We had been considering a river cruise for several years and after quite a bit of research and talking with others that had been on Viking Cruises previously, some multiple times, we decided that Viking was definitely the right choice for us. We took advantage of the 2 for 1 pricing and a great deal on airfare. We selected the 7 Night Danube Waltz Cruise with two extra nights at the beginning, in Budapest, and were not disappointed at all. The excursions, both those that were included in the price, and the optional ones, were very well organized and had knowledgeable guides to make the excursions enjoyable and informative. Evenings on board the Hermod was was a wonderful blend of entertainment, fine dining, and information relating to the cruise and the regions that we were traveling through. The evening meals always presented us with the opportunity to try the local cuisine and I certainly am not one to shy away from new and different kinds of food choices. The staff and crew of the Hermod made us feel as if we were the only onboard especially in the lounge and the dining room. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of its location, the Danube, and being able to sleep in the same place every night.We have taken bus tours before this trip. Most of all we chose this Viking cruise because everyone who had taken this cruise spoke very highly of it.The ship was a marvelous five star hotel, especially the cabin. We were very impressed with the regional food and tried it most nights.The paired wines were excellent. The best part of the trip were the people and the service. I have a favorite type of wine. One was chosen for me that was excellent.We were impressed that the service remembered our names, room numbers and our drink choice. They all had delightful personalities.The young lady who cleaned our room accommodated our every move with her cleaning. Mostly the shore excursions were excellent. Loved the cows! The guide in Bratislava was knowledgeable as were the others. However he added unnecessary information and opinions. The optional tour, A Taste of Budapest was excellent. Read Less

Our first river cruise, Passau to Budapest aboard the Hermod. Overall very pleased with the cruise. We did the pre-cruise in Prague, everything was well organized by Viking. The tree days gave us time to adjust to the time change before boarding the boat. The Viking included excursions in Prague and on the boat were top-notch, their fleet of buses were noteworthy for cleanliness and comfort. Our embarkation was about as simple as could be...walk on the boat, our bags where at the room within minutes. Unlike Ocean cruising I didn’t see any security, no photo ID’s, no scanners of bags, all which led to a little uneasiness. The first organized event was the welcome to the ship by our cruise director, Sonia. She was tops in her communication and organizational skills. Kept us well informed and herded us to our various excursions. The biggest disappointment with the cruise for me was the evening meal. Once the pre-brief for the next day was complete at 7:00 PM it was a mass rush to dinner. There is only one dining room, and it was a scramble for the tables, no assigned seating, no escort by the Matre D, or staff...just grab a seat. Kind of throwback to College dining facility. “Smart Casual” was largely ignored given the preponderance of jeans, jeans in my book is not smart casual. The food was tasty, the choices descent, the service good. The included tours by Viking were well done and varied, walking tours, organ concerts, excursions to sites out of town. A lot of history, was a bit tired of history by the end of the cruise for my liking but the area we cruised is history so it should be expected. A few sections of the river were very beautiful and the timing was such that they were done in the daylight. Enjoyed the Mozart concert in Vienna. Onboard entertainment was slim, only one venue. They brought some area entertainers onboard that were a nice break from the resident piano player. Overall well done for Viking. Most of the travelers were in their 60’s and 70’s, not quite as old as I feared, the walking tours were slow paced. I would do another Viking but prefer the amenities offered on an ocean cruise over the river cruise. Read Less

