This was our fourth river cruise with Uniworld over the past couple of years. We like Uniworld because they always deliver on their promise of beautifully decorated rooms, great food, delicious wines and topped off with consistent exceptional on board service and first class pampering fit for a king and queen on every trip. The staff have always been 5 star plus, but on the Maria Theresa they were 5 star 3x plus. Uniworld cruises attract an educated class of travelers we have enjoyed meeting and sharing experiences. Meeting fellow Uniworld travelers on these journeys has always been the icing on the cake for me. Many are well traveled professionals and business people, whom I have enjoyed not just good conversation but even better life experiences. We have meet politicians to even Olympic Gold Medal winners on these trips, which always makes for good dinner conversation. We flew into Munich, Germany two days early just so we could do a full day private bus trip through Viator to see Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace and the Shirley Temple of Bavarian villages, Oberammergan. I was surprised to discover that Linderhof Palace interior has almost as many gold decorations, furnishings and beautiful chandeliers as Versailles, France. The gold organ is stunning and worth the price of admission. Checking off that bucket list places to see was already worth the trip so the voyage on the Maria Theresa was just icing on the cake. Since we had arrived a couple of days early, Uniworld was unable to help us with the two hour transportation to Passau. My Pravlus travel agent Kymm was kind enough to get us scheduled with Blacklane transportation to the Maria Theresa from Munich. They picked us up on time, and delivered us to the ship. Our ride in that comfortable black Mercedes was so good, we feel asleep. All the Uniworld ships are all different, but the Maria Theresa is like a floating museum of baroque beauty. It’s a floating palace fit for a king & queen! Lots of gold and mirrors to make you feel like royalty. Its pure luxury on the Danube. We were in 412, which is a balcony room. The balcony is not an outdoor balcony and may not be worth the extra price but made a great place to store and hide luggage (so did under the beds). Our first day began with a walking tour of Passau, the City of Three Rivers. It was a cold and cloudy day, but our tour guide was so interesting that is was easy to ignore the weather. She took us to visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral, which was absolutely beautiful on the inside. The organ is the largest in Europe and we listened to 30 minutes of beautiful organ music. My wife found numerous shops to buy souvenirs so we were late returning for lunch. All the seats were almost taken in the dining area so we decided to sit at the table with a brass bell on it. No one was sitting there so we sat down. It was funny to see the reaction of the service staff when we made that decision. The server, who was in a black tux with tails bent over and whispered in my ear, “Sir, this is the Captains table, and only the captain and crew are allowed to sit here, however they have already had lunch so if no one says anything, you can continue to sit here”. Let me tell you, the service at the Captains table is the best on the ship and I highly recommend it if you can get away with it! It was the only time my wife and I were able to dine alone and we really enjoyed it, especially the wine. Certainly understand why the captain of this this ship is always smiling and happy. We really enjoyed our excursion in Mondsee, Austria to see St. Michaels Basilica where Maria and Capt. Von Trapp were married in the movie, The Sound of Music. The church is absolutely beautiful. It was fun getting our pictures taken at the entrance of the row of trees the children were climbing in, though I was disappointed the trees had grown too tall for me to climb. We decided on taking the full day excursion to Salzburg, Austria and were lucky enough to have Trudy as our tour guide. She was a beautiful voice and had everyone on the bus singing along with her various tunes to The Sound of Music. Again, it was a cold and cloudy day, but she made the trip so enjoyable that we did not even notice. We loved the Mirabell Gardens and enjoyed a quick tour of the Sound of Music Museum that we did during our spare time. The sun came out, so we were able to get some good pictures on the famous Sound of Music Steps and Pegasus Fountain. Seeing the home Mozart was born at was really neat. Our stop and excursion in Melk was amazing. The Melk Abby, is decorated like a palace and has numerous beautiful and ornate rooms that reminded me of Versailles, France. The library is absolutely beautiful, and the open books are so precise and colorful, it’s hard to believe they didn’t use a printing press. Some of those texts took the monks a life time to complete and are truly works of art. One of our excursions was a wine tasting in the Wachau Valley at Nikolaihof organic wines where they still use an old wooden wine press. This was one of the most informative and enjoyable wine tastings my wife and I have ever experienced in our travels. Highly recommend just for the wine! In Vienna, Austria out favorite was not the beautiful St. Stephens Cathedral with the roof covered in beautiful tiles or all the historical buildings, but the Kunsthistorisches Museum! It was full of beautiful art by the masters, marble statues and solid gold treasures like the famous Benevenuto Cellini’s salt cellar. The tower of Bable by Pieter Brueghel was something to behold. The large Theseus Clubbing the Centaur at the entrance was my favorite statue. I needed two days to see everything this museum had to offer. The Hungarian Parliament building was absolutely something to behold. It was decorated more like a palace than an assembly hall. Budapest is full of beautiful building and architecture. My wife really liked the shopping there because things were about 30% cheaper than Munich. Lots of beautiful places for pictures, especially at Buda Hill and the Liberty Statue of Freedom where you can overlook the city. We took the time to visit the House of Terror Museum that was full atrocities by the fascist and communist regimes that once controlled Hungary. Budapest looked to be booming since its left the control of the Soviet Union. Twenty five years into their young democracy, the Hungarians I meet were extremely optimistic and happy to be free. Capitalism is really working for the Hungarians who are willing to work hard to get ahead. Beautiful city full of beautiful people. 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

