We chose this cruise because we are past passengers of Evergreen tours and we liked the idea of the indoor pool. We found all the crew to be fantastic. They were all very efficient at their particular jobs and were happy to help with anything extra. Cruise director Nina did a brilliant job and dealt with the change of plans at the start very calmly. The Grand Balcony cabin was comfortable enough with the main problem being bad design of drawers and wardrobe with huge drawers and the bar fridge and safe taking up half the limited hanging space. The activities planned for each day were many and varied as were the extra on board activities. The menu was not extensive but it was no trouble to customise a dish. We enjoyed using the pool as well as the different public lounge areas. We would consider this company again for a different itinery. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of two of the destinations but we were blown away by the Cities we had not even heard of. What a fabulous surprise. We loved Bratislava, Melk, Durnstein, Passat and Regensburg. The architecture in every City was astounding. Vienna was beautiful, very very grand but a bit too big and busy, having said that the buildings were breath taking. The staff about the Emerald Sky were wonderful. All of them were so friendly and there appeared to be a very good atmosphere between all staff. The food on the ship in my opinion was the best we have had on a cruise ship. This is our first River Cruise but will not be out last. Much better than an Ocean Cruise where most of the time you are looking at the sea. The itinerary was hectic but there was so much to see we didn't mind this at all. If you are not up to a lot of walking this isn't the type of holiday for you. We would like to try a different river but we are a bit concerned that the next one may not live up to the Danube. We are happy to be proved wrong though. As far as Emerald are concerned we could not fault them. Our very best wishes to all the staff. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Hope to see you all again soon. Read Less

A modern ship quite well designed, although single staircase from deck 2 to deck 3 caused congestion at times. Also, limited public toilet facilities meant trips back to cabin needed. Overall, the trip was very well organised, with good crisis management when things didn't quite go to plan. The stops and excursions were all extremely worthwhile with a very high standard of local tour guides and different options available depending upon fitness levels. The staff were generally very friendly and helpful. Main disappointment was with the dining, specifically at dinner. Breakfast and lunch buffets were fine, but the dinner menu options were not always inspiring (or local as claimed). Portions were also often very small (we are not big eaters and I wonder what some of the Americans on board thought), This applied particularly to fish and vegetarian options which we often chose as we didn't fancy the meat option. Also, service was a bit slow - the 4 course meal could take up to 2 hours - we think the problem was in the kitchen, We felt that if they were less ambitious with presentation and made more use of self service for some courses this would improve things. It should be stressed that there were no problems with the quality of the food provided and there was a late night snack option available, which we unexpectedly used on occasion. Read Less

This was our first ever Cruise,Ocean or River. We wanted something different and special to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary, so we looked into a River Cruise. We chose the 11day Danube delights, commencing at Budapest and finishing in Prague. I think as general comment about the Cruise we'd say, if you wanted something, you asked and you got it. Nothing was too much trouble. We had some delays on our flights to Budapest, but luckily the boat wasn't moving for some time so we knew we had time. When we eventually arrived in Munich, we rang the contact number in our information booklets and they arranged for Emerald Waterways to collect us from Budapest airport at a later time. From the moment we were picked up, we had nothing to do but look after ourselves. The luggage was all taken and placed in the coach and that's the last time we handled it, from that point on Emerald sorted everything for us. After arriving on board we were quickly shown to our cabin and given a brief outlay of the ship, our bags arrived within minutes of our arrival and we were introduced to our cabin steward. We were immediately struck by the light and spacious feel to the panoramic cabin. The drop down window,creating a balcony effect, was enhanced by mirrors on the left meaning you could see where you'd been as well as where you were going. The window took up all of the wall facing you as you enter the room and added to the wonderful airy aspect of the cabin. On the lower right side of the cabin were six very large drawers a wardrobe to the right of the window. The wardrobe is plenty big enough, I like my outfits and I had no issues with space along with my husbands clothes. Inside the wardrobe there were about 20 wooden hangers,an upper shelf, safe and a drinks fridge (which we never used). On the surface above the drawers was a large tv, which also showed the following days itinerary, power points, a UK point and three EU points, one of which is used to charge the QuietVox receivers you need on your guided tours. Also on this surface are all the information booklets you'll need for your stay. Bottled water is replenished every day and we asked for and were given extra water as we drink a lot, without a problem. Each night when your beds are turned down you'll find along with the chocolate on your pillow, a sheet of paper with the following day's excursions on it and on the back, there's the Menu for