We recently cruised the Danube River on the Viking Hermod riverboat. This was our second river cruise with Viking, having cruised on the Rhine River in June of 2018. Overall, while we greatly enjoyed the trip, we both felt that some aspects of the trip were below the level of what we experienced last year. We booked this cruise a few months before the sailing and the only cabins remaining were standard rooms on the main deck with a (non-opening) picture window. Last year, we had a French balcony with a sliding door, which we could open. We had no complaints about this year's room. After spending a week in the standard cabin, I do not feel that the extra cost for one of the other types of rooms is worth it. On several days, we were docked alongside another Viking (and one Ama) ship, so a balcony would have been of no use. We did notice slightly more vibration and noise on this level of the ship while it was moving, but not enough to disturb us. As far as where we think the cruise did not live up to last year's, we did not think that the quality (and choices offered) of the dinners were overall as good as last year.  Most were good, but a few missed the mark.  Additionally, the number of passengers that were on each of the included tours seemed to be higher than what we had on last year's cruise. It may be that Viking is utilizing fewer guides for the same number of passengers. To be fair, all of the guides that we had, with one exception, were excellent. One other complaint was that our room not ready on the first day until 4:00 pm, despite arriving in Budapest at 9:00 am after traveling all night. Since Viking arranged the flights, they knew what time we would be arriving on the ship. I would have expected that the rooms for early arriving passengers would be the first ones ready. On thing that has not changed is the excellent service offered by the Viking staff. Our cabin was cleaned twice per day and was sparking clean when Katarina finished with it. We ate most of our dinners on the Aquavit Terrace and had great service from Andrea and Robert. These two also served as the primary bartenders and were excellent. We enjoyed all of the ports on the itinerary, especially Budapest and Vienna. We took advantage of all of the included tours, plus two optional ones - the Hungarian Horsemen in Budapest and the Mozart and Strauss Concert in Vienna. One comment on the average age of the passengers. We are 66 and 62 years old and consider ourselves very active. I would guess that the average age on this year's trip was significantly higher than last year's cruise. Perhaps it is due to traveling in September vs. our prior trip in June. Read Less

We sailed the Passage to Eastern Europe with the added pre-extension in Prague. Overall Viking is very organized in terms of transporting you from place to place. Starting at the airport, there was a Viking Rep waiting for us. We were kept waiting for another couple, who never showed, for an hour and a half. Here’s where some common sense should’ve kicked in. Maybe wait a half hour and then take us to the hotel. We were exhausted from a long flight and wanted to rest at the hotel. We were booked at the Corinthia, which is a wonderful hotel The room was a good size and very clean. They have three good restaurants and a lounge for late-night coffee or drinks. Breakfast was included and very good. They have a Viking Desk at the hotel which is convenient. They had signed us up for the city tour, which we opted out of, so they arranged transportation for us to join the food tour which we had signed up for. The tour was good with three restaurants and several dishes to try. Very little walking. We also did the Prague by Night tour which drove us through the city at night with some beautiful stops for amazing views of the city. They also had a complimentary shuttle to the Old Town from the hotel, which we took advantage of to explore on our own. To get to Budapest was an 8-hour or so bus ride. We stopped a couple of times for bathroom breaks and lunch. It was essentially a lost day. We stayed at the Hilton in the castle district, which is absolutely stunning. Check-in was less smooth with everyone crowding the desk to get a room key. At this point I had pulled a muscle in my calf and was unable to go on one of the tours. Beware: Once Viking has your money, YOU WILL NOT get it back. We were told no refund unless we paid $130 Euros for a doctor’s note. We were looking to get back $180 US. Having traveled several cruise lines, Viking is the only one who wouldn’t refund our money for missing an excursion. We paid $20K for the trip and they have lost a customer forever. I hope the $180 was worth it. Awful service. Budapest is stunningly gorgeous. We went on a few of the tours, which were part bus, part walking tours. After two nights, Viking takes you on a day tour and then finally to the ship. Getting on board is relatively easy as you just check-in at the front desk and relinquish your passport. They had a light lunch waiting for us and shortly after 3:00 we entered our cabin. The ship was in good shape, clean, and inviting. It’s color palette is blonde wood with beige furniture and accessories. Because it’s a river boat, the spaces are smaller and fewer. The largest spaces are the lounge, dining room, and top deck. We never had any issues finding a table or seating for lounging. At night there is a pianist/singer in the lounge. That’s about it for entertainment unless they bring in locals for dancing and other activities. The food is good. Each night they have a tasting menu based on the country you’re docked in. Everything we tried was very tasty. Dining times are rigid for each of the three meals. However, if you do miss a meal, the staff is extremely well trained and accommodating so you can likely get something if you ask. We traveled through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Most of the tours are around 4 hours and some combination of bus and walking. All of the guides talked about the wars and Communism, which was really interesting. We had two full-day tours the last two days. On one of the tours we drove out to Veliko Tărnovo for a bathroom break, coffee, and photo op. Then on to Arbanasi for a walking tour and lunch, and then back to the other village for an “hour+ of free time.” Why not just head back to the ship? Instead we arrived back with less than an hour to spare before dinner. It felt like they just wanted us to spend money in town. The next day we disembarked, en masse, in 100 degree heat to be driven around all day and kept away from the hotel until after 4:00. There were no other options but to be forced on to this tour to get us off the boat. So, it says 11 days, but you’re only on the boat for 7. This means some of your meals are on you in addition to what you’ve already paid for the cruise. Overall we saw some beautiful places that have not yet been commercialized. We learned a lot about this part of the world. We met some wonderful people and had some great food. There were a few things that did leave a bad impression, most notably the refusal to refund one of the excursions. We expect more for the high cost of the trip. For our next cruise, we’d select a company who understands that fully accommodating its customers means repeat business. Viking, unfortunately, doesn’t get that part. Read Less

