Itinerary (2 days in Berlin, 5 day cruise including Wittenburg, Meissen and Dresden, 2 days Prague) appealed to us and didn't disappoint. Viking's cruise environment is (for us) a good mix of levity, entertainment and enrichment led by excellent program director Rik and enhanced by unadvertised extras such as an evening walk in Torgau, a lacemaking demo (and chance to try), a talk from a local woman on her upbringing in the DDR and a classical music trio. Much of the Elbe sailing is through tranquil farmland, but there is more varied landscape at the eastern end of the itinerary and the Bastei viewpoints are spectacular. We were glad we sailed from west to east because the views becam emore interesting the further we got. We enjoyed the hotel stays in Berlin and Prague, but would advise that a Viking hotel stay is not like being on board a ship. Both hotels (Hiltons) were perfectly adequate but typical chain hotels with little local character. Viking reps were helpful, but the Viking experience of these days was limited to the panoramic/walking tours of each city. Airport transfers (we used Viking Air) were fine. There is a buyer-beware warning for this cruise. We were one of the first successful sailings of this cruise for many weeks because of low water levels. Viking seems to be very coy about saying how many Elbe cruises end up being stationary with buses used to cover the itinerary (and we had been warned there was a strong likelihood that would happen to us), but it seems to have been a lot over the last two summers. Water levels on the Elbe appears to be quite unpredictable, so it's hard to say when in the season is best, but spring and early summer may be less prone to problems. 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

Compared to our previous Viking river cruise, this one was a disappointment -- primarily because the cruise portion was too short. Cruise director Jamie and the ship personnel were great, as were the cabin and the meals. We enjoyed our day and a half in Berlin, both the included tour and particularly the "A Taste of Berlin" optional. Highlights on the cruise itself were Worlitz, Wittenberg (with its focus on Martin Luther, the Reformation and the art of Lucas Cranach), Dresden and its rebuilt palaces and churches, the Green Vault and the porcelain museum, the walk throughTorgau and the hike to the Bastei. Meissen was a good shopping opportunity. Prague was a disappointment -- too many fellow tourists and a hotel that was too far from the center of the city. The Polish extension had a great tour guide, a fascinating city in Krakow (and a great hotel location), and an underwhelming Warsaw. And two long bus rides. Read Less

We chose this cruise because it fit our calendar and took us to new places and some we wanted to see again. Staff was great and several stops were excellent and a few could be improved upon. Prague was superb but we had been there before and knew how to use the public transportation. The included tours were good. We also went off the Czech National Technical Museum which I had seen before. It is an amazing place for those with an interest in technology history and especially the birth of modern astronomy, which took place in Prague in 1600. There is a tie in between this and Jewish community which might be an interesting thing to develop. The Lobkowicz Palace tour is well worth its cost. The walk through the Bastei in the Saxon Alps was also very good. The Meissen stop was also excellent. A large part is a factory demonstration, museum and shopping trip but very well done. The town itself is also fine walking tour. Wittenburg was also well dpne and well planned. It is hard to argue with the amount of Luther shown but I would have preferred to see more of the Kranichs (elder and younger). I would like to have spent more time in Torgau. I suspect we missed a lot. I did not find the Worlitz stop worthwhile, although I did enjoy seeing details of how they do their plantings, I would prefer skipping the stop and spending more time in Potsdam. A city walking tour might be very good. On or last visit there we did the Palaces from t4he outside and spent more time at the Potsdam conference site and I think that is a better choice for a first visit; We did want to see the inside and it worked for us. We did not spend a lot of time in Berlin as we had a place to catch the next morning so I can't comment on the regular activities, but for me the one place I would not want people to miss is the Pergamon Museum. I see there is a section on fitness and recreation. Most of the exercise is walking on shore excursions. I do Yoga fairly regularly. I brought along a mat to do this. It would be nice if mats were available on the ship and this was made known to passengers. It would save me a bit of space in my bag. I did get added use for theYoga mat to protect the piece we bought at Meissen so it is not all bad to bring a yoga mat. 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

