Our first river cruise, Passau to Budapest aboard the Hermod. Overall very pleased with the cruise. We did the pre-cruise in Prague, everything was well organized by Viking. The tree days gave us time to adjust to the time change before boarding the boat. The Viking included excursions in Prague and on the boat were top-notch, their fleet of buses were noteworthy for cleanliness and comfort. Our embarkation was about as simple as could be...walk on the boat, our bags where at the room within minutes. Unlike Ocean cruising I didn’t see any security, no photo ID’s, no scanners of bags, all which led to a little uneasiness. The first organized event was the welcome to the ship by our cruise director, Sonia. She was tops in her communication and organizational skills. Kept us well informed and herded us to our various excursions. The biggest disappointment with the cruise for me was the evening meal. Once the pre-brief for the next day was complete at 7:00 PM it was a mass rush to dinner. There is only one dining room, and it was a scramble for the tables, no assigned seating, no escort by the Matre D, or staff...just grab a seat. Kind of throwback to College dining facility. “Smart Casual” was largely ignored given the preponderance of jeans, jeans in my book is not smart casual. The food was tasty, the choices descent, the service good. The included tours by Viking were well done and varied, walking tours, organ concerts, excursions to sites out of town. A lot of history, was a bit tired of history by the end of the cruise for my liking but the area we cruised is history so it should be expected. A few sections of the river were very beautiful and the timing was such that they were done in the daylight. Enjoyed the Mozart concert in Vienna. Onboard entertainment was slim, only one venue. They brought some area entertainers onboard that were a nice break from the resident piano player. Overall well done for Viking. Most of the travelers were in their 60’s and 70’s, not quite as old as I feared, the walking tours were slow paced. I would do another Viking but prefer the amenities offered on an ocean cruise over the river cruise. Read Less

We had a wonderful cruise with an excellent cabin on the lower deck. Plenty of space and a well stocked bathroom. All meals were delicious and well presented food and there was plenty of first class wine at each meal. The staff were all excellent and happy and appeared happy to look after us. Our cabin steward, Ivo, could not have been nicer or more efficient. a Boris, the programme manager, was excellent and very knowledgeable and worked tirelessly to make sure everything worked to plan. Ivana, the Hotel Manager, was quite outstanding and went out of her way to help passengers with any problems. She is an excellent representative of Viking Cruises. The included free excursions were very interesting and informative and we thoroughly enjoyed them all. The whole experience, from start to finish was exceptional. Having done a large number of ocean cruises we would thoroughly recommend Viking River Cruises. Read Less

First time European river cruising for us. We loved it. Felt like an upscale floating hotel. Less than 200 people on board so you don’t fight the crowd of an ocean cruise. It takes a minute to reach the top deck for lounging, or dining room for all meals, or Lounge area for music or bar. The staff is very friendly and professional. Our Program Director Alex was phenomenal and always accessible and organized for all off shore excursions. He is top notch in his field and Viiking is fortunate to have him. Same for the hotel manger Christine. Our room stewards kept the room immaculate and it was nice to have a clean and spacious balcony suite room after a busy day touring. Our trip started out on the Gefjon but a barge hit a lock and we did the usual procedure for this. Packed our bags and left them in our room for the staff to transport to the Sigyn on the other side of the damaged lock. All passengers were loaded onto a bus after an excursion and taken to our new ship. Bags were placed in same exact cabin number as old ship. It went flawlessly. Only downfall was the Gefjon staff had to stay on that ship, with luckily the exception of Alex. The new staff and crew were excellent also. This is just another reason to choose Viking. They have so many identical ships, switching ships is a remedy many other ship lines cannot perform. You cannot control lock breakdowns or water level so it’s benefical for a river cruise line to have this procedure. We cruised from Amsterdam to Budapest and saw beautiful sites throughout. Happy sailing. Read Less

I choose this cruise because I wanted to see Vienna but more so Budapest. We did add the Budapest extension and really loved Budapest and all we saw on our own. Viking hypes it's cruises as being the best but my past experience on another line was far superior. From the first day there were disappointments. Docked outside the city in Passau and had to use a bus to go into town. The room was very crammed. There were two wooden chairs in the room but almost impossible to sit on as there was no leg room. I suggest they take out the little table and one of the chairs. Closet was tiny for two people. Docking was a problem everywhere; we were either on the outskirts of cities or docked between two other boats with no view whatsoever. Most of the service was good but at all meals it was inconsistent; for instance we were never shown a breakfast menu during the whole week, so we assumed you had only the buffet. Having to be at lunch & dinner at a specific time only was a pain. I came in one day 10 minutes after the posted time and was told by the waitress that I was late. The food in general was mediocre, much like Viking Ocean cruises. The included tours were very good and all the local guides were interesting and spoke good English. Vienna however deserves more than a half day tour. It's a fabulous city with so much to see, Viking should consider docking for two days there. Entertainment was almost non existent on the Prestige. We had roving accordion player at dinner one night, a trio of Opera singers one evening and a guest speaker doing a slide show & talk about Austrian history who was quite funny but that was it except for the staff trying to entertain us a couple evenings. There was no gym and no games on the sun deck. As for the extension, we packed a lot in but the Hilton West End was very disappointing. No early check in, no wake up call, no bell hop at 4 AM to help with the bags, crumby towels and pillows. After we signed up for the Hilton in Buda and got this one in Pest it was sad. Read Less