We were well taken care of on every facet of the trip. The tours were fantastic and educational. The food was the best and there was a great variety of types of food. Transportation to and from the ship were always on time. Viking staff is incredible. They are there to help you with anything whether it's food choices or itineraries. I had particular food issues and every night the matre de would come and go over the menu with me and he would tailor the meals for me. It was greatly appreciated and made my trip just that much more enjoyable. My husband enjoyed it to much that we immediately upon return scheduled another cruise. Barring any health issues, we will be doing at least one or two cruises a year. The choices of cruises are amazing and each one is planned with a great variety of excursions. Viking is the best in the cruising world. Read Less

I wanted a river cruise so that we didn't have to change hotels and organize activities. It was an excellent way to see Europe and not waste time with logistics and changing hotels/cities. We went on many of the excursions and found the places very interesting and picturesque. The daily excursions were timed for a morning or afternoon time so we could still make it back for lunch or dinner. There was enough time to make it back to get ready for lunch or dinner and evening activities. The cruise director, Anthony, was very cordial, knowledgeable and funny. The staff members and servers all did an excellent job in making sure we were taken care of and happy. The rooms were comfortable and spacious enough for our needs.. We had a balcony view and I would recommend that if it is affordable. We were pleased with the meals and had enough choices so we weren't eating the same thing every night. I would recommend Viking to anyone! Read Less

I chose this cruise to see parts of the world that I have not seen. The crew were fantastic, always smiling and ready to assist. They all seemed to enjoy their job and were happy to be there. That makes a difference. The ports were incredible, the scenery splendid. Be ready for lots of walking. The tours were fantastic, the buses were clean and air conditioned. Bottles of water always available upon disembarkation of the ship to join your tour. Guides were easy to understand and were very knowledgeable. The ship was a nice size and the cabin (balcony) was adequate. There was plenty of storage so no problems there. I regret paying for a balcony. Several times we were tied up next to other boats so the balcony could not be used that much in some of the ports as you were virtually inches from the balcony of the other ship. I felt jilted. It is not worth the extra money. Just sit on the sun deck. Advance notice about the limited availability of the balcony would have been a nice courtesy. There was a terrible odor the first night and on another night. When I reported it, they said there was nothing they could, it happens when another ship is tied up against ours. Two stars for the dining experience. The quality, quantity, availability and variety were limited. Breakfast was fine. For lunch there were pasta, sandwiches or burgers, etc. Dinner was mediocre. Availability of cheese & fruits or crudites for snacking is not asking for much - I would have given 3 stars for dining but instead, the get 2 stars. Entertainment is almost non-existent but I didn't expect much to begin with. If you are not on the ship during the meal times or if you wanted a snack between meals, then you are sorely pressed to find anything to eat on board and there was nowhere to get anything to eat. I asked in the lounge if they had any appetizers but no luck. I’m glad I experienced it but next time, I will consider other options as it was not worth my money. Read Less

