We had been watching the Viking River cruise promotions on TV for months, with a mix of fantasy, disbelief and thought this was too good to be true. Seeing is believing! So we, impulsively booked a cabin with a verandah. To our amazement, our experience on Viking Embla, surpassed our wildest expectations and we are ready to sing their praises, out loud.This was our first river cruise, from Amsterdam to Budapest; and it left us with a longing for another one, sooner than later.

The ship was beautiful, comfortable, clean and had space for everyone to enjoy the view. The library and computer terminals were a great feature. The exceptional staff and crew were professional, very helpful and always cheerful. The tour director Leonard had the perfect charisma to lead us on this great adventure down the Rhine and Danube. He was knowledgeable and humourous, with a great DJ's voice that accompanied a bubbly and enthusiastic personality. He gave us interesting commentaries and shared unique legends, as we sailed along the ever-changing landscapes. 15 minutes before dinner, we were invited to the lounge to attend a briefing and power point presentation of the next day's itinerary. This helped to refresh our minds and prepare the way for tomorrow.

Many levels of included and optional tours were offered, to accommodate most needs. Each evening after dinner, there would be entertainment in the lounge. Often, we would participate in an intriguing presentation of the art, music, culture or cuisine of the town that we were going to experience the following day. After which, we could relax in the lounge listening to the charming on-board pianist, or go back to the cabin and watch a movie or listen to a wide selection of music. While we were at dinner, a detailed printed itinerary for the next day would be left in our room. The whole tour was well organized and efficiently handled. Even though we hit some hurdles with the water level being too low, during the heat wave, the captain worked creatively with the staff and managed to give us a complete river cruise, whereas other ships had to coach their passengers from port to port. Read more