Let me start off by saying the staff onboard the Viking Atla were top notch. They were attentive, knowledgeable and very caring. Program director, Jochgum, was always a joy to be around. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious (sorry about the bad pandemic pun). The ship was spotless. The meals were a highlight of the trip. The ship's chefs outdid themselves every night and the Maitre D', Gabor, personally ensured that my traveling companion had access to vegan meal options. Our stops in Vienna and Passau had tour guides who were smart and personable.

Now, the "not so good". Lower than average river levels made reaching our final destination impossible. I do not blame Viking for this, but they did not provide advance notice of these changes. Viking's website mentions the possibility of destination changes and said they would alert us beforehand. I was not told about any changes until we were on the ship. We were able to see our final destination, Regensburg, but only after a very long bus ride. Ultimately, we could not spend much time in the city because we had to get back on the bus and head back to the ship, located down river. Also, because of low water levels, the ship's engine and propellers caused cavitation which led to immense vibrations and shaking in our room. I was in the explorer suite but was unable to sleep while the ship was underway due to the room and ceiling shaking so much. I took recordings of the loud noises. I took pictures of light sockets that had popped out of their ceiling fixtures because the room shook so violently. When I brought up my issue with the staff, hotel manager Zoltan was very apologetic and offered me a room to use on level one. This was the only solution to a bad situation. In the end, my traveling companion and I decided to stick it out and stay in our room. By some miracle, I brought earplugs with me. I thought they would be needed for the plane ride, never for the room. That's how loud it was, using earplugs to keep the noise out.

I realize giving this cruise three stars may seem harsh, especially since it was the river itself that lent to my complaints. But I was expecting great things from Viking. I have traveled with them before and was awe-inspired by my previous trip. Viking has set a high bar. I would like more communication from them concerning itinerary changes. And for crying out loud PLEASE add more sound insulation to your rooms. I will travel with Viking again but I think I will avoid European rivers for a while.