We started our trip a day early in order to acclimatize after the long flight and booked the extra night at the hotel being used in conjunction with the cruise. We had already cruised the upper Danube with another company and chose Viking to travel the lower Danube, initially because they offered the cruise on the dates we wanted to travel. It was a good decision as the included excursions were exceptional from our perspective. We learned more about daily living and the culture of the post communist countries from the residents themselves. The entertainment provided by guest performers was much appreciated, from the students talking about their hopes and dreams, the young dancers in costume, the musicians playing local music, the lecture about the Serbian war, to the discussion about living during communism. We saw the destruction caused by years of war and appreciated the will of the people to claim their independence and rebuild. We visited areas less traveled so we did not experience the crowds so common with cruising. The scenery along the river was spectacular. Another interesting point was having to present ourselves for passport control when we entered the Schengen Zone at 0400 in the morning. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The only difficulty we experienced was with accessibility. I have difficulty with stairs and need to rely on an elevator. Because the elevator on this ship was only between two floors, we were limited in our choice of cabin and I did not have access to the sun deck for the activities that were available there. Disembarkation was not the most pleasant. We had to vacate our stateroom by 0900. However after we left for an early breakfast our room was made up (bed changed, towels removed) making it somewhat difficult to finish our morning routine and final packing. Read Less

We wanted our first river cruise to be on the Danube River. We’d heard wonderful reviews and great things about Viking Cruises from our friends. We enjoyed the variety of countries and cities to explore each day. It has been the best travel dollars we have ever spent. The history and culture of centuries, not decades was immersive. Included activities in each city were enjoyable and informative. Getting on and off the ship was easy and our local guides were always engaging and informative. We met other travelers to share the experiences and make memories with. Our day in Vienna was filled with a spectacular tour of Schonbrunn Palace and a Mozart concert. We walked the streets and enjoyed the lovely sights while window shopping. Budapest holds many surprises, then a bus ride to Szentendre where we enjoyed meeting the local artists and craftsmen. Next stop the ethnographic museum in Skansen with period scenarios and cultural history. The goulash Cooking class and lunch were excellent! The cruise staff were engaging and accessible with answers suggestions for day trips and were so well worth informed about the history and culture of each our stops. Read Less

I wanted something special as a graduation gift for my son! The cruise was even nicer than I ever dreamed. The service was superb, as each crew member was so kind and responsive. The cruise director was amazing, always finding solutions to any challenges that presented themselves. The chef and his staff were very talented in creating delicious and beautiful meals. The scenery and towns visited were like a dream! The guides did a great job of introducing us to the cities we visited each day. The concierge was extremely organized, keeping track of the location of each guest, to ensure no one stayed behind. Local guides were authentic and knowledgeable, adding a local insight to what we were seeing, and giving us tips on where to buy the best souvenirs and the best prices. We would love to return someday, or take other cruises in the U.S. Thanks Viking! Read Less

We visited a wide variety of venues/countries. We were able to explore all cities/towns in which we docked and had a pleasant pre-trip extension in Munich and Salzburg. The ship was of a comfortable size (188 passengers). The service provided by the staff was excellent and the ship and cabin were very clean. (One example: After having some wine accidently spilled on me during dinner, the staff had my clothing cleaned gratis.) The meals were excellent and reflected the cuisine of each of the towns we visited. The shore excursions were interesting although we probably over-booked them; some additional relaxation time on the top deck was needed. Our relaxation time came when cruising the Danube with the French balcony door open. The guides for the shore excursions were well-informed and answered all questions put to them. The entertainment was great; I even got to sing with the piano player during one evening!! Both embarkation and disembarkation were well organized and went smoothly. We enjoyed the cruise so much that we booked another cruise (for 2020) onboard the ship. Read Less