Had never been on a river cruise before. New locations for us. Saw and learned about places of world had not explored before (Budapest to Bucharest). Good sightseeing tours provided. Fun to have a treat when coming back on board after a morning of touring, Great to get to starting city a day or 2 early to see more of the city. Appreciated not having children on the ship. Cabin well fitted with good storage. Even though we had a balcony not able to use it a lot because weather cool. But nice to be able to have floor to ceiling windows. Dining was great-good food with great service. Nice to have a single sitting with open seating. Got to know several groups of people we enjoyed dining with at dinner. Portions were good, not overwhelming. Never left a meal not feeling full. Loved having an open top deck but disappointing because of weather not able to use a lot. Overall a great experience--would do it again! Read Less

We found a great deal with Adelman Travel which included a brief land tour of southern Germany and then a River Cruise on the Danube. We Started in Passau traveled to Budapest and then returned to Passau. There were no problems with navigation as the Amadeus Queen has a shallow draft. Number of stops on the Danube which included Melk and the Melk Abbey, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Linz. We had sunshine everyday and it was a wonderful trip. Tours were well organized and no problems were incurred. Really needed more time in Budapest. Cruise also include a brief night cruise of the Budapest from the River Danube which was wonderful. Cabins had an ample closet, room a little small but average for a cruise cabin. We had a large picture type window which opened and were on the Strauss Deck. Food was excellent, wine, red and/or white, with every dinner and dinner service was good. Dinner clothing was what I would call business casual. With the Captain's dinner it was a little more formal for many but business casual still worked. We had an assigned seating area as there was a group of us. With the exception of our group and 2 French couples all others on board appeared to be German. Activities/entertainment in the evening were very limited, piano player/singer but the beer and service was good. Read Less

My wife has always wanted to travel down the Danube so for her birthday I booked a suite on Uniworld's SS Maria Theresa departing from Passau. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and spent the first night in Munich at the airport Hilton, arranged by Uniworld. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of accommodations (for an airport hotel) and the breakfast buffet was among the best we have experienced anywhere. The SS Maria Theresa is a stunning vessel. The decor is a bit like what might happen if Laura Ashley and Liberace had a love child but having said that, the detail is high end, inviting and comfortable. Our suite had two floor-to-ceiling picture windows, one at the foot of the bed and one fronting an adjacent sitting area that could be opened to waist level. When the ship was moving it was like having your personal travel video scrolling in front of you. If you book a suite, butler service is included, which we found to be a nice touch. The Uniworld staff were clearly selected and trained to provide service excellence. They were adept at solving problems and were committed to making the trip memorable for everyone. I had heard that the food selection and quality was excellent on Uniworld but again our expectations were exceeded. Much of the food and wine were locally sourced and the attention to detail in terms of prep and presentation were what you would hope to experience in a fine dining restaurant. Wines were local and thoughtfully chosen to match the food. Liquor was top shelf. If you absolutely had to have Dom Perignon or a rare brandy not included in the main bars they had a "diamond collection" at an additional charge. Shore excursions were selected for all levels of activity from "gentle" tours that featured slow paced walks and buses to more strenuous bike tours, hikes, and "do as the locals do" walks. My favorite was a 20 mile bike ride from Melk to Durnstein. The relatively flat course wound through forests, vineyards, and small towns, and then ran along the Danube into Durnstein. It was truly magical. The guides at each destination were local, knowledgeable, their love for their respective cities was contagious. Enrichment activities made each stop even more memorable - visiting with a gentleman trying establish Saffron as a crop in Durnstein; a family who runs a cider farm outside of Linz (who also make some of the best Schnaps I have tasted); an historical scholar from Vienna who gave a mesmerizing talk on Maria Theresa. Bottom line - we are already planning our next cruise with Uniworld. Read Less

