Anniversary We we did Budapest to Amsterdam sept 13 sailing with extensions in Prauge and Amsterdam. Long bus from Prauge to Budapest. Got on Viking Modi, embarkation was easy except after numerous times tellng them it was an anniversary cruise not birthday and date correction. We immediately had to travel upstream due to low water then bus back to Budapest to tour. The crew including barstaff were excellent. After 7 days we had to repack and move to a different ship.Viking Skinir. Bar staff which happened to be our wait staff as we dined on the aquavit were rude and never called us by name. Then they almost didnt bring a cake for our anniversary but a fellow traveller went to the cruise director and advised and out they come with a BIRTHDAY CAKE and started singing Happy Birthday UGH and we spent this much money why. Tours were good except in Cologne where the Turkish Presidnet was there and protests all over and we asked if it would disrupt the pm tour to hunting lodge and palace and they assured us it wouldnt WELL got by the airport and sat in traffic. Tour guide asked if we wanted to go on and could maybe salvage the palace so we kept going then (no fault of Viking) and critical accident but we ended up driving 4 1/2 hours driving around on a bus. Corporate,the tour company, and the Cruise Director shouldve cancelled tour. I think they have traffic reports. We had a Balcony room and most of time parked in industrial area, wall, or against another boat.VERY Disappointing!!!Disembarcation in Amsterdam to the hotel and the luggage was promised by 11 am well it didnt show up until 430 and the weather got really bad that afternoon but our extra clothing had not shown up yet so another day wasted and we went to do hop on hop off tour but didnt have the right clothes. We spent how much money ( the most out of 30 cruises and it was a HUGE dissapointment) They gave a 15% discount towards another river cruise but that is an insult. They should maybe consider cancelling cruises if there is continued low water. Oh and dont hurt yourself cause there is not a bandaid on board or a doctor... Cruise was a disaster, rude staff on Skinir, bus rides for hours Read Less