the next day's dinner. Against the different excursions it tells you what time you need to be in reception and whether you need your Quietvox and headphone. Most days when you get to reception there's a map of the city or area you'll be visiting which is well worth picking up. To the left as you enter, are your double bed, very comfortable, two pillows each on the double, a lower tog duvet which we found perfectly adequate, but I daresay you would have been provided with additional bedding if you needed it. Immediately left is the bathroom, mirrors all round two walls, with sink, toilet and walk in shower. Just a little piece of advice, when you stand in front of the toilet and face the mirror, pull at the lower left edge of the mirror and you'll find it houses a cupboard, that is true of both the left and right mirror and provides some valuable storage, but is really easily missed unless you know. Only downside here I would say is that a shelf somewhere above or beside the sink would have made things a little easier but it's a very small point. Shower unit is very easy to operate and you're provided with some really nice toiletries, with extras in the cupboards behind the mirrors. I know this is a small point but so often you get toiletries for your stay but once gone that's it, so we thought this was a great touch. I know others have mentioned the small passage between the bathroom and bed, but I guess that all depends on whether you get up for the bathroom in the night and/or how large/small you are. Yes it's close, but you're in a cabin, if you want more space then you have the option to pay for more space. I certainly didn't think it a deal breaker. Air conditioning was easy to use, safe was a keyless affair which was great and again easy to operate. Lighting was a little dull on entry but there were bedside and central ceiling lights and along with the mirrors made the rooms really light. The Quietvox in your room comes with a card which has different coloured numbers and depending on what frequency your guide uses you will need to tune your quietvox into that same frequency by simply placing the tip of you vox onto the corresponding number, you'll feel it vibrate and you should then be able to hear the speaker through the earpiece. Very simply to use. On your way out for your excursions, you'll pass through reception, as you do make sure you pick up a map,as said this comes in handy if you have free time to explore. The ship has a small gym, with a couple of pieces of equipment. A small pool, which changes into a cinema at night, we didn't use either the Pool or Cinema. One main restaurant where breakfast lunch and Dinner was held, a longe/bar which also hosted as mentioned a light breakfat and uppermost a Sun Deck with plenty of deck chairs and chairs and tables. There are covered areas on the sundeck in case you want to be in the open air but not in the sun. As I don't want to make this incredibly long, I'll get through the additional stuff. Food; The food is endless, there's no way you'll go hungry. Breakfast is a buffet, cooked meats eggs beans hash browns sausages etc but also continental breakfast always lots of lovely pastries and jams and croissants. Bizarrely we ended up having both cooked and the continental!! We never normally eat like that but couldn't help it, everything was so delicious. There's a light breakfast in the Horizons Bar from 06.30 to 10.00 or the buffet type as described in the Reflections Restaurant from 07.30 to 9.00am. As most excursions start about 09.00am most people are finished by 08.40am, then it's out for your tour. You're normally back about lunch time which again is a buffet affair, lots of salads, cooked and cured meats,rice dishes etc and usually a hot meal too. Beautiful desserts and pudding top it off. Whilst you're sat down for your lunch, you can request soft and alcoholic drinks and not just rely on the wines which are offered at lunch. In case all that leaves with you a gap in your appetite there's afternoon tea served in the Horizon bar where you will also find the drinks machine which you can use anytine day or night, tea coffee(various) and hot chocolate and the ever present cookie jar! Dinner is a sit down affair and each table is served by one to two servers. As others have said the room does get a bit noisy but it didn't bother me, just kept telling myself it was the sound of people enjoying themselves. Having said that we did find the seating near the enbtrance to the Restaurant a little quieter. You get to choose eberything at the same time, so your starter,soup,main and dessert gets ordered in one go, each table being served by specific waiters so it's pretty slick. If you don't want say the soup, you have to wait until everyone's finished their soup until the next course. We thought it was really effecient. Again you can choose the wines on offer or request soft drinks beers etc and as many as you like too. You can also request tea and coffe once the dishes have been consumed. If you ahven't got a drinks package, it's worth drinking what you want here, once you go up to the Horizons Bar then payment is expected. This is done by asking for your room number, but all payment is done at the end of the Cruise along with any excursuions and extras you need to settle. Works really well. We felt all food and drink was of an very high standard, some of the dishes appeared a little small at first but once you've had all the courses it's plenty along with all the other food available throughout the day. Oh and if you're still peckish there's a late night snack provided!!!! We didn't avail ourselves of that so can't comment. Excursions: Depending on where you are this will either be walking or by coach (all coaches were very comfortable and very well air conditioned) or a combination of the two. There were often different guides you could use depending on how