A faultless experience. Every aspect and experience was superb. First class fine dining with an amazing choice of beautifully presented food. A lovely immaculate ship , not too big with approx 120 passengers. Literally everything was included ...we even had 1 kilo of free of charge laundry. 2 items of free pressing a day were also included. I would recommend staying on the Diamond deck in one of the Royal Balcony Suites if the budget allows ....however the balcony suites are completely adequate but not a lot of room for to walk around the bed. The integrated balcony with seating and floor to ceiling glass brought the presence of the river right up to you. Storage facilities were excellent and the free mini bar can be restocked all day long . There was always plenty of hot water and clean towels The unlimited drinks - alcoholic / cocktails were excellent and no cheap local spirits were in sight . We were most fortunate to have a brilliant cruise director - Richard Grey who quite frankly made this trip beyond outstanding. There was a variety of evening entertainment which included local dancers etc and a resident piano player There was always a choice of free shore excursions. and all the shore excursions were very well organised and we never felt like 'cattle being herded around' Every staff member on board from the room maid, personal butler, bar staff, chefs, waiters to the captain were always so cheerful and helpful .Scenic even included a door to door service collection ; every aspect of this trip had been thoroughly thought out to give us a most unforgettable and enjoyable holiday . I cant recommend Scenic highly enough ! Read Less

Chose this cruise as we had never done a river cruise. First two to three days food was certainly not 5 star, we thought the chef had been replaced as the food certainly improved. I must mention Branislav the waiter who went the extra mile and Francis the butler was very keen to please. Waiter was asked by a guest for a dessert wine, which he brought, when asked by another guest if he could have one also, he told him no as it was a special wine for other guests, not the answer we would expect on a 5 star ship. As we had not been on a river cruise before, we were surprised by the fact we did not see daylight in our cabin for four days out of the seven days as other boats were moored right next to us, we paid for a balcony and could not use it, as the guests off the other boats could see in the window. I would have thought in this day and age we would have been able to see out and they would not have been able to see in, but no. We have been on Ocean cruises and now a river cruise, I would like to do another river cruise, so I could make a better comparison, but it was very expensive to keep your curtains closed all day. Read Less

Best holidays. Ever. By far. I hope my wife will submit her own review but we both enjoyed our Scenic experience very much. Scenic exceeded our expectations in so many different ways. Everything was top notch, but especially the people. They'd never save an effort to go the extra mile to please us. My wife was a bit picky with the food, so the waiters at Crystal Dining made it their point to always make her happy. They would bring her some delicious berries, some fruits and vegetables she might have just mentioned... Simply amazing. As for myself, I am not new to 5* experiences in different parts of the world but this was something special indeed. The food and the wine were invariably delicious, but there were also those small nice touches, like when you come from a lengthy excursion and on entering the ship you see the crew members offering you a hot towel and a refreshing drink. As soon as we'll have time for our next holidays, we'll be enjoying them with Scenic again, that's for sure. Read Less

We have done Uniworld cruises before but each time it just gets better. They understand how to make the experience truly relaxing and memorable and I love the design of their boats. We have just returned from doing the 8 day Danube cruise from Passau to Budapest. The cabins are spacious and there is enough storage to store away toiletries and clothes. The beds are super comfortable and they always offer great amenities. The shore excursions are excellent and are included in the price. For example in Vienna they arranged for a private concert in an old castle with a chamber orchestra. It was a lovely evening. You visit museums an hour before opening so you avoid the crowds. If you sit on deck on a cool day they will bring you blankets, hot chocolate, gluwein etc. I also enjoy the quality of the onboard entertainment. The staff are really top notch and attend to your every need. I love the fact that all gratuities are included and I am not having to worry about tipping all the time. The food and wine offered is also amazing. I think their attention to detail really set them apart from other cruises. Nothing is too much trouble and they go out of their way to accommodate every request. I cannot recommend them highly enough if you are looking for a top quality cruise. Read Less

My Wife and I just returned from Budapest, Hungary where we finished our 10 day river cruise on the River Beatrice. This was a Uniworld trip which included virtually everything, from all meals, excursions, entertainment and beer and wines. The wines were from each area we visited and the servers kept the glasses full until we said enough. The ship was nicely furnished and well maintained as expected on a luxury cruise. The food was excellent with many, many selections for each meal. Even the foods I normally do not like (being picky) was prepared in a manner that was delicious. The table layouts were either 4 or 6 chairs to a table so you could pick a desired layout. At each port they provided a selection of activities (or tours) for each city with experienced local guides who provided personal descriptions of each area which provided very interesting topics. Samples of local foods, wines, candies, coffees etc. were provided so we could taste and sample the local tastes. A sign-up was required for each excursion so they could provide guides with small groups. We selected the tour "Do as the locals do" at each port and were never disappointed. They provided both active and easy tours for each body type and even had bicycle tours for the very active. Each evening excellent entertainment in the lounge was provided and a enjoyable description of each days activities was provided. I know this review is getting long but I could go on and on because it was so enjoyable. We all felt so pampered we did not want the cruise to end. My recommendation is "the best trip ever" so do not pass this up, Read Less

