I was on a 15 day cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. This was my first river cruise, although I have been on more than 30 ocean cruises. I had decided to try this type of cruising, even though it was more expensive. I spoke to several people who had done it, and they had all been very happy with their experience. It was more costly than an ocean cruise, but included many things. I was anxious to see if it was really worth it.

It turned out to be a fantastic experience. There were only 192 passengers on board, which meant that we got to know many people fairly quickly. Getting on and off the ship was very easy, no lines, began quickly. The tour guides were excellent, the places visited very interesting.

I loved the intimate feeling of being onboard. The food was very, very good, and wine/beer were served always at lunch and dinner. Our cruise director was fabulous, had a doctorate in History, and kept us well informed. He paid attention to every little detail. I would highly recommend this type of cruising to anyone who is interested in a more intimate cruising experience with excellent service and accommodation.