quick a pace you wanted from slow to quick, so suitable for different levels of fitness. Even the quick paced ones really weren't that challenging. There were several people on board with disabilities and they coped incredibly well (put some of us to shame moaning about our feet)!! They didn't seem to miss out on much at all, so definitely workable if you have issues. All Tour guides were absolutely excellent. Young,humerous and very knowledgable,they gave you not only info on the buildings etc but also an introduction to the people of that City. Our favouries were Laslo in Budapest, Tomas in Prague, the Austrian guide who's name escapes me and the Young blonde girl in Passau. They were all brilliant really. One or two of the excursions offered alternative bike rides on the Ship's own bikes. One of the highlights of the trip was the evening Concert in Vienna, had a job to hold back the tears at times, this was an extra expense but absolutely worth it, a beautiful memory. The room we were in was very very warm, so my hand held fan came in handy. St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna was absolutely breathtaking. Melk was another highlight with it's fantastic Abbey every room was a wonder. Durnstein was such a pretty little village with beautiful tourist shops and perfect views along the Wachau Valley. Really everything was so picturesque and the beautiful ease at which the ship glided along the Danube made it all very idyllic. Entertainment: A guy playing a piano at night with a few added outside bands were the Entertainment, we weren't that fussed eitherway as there's plenty to look at and chat to other passengers that we didn't really notice the entertainer, so wouldn't be right to comment really. All in all, we found all staff to be very helpful,nothing was too much trouble,really very friendly and staff seemed genuinely happy to be on the Cruise. We will certainly be going on another Cruise and will definitely choose Emerald again. Well done everyone. Read Less

We chose Emerald for a variety of reasons, one of them being that all prices were in Canadian dollars so we knew exactly what it would cost. Also, included in this cruise price was a pre-cruise stay in Prague. Prague is a walking city, and we spent three days walking everyone. On the first day in Prague, we had a tour of Prague Castle then on the last night in Prague we were fortunate to have dinner in Prague Castle. These two things were all part of our cruise tour package. We went to the Jewish Quarter which was extremely interesting with a lot of history. Our hotel was located very close to Wenceslas Square, Prague, which was a hub of activity all the time. From there we could walk to Old Town Square where the famout Prague Astronomical Clock hands of the wall of the Old City Hall. In the square there are a lot of restaurants (a little over priced, due to it being a large tourist attraction) and also a wonder store where you can purchase good quality Czech crystal. The name of the store is Erpet, which is located kitty corner to the astronomical clock. On Ma 25th, we were taken to Nuremberg to board the Emerald Sky. Our room was wonderful, with a window which you could open half way, and gave you the feeling of being on a french balcony. What impressed us most in this room, were the large dresser drawers, six in total, deep and big. You never get this much storage of most cruise ships. The next day arrived in Regensberg, Germany, which again is a walking town. Purchased great mustard there. The next day we travelled to Passau, but we did not really see this little town, as we opted to take the Emerald More, tour to Salzburg for the day. (extra cost for this) Here we saw where the Sound of Music had some scenes shot, as well as a lot of the history of Mozart. We then went to Durstein in Austria. Again a very picturesic town, where they make a lot of their own alcohol, one of which is a very tasty Apricot Liqueur. In Vienna, after the tour with Emerald we set off on our own to Schonbrunn Castle which is a must see if in Vienna. Beautiful castle, and lovely garden. In Bratislava, we were fortunate enough to visit the home of one of the local people who used to have their own vineyards, years ago. This sweet lady had baked some beautiful squares for our tour bus of about 18 people, and also had jugs of white wine had been produced from the vines in the vineyards she still owned. Budapest our last stop. We stayed there for an extra 3 days, and again this is also a walking town, like a lot of European towns and cities are. We went for the Great Hall, which is a large indoor market. To get here you walk down this pedestrian street, with shops, restaurants, and vendors on both sides. We really enjoyed the food and entertainment in Budapest. Sorry, about this long review, but it was great cruise. The only negative, if you really feel this is a negative, was the buffet lunch every day. They did change the choices, but not enough to make it a different experience daily. Breakfast was also a buffet, but they had a station where you could get your eggs made to order. Dinner was always wonderful, having local dishes from the different places we visited. There was very little entertainment at night, only a piano player in the beautiful bar, but we found we were so tired at night after full 8 hour days of touring, we did not really miss this, as we were usually up and about by 7:30 in the morning. Most of the tours are included in your cruise price on Emerald, and the transfers as well. Service was excellent on this cruise, and the staff very attentive at all times. They were always anxious to try and please you, and it was emphasized that tips were included in the cruise price and not to tip at all. We did tip when we took the Salzburg tour, and maybe one or two other tours, but not at the end of the cruise. Very different from the large ocean cruises, which have taken about 16, the latest one last year from Rome. On a river cruise you dock right in town so it is extremely easy to embark and disembark from the cruise ship. On the large ships, it is more difficult and takes longer. Our ship only had 184 passengers, compared to 2,000 or more on the larger ships. There are pros and cons to both a river cruise and an ocean cruise. If you like more choices of meals and restaurants, more glamorous dining and bars, and evening entertainment, and more things to do, the maybe a river cruise is not for you. We really feel everybody should experience a river cruise if you can. A great way to cruise, would recommend it to everyone, young and old. Read Less

