Viking Vilhjalm Review

Viking does everything right

Review for Europe River Cruise on Viking Vilhjalm
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AnnMcF
2-5 Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Aug 2016
Cabin: French Balcony

I had been wanting to try river cruising for some time. Viking got good ratings, the Danube had the greatest appeal, and friends raved about a similar cruise to see the Christmas markets. It was a good choice.

The crew was amazing. It could be 11:00 at night or 3:30 in the morning, but they were always upbeat and happy to assist in any way they could.

The highlight for me was the 10 p.m. entrance into Budapest. They tried to prepare us, but it was even more magical than I imagined.

Cabin Review

French Balcony

Cabin D

What I most appreciated was the TV monitor that showed weather forecast, today's activities, and a running account of our onboard charges. (I wear the Viking ball cap I bought onboard every chance I get.)

Port Reviews

Linz (Salzburg)

The cathedral - the largest in Austria - has the most finely detailed stained glass windows I've ever seen.

In the evening, we joined the locals in attending the annual outdoor music festival.

Durnstein (Krems)

Durnstein is a small charming town. When we visited, the temperature was in the 80s, and all the local jet jockeys seemed to be racing up and down the river in their boats, while everyone else was sunbathing on little pocket beaches. Unexpected and fun.

Melk

The main sight in Melk is the huge abbey, entered through a courtyard the length of two football fields. It all lived up to the hype.

Vienna

Vienna was to be the highlight of our cruise, but Mother Nature had other plans. It poured down rain all day and all evening. Viking very nicely provided us with an umbrella, but the wind broke it as soon as we opened it up, so we had to follow our tour guide around while soaking wet. No one on the ship had fun, and all were disappointed.

We did decide to attend a Viking-planned concert of Mozart and Strauss works in a palace ballroom. Like all Viennese musicians, the group was excellent.

Bratislava

I especially liked our tour guide, who shared personal stories of life under the Soviet occupation. That sort of commentary brings history alive.

Budapest

The tour of Budapest was a rich experience. The city has so much to offer on both sides of the Danube from Matthias church with its art nouveau interior to Fisherman's Bastion to the castle-cum-art museum overlooking the Danube and Pest to Heroes' Park to the House of Terror to Central Market. It definitely called for more than one day.

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