This is a review of the Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam from the 1st to the 15th of October. We also did the 3 night pre tour in Prague and the post 2 night in Amsterdam.We have travelled the world extensively, but his was our first River Cruise and I did a lot of research on the various company's before booking. We chose Viking because they touted to be the original and the best, with luxurious and fairly new long ships. We are not really cruise people, but this seemed like a relaxing holiday compared to the more adventurous hiking ones we usually do. This was a once in a lifetime cruise for my 60th Birthday and we encouraged our 2 Australian Friends to spend up and join us. I am still feeling guilty over that. The booking process from Australia was fine (although we were not made aware of the option to upgrade our hotel in Prague and subsequently ended up at the Corinthia, which was almost 5 kms out of town and away from our friends. We used Viking Air and that worked very well as we had flights with Emirates who are great and we had the option for a stopover which we took in Dubai. First dissapointment came upon arrival in Prague. The 3 night pre excursion was expensive and I assumed a 5 star hotel close to the old town would have been the Standard. How wrong I was. The Corinthia is definitely not 5 star, I would rate it 3+ and almost 5kms from town. Luckily Viking provided shuttle busses or it would have been a disaster. Our room on the 16th floor was unrenovated, dusty and had a saggy bed. There was mould on the bathroom tiles, the bed was saggy and there were no power points. We were so upset that my husband spoke to the Hotel the following morning and asked to be moved. They gave us a nice, renovated room on the 4th floor (which is what we should have had to start with, a deluxe double). Meanwhile we had received the regulatory, last minute email from Viking about the water levels and possible Itinerary changes. I had been dreading this after keeping track of other sailings and reviews. We did the optional, Prague by night tour which we considered a waste of money. We just bussed around for an hour having ministerial buildings pointed out to us, (none of which were lit up anyway). We had 2 short stops. One for a distant view over the City and the other at a Commercial Building for a view. On the included tour of Prague, we were supposed to tour the Castle, but our guide said we were too late and the lines were too long. After a 5 hour bus ride to Budapest to Embark the ship, we were told we could not sail from Budapest and would embark at the Industrial Port of Estergom, an hours bus ride away from Budapest. That was my next dissapointment. It had been a bucket list Item to see Parliament lit up at night, but that was not going to happen as the boat was not there! Embarkation was smooth and was aboard the Viking Modi, not the Skirnir, as we had already been informed of a ship swap the next week. The ship itself was luxurious, absolute 5 star. The Staterooms were beautiful with plenty of storage space. Bathroom design was fabulous. All the Staff on the Modi were outstanding, the Musicians very talented, and the food choices were fantastic. We were looked after very well and even a small Birthday cake on my special day. The Wifi is just terrible- no excuse for such a poor bandwidth. The administration and organisation was excellent ( our on board credit was ready for us and our account always accessible upon asking.) I would not bother with a verandah stateroom though. The ship is either docked in industrial ports or tied up to another ship and you have to draw the curtains for privacy. Included tour of Budapest dissapointing as rushed due to Bus time. This became the normal for each port- too much time on busses, restricting ou free time to enjoy and relax. The cruising we did do until Regensburg was lovely especially the Wacchau Valley. We had to swap ships on to the Skirnir at Regensberg- this was seamless. Just leave luggage outside the door in the Morning and it was like getting on the same boat after the day tour. The Skirnir was a little more 'tired' looking than the Modi and the staff not as friendly. We thought that would be the only disruption to the cruise until the bad news that we could not sail past the City of Mainz, 2 hours from Cologne and that we would disembark a day earlier to a Hotel in Amsterdam. The atmosphere was getting a bit tense. Our Tour Director, Terry was doing an outstanding job of trying to hold everything together under trying conditions. Because we could not sail the Middle Rhine, we were given an option of bussing to Rudesheim to board a flat bottomed day ship, so we could see the famous Castles. This was a very long day, but we were glad we did it to see the Rhine. The lunch provided at the Loreley Restaurant was truly terrible. The River levels are shockingly low and have been for a long time. Viking long ships have a draft with minimum 1.7m on them. So they were never goung to sail through. We later met some fellow Australians who sailed with Travel Marvel. They did the same cruise but their ship got all the way through to Amsterdam. From here, everything went pear shaped. Our Cologne Optional Tour was refunded as we would not be there. We Disembarked in Mainz and long bus tour to Cologne for a hurried walking tour. No scenic cruising of Waal and Merwede or Kinderdijk Windmills. Again, the hotel (Highett Regency) in Amsterdam is a 2km walk from the Old town. Not a big deal for us , but their were quite a lot of much older people on the cruise that would have had a problem. The included walking tour of Amsterdam was useless. The guide was more interested in showing us the area nearby and the signs on the letter boxes that meant 'No junk Mail'. We never went to the historical area. It was lucky we had extra days in Amsterdam to explore on our own. A few days after our cruise we recieved a welcome home letter and apology from Viking for the disrupted itinerary. They said we would receive seperately, a voucher for 50% off a further cruise. We are still waiting for that. We feel it should have been a 30% refund of what we had already done, to be fair. I doubt we would ever risk another River Cruise or recomend using Viking. There are other Company's with smaller drafts on their ships that will get through the rivers in Europe. I feel that Viking Management are not transparent enough with regards to Itinerary changes and water levels ,especially in these days when long term forecasts are able to give an accurate indication of rainfall.The rivers have been low for months. In fairness to Viking, you ships are lovely but you contingency plan for low water is not. I was exhausted after this 'relaxing' tour. Read Less

This cruise was well worth it. This was our first time doing a river boat cruise and we expected the shore excursions to be so-so. Turns out they were of extremely high calibre and the guides were absolutely outstanding. The staff were very friendly and always willing to help. The only reason I gave an overall rating of 4 as opposed to 5 is due to the fact that the dining seating arrangements are geared towards extroverts. All tables in the dining room seat 6 and seating is on a first come first serve basis. This means that you are always dining with other people. This is OK for the first 4-5 days but both my wife and I are introverts and after a while we were people out. The Aquavit lounge provides a bit of a relief from this as there are two tables for 2 (the others are tables for 4) but given that we were not the only introverts on the ship, these were prized and very difficult to get. That said, this was the only downside. Otherwise, the experience was exceptional. Kudos to Stephen Guy our cruise director who went out of his way to make this an even more enjoyable cruise. Read Less