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for words? I never have until now. I'm Angela and I teach house cleaning for a living - all over the world. So when I stay at a hotel, or I go on a cruise - I can't help it. I notice the bits of dust on the lamps or the drapes or etched water stains on the shower glass. THE WORST DAY TURNED INTO THE BEST I hadn't been on board the S.S. Maria Theresa for more than a minute when my entire trip changed for the absolute best. Let me back up a sec. My husband and I traveled from Charlotte, NC, USA to Passau, Germany by way of Munich. The Passau to Budapest river cruise was the celebration of our milestone birthdays. Weather in Charlotte had steep flight delays and we missed our connecting flight to Munich. When we arrived four hours late, our luggage didn't. There we were in an unfamiliar place, no luggage and needed a means of transport from Munich to Passau two hours away. PANIC TURNED INTO PEACE No sooner had we filed a missing luggage report we came through the baggage claim doors. And waiting for us (much later than the pre-arranged time) is a Uniworld transport driver with a sign bearing our names. She was delightful, charming, and put us right at ease as she drove us to the ship. I thought she was the best gem Uniworld could offer. I didn't know she was the portal to the spellbinding service we would experience all week aboard the ship. We arrived at the ship somewhere around 10:30 pm. WELCOME TO S.S. MARIA THERESA Tired, weary and hungry we checked in at the front desk picked up a room key. Paul, dressed to the nines, escorted us to our rooms. He spent a few minutes showing us the lights, ways to adjust the room temperature, and the plug situation. (Note: There is a USB port hiding under each of the room's outlets in the top right-hand corner to charge your phones.) Then he invited us to the lounge where we could order some food. YES! At 10:30 at night they will bring you a menu, offer you drinks and cater to your every whim. I LOVE this place. THEN IT HIT ME... As I sat in the lounge waiting for them to bring our food my eyes scanned the room. Not in a judgmental way, just a way of familiarizing myself. The drapes in the lounge pooched up in Victorian scallops didn't have a speck of dust. How is this even possible? As my eyes wandered to the mystery of dust-free drapes I noticed the walls adorned in carved flourishes. (Also, dust catchers, they too are free of dust.) Am I dreaming? Sure, it's late, and my blood sugar is out of whack from no food and it's possible I am hallucinating. MY SHOCK TURNED TO HORROR The entry of the ship is glass. All Glass. Glass and Mirrors. And as my mind processed what I had seen a few minutes earlier passing through the lobby, it hit me that the lobby wasn't just mirrored. It was mirrors on top of mirrors. Mirrors made of flourishes attached to mirrors for decorations. Cleaning those mirrors would have made any sane housekeeper flee in horror. Now I sit in the lounge and there is a lavish bar filled with gleaming liquors, wines and drinks. Gleaming because every jar and bottle at the bar is spit-shined and polished. No dust. The glasses hanging from the bar must have been brand new - as in purchased today because not one of them had a smudge. No dust, no water spots. Just new. The thought of how much cleaning went into this "first impression" was horrifying to me. I KNOW CLEAN. And I've never in my life seen anything this clean. I WANTED TO DANCE WITH JOY The friendly staff, impeccably dressed served us as if we were royalty. Friendly, patient and attentive they brought us hot food and drinks. Anxious, exhausted and starved I wanted to hug every one of them. And the place was so clean I wanted to dance with joy. WHAT IS THIS PLACE? Before going to bed the front desk, the crew gave us toiletries for the night and assured us, they would contact the airlines and trace our luggage. I'd been on the ship less than 30 minutes and had already had the best trip of my life. Hooray! And I get to stay another week. ALL THE USUAL'S AND SO MUCH MORE If you've ever been on a cruise your expectations are pretty high. You want great food, clean rooms, nice excursions, friendly staff, and fantastic entertainment. Yes, yes, yes, this ship has all this. AND SO MUCH MORE Every corner of the ship is ornate. Carved flourishes, velvet walls, wrought iron stair railings, and Murano glass chandeliers. Mirrors, mirrors, and more mirrors. And marble floors. The house cleaner in me cringed with delight. Everywhere I looked, there was excellence in cleanliness. Every nook and cranny were shiny and polished. Not a hair out of place, not a speck of dust, not a smudge, smear, fingerprint or spot. EVERYONE KNOWS MY NAME Walking through the lobby at any time of the day or night during the entire week cruise every person on staff addressed me by name. Whhaat? There were 132 passengers on board. How did they learn everybody's names? Surely it wasn't just me. Can they really be that good? YES, THEY CAN! And not only did they greet me but they all knew our luggage hadn't arrived and they volunteered to get us anything we needed. Stephania and a young helpful team (whose names I'm ashamed I don't remember,) tracked our luggage down and had it shipped from Munich to Lenz. We didn't need to follow up with anybody - they took care of it all for us. YOUR EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED The cruise was spectacular in every way with delicious and healthy food. Lavish entertainment. Walking tours with local tour guides who were friendly, articulate and informative. And the beds provide the best night’s sleep you've ever had. (They are Savoir of England) Comfort takes on a whole new meaning on the S.S. Maria Theresa. And did I mention they have a menu of four different types of pillows? The ones on the bed are pretty amazing one being a down feather soft pillow and the other a supreme fiber comfort pillow. I know what you’re thinking - I didn't want to leave my room either. SHIP ACCESSORIES UMBRELLAS: The ship has umbrellas. If you're off to an excursion during the rain, they have an umbrella for you. (We used them a couple of times.) MAPS: And they provide city maps for you each day as you leave for your daily activities. BICYCLES: There are bicycles you can borrow (which we did three of the days of our trip) to go sightseeing on land. INTERNET: And of course, they have free internet in every room. If you have special internet needs (I have a YouTube channel) they have a special modem you can rent at the front desk. WASHERS & DRYERS: Oh, and did I mention that they have washers and dryers and an iron for your personal use in a public laundry room on the ship? It's true. You don't need to bring an iron or steamer on this cruise with you. Yay! All this and SO MUCH MORE. BEHIND THE MAGIC CURTAIN By Friday my observation of the cleanliness of the ship had turned to an obsession. I know how dust works. It comes in with opening and closing doors, and the AC units kicking on. And I'm on a ship for 5 days and every corner of the ship looks brand-spankin new. It was then I met Nicoleta the Housekeeping Guru who runs the place. Her specialty is in the systems she creates to get the work done on time to turn the rooms between meals and excursions. THE WIZARD OF NICOLETA She has systems for the laundry room where the guest towels and linens get washed. They label every type of linen to keep the turnover service running at optimal speed. She has systems for the uniforms the crew wear. Where it goes when it comes off and a system for its cleaning and ironing. There are systems for dishes and turning a banquet room. Systems for cleaning the common areas of the ship and hallways. And it's no surprise there are systems for cleaning the deck of the ship and removing seat cushions at dusk. The systems she has created for crew scheduling include "to do" lists as well as built-in breaks and time off for the crew. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I'D SEEN AND HEARD IT ALL... I took a cruise on the S.S. Maria Theresa - a Uniworld sensation. My expectations and hopes were illuminated with the impossible. Imagine me at my age - thinking I'd seen and heard it all - and now this! Awe, wonder, magic, and delight - all in a week on this ship. If you're ready for the time of your life - Choose this cruise. And prepare to be outrageously impressed. Read Less

