This was our first experience with Viking and I was super impressed from the get-go with the plan ahead emails, ease of contacting them when needed, excellent response to any issues that arose, and generally the incredibly well organized life on the boat once we set sail. The downside of this trip was the weather. We sailed at the end of April and it was bitterly cold for the whole week we were away - not the dream vacation I had thought we were going on. In spite of this, we had a fantastic time. The people on board were terrific, we made so many friends and it seemed that everyone was enjoying themselves. Our Program Director, Debra, was amazing, and so was our favorite waiter Peter. The city guides were mostly great but not all of them kept my attention with reeling off endless facts on architecture or history at break neck speed. Otto in Budapest was wonderful with his dry humour and laid back style.

If I book a European cruise again, I would pay the extra and go later in the year. This would have been so much better under warm sunny skies. Vienna was absolutely miserable for us as it was so cold and it even snowed!

Highlights of the trip were the shore excursions that we paid for. Definitely worth doing and I would do them again: Wine tasting in the Wachau Valley and the Mozart/Strauss concert in Vienna were both exceptional. We also thoroughly enjoyed the on-board entertainment in the evenings.