Went on The Rhine with Viking last year and had such a fabulous time we couldn't wait to go on another Viking cruise! The Danube Waltz was one we had thought of before and it ended up being better than we thought it would be. The staff were incredible. Everyone could not do enough for us! The food was outstanding. The staff was attentive enough that if something wasn't to your liking they would be at your side asking you if something was not to your liking. You never ran out of beer and wine during lunch or dinners. We were in a standard cabin and had no problems with size or attentiveness from the staff handling our room. The excursions were very well thought out and planned. The buses very comfortable and were never too hot or cold. All the activities scheduled for our entertainment were awesome! Every night something different. If you wanted quiet there were more than enough places to go to find that and if you wanted more lively that was available. As a couple we loved walking the top deck and seeing the scenery flow by and also getting a little exercise to combat all the great food and wine! We are already thinking of which Viking cruise want to go on next! Read Less

We had the best time on our cruise. Even though the Danube River was at a 50 low due to drought conditions, the staff, crew and Program Director made our river cruise a delight. The dining staff quickly learned our names and preferences. The cleaning staff was an A++, but the Program Director simply out did herself to make our cruise the best it could be. We enjoyed all the excursions, the entertainment, the food, and the ship. The Program Director even helped us after we left the ship find a backpack one of our travel partners left on a taxi. She was simply the best. We especially enjoyed traveling during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. The dining staff prepared a wonderful traditional Thanksgiving meal for us. Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day. Walking through Budapest and seeing the fruit/vegetable markets and Christmas Markets was fun. Vienna was wonderful. I would have liked to spend several days in Vienna. The other ports were equally fun. Chesky Krumlov, Melk, and Passau were other favorites. Highly recommend Viking River Cruises. Read Less

We chose this cruise because it lined up with the time we wanted to be in Munich for Oktoberfest and because we Love Viking! This itinerary with its included tours was exceptional! We met lots of interesting and Fun people we still keep in touch with. We loved Cesky Krumlov and we had always wanted to see Melk Abbey. Simply Spectacular!!! Did I mention the fantastic meals? Wow! Every meal was wonderful! Great menus, delicious food and impeccable service!! Breakfasts are a feast to get you off to a great start every morning. What more could you ask for? Coming in from a morning of exploring, we were happy to sit down in the Aquavit Terrace for a wonderful lunch every day. Dinner menues were excellent and the “Oktoberfest Night” was sooo fun. Authentic meats, cheeses and breads! Wonderful! My boyfriend, who loves his coffee, was thrilled with your coffee stations! That and the yummy cookies!! As we cruised into Budapest at night, we were thrilled to see the beautiful bridges lit up so beautifully. What a spectacular way to end our trip! Thank you, Viking! We love you sooo much we’ve booked an Ocean Cruise for 2019 and another River Cruise in 2020! Can’t wait!!! Read Less

We wanted a river cruise and found a lot of great revues The cabin was clean, window below the view line. Food was great, service too. I asked for no pork on my menus. Was totally ignored Almost every soup or any meat was with pork. We had $300 credit on board Not only you can’t get the credit if you did not use it, but you can’t use it for gratuitous So you have no choice just to buy items you don’t need in a shop from a hand full of items with the name of Viking So now my husband is free advertise for Viking Entertainment had a piano player that was not always sober The excursion were great, the personal was excellent We will not take any more cruises with Viking River cruises are great but there is to price you want to pay for it Viking is too expensive for us Read Less