It went where we wanted to go and offered good value. From booking experience direct with Emerald and attention to detail the delivery of the .whole package exceeded our expectations. Flight check-in, boarding cards, increased luggage allowance and seat allocation were all taken care of by Emerald. We were met at each stage of our journey by very efficient reps who managed each part of our travel to the ship. We did not handle our luggage after meeting the reps until we returned to our departure airport. We were ushered aboard the ship and offered a buffet lunch while the crew put our luggage in our cabins. Cabins were well appointed and spotlessly clean with large and very comfortable beds. Food throughout the cruise was excellent with many options available. The tour manager was extremely knowledgeable and all staff could not be faulted. It was an extremely happy and efficient crew. All tours were lead by very experienced guides and the sound system supplied to each passenger worked very well. Entertainment provided on the ship was of a very high standard. Food included on the tours, Budapest and Prague was very good and even catered for vegetarians. Our tour manager and the Prague tour manager were superb. The hotel in Prague was also very good and ideally located. Read Less

I chose this cruise because I liked the itinerary. I chose the cruise line because of the excellent reviews. The shore excursions were excellent and the tour guides were very knowledgeable. On-board activities were also very good. I really appreciated the fact that points of interest were announced in advance so that those wishing to go to the upper deck to observe were able to do so. The daily briefings were excellent, they really prepared travelers for the next day's activities in terms of history and points of interest. Service was excellent and the crew was always available to assist with any questions or requests. I was amazed that staff members could actually remember and address travelers by name. I still can't figure out how they did that. Dining was excellent, I loved the open seating. There was quite a bit of variety on the menus and everything I had was well prepared and very palatable. Great cruise! Read Less

This cruise covered the traditional Christmas markets in Europe. This was not only a fantastic way to spend the holidays with family, but was a great introduction to a region of Europe I had not been to. We were afforded the opportunity to visit more sites and cities than I previously thought. The crew were outstanding. If you seek the ultimate in comfort and luxury, Viking is the cruise line to employ. Their staff are amazing! I have to say, that a flight was delayed from Heathrow airport for my sister and her husband, they subsequent missed the shuttle from Munich to the ship's docking point in Passau. John the night manager from Viking made it so my sister and her husband were able to get to the ship! He was ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING !!! I would book another cruise with Viking just to work with John again. The attention to detail on every aspect of this ship and the crew were beyond words. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. The ship had a variety of activities. I did wish there was a small gym on the ship as the food was so amazing that I gained several pounds, but there is a walking path on the top deck and I was able to keep track of the distance I walked, and with the surrounding view, the top deck walking was incredible. This was the first cruise I have ever taken and I will continue to be a Viking customer as I continue to travel through Europe. Read Less

The entire cruise was thoroughly enjoyable. Every crew member treated everyone as royalty. Every minute was enjoyable. I’ve done several ocean cruises with other cruise ships and non can compare to Viking. The service was impeccable. This was an adult cruise with no children. Very relaxing!!! The food was excellent. The entertainment was good. If you have never cruised before or even if you have; I wouldn’t recommend any other cruise lines to travel with. They make it easy and seamless. The airlines had lost my luggage upon arrival. Viking did not give up on my luggage. The front desk followed through with the airlines almost hourly. It did take two days but they were able to track down my luggage and got it delivered to me. We went on this particular cruise to see the Christmas markets. Viking’s ports of call did not disappoint. We had Christmas markets to see and wander as long as we wanted in every port. I only rated the cabin very good vs excellent because we were in the lower level of the ship with no window and heard the anchor and engines all night. But that is to be expected when you’re trying to save money for all of the souvenirs. Read Less

Went on The Rhine with Viking last year and had such a fabulous time we couldn't wait to go on another Viking cruise! The Danube Waltz was one we had thought of before and it ended up being better than we thought it would be. The staff were incredible. Everyone could not do enough for us! The food was outstanding. The staff was attentive enough that if something wasn't to your liking they would be at your side asking you if something was not to your liking. You never ran out of beer and wine during lunch or dinners. We were in a standard cabin and had no problems with size or attentiveness from the staff handling our room. The excursions were very well thought out and planned. The buses very comfortable and were never too hot or cold. All the activities scheduled for our entertainment were awesome! Every night something different. If you wanted quiet there were more than enough places to go to find that and if you wanted more lively that was available. As a couple we loved walking the top deck and seeing the scenery flow by and also getting a little exercise to combat all the great food and wine! We are already thinking of which Viking cruise want to go on next! Read Less