We never did a river cruise before and hadn't seen the cities. We went to Munich first so we could visit Oktoberfest. The cruise was more than expected from the service, food, shore excursions and entertainment. All of the cruise was inclusive including drinks, shore excursions and location lectures. This was truly a no-hassle trip from luggage to gentle walking excursions. We upgraded to a suite and we're happy for the extra space, the regular cabins are a bit tight and thr butlers Boris and Bosco were fantastic. My wife lost a screw from her eyeglasses and Bosco replaced with one from an old pair of his glasses. That is service above and beyond the call. The food was fresh, well prepared, innovative and celebrated the local areas as did the wines. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our requests were met with promptness and a smile. The ship was beautiful, clean and well kept with an interesting art collection on the walls. We will definitely repeat another river cruise on Uniworld!, Read Less

This was our first River Cruise. Everything about it lived up to expectations and more - the food, cabin, service, shore excursions, staff - no complaints on any count. The 'compactness' of the cabin took a little while to get used to but we soon settled in very comfortably. Loved the night entertainment that focused on the area we had visited during the day. The 'gentle walkers' option on shore excursions was ideal for our particular needs - except in Vienna, where I think the problem was the guide we had - in all other cities it worked perfectly, especially in Linz. Food and drink was unbelievably well prepared and presented - a credit to all involved. We especially appreciated the use & promotion of local produce at each location. Our only comment would be that doing Melk & Durstein on the same day seemed too rushed. Each place deserved a full day, especially in Melk where the guide spent so much time in the rooms above with the art treasures that we (gentle walkers, some with disabilities) had literally no time to look at the Chapel, which was the point of going to Melk Abbey anyway! Such a shame! (Perhaps we had a guide who didn't understand that some in her group needed extra time to cross the 2 courtyards to get back to the coaches.) After feeling rushed doing 4 towns in 3 days we loved the quieter afternoon sailing down the Wachau Valley where we had time to enjoy the scenery and just being on the ship, cruising on the river, which was what we had been looking forward to. We really appreciated the little extras like fruit & sweets and tea/coffee in the room, as well as the happy smiling faces of staff greeting you with a cool drink as you returned to the ship from shore excursions. Another highlight was changing mooring places after dark in Budapest so we got to sail back up the river and enjoy the lights of this magical place. Wonderful! This was our first river cruise & thanks to Uniworld it won't be our last!! Read Less

Trip of a lifetime! Everything about Uniworld and the River Beatrice was exceptional. The staff made every part of the trip easy as they couldn't do enough for us! The ship was lovely, food and drink were terrific and the excursions were well-planned and interesting. We also loved the fact that everything, including all drinks and gratuities were included. We had a standard cabin which was well-appointed with a lovely bathroom. Stateroom and bath are, of course, small. The French balcony made for great views. Meals were excellent and always included regional specialties. The nightly entertainment was enjoyable and geared to the particular country we were in, since we travelled through four countries. Excursions were well-organized and always included a separate arrangement for "easy walkers", since many tours are long walking tours through picturesque towns. Getting on and off the ship at the beginning and end of the cruise, as well as for the daily trips was a very simple, short process. We ended our trip in Budapest, Hungary, with the additional Uniworld extension at the Corinthia Hotel. The hotel is fabulous and Budapest is a beautiful, exciting city. So glad we stayed on! You can be sure that our next river cruise will be a Uniworld cruise although this one will be hard to beat. Read Less

We have never been on a cruise of any kind and chose AMA based on the recommendation of a friend/travel agent. We were looking for a ship with a small number of passengers and a solid reputation. AMA is apparently known for the food onboard and bundled activities - both did not disappoint. The staff on board were all fantastic and well trained in customer service. Extra effort was made by all to make sure that our needs were met. Here are my pros & cons: PROS: - food - public shared areas - french balcony - beautiful concept - high service level of the staff - choice of bundled shore excursions (including a choice of pace) - bikes on board CONS: - some of the shore excursions necessarily were quick overviews with limited flex to be able to see more. We're used to traveling on our own and having more time. This isn't an AMA Waterways problem but something we learned about cruising - we like the port itinerary for most part including stops in areas we wouldn't otherwise see. With that said, 2 days in Vienna vs. 1 would make sense. I'd add another night to make this happen. Read Less

Over-the-top service across the board! In decades of travel throughout the world, undoubtedly the best run cruise/travel operator I've ever seen. Simply put, there was nothing to criticise. From the condition of the boat, food, service, shore excursions, included tours; every thing was just perfect. An amazing feat... really! The staterooms are spotlessly clean as is ever part of the ship. We noticed crew on other ships (the ones handling lines and the actual "running" of the boat) who were dirty, unshaven, and generally rough looking. Uniworld's were clean, we'll groomed and more professional looking. All of our deck chairs and chaise lounges on the upper deck had outdoor Sunbrella type cushions - none of the other boats we saw did. You couldn't turn around without someone offering you a glass of wine or any thing else you might want while cruising on the top deck - or in the dining room. Food was great. Read Less