Went with three other couples based on one experience with Viking and several recommendations specifically for the "Danube Waltz" cruise from Passau to Budapest. Our experience was just as others have provided. Absolutely outstanding. Your every need was anticipated by the crew and attended to. Onboard activities were keyed to the cities the ship would visit. Food and service was excellent throughout. Relaxing and wonderful. Have read about other cruise lines, more expensive and "exclusive" but they'd have a heck of a time beating Viking. We arrived early for our trip, about 11:00AM but they were prepared for us since the ship knew each passenger's travel arrangements. Onboarding was painless and very professional, as was the disembarkation process at the end. Excursions were excellent with local guides providing unique insights into the areas we visited. Optional excursions were similarly conducted. Viking clearly targets the 50+ age group and knows what that age group is looking for as far as accommodations, amenities, and service are concerned. We were all treated like VIPs from the time we got into Viking's hands at the arrival airport until we left. There's nothing like a Viking river cruise. Expensive, but worth every nickle. This is the vacation you worked to be able to afford! Read Less

I chose this cruise based on the reviews by prior cruisers and the ads seen on TV for Viking. The ship was a nice size and the cabin (balcony) was adequate. There was plenty of storage so no problems there. Several times we were tied up next to other boats so the balcony could not be used that much in some of the ports as you were virtually inches from the balcony of the the other ship. There is only one chair in the cabin which presents a problem when both people are there as only one can sit in a chair and the other must sit on the bed. The bathroom is small but spacious enough for your shower, however if there are two women in the cabin one must do their makeup and hair out in the main cabin, especially if you have someone who seems to take a lot of time getting ready, like my sister. Dining--this is where my experience is much different from many of the others. I was not the least impressed with the food offered. Breakfast was fine, and at lunch you could go to the smaller cafe on deck three. There you could get sandwiches or burgers, etc. Dinner was not pleasant at all. The food choices were not great and I wound up eating steak three times in the one week. Not ideal for sure. The included excursions are all walking tours and a lot of your experience there depends on your tour guide. Some were good and others not so good. Be sure you are up for a lot of walking even on the easy ones as that is what they all are. We wound up leaving a couple of the tours and going off on our own because we were not impressed with the tour we were getting. My favorite part of the entire cruise was the two days we had in Budapest prior to boarding the ship. We have signed up for the Rhine cruise but my expectations are extremely lower than what I had for the first one. The crew did a good job of taking care of us and they are exceptional. Entertainment is almost non existent but I didn't expect much there to begin with. If you are not on the ship during the meal times (we missed lunch a couple of time due to excursions) then you are sorely pressed to find anything to eat on board. The cookies by the coffee machines were the same every day and there was no where to get anything to eat. I asked in the lounge if they had any appetizers but no luck. The bar tender finally took pity on us and went looking for something for us to eat . He came back with a sandwich which he said he found but didn't know who it belonged to. There is someone crew member on that ship still wondering where his sandwich went. My sister and I shared this one lonely sandwich to get us through to dinner time. Do I think these cruises are worth the amount of money you spend for them? Mostly no....I do it to see parts of the world that I have not seen and want to see Read Less

My husband and I really wanted to explore the cities on this itinerary, and a reputable cruise line was the only way we were willing to do it. I highly recommend the Munich and Salzburg extension at the start of the trip. Our Viking tour director Alec was knowledgeable, accessible, and, most importantly, extremely organized. We had a group of about 35 on the extension, and each tour and transition to another hotel and the ship went very smoothly. The ship never felt too small because it has so many different areas for activities, whether it's the bar/lounge gathering spot or the peaceful terrace. The crew was friendly and professional. Our room steward was very attentive without being intrusive. The excursions had a nice amount of time with guides and a good amount of time on our own. That had been one of our initial concerns because we aren't usually into formal tours. I can highly recommend the Cesky Krumlov tour. It was a highlight in spite of the travel time to and from. I can't imagine a better opportunity to visit that quaint, historic site. We were so happy with our overall experience that we are planning to do another Viking river cruise in 2020. Read Less