We have just returned from the Viking Danube Waltz River cruise from Passau to Budapest with a pre cruise extension in Prague. We were very disappointed. We are not new to touring having done 6 cruises and 11 land tours so feel we can compare travel products fairly well. Viking river cruising did not compare well. We had only 2 half days of daytime cruising the whole time mso what was the point? We had paid for a full balcony and most of the time we were double or tripple moored so we couldn't use it. To make matters worse we were parked in Vienna due to low water and bussed to Bratislava and Budapest from Vienna. Whilst I understand low water was the issue Viking should have stayed with the itinerary using the bus and taken us on from Bratislava to Budapest on the same day as would have occurred on the cruise. Instead they bussed us from Vienna to Bratislava and back to Vienna, then the next day Vienna to Budapest. Why was this an issue? Because we missed out seeing Budest properly and had to endue a long trip in a very ordinary comfort tour bus and only have a half day in Budapest instead of the 2 nights, one full day as per itinerary. The tour we were given was only of Pest and we had to view Buda from further down on the otherside of the river. Whilst we could see the castle from afar whatever was also up on the hill was not viewable. All optional tours had to be cancelled. In Budapest one bus group stayed at the Sofitel hotel right at the Chain bridge so they could see the famous river lights at night as we would have on the boat. However we were put in a hotel far from the river, despite the fact we had paid a lot more than many, for a full verandah stateroom on the top deck. At the Budapest airport we met people from another river cruise company who told us they had been bussed into Budapest as per itinerary for 2 nights and HAD BEEN COMPENSATED for the unconvince of the low water/ bus transfers etc. The other River cruise company had also advised them much earlier about the low water and given the option of full refund if they didn't want to go. We were given nothing but excuses. Viking kept pretending they were waiting to see what would happen re river height all the way to Vienna when they knew we were not going further. Finally we had transfers booked but no one came for us from the airport in Prague. Afer a super anxious hour a Viking rep turned up for someone else and told us they didn't have our time of arrival. They had our phone number and email plus we had rung them 3 times previously so why couldn't they have been proactive and found out. At the Prague hotel we were given twin beds despite requesting a king and one of the twin beds had a broken leg. In Budapest we got another twin bed of course, at least it wasn't broken. On a plus the stateroom on the boat was nice and was kept immaculate by the great stewardess. The waiters and bar people were brilliant. Not so a person on the front desk who was abrupt and unhelpful. The food was quite good especially the good breakfast range and quality. Overall couldn't recommend Viking. Read Less

We wanted a holiday travelling to an area we hadn't been to before although our friends we travelled with had experienced cruising before. It was a special double birthday and wedding anniversary holiday so we chose Emerald Cruises because of their high standard. Our friends had travelled with Scenic Waterways 5 years ago and they stated that this holiday was of the same standard. The crew were very friendly as were the staff who cleaned our rooms. I must also mention the Reception staff were very helpful. I had a missing suitcase from the airline and the Cruise director Patricia was extremely helpful and went out of her way to try to track the case down. The guided tours were excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the Bratislava tour with Monica. The evening cruise along the Danube on our last evening aboard was also excellent and enjoyed by all. The is one not to be missed. To sum up we would certainly holiday with Emerald again and would recommend it to anyone. Read Less

My husband and I really wanted to explore the cities on this itinerary, and a reputable cruise line was the only way we were willing to do it. I highly recommend the Munich and Salzburg extension at the start of the trip. Our Viking tour director Alec was knowledgeable, accessible, and, most importantly, extremely organized. We had a group of about 35 on the extension, and each tour and transition to another hotel and the ship went very smoothly. The ship never felt too small because it has so many different areas for activities, whether it's the bar/lounge gathering spot or the peaceful terrace. The crew was friendly and professional. Our room steward was very attentive without being intrusive. The excursions had a nice amount of time with guides and a good amount of time on our own. That had been one of our initial concerns because we aren't usually into formal tours. I can highly recommend the Cesky Krumlov tour. It was a highlight in spite of the travel time to and from. I can't imagine a better opportunity to visit that quaint, historic site. We were so happy with our overall experience that we are planning to do another Viking river cruise in 2020. Read Less

