by Tauck and it was excellent. Viking does not offer that option and the travelers on our ship (like other river cruises we have used) focused on English speakers and middle age and up. I did not notice if the Astrild had an elevator but is just two levels of rooms so there are less steps. I gave this ship a low rating on fitness and recreation since there is no fitness room, no bicycles and no swimming pool/hot tub as are found on other non-Viking ships. There is still walking on the top deck and off boat walking/jogging as the traveler might want. Read Less

Arrived in Berlin and spent 2 nights at the Intercontinental. Lovely hotel, although the bathroom was interesting, there was a huge window above the bathtub so you couldn't leave the light on for a nightlight and there was no nightlight for a very dark room. Also the temp seemed to be set for freezing, thermostat would not work for us. The breakfast buffet was wonderful and plentiful. I was disappointed in our Taste of Berlin tour, we were supposed to go to a very old bakery and never saw it. We did thoroughly enjoy Berlin and would go back to see more. Traveling by coach to Potsdam to Sanssouci Palace was delightful. Afterwards we had a lovely lunch hour to stroll the town. Then on to Worlitz Castle for a gondola ride and tour of the grounds. Our boat was located in Wittenberg, the birthplace of Martin Luther. What a wonderful town. Unfortunately, our ship could not travel up river due to low water so we were coached to our next destinations: Torgau, Mieissen and Dresden. Torgau is a lovely old town with great history and WWII memorials. We discovered some lovely back roads with the nicest "secret" gardens. Then off to Meissen for a great tour of the porcelain factory. Now I understand why it's so acclaimed and priceless. Upon arriving back at our ship we were told that we would be transferring to another ship for the duration of the trip. We were coached to Dresden, what a spectacular city she is. I would gladly spend more time there. We took a side trip to Moritzberg Castle, a "hunting lodge" built on a man made lake. What a lovely place to visit. We also toured a winery and ended with a tour of the Zwinger Palace and the Green Vault. I totally fell in LOVE with Dresden. Our tour guide was very informative and helpful. After return to the ship we were told that enough rain had fallen upstream to allow us to travel by boat through the rest of our trip. Going through Saxon Germany was truly breathtaking. I never knew about this side of Germany. The rock formations are fascinating. Beautiful countryside. We then debarked in Decin for Prague. What can I say about Prague, its truly magnificent and must be seen once in your life. I was disappointed in our tour guide though. She did not take into consideration for those in our group who were not very fast walkers, especially on cobbled streets. It was also quite a long trek from our drop off point to the center of the old city square, which was about a mile up and down steps and a very crowded Charles Bridge. The bridge has some 30 statues and she wouldn't stop and explain any of them or allow us to stop. I once asked her to hold up her placard for those trying catch up to find us and she stated "I'm not the Statue of Liberty." Many of the passengers had canes and were quite worn out reaching the square. We never did get to see the St. Vitus, it was so crowded when we were there. Prague Castle is beautiful. Overall it was lovely wonderful trip. I had been on another Viking cruise the year before and we thoroughly enjoy the service and exceptional food we receive. I would definitely do another and another and another. Read Less

,The ship was smaller than the previous Viking cruises we have been on, but was perfect. The tours both by bus and on foot in Berlin provided a tremendous amount of information, and whet our appetite to return another day The shuttle from the hotel to the ship had engine failure, but was handled in a professional and expeditious manner.Boarding and embarkation was so smooth we were off before we knew it. Danny the cruise director was at our beck and call, yet able to get all facets of the cruise done so that if there were any glitches, we weren't aware of them. Our cabin was on the lower level. The bed was comfortable, the shower and toilet adequate. The TV was informative and entertaining. The on board entertainment was quite enjoyable. The lecture on Communist occupation of Berlin was informative and an eye opener. The food was delicious and was of enough variance that I never had a bad or mediocre meal. The staff could not have been more professional. The shore excursions were given by tour guides that really knew their stuff. We had been on two previous Viking cruises, France, Lyon to Avignon, and Budapest to Amsterdam. My summary is that I cannot think of a single thing to complain about, Read Less

My late brother suggested that we do one more cruise together after last year's incredible Viking Budapest to Amsterdam trip in June of 2016. He felt life was short and ergo we need to do at least one more extraordinary trip together. He passed away suddenly October 13, 2016. We went with him in our loving memory as his wife encouraged us to do. He was right! This was yet another exceptional experience; one that will stay with us for ever! The dining experience was phenomenal with my husband's Chateau Briand Steak the best he has ever had. The serving portions were utter perfection with the selections for every meal outstanding! The wines poured were wonderful. The services was 5 star to say the least! The hotel Steigenberger in Berlin was fantastic with great location and fabulous dining. The Berlin excursions were good. The only negative comment is The Taste of Berlin was not at all what was described as we were not taken to or treated to any of the items promised save for one wurst. Viking did step up afterwards and offered either a refund of $198 or a $400 voucher for another trip. We took the voucher as we know Viking is the best was to travel. We hope to try an ocean cruise next! The Corinthia Hotel in Prague was wonderful but the location was less than desirable as it was far away from the main square. The breakfast provided was superior! The Radisson Blu Hotel in Krakow was the best for location and accommodations, with breakfast being just OK. The Sofitel in Warsaw was beautiful, great location, great breakfast but with horrible beds and service was just fair. We should have had one more day in Warsaw as we had much more to see. All of the tours were above and beyond our expectations as were the concert/folk evenings. The guides after Berlin were brilliant and very warm, and caring! They added so much to our trip which really made this not a vacation per se but a luxury education! We LOVE Viking! And please if booking the Elegant Elbe trip be sure to add on the Prague, Krakow & Warsaw add on if at all possible. To go that far and not have that experience with these guides and so much WWII history would be a huge mistake! Read Less