The Lounge on these long ships is my favorite place to be while on board. The atmosphere is lovely and changes throughout the day. The mornings are quiet, mid-day the casual lunch buffet is wonderful and picks up the pace and after dinner, the mood is lively. In the late afternoons, I love bringing my book and getting a coffee and a bit of a cookie and sitting by the window in the lounge, watching the enchanting countryside float by. We had looked into taking this cruise later in the summer and after pricing the trip decided to wait to book. A few days later we received an email that offered a 2 for 1 special with free air fare booking a "standard" room. We were delighted with the value of the trip but I was very skeptical about the accommodations. We booked the trip and traveled soon thereafter. The ship was smaller than the other long ships we had been on. It was delightful! The Standard Room was spacious, bright and beautiful. The money we saved made it possible for us to book several extra excursions and we were delighted. Read Less

While the cruise itself was 5 nights, the package included 2 nights in Berlin and 2 nights in Prague, with tours of each. Called the "Elegant Elbe," the destinations were very interesting as they were part of the Soviet sectors after WWII. The ship was very modern with streamlined decor and holds only 93 passengers. We selected a veranda cabin, and although we never actually used the veranda it gave the impression of more space. I was very satisfied with the meals. I tend to be a picky eater, but there was always something on the menu or buffet that appealed to me. Wine and beer are included at lunch and dinner, and service was attentive. Being a small ship entertainment was limited, but there was music in the lounge nightly. There is no fitness center or recreation on board. I loved being so close to the towns that we could casually walk off the ship. I participated in all the included shore excursions. Guides were very informed and shared history in great detail. I was somewhat frustrated by the often slow pace of the tours, as we were always with a full busload of people of varying mobility. We had Viking arrange our air so airport transfers were included and simplified our travel. Overall my experience was excellent and I reserved another Viking river cruise as soon as I got home! Read Less

To see Berlin and River Elbe which we had never done before. The ship was very good with excellent food, attentive staff and top notch organisation for excursions. Cabins rather snug - but we got used to going things in turn! Staff and excursions were all top notch on the ship. The food was always good and the entertainment pleasing, although the Music Quiz night went on for far too long [2 hours - scheduled, I believe, for 1 hour] and became extremely noisy. Some of us gave up and moved outside! Sadly I must report that after leaving the ship for our included post cruise stay in Prague many of our fellow travellers felt, as we did, that the holiday then rather fell apart. Having had the cruise part and filled in our shipboard form of comments we were then somewhat ignored! The transfer from ship to hotel takes well over two and a half hours and we were then taken immediately on a coach into Prague for the rest of that day without even being able to unpack. The day, with several miles of walking, was very long. Many passengers were in their seventies. This needs rethinking. Such a shame as, apart from an optional Folk evening outside Prague, we felt we no longer existed. The chosen hotel in Prague, Corinthia, is a long way from the centre. A shuttle bus was provided by Viking which was good but an hotel closer in would have been a better choice. Viking are excellent at River Cruises but less good at the hotel part. Be warned! 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

I wanted to visit Prague and Berlin as well as Wittenberg...not disappointed. Great hotels, ship staff and food were excellent. Enjoyed included excursions, and my granddaughter was so excited to see this part of the world. Very pleased;l had travelled Viking previously, and am considering an ocean voyage with tthem next. Some wasted time awaiting transfer to ship in Prague and again on another transfer. Our cruise director (EVA) was excellent in every way. She was pleasant, professional, and was available and helpful!! Some confusion about drinks that were included, but no worries...wine was plentiful. Resaurants visited in various ports such as Potsdam and Berlin were very good. Both hotel stays were very good!! With the exception of one, all guides were superb!!! Very knowledgeable and friendly!!! Buses were comfortable and all excursions were timely. Sad to see/hear of danger of pickpockets!! An experience of that occurred at the airportt in Berlin....fortunately just an observer; I was lucky!!! 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