We chose the Enchanting Danube cruise mainly because my husband wanted a trip for his 50th birthday which included a river cruise in Germany and the Neuschwanstein castle. Uniworld offered both, plus a Generations cruise for these areas so that our 13 year old son could have other kids on the ship to play with. We opted to arrive a day early to spend extra time in Munich. The hotel which Uniworld selected was Roomers. While the hotel was obviously fairly new, clean and had great staff, there were a lot of down sides. First, it was nowhere NEAR the center of town. That was very inconvenient unless you enjoy walking for an hour to get to the main part of the city. Second, the beds were hard and very uncomfortable. The hallways and elevators were very dark and there were a lot of mirrors. We found it a bit creepy, actually. The only restaurant at the hotel was very upscale Asian food with a strict dress code. Not the place to go after a long day seeing the sights. Now to our biggest disappointment. As I said earlier, our MAIN reason for choosing this cruise was for the castle. At the briefing the night before the trip started, we were informed of the land itinerary. And there was NO mention of the Neuschwanstein castle! When I inquired in the session about the castle option, I was told that Uniworld had decided to drop that option from the itinerary as they rarely had enough people who wished to go. There were 15 people in the room that day who had planned on going to the castle. I told her that I had inquired 4 times on the phone to Uniworld to make sure that the castle was still offered, and was told it was. The Uniworld representative was quick to point out that Uniworld has the right to drop any option and has no liability. I told her that I understood that, but with NO warning? I could have made our own arrangements if I'd had even a couple of days notice. The Uniworld rep stated that Greyline Tours offered the castle trip and the front desk of the hotel could help. So, my husband and I went immediately to the front desk. Greyline was, of course, completely booked for the next day. Our LAST day in Munich. We spent hours trying to find other options. By 10pm we had to give up. All the tickets were sold out for the castle tours. My husband had that castle on his bucket list for decades. And for him, THAT was the highlight of the trip. And now that was off the table. Next we went to Passau, a lovely city. We boarded the Maria Theresa there. We were brought right to the ship, and embarkation and settling in was easy and delightful. Lunch was being served so we could have a leisurely lunch while our luggage was brought to the room. The ship is lovely. Very ornate, gilt and mirrors, etc. The beds were outrageously comfortable. The staff, every single one of them, were helpful and cheerful. The food was a bit of a let down for us. It certainly wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as the reviews led us to believe. The desserts were ok. Not as good as some I had in local bakeries. There weren't enough German food options, which is what I was hoping for. I wanted sausages, cheeses, dumpling variations, schnitzels with various sauces, etc. And while there were a few items, not nearly what I would expect for a German cruise. We did enjoy the open air balcony in the room very much. Lovely touches included fresh chocolates in the room and 2 large glass bottles of water with the turndown service every evening. The activities ranged from amazing (a Mozart concert with opera singers in a small, intimate venue in Vienna, a city tour of Bratislava (a hidden gem!) and Budapest), to bleh (a tour of the church where Maria married Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in the film took WAY too much time in Salzburg). This was a Generations Cruise, so they had activities for the children. There were about 30 children, I think, onboard. And the majority were between 11-15 years old. And one option was to …..draw and color in a monastery garden. Really? The activity said : Painting in the monastery garden. I thought that sounded great. My son and I could paint on a canvas in a wonderful spot, maybe learn a technique. But..no. Drawing and coloring. There were many bike riding options offered, but most of them were over 15 km. And that was a bit much for our 13 year old to do. And a parent would need to go with our son on any excursions. Adventures by Disney had many excursions for the children to do, AND had dedicated guides with them so the adults could do a different excursion. I had expected something similar, so that was disappointing. On the next to last day they finally offered some activities our son enjoyed. A mixology class onboard where the children could create their own Mocktails. And then a scavenger hunt. There was a pool onboard, but it was VERY small. You certainly couldn't actually swim in it. A cinema room was on the lower deck. A small room with seating for maybe 20, but that became the kids room during this cruise. There was a nice Viennese salon on the lower deck where a hot dog bar, television and a variety of cookies and cakes were always available. The salon also had a great self serve machine for macchiatos, espresso, coffee and hot chocolate. I really enjoyed that space. Our son, who tried the hot dog bar, said the hot dogs were good, but the buns, even when heated, were hard. There was a self serve washer and dryer as well. I didn't use it, but many of the passengers did. Summary: The hotel was not enjoyable. The ship was beautiful. The food was average. The staff was wonderful. The shore excursions were hit or miss. The room was excellent. Canceling a HIGHLIGHT of the tour with NO notice was inexcusable. We would not travel with Uniworld again. The prices were very high and if the experience matched it, my review would have been very different. Read Less

This was our 3rd Uniworld cruise and our last. The food was passable at best, with poor meat quality, limited fruits, and the worst bakery products ever. The chef is into recycling and as an example we had duck with sweet/sour red cabbage at night; the next day the remaining red cabbage was mixed with white rice. Another example of the quality is a snack when we returned from the Strauss Concert; hotdogs. pretzel buns, and goulash soup at 10:30 pm The buffet has limited hours and about 1/2 way though the opening hours items are combined to one side, cheese board never replenished, etc. Not one dinner entrée was outstanding ; the veal and beef items were tough. Soups were either salty or watery. Cakes were dry, breads choices repetitive and wine selection adequate. Service on Uni continues to be their best product. Our waiter "Z" was superb as was the entire staff. Excursions were a mixed bag with a superb tour of Linz, a spectacular concert in Vienna, and the remaining ok. Tours tend to stop for hours at churches eliminating the time in the cities. The guides were good for the most part; I am sure it is Uniworld who plans the itinerary. By the way Brataslavia is a find, and Uni would do well to spend more time there and less in Durnstein. Uniworld has decimated their value and you might as well take a mid range line with the largest cabin . Read Less