It was our 30th Wedding Anniversary, the cabin was great. The ship was clean the Captain was great and willing to interact with the passengers. The tours were well organised and on time, tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Well done will definitely recommend this type of holiday. In closing would like to say our hotel bookings and pick ups were all arranged and the arranged transport turned up on time. Food was lovely met good people and mad friends for live. Staff all around was very helpful and willing to share information. The tours were very inter active and pleasant, had a lot of walking, took the 35 km bike tour not very strenuous, tour guide looked after groupe well. Loved every town / City we visited. I as amaz d at th staffs concern regard to the passengers well being and safety during the cruise may it be on the ship or a land tours. Thank you Read Less

Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The flight was good to Munich but then after waiting over an hour we finally got on the coach. We were then told we would be taken to a hotel in Nuremberg to wait while the ship was ready. So a two and half hour bus ride. We then had to sit in a hotel restaurant for an hour or so before getting the bus to the ship. Sandwiches and cakes were provided but it was a bit boring waiting around. Back on the coach and it was another half hour before arriving at the Ship. This was very disappointing. After arriving at the ship the check in was slick - and I mean really slick. A full coach load into check in was dealt with amazing efficiency. We were told to drop the cases and a crew member showed us to our cabin and explained everything about it. A few minutes later the cases arrived at our cabin. There were plenty of draws in the cabin and a place was found for all our stuff. The cabin itself was compact but very good. The beds were extremely comfortable. We went for a drink on the front deck and a waiter explained that there were several drinks packages that could be bought. This was not a pressure sell like on most ships. It was just an explanation. We happened to be sat with a Canadian couple who were also going to order. Me and the other guy looked at each other. I said well that’s us with the premium drink package (which entitles you to all drinks except champagne and the real top end wines for €22 per day). He replied “that’s us too”. We both went to reception and bought them. Drinks in all the bars are waiter service. The wine is excellent quality and is changed daily to reflect where you are. The dining experience is wonderful. The dinner is a la cart. Four courses every evening and five on captains special nights. Everyone on our cruise dressed up smart casual for every evening meal. This was great as we like to dress up in smart attire. The food itself was very very good. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style. I know some reviews have said the portions are small at dinner but that is what you expect with high end dinning and four courses we never ever felt let down. The dinners tasted superb and we went mostly with the chefs specials. The wine served at lunch and dinner every day was good quality and reflected the region you were in. This was served all through the meals with no restrictions and it seemed difficult to empty your glass before it being refilled. Evening entertainment was mainly with Gianni the pianist. With a few local special treats added like Umpa Band and Hungarian dancers etc. It was very entertaining and not too loud so you talk with other people without having to shout. I must mention the crew and the onboard guests. I think about 55 crew. All who were very pleasant not pushy and seemed genuinely pleased to be looking after their guests. The captain and his officers were outstanding and very friendly. The captain was very approachable and hardworking. On the last day at disembarkation we saw him shifting suitcases across the gangway along with other crew and also other officers. The guests on board about 150 were very friendly. Mostly British and Canadian with some Aussies and just a few other nationalities. We made many friends (especially with the Canadian couple we first met on board). It made the whole atmosphere of the cruise seem like one happy family. Every evening before dinner the cruise director “Wes” gave a run through of the next day’s itinerary which was very informative. The chef explained how they cooked the today’s special menu. The captain sometimes gave a bit of a talk too. This was not boring and an excellent way of letting guests know about their area being visited and what to expect on the tours. A free self serve coffee machine was open 24 hours. The coffee from it was with fresh ground beans in the machine. The coffee, cappuccino, latte etc was hot and very good. The trips were mostly inclusive. The guides at each port were very knowledgeable and sometimes very funny. Very well organised with a small radio device with earphone. You could hear the guide all the time. Each day you could choose which speed to walk at so no one was left out. Some excursions like the bike tour and a couple of hikes were explained