Wow ! - Having done several ocean cruises including the Panama Canal - this gave us the idea of a river cruise, Bavaria, Austria & Hungary were places on our list to visit, so this cruise ticked all the boxes! The ship is fairly new (2015) and our crew had only been together a few weeks, but Captain Boris, Cruise Director Jana, Hotel Director Robert - and all the crew were exceptional - helpful friendly and efficient- nothing was too much trouble - many thanks to all ! The UK flight and transfer from Munich to the ship was well organised and effortless, like wise the return flight from Budapest to Munich and transfer to UK flight although a very short transfer window went like clockwork - and all luggage arrived back with us in the UK - well done Lufthansa! Note though - only one suitcase per person and must meet Emeralds dimension guidelines (length,width & depth these are added together and must not exceed a set limit) weight 20 kgs - less than the airline 23kg limits - we had to buy new cases as existing ones were too large! Before the Cruise Emerald had sent us a rucksack each as the only allowable hand luggage - worked well and useful for all the day trips. All the stops/ tours were exceptional - Passau, Melk, Linz, Dürnstein Wien & Budapest the organised mixed walking/ coach guided tours were well organised and informative (rechargeable radios with headsets are available in all cabins for these trips) and used local guides with local knowledge and very good English! - also there was always one group available for those who's walking was slower and less challenging. A private evening concert in Vienna was a definite highlight. Captain Boris organised an evening Budapest river Cruise - although a bit chilly was fantastic and we were well fortified by glasses of ''Blue Danube Cocktail'' . Freetime during the organised tours was also available and in the main achieved a good balance Most of the distance cruising was done at night so you awake to a new town or city, though some short & scenic parts of the river (Wachau Valley etc) were by day and included a commentary which was most informative - with some spectacular scenery ! Bicycles were on the ship and available though advanced booking advised. Crew present to make adjustments to suit - cycle tracks along the river were good and flat! Having read horror story's of rivers with no water or floods we chose late April as a reasonable chance of having neither ! - our weather was generally good only one bad day of rain, layers and umbrellas (available on board) recommended though ! Food and Wine (both local where appropriate) were excellent - we did not have a menu that failed to inspire us (there were always other options available - steak, fish etc) and the lunchtime buffet had plenty of variation hot cold etc. Tea and several types off Coffee freely available from a machine in the lounge, mini bar in cabin but we did not need to use it - bottled water still and carbonated in the cabin and replaced as required foc. The included wine was often ''local'' and not to every ones taste (mostly on the swsweet or dry) - on request a different wine was served - no problems ! As far as I could tell the lift only travelled on the internal floors and not up to the sundeck, this could be a problem to any one with challenged mobility ..... but I am sure the crew will have a solution ! Entertainment - do not expect ocean cruise stage type performances, there is neither space or facility's, excellent Pianist in the lounge - small dance floor, an excellent Hungarian country band & dancers one evening in Budapest , port talks most evenings and other general interest talks local at times. Also probably one of the best/ funniest crew shows we have ever seen ! - well done all. The ''infinity'' pool was excellent and became a cinema in the evening with up to date movies or musical shows running in the evening. Highlights :- Swimming in the infinity pool with views of the river whilst cruising, the evening cruise in Budapest, the private concert in Vienna - the staff and attention to detail ! Also I would just add that all the places visited were clean, tidy, things worked, the roads/footpaths were excellent and people friendly (English spoken by most local people) generally plenty of public convenience's - but 50c coin needed. This sort of cruise will not suit anyone who is after '' big ship entertainment and facilities'' but for luxury /cultural travel with 5 star food and accommodation with like minded guests it will take some beating - well done Emerald ! Read Less