The river cruise industry is growing by leaps and bounds with 19-new ships sailing the rivers of Europe this year alone. Viking alone has 64 ships. So what’s all the fuss about. My wife and I have done 33 Ocean line cruises, but until this past month we’d never done a River Cruise. Since we’d never been on one and since we’re used to being on the larger ships (mostly Celebrity) we decided we would do a short river cruise to see if we’d like it. Viking certainly spends the most money on marketing so they were the first line we looked at. But after speaking to some friends they advised us to look at Scenic which they said was a higher class ship than Viking, offering more amenities and they told us Scenic was all inclusive. Bottom line we booked the Scenic Amber for an 8-day cruise along the Danube. The ship sailed from Passau to Budapest. As advertised Scenic did handle all of our travel for us. We flew into Munich and could have taken a direct transfer to the ship which is parked in Passau about two hours away. But we opted to stay in the hotel they designated (le Meridien) in Munich. If we stayed at the hotel they suggested they would provide us with a transfer to the ship on the day we were to scheduled to sail. At the airport we went to the meeting point only to find no one there. We waited for about ten minutes and they decided we’d try to call them and find out where the driver was. Five minutes later another handful of passengers showed up and asked the same thing. Five minutes after that a man came over and asked if we were Scenic guests and to follow him to the car. The hotel check in went well and the hotel was great in a prime location to see all the highlights of Munich. Two days after we arrived it was time for our bus ride to the ship. And as is German custom, our driver was there on time and we left (about 40 of us who’d stayed at the hotel) right on time. The drive to the ship was pretty uneventful. Finally there she was, the Amber Scenic waiting for our first look. Crew took care of the bags while we waited in the lounge and had the first of our drinks. Wasn’t long and we were able to get into our room. Ours was on the Diamond Deck (314). I was quite surprised how well laid out the room was. Obviously the rooms are not as big as you’d find on a cruise ship, but they were certainly more than adequate. They are well appointed and the fact the balcony is part of the room gave one even more space than I thought we’d have. The beds were also amazing electric beds that go up and down. First time we’d experienced this on any cruise we’d been on. So far so good. It was time for dinner. And I guess because of the size of the ship there was no one at the door to tell us where to sit, no maitre d. Now I can’t remember what we had the first night, which is pretty much how I’d refer to much of the food on this trip, not memorable, with two exceptions. Being on the “Diamond Deck” afforded us the opportunity to eat two specialty dinners. The first one we had was in what they call the Portabello restaurant which is really nothing more than an extension of the lounge. I ordered the beef which was more like beef stew than it was steak. As well, even when it came to desert they simply plopped a desert on a small plate with no presentation. The second specialty restaurant included wine pairings and it was much better. Overall I’d say that the food was one of the major disappointments on this line. While on this trip I was ready Anthony Bourdain’s book “Kitchen Confidential”, (shortly after his death) and it has gotten me interested in how a restaurant works. I asked to see the restaurant on board but was told I couldn’t. Scenic calls their tours Freechoice which is kind of confusing, since often times there are no choices. So here’s what our tour was like Day 1 They considering flying in Day one which in some ways doesn’t make sense, but heh, it’s their itinerary Day 2 The first day we spent the night in Passau. There the next morning we did a walking tour of the town which was fine and it allowed for some free time as well. By midday we finally sailed away. Our first stop Linz. When we stopped there the ship brought on some traditional German dancers who danced the Schuhplattler. This is a dance where the dancers constantly hit themselves. They were very good and fun to watch. Day 3 Day two in Linz guests had the option of going to Salzburg or a town in the Czech republic called Cesky Krumlov. We opted for Salzburg and the Sound of Music tour. Our guide, dressed in lederhosen was magnificent. He took us to sights where parts of the movie were filmed and he even took some guests and reenacted the scenes and singing. We also walked past the house where Mozart was born. The cruise line also provided us with lunch in an old historic building. Lunch was Schnitzel which seemed appropriate. Overall this was a great day. Back on board we sailed to our next stop Melk Austria Day 4 Melk has a wonderful Abbey which we could see partly from our balcony. Here we opted for their bike tour. Scenic has these wonderful ebikes. We were told that normally 14 - 20 tourists go on this ride, but we had 40 people on our ride. You ride 35 miles to Durnstein which is just down river. And while we’re cycling the ship actually sails to this stop. It was a lot of fun and one of the highlights of this trip. After arriving in Durnstein, the ship had organized a “Sundowner” in the Wachau Valley. We walked up to this restaurant overlooking the valley and they had an “oom pah pah” band playing. Lots of wine and nibbles here to enjoy. Again a very nice day. Next stop Vienna Day 5 When I woke up Vienna and looked out my balcony window all I could see was the balcony of a ship parked next to ours. Now I’d been told that often times on these river cruises you’ll have a number of ships parked next to each other and it’s not unusual to have to climb over one or two ships to get to land. The ship docked next to us was another Scenic ship. The thing that bothered me is that we paid an extra $3,000 to have a balcony. And for a chunk of the cruise it ended up that all I could look at was the balcony of my next door neighbours. This would never happen on an ocean going liner. Anyway we’re in Vienna. We decided to take a city tour, one of three offered this day. We’d been in Vienna before ten years ago, so it was nice to go back to this great city and revisit some of the sights we’d seen before. That night the ship arraigned for private concert featuring some of Vienna’s great performers and we had lots of music from Mozart etc. The setting was amazing, the Palace Liechtenstein in the middle of Vienna. It was all very formal and the performers were magnificent. Day 6 Next stop is Bratislava Slovakia. Another walking tour of the small old town. Very quant. Not much to do here, although we did see a sign that invited us to have a cup of tea in a bomb shelter Day 7 Next stop Budapest. Our captain tells us we’ll be sailing into Budapest by 8:00 am. I say great, I’ll get up early and take some pictures as we sail in. At 6:00 I’m looking at another balcony from a ship docked next to ours. I’m ticked because we were supposed to arrive two hours later. I complained to the tour director who says we had to get here quicker because of some Red Bull air race. Still you’d think they’d let you know. BTW, this wasn’t the first time we were told we were going to arrive at one time only to arrive hours early. It’s a riverboat, you’d think they could get their times right. Anyway Budapest. Pretty amazing city with amazing scenery. The ship organized a very good tour of the city. As part of the tour we stopped at a facility for the blind where they had a wonderful pianist perform for us. The man who started playing at a young age says he practiced for up to 14 hours a day. This man’s life is his piano. Wonderful performance. Back on board the ship had organized a BBQ on the top deck. It was the only time the top deck was used. They might want to considering doing more up there. It was very good That night the captain took us back down river so we could have a look at the sites at night. This was great. To see the parliament buildings lit up was beautiful. Day 8 Time to grab a bus and head to the airport. Disembarkation was well handled. It was interested to see that to get bags off the ship it was all hands on deck including the on board musician David who was slogging bags like the rest of the crew Overall impressions… We had a great time. We found the food was overall quite disappointing. There seemed to be a lack of detail. At breakfast each morning we had to ask for coffee Timing of the days activities could have been much more detailed as in what time we arrive and what time we sail. (It would have been good to get this at the beginning of the cruise.) They should have told passengers more about each tour. Some required a lot of walking and there were many seniors on board who had tremendous difficulty with this The outside entertainment was amazing and much appreciated We toured an AMA ship (one that we had to cross at one point) and found it to be much better organized insofar that tables were properly set up in the lounge. In ours you constantly had to climb over tables or chairs to get to a seat. AMA also had an office set up for the cruise director where you could go to ask questions. Would I rate this a 5-star cruise (which is how they advertised it)? Compared to what I’m used to at sea, I’d give this a 3.5. River cruising is expensive. Sure in this case all liquor was included, but what about those people who don’t drink. Quite frankly I can go on a nice ocean cruise for two weeks compared to the cost of one week on a river cruise We’re glad we did it, but truth is there’s no need to do another one. Bucket list - check. Finally, and saving the best for last. If someone were to ask me what was the best part of the cruise, it’s the people we met. We met a wonderful couple from England, Richard and Anne and they made the trip for us. We did everything together. So thanks to them for creating so many good memories. Read Less

