Viking Njord Review
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Having previously taken the Volga cruise, this was the second Viking river cruise for my daughter and I. This trip was chosen for my love of classical music and the fact that I had never before visited Budapest. Vienna is known both as the center of classical music and Imperial Europe (Hapsburg Empire). The Danube: History and music. a wonderful duo.
The cruise started out on a high note, good connection from arrival flight, comfortable cabin, good food and on-board performance by four talented singers performing arias from popular operas.
The cruise greatly deteriorated from that point on becoming trivial and mundane. In Vienna, "City of Music", home to Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Mahler, Strauss and one time capital of the Austria Hungarian Empire, emphasis was given to it's being the site for the movie "Sound of Music". City tours were reminiscent of the play/movie "If It's Tuesday it Must be Belgium" a gaggle of fifty or so shipmates dutifully following the red banner. No visit to the Vienna opera house, but an excursion could be made to the BMW factory.
Cabin Review
Small but well laid out. Clean and comfortable. Well serviced.
Port Reviews
Budapest
We stayed extra days in Budapest and conducted out own tours.
Vienna
Not fond of group tours consisting of too many tourists following an overwhelmed guide. Personal interests and priorities are usually not met.
Regensburg
It is difficult to conduct a short/hurried tour for a fairly large and diverse group with varied interests. The Viking shore tours reflected all of the problems of trying to accommodate the majority at the expense of the individual.