We've received many Vikings brochures but never booked one. When the brochure for the Danube Waltz Cruise arrived we were fascinated; we'd long wanted to try a Vikings Cruise and this itinerary seemed perfect for us - and it was! We booked both the pre-excursion stay in Prague and the post-excursion stay in Budapest. We saw/did everything we possibly could during the 3 day stay in each city, immersed ourselves in their cultures, and fell in love with both of them. Our hotel in Prague, Art Nouveau Palace Hotel, is absolutely beautiful, in a fabulous central location and thus walkable to almost everything in Prague. The Vikings staff were with us from the time we got off the plane in Prague to the time we went through the Security as we left Budapest; the Vikings desks in each hotel were valuable resources. When we left Prague for the drive to Passau, a bus (one of 2) picked us up at the hotel for a 4 hour drive through the Czech and then the German country-sides and delivered us to Passau where we embarked the ship. The Hermod is a lovely ship, our cabin (109) was perfect and our cabin steward terrific. Food at every meal was delicious and beautifully presented and the wine excellent. The wait staff were professional, pro-active in taking our orders, and conscientious in making sure everything met our expectations. The entire ship's staff was excellent - knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring, always responsive to any questions/requests, with the added plus of great senses of humor. Program Director Lee was truly outstanding; he did a great job with the programming, he interacted superbly with the guests, and always was interested in our feedback on shore excursions as well as our experiences on board. His descriptions of the views during our scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley were wonderful. The evening we sailed into Budapest at 10:00 pm, Monday, July 2, he made sure everyone knew to be on deck to see the magnificent lights of this beautiful city. Truly, is was an incredibly spectacular sight that took our breaths away! Not to be missed! We found every port to be wonderful to have a chance to explore - to at least give us a taste of it, and the Vikings excursions we selected were all very good. We'd like to highlight a few that we especially treasured. Even in the rain, the Passau walking tour was very pretty and the organ concert in St. Stephen's Cathedral magnificent--to hear our wedding processional (Purcel's Trumpet Voluntary) played on that instrument was very moving. The scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley was incredibly lovely - and Lee's narration perfect without being intrusive. We thought the tour of the Wachau Valley Winery - the Morwald family's winery, was the best winery tour and tasting we have ever experienced! Our group was small, which made it more personable, our Vikings guide fun, Erhard personally gave us the tour and was an absolute delight, and the 6 delicious wines we tasted were served in crystal glasses with generous pours, along with baskets of fresh bread. We bought 4 bottles! We thoroughly enjoyed our Danube Waltz cruise. To put our experience in perspective, we have traveled extensively around the world and also have been on many ocean cruises including 2 transatlantics, a Mediterranean cruise, Alaskan, and many different Caribbean islands, and we're doing a Panama Canal cruise in March 2019. We would absolutely do another Vikings River cruise. But first, we actually booked (on board the ship) the British Isles Ocean Cruise for the spring of 2020 -- along with our dear friends with whom we were traveling. We are very much looking forward to that. Read Less

I have never been to that part of the world and I had always heard the Danube cruise was the one to take. We were not disappointed. In fact, the experience far exceeded our expectations. From the minute we left the U.S. until we returned this was by far the most memorable vacation we have experienced. To experience, first hand, the history and the grandeur of the European ports we visited was truly a series of memorable moments. The staff and crew of the Hermod could not have made the experience any more memorable or fun. They are true professionals and it would be an honor and pleasure to sail with them again. When sailing with Viking please know if you have any dietary restrictions, they are more than happy to accomodate your needs. Vienna was one of my favorite stops but be advised, you arrive on a Sunday and other than cafe's and typical street vendors, the stores are closed. That was the only disappointment we experienced and even so, it was still a wonderful experience. Budapest is a wonderful city and we were fortunate enough to spend a couple extra days there. It was most definetly well worth it. Read Less