Heard great things about Viking river cruise. Viking supposedly rated the best which would justify the huge cost. This was to have been the vacation of a lifetime and a celebration of our 44th wedding anniversary. It didn't come close. First, the good things: Food was excellent with a lot of variety. Ship was kept extremely clean. Modi crew was excellent - Skirnir crew was bad. Viking handled transfers to and from airport very well. Now, the not so good. Prague pre cruise 3 day extension was OK except for an 8 hour bus ride from Prague to Budapest - this wasted one whole day of the extension. Initially when I asked how we would be transferred from hotel to boat I was told a 5 to 6 hour luxurious bus ride. We were required to transfer from the Modi to the Skirnir since ships could not make it due to water levels and very little rain. Viking would not confirm or deny that we would have ship changes even though they were very aware it would be necessary. Transfer to new ship was seamless except for having to pack and unpack. We were unable to do any of our Budapest excursions and missed out on several others. Crew on Modi knew my name by second day and were always smiling. Stateroom person was terrible on Skirnir - most always our room was not serviced until late afternoon. The Modi bartenders were always interacting with passengers and had no problems with making any kind of cocktail. The Skirnir bartenders never interacted and were rude most times. One instance was when I asked for a chocolate martini - he said they didn't make them. I then asked for a shot of vodka and a shot of Baileys as a substitute. He said they didn't have a vanilla vodka - which I had not asked for. Another passenger stepped in and told him just mix what was asked for which he eventually did. This was noted by several people and several comments were made to Anthony. Also several times the bartenders rolled their eyes at passengers and spoke in their own language which appeared they were dissing the passengers. We paid quite a bit of money for this trip and the last week was not near as enjoyable as the first week. Just saying - Viking knew weeks in advance that we would need at least one ship change yet they would not tell us until the day before the shift. They did give us a 15% voucher but felt it should have been at least 25% Read Less

Sailed with friends from Amsterdam to Budapest on VRC. This is not our first river cruise and will not be our last. The crew, service, food, drinks, etc. were excellent. Special kudo's to our Cruise Director who made everyone feel special! Although the river levels did not permit 100% travel via the rivers, Viking went out of their way to ensure that all guests got to partake in their excursions. The buses that Viking used were fairly new and very comfortable. What made this cruise enjoyable for us were the times spent with friends, meeting new friends and seeing sites that we have not seen on past trips to Europe. Not to mention almost perfect weather. Two plus weeks with only one day of rain! September is a great month to visit Europe and doing a river cruise is a nice way to travel. Meals were not as lavish as a Viking Ocean Cruise, but you did not go away hungry! Read Less

Have seen TV ads and received literature on Viking cruises for several years. Decided to make our 20th Anniversary cruise a big one so took the European 14 day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Viking made all our arrangements and we couldn't have been better taken care of. We arrived early A.M. in Amsterdam and were bused to the Skirnir with a buffet lunch waiting for us as we waited for our rooms to be ready. (Because of low river levels, we started our cruise on the Skirnir - changed to the Modi later.) The staff on both ships was outstanding; our veranda cabin just what we expected; dining was over the top! This was our first cruise of any kind and we loved it! The shore excursions were very informative with excellent guides and lovely, picturesque places. Our first included tour of the Kinderdijk Windmills was a personal love because my grandfather came from South Holland. We chose 3 additional excursions - Cologne Beer Garden/Dinner which was such fun with Kolsch beer and sausage/sauerkraut, etc.; the Lipizzaner Stallions Backstage was very interesting-getting up close and almost personal with them but would really have loved to have a performance included; and the Schonbrunn Palace is everything magnificent and glittery with enormous grounds gardens that are breathtaking. The tours were graded for difficulty and they were quite true to their rating. Our Program Director, Anthony, was outstanding! He kept us informed all along the way of our next days activities and the low water issue. We did have to change ships half way through but the changeover was handled smoothly and the balance of our trip on the Modi was just as great. Viking certainly has their act together on delivering a memorable and wonderful vacation!! When we are ready to do another, we will certainly explore Viking. Read Less