what fitness level you should be. This was excellent. The guests that went on the extra paid for tours all said it was well worth the money. We went on the Vienna concert tour. The music was outstanding. Our only complaint was the seats were not very comfortable. The most exceptional night was at Budapest. The captain took the ship along the Danube. In the dark for over an hour with all the buildings lit-up along the waterfront was just spectacular. All the guests were oohing and aarring at the sights. Free special drinks were served by the waiting staff and soft music like the Bolero etc was being played through the speaker system. Everyone was on the top outside deck taking photos. This was an excellent end to a fantastic cruise. Disembarkation was as slick as coming on board. We were told what time to put our cases outside the cabin in the morning. A list had been given to all guests with coloured case tags for different times. We were told to vacate the cabins by 8:30am and wait in the lounge with free coffee until the coach arrived. The cases were lined up outside the coach and all you had to do was point out your case and it was put on the bus. And guess who loaded our case - well it was the captain himself mucking in as usual. Anyone who is wondering whether they would have a good holiday with the Emerald Sky should just book it. I would certainly go on another cruise with Emerald. It was superb value for money and an unforgettable experience. Read Less

Smooth pick-up at Munich airport and transfer to hotel in Nuremburg as we couldn't board until around 5pm. We received a warm welcome and we were delighted with our cabin - Panoramic Balcony Suite - comfortable, plenty of storage spaces - compact but up to the standard of a 4 star hotel The food was excellent - from the great range of breakfast choices through to the 4 course dinner menus. Always plenty of choices and found the "Chef's Favourites" for dinner was usually a good choice. Whether you wanted a continental style breakfast, or hot breakfast, there was a great deal of choice and self-service was easy. Lunch had a variety of choices which changed every day, usually including speciality dishes from the region. Best to do a complete circuit of the lunch table first to see all the offerings, before deciding what to choose. The four course dinners always had plenty of choices and the seating of 2, 4 or 6 meant that you could choose how many to sit with and offered a great opportunity to meet other people and strike up new friendships. The shore excursions were always well organised and the local guides and the "Quiet Voice" units meant that you could really see and understand all the interesting parts of the tours. Also a good balance between guided tours and free-time meant that you can also explore on your own. The service was excellent, everybody, including the Cruise Director (Wes), Head Chef, waiters, bar staff, cabin stewards were polite, helpful and professional. I liked the well-organised aspect of the cruise - at all times, we could relax and enjoy the cruise as all the staff worked hard to keep everything running smoothly and ensuring that you had an enjoyable time. This was our first river cruise and we will definitely be booking again with Emerald Waterways (just can't decide where to go next!) Read Less

Our only previous cruise with Emerald Waterways was from Budapest down the Danube to Bucharest, and we were impressed by the ship and the staff. This time, we chose the April departure from Amsterdam hoping to see the tulips, and went there the day before. Unfortunately, we arrived with insufficient time to visit the tulip fields. We did explore the old town and found it fascinating. The cruise would be greatly improved by an extra day in Amsterdam, including a tulip excursion (in season). We stayed overnight in the Ibis hotel close to the central station, and so were able to walk to the ship for embarkation, where the friendly staff welcomed us. The Panorama Balcony cabin was well designed, with plenty of storage space and comfortable beds and chairs, excellent shower, and efficient but very quiet air conditioning. We liked the ability to open the generously sized window. At all meals there was a very good choice of well-prepared and well-presented dishes. The stewards were attentive, keeping every table immaculate at all times, and quick to spot a wine-glass that needed topping up. Entertainment was inevitably rather basic, given the size of the ship and the short stay in each port of call. The plunge pool was a pleasant amenity. The shore excursions were all interesting, with knowledgeable guides helped by QuietVox wireless audio devices. If and when we go on another river cruise we shall almost certainly choose Emerald. Read Less

We decided to do this cruise as a change from our normal sea cruises and not having been in the area before it proved to be a perfect choice. The Emerald Sky has a really happy atmosphere and we enjoyed every moment of the trip from Amsterdam to Basel The cruise director Darren made every effort to explain the following days itinerary and always made everyone laugh by telling one of his jokes or poems before we went to dinner. . He did a fabulous job as did everyone else onboard. The Captain was always there to wish you a good trip and again to welcome you back onboard which we thought was a nice touch. The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and gave you all the relevant facts without bombarding you with too many dates etc. There were a couple of special guest entertainers and the violinist who came onboard as we sailed down the middle Rhine area was fantastic. Normal entertainment was provided by a pianist who also proved to be a great DJ putting on a couple of lively disco nights. All in all a great cruise when we met lovely people who all added to the enjoyment of the holiday. Read Less