We chose this trip out of Berlin, on the Elbe river because we had spent the previous week in Poznan, Poland with our family. We came back a day before our cruise started and were able to stay at the InterContinental Hotel where our cruise group gathered. Devon our cruise director that we met in Berlin was so gracious and knowledgeable about all aspects of our trip, and the staff members were so accommodating and fun to be around. They thought of everything to make our trip the best my mother and I have ever had. Ella did such a great job keeping our room clean and inviting. The food on board was delicious and we enjoyed the wines and beer with our meals. We even had a German themed dinner, special farewell dinner, and the people we met were great. The shore excursions at our different ports were very interesting and well planned, plus the scenery was beautiful. The tour guides on the coaches were very informative. The thing we liked the most was that my mom could take a more leisurely tour and I could take the walking tours. The entertainment and activities on board were fun. Our days in Prague before we came home were so nice, and Viking provided a shuttle service that went from our Hotel to the main square. It was also comforting to us that we were taken by coach to the airport and everyone was helped to get to the right area before flying home. My mother and I made the best memories, and I am looking forward to taking another cruise with my husband. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we wanted to see Prague, which contains an ancestral palace which belonged to our family. The fact that this cruise also stopped in Wittenberg, clinched the deal, since we are Lutheran, and especially interested in the reformation. Between our cruise director, who has a master's degree in German history, and the many tour guides, we were treated to a historical and cultural smorgasbord. It was interesting to have some guides who grew up in West Germany, and some from East Germany, and hear, not only the history, but their personal experiences. We were impressed with all our guides. Also, there were usually choices for each tour. You could pick an all walking tour, bus + walking, or leisurely tour in Dresden, for example. We felt very welcome everywhere we went. We have been on tours where you are overbooked, and didn't feel that way on this tour. They seemed to know exactly when to give us some free time, and anticipate our needs. There was some free time in every port, and optional tours. We started the tour not knowing how to gain access to the palace in Prague, and through the help of our cruise director, were able to secure a private tour with the head curator, and hire a car to take us directly to its door. This was our first Viking river cruise, and we felt the service was very good. The food was excellent, and with our shipboard credit through AAA, we were able to upgrade our wine and include extra after-dinner drinks and a folk dinner outside of Prague. When we first saw the river, we were shocked at how small it was, but we were able to complete 95% of the cruise, and stay in each of the ports. There was a small room on board where you could get fancy or plain hot drinks--loved to get cappuccino every morning, and still or sparkling mineral water any time of day for no extra charge. The other people on our cruise were especially fun to be around, we met so many interesting people. We enjoyed the nighttime concerts and lectures, and especially the music trivia game. It seemed a low-key cruise, with a few smaller towns, and even a national park in Saxon Switzerland, as well as the larger cities of Berlin and Prague. We had a standard cabin, which was great. We heard the window was large for a cruise, and the cabin was super-efficient. We had laundry done, and it was delivered boxed and in tissue paper. Everything went smoothly, and we did not encounter any problems in the scheduling, tours, etc. We were a little confused with how many meals were included, but it turned out all the meals during the cruise, and breakfast in the hotels was always included. We were happy to be able to use our electronics without a converter. The towels were better than any of the towels at our luxury hotels, and even the bed was more comfortable that the beds at either of hotels. Viking meets you at the airport, and sees you off at the other end, even getting boarding passes, so we didn't really even need to think about anything once we arrive. Next time, we want to pick a cruise where we can stay longer on the ship! Read Less

We choose the cruise on the advice of other people. We thought the food was excellent. The service provided by all the crew members impressive. I spilled a tomato based sauce on a white blouse at dinner one evening and could not remove the stain. I gave the blouse to housekeeping and it was back in my room perfectly cleaned early the next morning. The cabin was cleaned to perfection every morning. Our tour director was absolutely wonderful. Every possible thing that would stress me out about traveling was taken care of. Friends had recommended the Cafe Imperial in Prague to us. I asked Daniella about it and she offered to make reservations for us. She made the reservation and we even were given a window seat. The shore excursions were very well done. Our favorites were the Lobkowicz Palace and the food tour. Having the Viking shuttle available in Prague was great. Thanks for a wonderful trip. Read Less

The historic significance of this area in Europe drew us but we soon discovered beautiful lands, cities, cultures, and friendly people at every stop. Even though the cruise portion itself was short, the way it was organized with hotel stays before and after the Elbe sailing was perfect to learn and discover. Life on the boat was a joy since the crew took such extraordinary care of us on our modern and beautiful home on the water. The food was amazing and our crew director Nancy LOVED her job and it showed every minute we were with her. She would stop at nothing and was always leaning forward to take care of all of us while always bringing much fun and laughter. I am smiling now thinking of all the super fun times we had on the journey. The historic events revealed at every stop were unbelievable; the itinerary, the superiorly arranged tours, and the expertly prepared and gifted guides provided us all with significant emotional understanding of the history and its impact on the region and the world. Many of the guides were impacted by those very same events giving us all their unique perspectives. Read Less