This was our 1st River Cruise and my wife and I had a fantastic time!! Before I continue I must say that Stephen Guy, our Cruise Director, was beyond phenomenal!!! He enhanced our cruise experience so much! When we would come back from an excursion, and hear his friendly voice, we felt that we were back home! We booked the post extension stay in Amsterdam and so glad we did! Doing the B>A cruise you must do the extension in order to visit this charming city! We did have one ship swap in the middle of our cruise which was seamless! We did have to eliminate one of the optional excursions in Nuremberg! I have to say that we would have been upset if it was more than one ship swap! I know that Viking has no control over the river conditions! We thoroughly enjoyed the casual and open seating dining on the cruise! We met so many new friends on the cruise during breakfast, lunch and dinner! The food throughout the cruise was excellent with many local dishes served according to location! The French Balcony Room was more than adequate! There are so many varied opinions on what room guests prefer! We knew we did not want the room with the small window but we did debate between the French Balcony and the Veranda! The French Balcony was fine as we were hardly in the room except to sleep! All of the excursions were well organized and worthwhile! We booked numerous optional excursions and these were enjoyable as well! We wanted to make the most out of our European experience! Each night before dinner they would review the next days itinerary so that you knew exactly how to plan your day! Each morning you would get a 15 minute warning before your excursions departure! Stephen Guy, our Program Director, was always on top of everything and available for any questions! Each days activities were extremely well organized and planned! The entire staff was extremely friendly and went out of their way to please! This made our cruise so much more enjoyable! I would highly recommend that everyone should take a river cruise with Viking! We hope to book another Viking Cruise in the near future! Read Less

Best ever, Service was outstanding. Although the rivers were low, Viking did an outstanding job rearranging all the activities. The weather was super except it could of rained a bit more during the night. Food was great, did not have a bad meal. All the ports were very interesting. We walked about 3 or 4 miles a day, which was great exercise and to work some of the food off we ate. We extended in Prague which was beautiful. They really took care of us getting to hotel and airport. Every employee made this trip great, they work as a team and help each other when needed. More information about water levels when we booked the trip would be recommended. We knew nothing about the water levels until 3 weeks before we left. Viking made an offer we couldn't resist and will be taking an Ocean cruise in 2020. Great job to the entire team. Read Less

Our first cruise, river or otherwise. An excellent experience, even with the diversions caused by the water level being too low for the ship to traverse certain parts of the river. These diversions were handled professionally and as minimally disruptive as possible. We were bused from one ship to another identical ship, and our luggage just appeared in our stateroom on the new ship.They had staff available at the airport on arrival, and on departure, they had staff at the airport assisting in the checkin process, up to the security checkpoint. At the departure, we we considered a "group" and directed to the airline priority checkin line, even though our tickets were not of that class. Some optional tours had to be cancelled due to the low water, and we were refunded for them in the form of a real check (not future credit). Many shore excursions were offered in a variation of required exertion, so you take the easy one if you wanted, or one with a lot of walking and stairs if that is what you wanted. While some people prefer to venture out on their own, the "handholding" experience from Viking is exactly what WE were looking for. Read Less

This cruise was highly recommended. I would agree it was beyond my expectations! It was a seamless operation, well-organized, high quality in every aspect. The ship was clean and well maintained at all times. Our cabin was lovely. Every possible need was met. The crew was attentive to everything. The entertainment and activities were fantastic. Every meal was prepared perfectly and simply delicious! There were so many choices it was incredible. I have a gluten intolerance and I never struggled at mealtimes. Our tour Director was top notch as our Director! He was very approachable, knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and attentive to each passenger. Due to low water levels we had to change ships to reach our final destination. This process was beyond our expectation as to how seamless it was for us. Kudos to the crew! They made this wonderful trip a pleasant and memorable experience. And the shore excursions just added even more positive experiences to the trip! I highly recommend a river cruise! We have already booked another cruise for next year! Read Less