This was our 4th river cruise with Uniworld, having been on the Castles of the Rhine, Bordeaux and Provence trips previously. We chose the 11 day Enchanting Christmas & New Year's Cruise on their newest ship SS Maria Theresa. We wanted to celebrate my 60th birthday, and to experience Christmas in Europe. Being from Australia we hoped to see snow but this was not to be this year. In fact the water level in the Danube was so unusually low that the ship was unable to sail further than Vienna, so we spent the last 2 nights in Budapest in a hotel. More about that later. We were interested to compare this ship with her sisters SS Marie Antoinette and SS Catherine, both of which we had loved. We were not disappointed. Her decor features a more restrained soft colour palette but is otherwise similar and equally beautiful, some would say more elegant. The large dining room, salon and smaller lounge with enclosed swimming pool remain. We found the new tiny "cafe" room on the lower level to be handy and were surprised we didn't encounter more passengers there. Self-serve hot drinks, iced teas etc and a small range of snacks were available around the clock, with little tables and seating enough for 10 or so people comfortably. It also has a larger version of the mirror TVs present in our staterooms. Two of us enjoyed relaxing there one afternoon watching a recent on-demand movie without having to sit on a bed. Our Category 2 staterooms at 194 sq ft (18 sq m) were an adequate size, all the more because of the generous and clever storage space, including huge drawers in the en-suite vanity. There was a small table and chairs next to the french balcony. We actually prefer this arrangement over the full balconies in Category 1, as they reduce the size of the room itself. We thought the standard of on-board dining was better than ever on this cruise. We particularly marvelled at how perfectly done and tender the meat was every time, with the meal quality and presentation worthy of any top restaurant. The service was great and drinks generously served at all times. Christmas Day involved a day trip to Oberndorf and Salzburg, where we had a catered lunch which unfortunately was a let-down. It was only a small part of the day though. With the crew and passengers' carol singing and special dinner on Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day dinner on board it didn't matter. In fact we were pleased not to have over-indulged at lunch. New Year's Eve at the Ethnographic Museum in Budapest on the other hand was a perfect combination of stunning surrounds, fantastic entertainment all evening and 5 star caterering. Bravo to the Cruise Manager for organising this event. Entertainments on-board again were of excellent quality with a good variety of types. We were also treated to wonderful private concerts in Vienna and other smaller locations. While we were sad to leave the beautiful Maria Theresa prematurely, we were very happy with all the alternative arrangements made for us by Uniworld. We were bussed 4 hours, including 2 comfort stops, to Budapest. We arrived in time for lunch in the town before checking in to one of 2 hotels which miraculously had enough rooms us all. We were happy with our 2 nights at the Intercontinental Hotel, especially its location on the river with wonderful views. If we are lucky enough to go back Budapest one day I would happily book there again. Uniworld covered the cost of the room with breakfast and free wi-fi and gave each of us an amount of cash to help cover other meals we would have had on board. In addition we were given very generous discount vouchers to offset the cost of a future cruise, even though the circumstances were completely beyond Uniworld's control. We hope to be able to use our vouchers within the 2 year period specified, but would book again with Uniworld even without the them. They truly are a quality company. Read Less

Firstly greeted and directed to ship efficiently by Viking rep. 1.75 hour transfer to ship from Munich airport. Arrived unpacked. room just a standard with port hole viewing window. free safe, storage for cases under bed. compact shower and toilet. all toiletries supplied. good quality hairdryer. Nightly meeting 15 minutes prior to dinner 7-9pm to advise on the following day excursions. loved the sit anywhere dining room. we got to met so many different guests. the seating is the same for lunch 12-2. Food was amazing from breakfast to evening meal, not one complaint. free drinks of wine and beer with meals was more than generous. our surprise was that out of 180 on board there were only 12 British guests. The remaining guests were all Americans. Excursions all begin at 8.30 with the exception of 1 which was 9. Evenings low key, chatting and not too late to bed because of the early mornings. Staff were all excellent. the Captain very visible with guests. 24 hr tea and coffee station with cookies, however I would have liked tea and coffee facilities in the cabin, that's just a personal thing. best excursion, Vienna and Budapest. Read Less

When my husband and I planned this trip, we decided to add on 4 days in Paris and 2 in Lyon, France. Our adventure started out pretty rocky; the CDG airport (which I suggest you avoid at all costs) was unfriendly, unwieldy, and unintelligible to those who speak no French, and when we got to the train station to board a train to Paris, we learned that the prepaid train tickets did not work. Had it not been for the kindness of a French traveler, we would still be at the train station in tears! We enjoyed Paris, loved Lyon, but had a very long travel day on the train from Lyon to Paris, and then a flight to Munich, where we caught the Uniworld bus (after waiting another hour for other arriving passengers who were joining us on the cruis) that took another 2 hours to get to Passau, where we embarked on the cruise. As soon as we stepped foot on the ship, we both sighed a huge sigh of relief (and I shed a few tears of joy) because we now knew that all our needs would be met. The crew that met us were incredibly hospitable, and this was the beginning of a magical journey down the Beautiful Not-so-Blue Danube. Everything was nearly perfect. The staff, the accommodations, the food, the service, the tours, the guides, the destination points for the tours, the shipboard entertainment, the free-flowing drinks and wonderful attitude of all the crew on board, the free time allowed, the additional opportunities for excursions (the Vienna concert is a must do!), and the people, all were wonderful. We made friends with many of the passengers, and even had dinner with the captain on our last night on the ship, which was a complete surprise. The only complaint I had and that which was shared by other passengers with whom we spoke, was that the bathroom in our stateroom often smelled of "sewer gas." Much like a bathroom on an airplane smells. When we mentioned this to the ship's staff, they did something, but it did not eliminate the problem, so we spent 8 nights in a room with a somewhat foul odor, which we seemed to "get used to" as long as we were in the room. Other passengers suggested putting a wet wash cloth over the drains in the sink and shower, but when we did this, they were removed by ship staff -- probably believing we had left them behind by accident. All in all, we would do another river cruise in a heart beat -- unfortunately, finances don't allow for such luxuries for us more than once every several years, but we will definitely look into another Uniworld destination in the future. Read Less

