Let's start off with the good stuff. This was a bucket list vacation..taking a Viking river cruise, proud sponsor of Downton Abbey. Friends took a Rhine cruise in 2014 and raved about every minute of the experience. We booked almost a year in advance (unnecessary we later realized) directly through Viking. Every call I placed before the cruise was answered by a friendly and knowledgeable agent. The suggestion to start in Budapest 2 days early was wonderful as we found the beautiful accommodations in the hillside Buda neighborhood to be superior and we had a wonderful time exploring this fascinating city on our own. Viking reps in the Hilton lobby were readily available to answer questions and arrange for whatever reservations you wished.
We embarked in Budapest with Nuremberg as the destination on the romantic Danube cruise.
Our accommodations were beyond our comfort expectations. Our fellow travelers were mostly American by chance and quite friendly. The service staff, Captain, and Program Director couldn't have been more pleasant, professional, or accommodating. Kudos to Viking on their training and expectations of their staff. The food was excellent with options for every taste. Liked that dining could be more formal in the dining room or cafe buffet casual for every meal. Land tour guides were above average. Evening activity o.k. After a long day, it didn't matter much.
We thought the cabin was very comfortable, particularly the mattress. There was enough storage, a bath that worked efficiently within the space, and great electrical accommodations. Our room service professional was terrific.