We had been wanting to do this trip for a long time, so when the opportunity presented itself for Summer of 2018, we jumped at it! It was our first time to Europe, first time with Viking, and our first river cruise outside of the states. That's a LOT of firsts! We started our trip with 3 days on our own in Amsterdam. We had a wonderful time, and while it was great to use hotel points, next time I would opt for the Viking Pre-Cruise if offered. I think we likely would have seen more of the city. Our hotel was close enough to the dock that we walked by everyday looking at the Viking Longships and dreaming about our embarkation. Embarkation was so smooth! We walked up with our luggage, left it with the nice crew members and proceeded to the ship. Checking in on board was super smooth, they showed us to our cabin and gave us the needed information about how things work on board. Our cabin was AMAZING! I am probably spoiled now to the life of the Explorer Suite! lol The restaurant & bar staff were simply wonderful. They are quick to learn your name and your preferences, or, in my case, dietary restrictions. They knew what I could and could not eat, and made sure I stayed safe throughout the trip. This extended to the few times that eating ashore was necessary. A card was provided to me to inform the restaurant of my restrictions. The tour itself was also amazing. The ports along the way, the history...medieval through modern...was astonishing. I loved Passau. And all of the St Stephens' Cathedrals we visited (I think there were 3?). The Organ concert. The Klimt exhibit. The history center in Nuremberg. ALL OF IT! If you were following the weather in the summer of 2018, you know that Europe was experiencing a heat wave. And a drought. So yes, the river was low. So low that a change of ships was necessary. Even this was SEAMLESS! Yes, we had to pack our bags about half way through the trip in order to change ships, but that was hardly an inconvenience. The crew got our bags off the ship, & off to the new ship while we went about our tour. When we arrived at the new ship, our bags were in our cabins. EASY PEASY! We loved our experience with Viking so much that in less than 18 hours of returning home, we booked our next Viking trip: back to back Ocean Cruises over Christmas and New Years (alas, no Explore suite for me on this one...lol). If you're reading this, and wondering if Viking is worth the $$$. IT IS! Go book that trip now. (I'm sure all of their reservation people are great, I highly recommend Monte!) Read Less

After enjoying several (15+) ocean cruises on different cruise lines, we wanted to experience river cruising as we had heard about Viking river cruising through ads everywhere and direct mailing coming to us every few days. And it was all marketing hype and I am not sure what factors are considered in their ranking as our experience was very disappointing. To start with, because of low water level somewhere, we were put on Viking Modi when we started in Budapest. Our group of 22 was promised vegetarian food (Indian style) everyday but staff on this ship was not aware of this request and that turned into week-long disappointment for food. The worst part ? If you can't satisfy your hunger at the designated time and place, there is nothing else available except chocolate chips cookies if you are hungry at any other time !!! After the first week on Modi, we were transported by 3 hour bus ride to our designated ship Viking Skirnir where experience with vegetarian food was little better. Entertainment on the ships ? A pair of musicians/singers for week-long entertainment. Nothing else for other entertainment. Nothing for any activities. If you are not in a group to spend time together, this would be the most boring period unless you are looking for some quiet and/or solitary time for yourself. Lounge not big enough to hold ship's 180+ people for lecture or music. Some of the excursions are good with knowledgeable guides but the others were ok or so-so. Post-cruise experience has been very disappointing. Personally, when giving optional gratuities at the guest services, more money was charged than I asked them to charge because of the conversion to Euros. So following up with customer relations where agent dismissed my question with "nothing can be done" and then a letter to Viking River Cruise CEO Torstein Hagen did not even receive an acknowledgement or response. All in all, very disappointing. If you are looking for good food for vegetarian (Indian style), then think twice. After my reminders, customer relations agent called back and offered coupons towards future cruise on Viking. It is like saying, "If you did not like our product, buy some more in future" !!! Read Less

We were celebrating our 25th anniversary and chose this river cruise. It met all our expectations and then some. We loved everything about the ship, the crew, the FOOD (OMG, so amazing!) the people on the journey with us, the tours and tour guides, the optional excursions (we picked the best ones, of course), and the service. Every night dinner was a genuine experience in local foods, and the wine was generously poured and always good. Top marks across the board. The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful, and all but one very experienced and knew how to show off the local villages. We were also lucky the weather was good--we certainly went at a good time of year. We appreciated having our stateroom cleaned every day, and noticed that the ship was always in super clean condition. Our fearless leader knew how to keep everyone happy. Thank you, Viking! Read Less

Bucket list cruise. Was able to see the rivers and the Great cities that we stopped at. The flight was great. Meeting Viking reps at Budapest was great and helped us around in a foreign city. Bus was comfortable and a smooth ride to the ship. The Skirnir is a very nice ship with a fabulous crew, for without their service and hospitality this would have been just another cruise. All of the excursions took us to the right places and Viking tour guides were all knowledgeable about their tours and took time to explain the finer points of the tours. The cabins were slightly smaller but comfortable. The daily water refill was great. Onboard dining was exquisite, no problem in asking for special request, and endless beer and wine tops it all. The onboard entertainment had a husband and wife duet that were fabulous and the extra shows were good. Each port was unique and enjoyable. Could not have had a more enjoyable experience. Read Less