My wife and I and another couple took the Enchanted Danube cruise on the River Beatrice by Uniworld. We also did the three pre-cruise nights in Prague and the two post-cruise nights in Budapest. Every aspect of this trip was outstanding, from the hotels pre and post to the River Beatrice itself. The arrangements were excellent, meeting at the airport and being quickly transported to the hotel, the accomodations in first class hotels and the city tours were all well organized and interesting. With ample free time we could explore what we wished and indulge in the local cuisine. On the ship everything was outstanding from the stateroom (small but adequate) to the public rooms, art, and more than anything the staff. Everyone was welcoming and the service was very good. We especially appreciated that every day the ship matched their menus/cuisine and wines to the countries we were traveling through. The food was uniformly good as were the wines. It was especially nice to go to the lounge after a days touring and sit and have a glass of wine or cocktail complimentary instead of always having to pay. And the music both for listening and dancing in the evening was an added treat. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed this trip and look forward to another Uniworld voyage in the future. I would recommend them without reservation. Read Less

We sailed on the Viking Prestige Danube Waltz Cruise in mid-October 2015. A European river cruise was top on my bucket list. This cruise was for a celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary and my retirement so it needed to be very special. We are avid cruise people and have sailed the eastern Caribbean, western Caribbean and southern Caribbean as well as the Mediterranean and have high expectations. This cruise was magnificent. Our cabin was on the lowest deck and had a large picture window just above water level. The room itself was delightful with plenty of drawers and closet space. The bathroom was larger than we expected and quite comfortable. We chose this cruise for the itinerary and it did not disappoint. The included tours were fantastic as were the guides. We are wine lovers so we also scheduled the optional wine tours offered. Not only was the wine delicious, but they are small, family owned and have small vintages, which cannot be found by large distributors. We met the owners who welcomed each of us like we were old friends. By the end of the tour...we were. In cannot say enough positive things about the tour guides. They were all outgoing, knowledgeable, quick witted and fun. Service on board was exemplary as far as cleanliness, efficiency, and friendliness. The dining room staff was the best of any cruise thus far. We were extremely impressed by Viking Line efficiency from the time our plane landed, to the beautiful and comfortable motor coaches for transfers and tours! We extended out vacation by staying extra nights at the end of our cruise in Budapest. The hotel was 5 star and beautiful. The only thing I could find to complain about the entire trip, was that the Prestige is the only ship in the fleet without an elevator. It was still worth it and I would do it again. Read Less

This was our first river cruise and did not know what to expect, especially given the fact that I had never heard of Arosa cruises. However, the room (a suite) was bright, very clean, quiet, and spacious. The food was very good and we are picky. We were the only Americans on the boat, with the remainder of the passengers German. Every member of the crew spoke some English, but of course, some were better than others. My only complaint is that it was not made clear to us what services were provided with our suite. I am sure I read about when booking, but it would have been nice if a crew member had reminded us. On our last day I asked about the remaining credit and was told that we had 218 Euros left to spend. Glad I asked. I am not sure if this is true for every river boat line, but we had our own table in a quieter section of the dining room, which was very nice. Overall, we were very pleased and will most likely return to Arosa. Read Less

