when the cruise worked, it was magical. unfortunately, when it didn't, the crew bungled the message, misled the guests, and hid the fact that we would spend more time on a bus than a boat.

the cruise actually knew before we arrived that we would have difficulties, but the email we received from viking before the cruise stated there were minor adjustments that would have no impact on our trip, simply a change of ship. no problem, they substitute airplanes all the time and I don't notice a difference. well, what they knew but didn't explain was that the river was too low and the ships couldn't cross. their solution was to put us on a bus and drive us 2 hours over to the next excursion the following day and 2 hours back. the third day, we from 3.5 hours to the next excursion and 2 hours to a new ship which we had to pack all our suitcases up to transfer. finally, the last day, they dropped us off and bused us 1.5 hours into budapest.

i spent a lot of time on a bus. one day, my husband and i took the train back which was 1/3 of the time, but the cruise line would not reimburse us. Read more