Wouldn't go on any other River Cruise in Europe. Ship, rooms, staff, food and experiences are so fantastic. Our pre-cruise stay in Munich and Salzburg were amazing. Hotels were great, especially the one in Salzburg, right in Old Town and steps to shopping! Our tours and tour guides were excellent. Luc took care of us from start to finish. Getting on and off the ship was smooth, with our rooms and luggage taken care of almost immediately. Our cabin was spacious enough for the two of us, bathroom a bit on the small size, but adequate. We had a nice little balcony, that considering we were hardly ever in our room, was nice to have when we were. Loved our cabin steward, who took care of our every need. And the dining staff was superb! Our group loves to try and keep the same table, so we get to know the waiters and staff in our area very well. The cruise had great entertainment, from nice and relaxing to crazy and fun. The shore excursions were very nice, some need to have a few tweaks made, seems like Passau could do with a few more places you can actually enter and not just see the outside of buildings. But overall, love the selections. The ONLY real negative of whole trip, the hike up a very steep, and altitude challenging, hill to see Neuschwanstein Castle while staying in Munich on our pre-cruise. Loved the excursion, wouldn't have missed it. But, Viking needs to realize they are dealing with an older clientele that may not be able to deal with walking up such terrain. Should definitely look into adding a shuttle service to this tour. May save them from having to deal with a customer not being able to make it up (which did happen to a few of our group) or having medical problems because of the climb. Would definitely go again. Already have an ocean cruise booked, our 2nd. Look forward to booking our 3rd river cruise soon. Read Less

I have always wanted to see this part of the world. Spent 3 days in Prague prior to boarding the ship. The hotel arranged by Viking was spectacular. Plus they had an agent at the hotel to arrange tours, make restaurant reservations and answer any questions we had.Once on the ship we met many wonderful interesting people. Some of us are still in contact.We are hoping to see each other again on another Viking Cruise. All the staff went above and beyond to make our cruise memorable. They were always available to answer our questions and make recommendations. The entertainment at the lounge was varied, often music and or performers of the local area. We enjoy casual dining and the ship had a wonderful outdoor dining area we frequented.However, we enjoyed several delicious meals in the main dining room. The whole trip exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to take another Viking cruise!! Read Less

We wanted to try a River Cruise as a way to see this part of Europe for the first time. Good friends recommended this cruise as the right length and right area and the best Cruise Company. Viking takes great care of their travelers, from the minuite we landed in Europe they had a representative on sight to direct us to our hotel transfer and from that point on took care of our everry need to make this cruise the best. Their staff is present in the hotels if you book add on time at the beginning or end of your cruise. Once on board, your tour director keeps you aware of land tours andacivities on the ship. By not assigning you a table to dine, you are able to meet differentt people every night or settle in with new made friends for every meal. As you sail the river you will soon see the difference in service provided by your crew verses other ships. You will have water for you tours and umbrellas in case of rain and shade when it is hot. Our crew went out of their way for those who had or developed problems walking and cimbing stairs on the various tours. Their kindness was commendable. The Viking staff is supporting you right up until you are checked in for your departing flight. They have set the bar very high in providing the best in customer service and travel enjoyment. We have recommended this cruise to our friends. Read Less

This is my 3rd Viking cruise. We (my husband and I) choose this one because of the other two great experiences - 10/25/2014 Viking Helvettla Rhine River 4/29/2015 Viking Schumann Elbe River. However, the Danube Waltz (Germany, Austria and Hungry), left us somewhat disappointed. The food was just 'okay'. Believe it or not, my husband was not able to get a "hot" cup of coffee for the first two days - believe it or not! Our cabin stewart was supberb; as was the dining service. The entire crew always pleasant. As for the embarkation and disembarkation, everything was explained quite clearly; which is so very helpful to senior citizens - like us. On one shore excursion, my husband missed the return bus (toally, totally his fault) and the staff bent over-backwards to make sure he found his way back to the ship. We certainly will give Viking another chance in the near future. At present, we and two other couples are looking at another Viking cruise for next year. Read Less