We chose this one because we wanted to visit two of the places on the itinerary. We were not disappointed. Unfortunately we had not read the brochure properly and had not realised that the first two and last two nights would be in hotels, in Berlin and Prague respectively. However, that was our fault, not Viking's! In the event, we found the experience in Berlin rather dry, but Prague is a lovely city which we will be visiting again. Also unfortunately, our holiday got off to a very poor start due to a strike of air france staff. We finally go to Berlin eight hours late, after being routed round via Zurich. However, we had informed the London office of our difficulties and we were met by a charming Viking courier and driven to the ship. As always, the staterooms are spotlessly clean and blissfully comfortable. The selection of entertainment on the wide screen TV is chosen to suit all tastes. All of the staff are courteous, friendly and helpful. Meals, especially the local specialities, are always delicious and there is always a good choice. The excursions to Meissen, where we were given a demonstration of porcelain making (Meissen is one of my favourite makes!) and Wittenberg, where we had what can only be called a lecture-tour about Martin Luther, were very well thought out and interesting. Read Less

We have previously sailed with Viking on the Rhine, Rhone & in Bordeaux (+ 2 ocean cruises) and thought the Elegant Elbe might be good too. The landscapes at the south end were spectacular (especially the Bastei rock formation which soars above the Elbe) but the further north you go, it was cruising in a ditch through farmland. It was interesting to see the slow pace of economic development in the former East Germany, even after 30 years of reunification. The rebuilt city of Dresden is impressive, as is Wittenberg. In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Wittenberg was given a major face lift. All utilities were buried. Not a wire or satellite dish to be seen. It's a very pleasant walking town. I would definitely skip the pre-cruise "package" in Prague if I was planning the trip again. It consisted of nothing more than two extra nights in an overpriced hotel room ($650 per night) plus breakfast. Some optional excursions were offered but all were at substantial additional cost. That was disappointing because Viking had a reputation for excellent, included excursions. The weather in early April can be marginal in northern Europe. Perhaps this cruise would be better if delayed a month. I would stay further south in Europe if cruising in early spring again. Our Viking dining experience was typically excellent. Entertainment was minimal but good, as we expected on a very small ship. Rik, our Cruise Director was quite entertaining (quick wit and dry sense of humour!) as well as highly competent in organizing everything. Beyla is a small ship with a more intimate feel to it. Staff were great, attending to almost every detail with enthusiasm. Our only concern was the lack of attention to infection control in the common areas. On every other ship we have cruised on, meticulous attention was paid to disinfection and, especially, the mandatory use of the hand sanitizers. Unfortunately, a significant number of guests had flu and/or colds and shared them with the rest of us. This lead to a few weeks of misery for us during the second part of our visit to Europe (extended stay in London) and Viking Air wasn't of much help when we tried to go home early. 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 the Elbe River cruise because not as high traffic as Rhine or Danube. Plus we're Lutheran and we were to stop in Wittenberg 9 days before the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Prague fabulous at the beginning; Berlin equally fabulous at the end. Of course Wittenberg was special. However, my highlight was Dresden. I was fascinated by the way the city was painstakingly & authentically reconstructed. Beautiful, particularly the Marienkirche! Food was extraordinary both onboard and on shore. Particularly enjoyed touring the museum in Prague with the seated luncheon and the live chamber music. And the onboard variety evening with Katy Luther and her dear friend Barb Cranach was a hoot! What else to say? we stayed in luxurious 5 star hotels in both the hearts of Prague and Berlin. Conveniently within walking distance of most of the sights. Accessible & not too strenuous. Finally, particularly enjoyed our cruise director... great sense of humor! Read Less

We were intrigued by the itinerary and opportunity to see a variety of places and things. (One previous cruise was the Castles and Cathedrals cruise from Basel.) The ship and crew from the Captain and Hotel Director down were totally involved with the passengers. The Captain was often seen welcoming us back from our day's adventure and if you didn't talk with the HD or Tour Director once or twice a day, it was because you avoided them. The ship was immaculate and food outstanding - far better than the large Longships. We opted to spend an extra four nights in Berlin before the cruise and one extra in Warsaw at the end. We not only castles and cathedrals, but also a wide variety of other things including Auschwitz. We were concerned about low water, but it is a risk you take if you want to cruise the Elbe. One of the few down spots was the incredibly bad Sheraton in Berlin and poor Radisson Blu in Krakow. If you do the extension to Poland, consider hiring a private guide in Prague and Warsaw. Otherwise the tour is pretty much a drive by on the coach with a few stops. 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