We traveled with a group of 6 seasoned travelers, having decided to choose Scenic for their itinerary and their promised on board and off ship experiences. First let me say their experiences and excursions were fantastic. Upon arrival, even at the very early hour we only waited for our room for about an hour, having traveled overnight. The food on board was over the top. BUT......having chosen the lowest cabin choice because, let’s face it, how much time will you spend in your cabin, was perhaps not the best choice. Three times we had to speak to the housekeeping manager in regards to the poor housekeeping in our cabin. Once, the “butler” went to the trouble of folding the toilet paper in a nice neat point but failed to notice that there was only 5 sheets of toilet paper on the roll and left no replacement roll!!! The next day he didn’t leave a bath mat. And the next, which continued on numberous days the mini bar was not refilled. So much for free mini bar. I must add though that the bed was sooooo comfortable!!! As for the free bar on board. Only if you went to the bar yourself would you get a drink for the sundeck. When a comment was made to the bartender he got rather vocal about not being able to serve and tend bar at the same time. I appreciate his opinion but that is not something that should be shared with guests. When we mentioned it to the cruise director he tried to explain that their money is better spent on their quality of food rather then employees???? All in all, yes I would try another river cruise because traveling without children was a plus, no tipping was also a treat. Would I try Scenic again, probably unless I could find the same offerings on the same quality ship elsewhere. Read Less

Many of our friends had been on a cruise and urged us to do the same. Theirs was a big boat type with several thousand people aboard. We wanted to see Europe, and wanted a shorter duration of about a week. As well, classical music is our favorite with Mozart and Liszt being prominent among the great composers. Of course, who doesn't like the "The Sound of Music". This cruise was a good fit. We have always visited churches when we travel and this one featured the Melk Abbey. When we began the cruise we met Mirko and Tadej who always exceeded our expectations. By the end of the cruise they felt like old friends. The rest of the staff were extremely hard-working, courteous, and welcoming. They are your best asset. Upon arrival - we were among the earliest in Passau - we were encouraged to start availing ourselves of the amenities particularly the bar. Once our cabin was ready, a short wait, we settled in. The cabin was perfectly appointed, clean, welcoming, and served our needs perfectly. Breakfast and lunch gave a wide array of choices all expertly prepared and presented. Dinner was always a meal to look forward to as we dined with a number of friends with who we met on the cruise. The wine selection was excellent. Many of our newly made friends loved them as well. The highlights were the shore excursions, our favorite being the music at Palais Lichtenstein, however the Scenic Tour Guides on the city tours were kind, patient, and knowledgeable. Loved Sebastian in Salzburg. Read Less

We'd never done a river cruise (lots of ocean cruises) and my spouse and I both saw this in the Viking brochure and said 'let's do it." The service was simply outstanding, from being greeted at the dock and checking in to checking out and leaving a week later. Staff was incredibly helpful and the city guides were incredibly knowledgeable. Even the weather cooperated for our trip. Coming into Budapest at night is brilliant. Seeing the city lighted up is one of the memories we will treasure. The only downside was the meals. While the presentation was ;lovely, the food just wasn't that good. No brioche deserves to be treated the way it was for the french toast - soggy and tasteless. The osso buco was tough and much too fatty. Sticking with salmon at dinner proved to be the best option. The dining room seemed to be understaffed. Getting a refill on coffee or water took a long time. The staff that was there was excellent, however. Gabor, the cruise director who presented the city information the evening before visiting a city was excellent, and he did a wonderful job handling all the other duties he had as well. The entertainment was great. Lazslo (from Hungary) did a superb job of playing the piano and singing. He was outgoing and friendly and just a delight. The ship itself is great. I enjoyed the clean lines and the attention to even the small details, right down to the dimpled knobs on the sliding door latches. The always-available coffee was very welcome too. Read Less

I have always wanted to see this part of the world. Spent 3 days in Prague prior to boarding the ship. The hotel arranged by Viking was spectacular. Plus they had an agent at the hotel to arrange tours, make restaurant reservations and answer any questions we had.Once on the ship we met many wonderful interesting people. Some of us are still in contact.We are hoping to see each other again on another Viking Cruise. All the staff went above and beyond to make our cruise memorable. They were always available to answer our questions and make recommendations. The entertainment at the lounge was varied, often music and or performers of the local area. We enjoy casual dining and the ship had a wonderful outdoor dining area we frequented.However, we enjoyed several delicious meals in the main dining room. The whole trip exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to take another Viking cruise!! Read Less