Enjoyed a lovely river cruise down the Danube recently. This was my first cruise of any sort. The rooms were amazing ( we, along with another couple, booked a category 3 room, #301 & #305.) These rooms were among the category 2 rooms which were in the middle of the ship. Ours were on the end. We could not tell why the rooms were in a different category and they were quiet and very lovely, and a bit cheaper then the rooms in the middle. The rooms were small but had everything you could want. The bed linens, mattresses, towels, were all top quality and luxurious. The food and service were beyond amazing and the staff can not do enough for you. We are gluten free, and the chef made a point to come out each evening and point out what we could eat or modified what was on the menu to fit our needs. Truly impressed with the quality and variety of food. The ports we stopped in were lovely and at times we could walk right off the boat into the little towns. I was not prepared for the larger cities and that we would be bussed around so much. We took the all day trip to Salzburg and visited a small town on the lake. Only stayed about 45 minutes and then back on the bus. Would have loved to stay on the lake a bit. That part I didn't like, as I felt like I was constantly watching my time. If I had to do it again, I would have skipped Salzburg and walked around the town of Linz instead just to avoid being on the bus so much. I know everyone loves Salzburg but 4 hours on the bus was too much for me. I have a few things that I didn't care for. Most of the dining tables are for 8 people. There are only 4 tables for 4, and 2 tables for 6. While we did meet 2 lovely couples that we hit it off with, my husband commented that every dinner he never got to talk with me as he was talking with the others at the table. Kind of a forced socialization whether you felt like it or not. We were on this trip with another couple, and it would have been nice to have a choice whether we sat together with them or with a larger group. If you wanted a table for 4 you had to be the first one at the door to grab it. I heard others complain about that as well. If you were a couple and wanted some quiet dinners alone you would be out of luck. I think this is something they should work on and perhaps on the intake questionnaire they could ask if you prefer to dine with your group or be at a large table. Another thing I didn't like was the lack of anything to nibble on after the afternoon tea served from 4 - 5 PM and until the 7 PM dinner. We were never around for the afternoon tea, and some crudités and cheese and crackers during cocktail hour would have been a nice touch over the bowls of chips and nuts. Just a suggestion. It's a high end, expensive cruise and I would rather not have BBQ chips with my drink. Lastly, we had a wonderful cruise director and captain. But every night in the lounge where everyone was gathered during cocktail hour, and before dinner, we had to sit and listen to the next day itinerary along with slides and power point presentation. It was informative, but I sort of felt as if I was held hostage. Couldn't talk, hard to get up and get a drink, impossible to socialize. My suggestion would be for them to tape it and you could watch it on your in room TV at your leisure. I enjoy that cocktail hour time of the day and sometimes it was a struggle to sit and listen to these talks. Some of the shows they had during this time were fantastic, but some were not so good ( the marriage play of Franz and Cissy was a little hokey.) Again if it was not your cup of tea, you sort of had to sit and watch anyway. Weather permitting I suppose you could go to the top deck, but we had some rainy, damp weather. So there was no where to go. The captains lounge is available, but no bar there. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and a trip of a lifetime. We stayed a few days in Munich at the beginning, and Budapest at the end. We did this on our own as I had read that sometimes if you book the post cruise expeditions with Uniworld they tend to put you in hotels closer to the airport. Don't know if that's true, but we were right in the heart of Munich and Budapest and location and proximity to things were important to us. Read Less

Our 11 day Avalon cruise started with three days on land in Prague. Very nice accomodations, great city tour. We met on first night with cruise director, at that time concerned travellers questioned the river levels, as we heard they were low. We were told that by the day we were to sail, that the water levels were probably going to be okay. We were lead to believe that somehow the water levels could be manipulated by man power, dam? Departure date came and we were given a choice to see Nuremberg by bus, as we couldn't sail, due to low water, or take a bus to A small village up river where boat was docked. To see Revensburg, we also had to bus, ship couldn't get there either. Did not dock in Passau, had to be bussed there from village. Avalon advertises their cabins with the great view. Anytime we were docked, there would be another ship parked directly beside us, never even got to open curtains. Our sailing was done in early evening or night, so never got to see the wonderful sights advertised. We did dock in Linz and Budapest, so we were able to go ashore to explore on our own. Daily tours were really early. Biggest disappointment was that we never got to enjoy the views from our cabin, which was explained to our group the last night: reason being that River cruising is so popular that there is not enough port space for the ships. The staff on the Avalon Vista was great, cruise director not so much. Read Less

We booked the Amsterdam to Budapest 14 night Cruise departing 9 August 2015 on Amadeus Silver. On the way to the airport for an LA stopover of 2 nights we were advised that the first 5 days of the Cruise would be 'on land' as the Rhine river levels were too low. Also that we could 'cancel' but if we accepted the changed itinerary there would be no further compensation. Of course, there was no choice. So for five days we 'cruised' the autobahns in coaches, arriving at hotels late in the evening. When the ship finally departed Passau we found it cruised overnight, so no lovely lazy days floating along looking at castles on the hills for us. Paying extra for a suite with a balcony (to enjoy all the lovely passing scenery!) was a waste of money unless wanting to sit outside and watch concrete lock walls at night or reaching out to touch the ship berthed so close alongside you could step over the rail on to it. Lovely ship. Good crew. Included 'excursions' for us involved a lot of 'walking tours'. Finally, we were despatched off the ship by 8.30 am. "at the latest" on the final day, rather than the 9.30 a.m. in our booking. Our overall impression was that the passengers on Luftner are definitely not the priority. If you want a river cruise which lives up to the promotional publicity, don't book Luftner. Read Less