We chose this cruise as my grandmother was born in Prague. We liked the idea of a small ship with fewer passengers than an ocean cruise. Our first 2 days in Prague were exceptional with a wonderful walking tour with our guide Charlie. We then enjoyed plenty of time on our own to explore the city. Everything went smoothly from being met at the airport and transported to the hotel where Claudia Diederix our tour director met us and stayed with us through to Berlin. She was organized, knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor and made our time exceptional. The Beyla was a small ship. The cabins were small but efficient and comfortable. Janos, the hotel manager, was delightful with a wonderful sense of humor. The food was outstanding, something for all different palates, beautifully presented and plentiful. We enjoyed listening to Robert the piano player. The shore excursions (some tour guides were better than others) were very educational and we were happy to use the Quiet Vox so we did not miss anything said by the guide. All of the crew were outstanding and worked together like a well oiled machine. They worked tirelessly and made for a great cruise. We enjoyed getting to know them. We would recommend Viking River Cruises and hope to take another one. 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

We chose this cruise because one of the destinations was Berlin and I’ve always wanted to see this city. Also another plus for us was that this cruise also visited Wittenberg and because of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this is another destination we wanted to see. Since my wife and I are Lutheran, this visit had special meaning to us. We were also struck by the beauty of Prague. We had no idea before we left home about much of the history of the city and how beautiful the city is. A much unexpected plus for our journey! And we cannot say enough regarding the staff of the Beyla. Since this was our first extended trip to Eastern Europe, we were a little apprehensive about our trip. But the crew on the ship and especially our cruise director Claudia alleviated all our concerns. The ship itself was wonderful. We enjoyed our accommodations. The food provided was very good, and being a very picky eater, I was able to find something to eat for all my meals that we had onboard. This was a truly great and enjoyable experience. Read Less

We wanted a river cruise for the relaxing and interesting experience. The Viking cruise on the Elbe River did meet our expectations as to interesting ports and a relaxing cruise. However although the quality of the ship, the Cruise director and ship service staff were wonderful, the cruise did not meet our expectations on a couple of issues. The entertainment on ship was not the best. We had two classical concerts that although technically excellent were quite boring. There was not enough variation and the music tended to be very low key. We also had a talk from an individual on the Russian occupations that was very poor and tedious. You should reevaluate on ship entertainment. The Folkloric Dance and Dinner outing was excellent and provided a good example of local talent and culture. Wine provided at meals was good but pretty much did not change. Drinking the same wine choices (white and red) every day was poorly designed and appeared to be a cost saver for Viking. You should offer better wines and more choices. Food was generally very good but there was one meal that I found at best mediocre. That was the German night. It was a buffet and I for one did not get a serving that was edible although I tried twice. Read Less

We chose this particular tour both for its starting point in Prague, which allowed us to return to a city we loved, as well as the opportunity it offered to journey through parts of Germany familiar through history but outside of our previous travel routes. We were not disappointed! The stay in Prague was enhanced by the.Viking offerings of music and local insight. We were so pleased to be able to embark the ship in Decin and cruise on as scheduled, because of recent rains and thus the raised water levels. Hiking in the stunning Bad Schandau bluffs, marveling at the beauty of Dresden, walking through the remarkable Reformation streets in Wittenberg— the list of adventures goes on! And this doesn’t even include the ongoing transformation we saw in Berlin, our fellow passengers on the ship or the terrific crew. Claudia, our Activities Director, made us smile every day! Our Captain was terrific. Janos, our Hotel services director, was excellent! Joseph and Arturo, from the Philippines, were so helpful and attentive to us in the dining room. It was a stimulating experience for us and one we will remember fondly! 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 have taken two other Viking River Cruises in the past and chose this one because it went to destinations we had not seen before. We spent 2 days in Berlin and 3 days in Prague with the time in between on the Viking Beyla. Our only regret was that our time on the ship wasn't longer. Our cruise director, Claudia, was outstanding. She was friendly, had a great sense of humor, but most of all was organized and efficient. She was with us from Berlin to our last moment in Prague. She definitely made the experience more enjoyable and entertaining. The staff and crew were friendly, helpful, and well-trained. The food was excellent, as usual. The Grand Hyatt Berlin was beautiful and conveniently located. The Hilton Prague was a beautiful hotel as well, except the rooms were a little dark and location not as close to the city center. Read Less