This was our best vacation ever! Can't believe how much we got to see at a comfortable pace. Decided if we fly that far, we're doing the longer trip. 15 days was perfect. We sure weren't finished at 7, 8 or even 10 days! Can't wait to take another. The food was amazing. Great local choices plus stand fares as well (chicken, salmon, steak). Portions were perfect. Bar prices were very affordable. My husband and table mates loved the comp wine and beer at meals. The service was flawless. Every need was anticipated and handled. If you had a special request, it was taken care of immediately and nothing was a bother. The pace was perfect for most. Loved the local included tours to be shown around by a resident. Then you had the option to add additional tours. We took several but also placed ourselves for rest breaks. Our prior cruising has been oceans. We can't wait to take another river cruise. Read Less

What can I say about our Viking Skirnir river cruise.... well for starters....it has ruined ocean cruises for us forever! Best cruise experience at a reasonable cost. And with so much more included in the price. Daily excursions tailored to your activity level and interest are included. A second excursion may be added on most days. The food was amazing..... fine dining with talented chefs that aimed to please with interesting and international cuisine. The wait staff was exceptional and always went above and beyond to accommodate our every need. There was several people in our group that had special dietary needs. They were accommodated with style and taste. Our cabin steward even anticipated my husbands need for distilled water for his CPAP without being ask. During the 15 days on our amazing trip from Budapest to Amsterdam , not once did either of us have a negative experience or complaint. We would take the same trip again in a heartbeat. Read Less

Loved the itinerary, very knowledgeable excursion guides, ship was great, BUT one place we especially wanted to see because we watched a video on the Viking website with Karina highly recommending it, was missed because the cruise director and reception desk staff did not know anything about it and made no attempt to help us get there during our port stop. Very disappointed! Another huge disappointment was the Lipizzaner Stallion excursion--huge waste of $$$ to see the horses standing in their stalls. We booked the Prague extension package through Viking prior to our cruise. Beautiful city but very crowded this time of year. Bus ride to Budapest was made fun by the guide onboard who pointed out all the sights along the way. Would of loved to spend more time in Budapest, another beautiful city! Beautiful scenery along the Rhine, Danube, and Main rivers of Europe ending with the Windmills of Holland. Read Less

We chose The Grand European Tour from Budapest to Amsterdam because it offered so many Western European cities we most wanted to visit and more! We had a wonderful time and were very pleased with this cruise. Viking did an outstanding job with every aspect of our trip. We purchased our cruise rather last minute (within 30 days of the sailing date) at a great rate which included free airfare and transfers directly from Viking, and they took care of everything. We were met at the airport in Budapest by a Viking representative and promptly escorted to a transport and rode with another couple directly to our ship. We arrived around 11am and our stateroom was not yet available, but we were encouraged to have lunch at the Aquavit buffet. We enjoyed our lunch sitting outside soaking up the sunshine and the sights surrounding us as we were docked in the heart of Budapest next to the Chain Bridge. When we were notified that our cabin was ready, we quickly unpacked and headed out on our own to explore this beautiful city. One of the highlights of the entire cruise was the cruise right after dinner that first night - Budapest all lit up at night from the Danube was spectacular! The ship was sleek and comfortable and everything was perfectly maintained. We had a basic cabin which had a very large window above the water line. We enjoyed our unique perspective of the river and were very pleased with the amount of cabin space and storage available. The bathrooms were perfectly appointed and we enjoyed the heated floor and no-fog mirror. Our steward was very friendly and she did a great job of keeping our cabin spotless. We thought the food was great, whether in the dining room or the Aquavit. Service was outstanding from all of the staff and it was awesome just how many learned and remembered our names from the first day. The enrichment activities provided on board were varied, informative, and top notch. We participated in all the included overview tours provided by Viking and then explored on our own; it was a perfect mix. We enjoyed each of the ports we visited and all the cities we toured. Embarkation and disembarkation couldn't have been easier. Our only complaint was that we chose this tour because it was from Budapest to Amsterdam and were very disappointed we were not able to see any of Amsterdam as we were booked on a very early flight out and had to disembark at 5:45am which allowed no time at all to explore this city. We would definitely recommend this tour and the two weeks flew by. We met some great people and enjoyed getting to know them. We would heartily recommend both Viking and this particular cruise/tour. Read Less