We traveled Viking several years ago on the Rhine, which was satisfactory but not over whelming. The itinerary and our familiarity with Viking,its ships.and on-board experience was determinative in returning to Viking. Traveling with another couple we determined to allow Viking to do it all this trip. We elected to extend in Prague (presailing) and Budapest (post sailing) Once we left the luggage with Luftansa, we were guided throughout by Viking's fine staff. Greeted at each hotel and ship board by the friendly Viking staff members, we were able to enjoy the scheduled sights and events without concern. The associated hotels (The Augustine in Prague and The Sofitel in Budapest) Viking booked us into could not have been more pleasant. The Viking concierge staff maintained at each hotel was always available to assist in discovering the local sites and eateries. Both Prague and Budapest are not to be missed. I would highly recommend and extension in each. Viking's booking staff's suggestions as to shore and city excursions were on point in each instance. Prior to departure I had researched Viking Legend and was somewhat disappointed it was one of the older vessels in the Viking fleet. On boarding we found it staffed by an incredibly solicitous staff and comfortable in both the staterooms and common areas. In Vienna I had the opportunity to board Viking Baldar, and in comparison would take the understated traditional elegance of Legend over one of the newer Longships. Legend's traditional wood interior makes it welcoming and charming. The Cruise Director, David Morgan, was brilliant, keeping us informed and entertained throughout . The dinning staff could not have been better. Their oft repeated mantra being they were there solely to make your vacation memorable, and they did!. The cabin (third deck), as to be expected was small but well laid out, functional in all respects and always clean. It seemed as soon as you left your cabin then the hospitality staff would enter to clean or tidy The sail from Passua to Vienna was incredibly picturesque, and Legend's night entry to Budapest was breathtaking. High points? The entire trip was a high point, but we particularly enjoyed our extended stays in Prague and Budapest; the excursion to Cesky Krumlov; time on our own in Pasua and Kremes and the first sight of Budapest at night. I would unreservedly recommend this cruise to anyone,and to those who value traditional ships, I'd likewise recommend Legend. Viking has grown and improved since our first river sail with them. This cruise was enjoyable from beginning to end. The excursions were well thought out and not rushed; The tour guides were (with one exception ins Vienna) personable and informative; and on this trip there was ample time in most ports-of-call to allow some exploration on your own. Viking now has free flowing wine, soft drinks and beer offered at dinner and lunch, and much appreciated improvement over our previous Rhine experience. After our first experience with Viking I was skeptical; but no longer. I'll be happy and look forward to cruising Viking again. Read Less

This was our first river cruise and the best cruise we have ever taken. We chose Viking based on their reputation and this particular cruise mostly on the recommendation of a friend who had taken it on Viking, and a general interest in the cities and countries visited. We were not disappointed. We were impressed with the planning and attention to detail that went into the cruise. We were impressed with the materials we received concerning the trip, travel arrangements, etc. We were impressed with the ship, our cabin and the organization of the crew and the staff. The food was excellent. We enjoyed having the option of having local cuisine from some of the countries visited served on the ship. We particularly enjoyed the various excursions and the option of having the opportunity to choose from several trips in each of the cities visited. We were particularly impressed with the knowledge of the guides on each excursion we selected. Passengers we spoke with who had taken other excursions had similar experiences. We would not hesitate to recommend Viking in the future or to take another Viking cruise ourselves. Read Less

Highest Quality. A goos as many couples who are friends had told us. Staff very friendly and competent. Boat was incredibly well thought out. High quality furnishing in all aspects. Wonderful food. Arriving in Budapest at night was beautiful and a high point of a trip with many high points. As advised by friends, do not opt for too many extra excursions. We only did 2 and that was the right amount. I am not a morning person, so the excursions that left at 8:30 am made me feel rushed about breakfast. A minor issue, I know. They probably have to do this to get you back in time for the luxury lunch. I enjoyed all the choices in food at every meal. The coffee and tea bar outside of the lounge was a real plus. My wife loves Lattes and took full advantage of this. It may seem a small thing but it added an extra pleasure. We both felt this was the best vacation of our lives. Read Less

This was a prefect way to get introduced to Viking Cruise Line, the Boat was fantastic, as were the crew and food. Lots to do and see, with plenty of time to rest if that is what you are looking for. Tours were great, but the tour guides were exceptional. Everything Viking does is seamless, fights, pick up at the airport, transfer to the boat, was excellent. Food was theme based to whatever city you traveled to, along with standard fare for those picky eaters. Viking Cruise are nothing like you have ever been on, the small boats, the atmosphere, food, crew tours is a can't miss vacation. Make sure to use Viking to book your fight, they use first class airlines, are flexible, and can be customized for just about any travel. They have non-stops as well as direct flights that can accommodate most traveler. Book their Curies and you won't be sorry! We booked another this year it was so much fun! Read Less

We had heard nothing but positive reports from friends who have traveled with Viking and since it was my husbands first cruise ever, thought what Viking offered would be an ideal starter for him. It more than met our expectations from the moment we entered the ship. The attention to details from taking our luggage to our cabin, the dinning experience even offer us a lunch since we embarked a bit earlier than 3 p.m. Never felt "rushed" and yet everything was very prompt. The entire crew, was respectful, helpful, conversational but not intrusive. We enjoyed every shore excursion and those too were well planned with excellent guides. One could fill up their day as much as desired or utilize the included excursions and then have time to explore on ones own or just enjoy some relaxing time on deck. Even when we were cruising down the river during daylight hours, the Cruise Director provided information about what we were seeing and the history involved. The whole trip was very educational and for two history lovers we, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. As a matter of fact, enjoyed it so much we've booked another cruise for this Fall. Read Less