What a trip! Viking did a wonderful job in the Grand European Cruise. We arrived early in Budapest and enjoyed the extra days as we got acclimated to the change in time. Embarkation was extremely smooth and easy. The Skirnir was wonderful. We treated ourselves this trip and got a suite - that was a wonderful decision on our part! Our cabin had two separate rooms plus a roomy bathroom with a full size shower. We enjoyed the extra space. Dining on board - whether breakfast, lunch or dinner was always a treat. The food was always excellent - every night a local choice and several good choices always available if for some reason the local fare didn't sound too good one evening. Service was excellent. The entire crew went out of their way to help make our trip a wonderful one. We enjoyed each port we came to. The included excursions were well done and very informative and the optional excursions my wife and I took were also well done. We took this trip with another couple, the husband has problems walking without a walker but the folks on board really went out of their way to assist them each time we got back on board or when we got off for excursions. We would definitely go again and recommend this cruise to anyone who desires to see this historical part of Europe. Read Less

We chose Viking River Cruises for our first cruise - and loved every minute of it. Viking handled all our luggage from the time we landed at the airport and by the time we were brought to the ship, our luggage was waiting for us. Amazing! Viking also provided wonderful information on our departure city and each stop along the Danube, Rhine, and Main Rivers. We arrived a few days before our departure from Budapest and thoroughly enjoyed exploring Buda and Pest. At the end of our cruise, we opted to spend a few days in Amersterdam as well. I would highly recommend those thinking of taking The Grand European Tour do precisely that! While cruising along the river, we took full advantage of the excellent excursions and felt we learned quite a bit about each city we visited. The Skirnir was lovely. Our room had everything we needed and was a model of minimalist perfection. Heated bathroom floors were an unexpected treat! The Skirnir is a longboat, not a giant ocean-going vessel but rather an intimate-sized ship holding approximately 185 guests. Still, it offered several dining areas and an outdoor exercise track for walking - or in our case, spontaneous yoga classes. The staff was amazing - catered to everyone and made all of us - there were 8 in our party - feel welcome and special. While none of us were disabled, it was interesting to note that those with disabilites were accommodated just as easily. Elevator onboard was a plus. As I said, everyone was catered to by the thoughtful, friendly and capable staff. Ship Director Steven was quite possibly the best host ever! He was knowledgeable, entertaining and talented. That man could sing!!! Since our return, I have been recommending Viking River Cruises to everyone who followed our trip on our Facebook page. My husband and I have even signed up for two more cruises. The whole cruise was a wonderful experience. Thanks, Viking!!! Read Less

This was our 50th anniversary. We saved for this cruise for a year. We arrived in Amsterdam 2 days before sailing for a pre package offered by Viking. The Viking rep met us at the airport. We were taken to our hotel but the rooms were not ready till 3 PM ( we arrived around 10 AM. The weather was cold and wet so we opted for covered canal tours. Even with the poor weather, the sights of Amsterdam were great. On the day of departure Viking picked us up and took us to the ship. Fantastic welcome from all the crew. The ship was sleek and upscale. We have been on 14 ocean cruises and nothing can come close to the Viking experience. The ship left port around 6 PM. Members of the hospitality group held a welcome aboard night and explained the next 15 day experiences. Cabins are on the small side but tastefully appointed. We had a veranda cabin and really enjoyed watching the world go by. Dining consisted of a dish of the region each night. There were also several "American" dishes that could be ordered on any night. Lunch and breakfast could be eaten in either the main dining room or the outside bow atrium. At all meals and in all venues, service was outstanding. Each day as we traveled the rivers we had a choice between the cost free tour or several additional priced tours. We stayed with the free walking tours and were very pleased. Groups were small and well led. On several evenings, entertainment was brought on board from the region we were sailing. Other nights members of the crew supplied various entertainment. On of our favorite afternoons were those sailing the rivers as we passed quaint towns and fantastic castles. Through the course of the cruise we passed through 64 river locks both upstream and down. There were no children on board and the average age of the passengers was 50+. We had very high expectations for this cruise and Viking surpassed all of them. Read Less

Chose this cruise to cover the most territory in one overseas flight. Also because of the itinerary. The staff was excellent. The food and service outstanding. The places visited were very historic and beautiful. Having only 183 guests allowed for meeting everyone and getting to know everyone. Also, love this company because children are not allowed. This is not a trip for children. Delta airlines did not put our luggage on our plane to Amsterdam. We had to sail 3 days without a change of clothes. Viking gave us bathrobes and told us to give them our clothes every night before retiring. They laundered them free of charge and returned them clean every morning by 7am so we could go to breakfast. Our luggage arrived finally on day3. The staff offered toiletries. Our first 2 stops offered no chance of purchasing anything that we might need. Even other passengers offered help. Instead of the trip being ruined, we felt comfortable because of the staffs help. We will definitely take another Viking River cruise. Read Less

Locations visited and length of cruise was perfect. The staff was exceptional, and the food was delicious and plentiful! The wait staff kept the wine glasses filled as requ at both lunch and dinner. Although we weren’t on the optional drink plan, the wine selections were very good. It was a very comfortable journey...not rushed, and we enjoyed the actual cruise alng the rivers. Seeing the scenery of vineyards, small villages, old castles, windmills and large cities lit up at night was an unexpected delight and it was glorious. On our last evening in Budapest, the captain took the boat out on the river to see the glorious lighting on all the buildings. It was beautiful! Because of the smaller size and fewer passengers, we had time to meet, chat with and relax at the lunches and dinners with other guests. We would sit with some several times at both lunch and dinner, as well as see them on the daily walking tours. We exchanged contact information with some of them. Read Less

We enjoyed this cruise so much that we are considering doing it again! Our room and the balcony were just what we wanted for a river cruise. When not out exploring on an excursion, eating a terrific meal or just relaxing on board, we really enjoyed sitting on our balcony as we cruised through the heart of Europe. The attention to detail by all of the staff was a clear differentiator compared to ocean cruises we have taken. Having only 180 guests on board enables the crew to get to know you and attend to any needs that you have on the ship. The cruise director, Stephen Guy, was the best that we have ever seen and his warmth, friendliness and sense of caring for all passengers was a unique and personal touch. Our cabin steward, Denisa, was terrific too. She helped us out in many ways and was extremely warm, friendly and efficient. Likewise, our wine steward, Allen and the servers Michelle and her husband, who were from the Philippines were terrific. They all got to know us well after a day or two and anticipated our needs the rest of the trip. Likewise, Natalia, who was our bar attendant, was always courteous, efficient and friendly to everyone. We did excursions that were included and some of the optional ones. In particular, we enjoyed the day trip to Rothenburg and the visit to the Schonnbrunn Palace in Vienna. The night cruise on the Danube in Budapest was spectacular. I have done the nighttime tour in Paris and this one was better. Read Less

There was a lot to like about this trip. The ship was comfortable and well run and the food was generally pretty good. But a week or so after returning home, two things still nag at me. First, the Internet service on board was terrible, even when most folks were asleep or off the ship. I know that Internet on cruises can be bad, particularly in remote areas. But most of the time the ship was in very industrial waterways (don't expect any fields of beautiful tulips along the way) with good terrestrial wireless service. I can only speculate, but it looks like Viking just wont pay the cellular carriers for sufficient bandwidth to accommodate its guests. Disappointing for a higher-end cruise line. If Viking is going to promote free WiFi service onboard, it needs to make sure that the connection to the Internet is adequate. Second, Viking's marketing materials are very deceptive about the cruise and Rotterdam. The website indicates that Day 8 is in Rotterdam, and if one clicks through one is told that "[a]fter an onboard dinner, you have free time to explore the city." I was looking forward to that -- Rotterdam has some incredible contemporary architecture, and I wanted to see the Markthal and the Cube Houses. A few days into the cruise, I inquired as to how long our "free time to explore the city" would be, I was told that in fact the ship never docks in Rotterdam and that after dinner onboard it merely cruises the Rotterdam Harbor. The first officer and cruise director were unaware of what was in the marketing material, and told me that the itinerary for this tour does not call for a stop in Rotterdam. I was quite disappointed, and am surprised that when Viking last week released its 2020 cruises, the marketing material for this voyage continues to suggest an evening stop in Rotterdam. Read Less