This was our first riverboat cruise. We had checked out some others cruises casually but couldn't get excited about any. We went to a presentation put on by Expedia Cruise in Courtenay, BC, regarding Scenic and the guy with the funny accent caught our excitement regarding the boat, the service onboard, and what we would see on the tour. We immediately started planning our cruise that we just got back from. I'm an old fart and my body shows it. The only part of the whole experience that was terrible had to do with the airlines and Amsterdam airport. I know you have to put up with the 9.5 hour flight from Vancouver, BC, to Amsterdam but I could hardly walk afterwards and it is actually kilometers between the international arrivals to the local carrier section. KLM nor the airport staff would assist me in getting transport over to the other side because I had not prebooked it. Coming back I prebooked assistance and that part went smoothly. Since I had already been up for approximately 30 hours, when we arrived in Prague, I immediately crashed (fell asleep on the lovely, soft bed) while me wife did the short orientation tour. My wife enjoyed Prague while I recuperated. I did go out once and enjoyed a little of the wonder of the city. I was a little concerned with everyone telling us to be careful of pickpockets! Breakfast buffet at our Marriott Hotel was excellent with lots of variety. Yumm! (I'm a foody addict) We got on the Scenic Amber in Nuremberg and I was impressed from the word go. The welcome seemed real and everyone was courteous and, for me, this is where the pleasureable adventure really began. I'm rambling a bit here so I'll try and condense the actual cruise.. I've been on big ship cruises before but not at the level of complete service as we got here. The things I especially like were: Cabin - the soft head and knee raising bed; the cozy balcony; the small fridge for cod drinks, replenished daily; Dining - exception meals with additional selections that you can order. They do cater to special food needs. For those of you that drink, there was a different red and white wine presented each day. You never had to worry about running out of wine, coffee, water. Room service always available; Onboard activities - were fun and relaxed.Richard (Otto?) was very personable and gave pertinent information on what was going on the next day or for that night. The cruise wouldn't have been as great without him. The evening lounge entertainment was fun to watch with local groups coming on board at each port; Ports and excursions - I commend the people that picked out the ports we visited, not too many and not too few. All the tour guides were not just informative but also very passionate about their city and country, nice to see and hear; Service - I have nothing to negatively say about the service. Everyone treated us with courtesy and as a person. We had our own butler who was ours 24/7 If we wanted. He actually complained to us that we weren't using him enough! I watch how staff interact with each other and all that I could see was friendly support and comradery between all levels of staff. They even all chipped in to take out the garbage! That's about all I have to say for now except that we didn't pay an additional penny for anything else except for gifts. So eat, drink as much as you want; go on the tours, see the concerts... all included! Read Less

We had done another Scenic cruise (Bordeaux) and decided to book an area in Europe we hadn’t seen. We chose to travel during the Christmas market season. I have some mobility issues, so feeling safe and secure is important. The wonderful staff and personnel on the Amber were amazingly attentive. If I even hesitated, there was someone at my elbow for buses, gangplanks, stairs, etc. No one hovered or was overly solicitous, but they always seemed to be there when I needed them. We plan to retake this trip in the spring/summer time to be able to see the gardens. The cruise director was a hoot! He was on top of everything. The entertainment was high quality. Service was extraordinary. Our shipmates included families with adult children, siblings, gay/lesbian, and couples from Canada, Australia, USA, and UK. Most had previous cruise experience. All in all, we find river cruising to be relaxing and one of the best ways to see Europe. Read Less

We chose this cruise because it was affordable with free air and the destinations were of interest to us. We were not disappointed with anything. Our cruise director, captain, all other staff and especially our food director strived to meet our every need. We were treated with respect and felt very well taken care of. I had dietary requirements and our food director seemed to go out of his way to meet my every need with a cheerful and helpful attitude. No staff on this trip were unkind or unhelpful. Everyone did an excellent job in serving us. I felt pampered and fulfilling our needs were always the staffs number one goal. The water level on the Elbe just happened to rise which made our trip even more enjoyable since we didn’t need to ride a bus to each of our destinations. We will definitely consider another River Cruise and ocean cruise using our discount Viking graciously gave us because of the uncertainty of the low water level. Read Less

We actually started in Prague, then overland to Budapest where we boarded the Emerald Destiny. However due to low water levels we had to leave the Destiny around Rudesheim, travel by bus and board and continue the cruise on the Emerald Sky to Amsterdam. The whole transfer was managed superbly without any hassles. In fact the ~200km bus trip gave us a different scenery . Patricia , the Tour Director, did an excellent job. Each day her briefing was interesting, witty and clear. She made everyone so welcome. She was clearly fully in control and nothing fazed her. Our wonderful experience was predominantly due to her being in charge. The Emerald Destiny, being a newer ship than the Sky had a better cabin layout. E.G. the fridge and safe in the Sky drastically reduced wardrobe space. As beverages are so freely available does anybody still need a fridge?? Waste of space! Instead of more drawers (Sky), the desk space (Destiny) was great for writing and ladies make up. Read Less

The ship is wonderfully built, very clean and functional. The rooms made the most of space and had great storage. We were on the top sleeping floor and found it very quiet, although some of our fellow passengers did not have the same experience on the lower floors. The daily excursions were run without a hitch and ran like clock work. The food was 5 star and abundant. The crew took care of our every need and the embarkation and disembarkation went without a hitch. We extended the River Cruise both prior and following the River Cruise and were well looked after, never needing to worry about anything. Our luggage and transfers were all taken care of seamlessly. The Cruise itself was a good mix of time on land and cruising the best part of the river scenery on the ship. All in all, it's been very well thought through and we would highly recommend the Rhine River Cruise with Evergreen Cruises. Read Less

Essentially took this tour with another couple who where wanting to celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary. Despite the fact our airplane arrived well over an hour late in Prague the very approachable Scenic representative was their to greet us and take us to the local hotel. Likewise for the balance of the trip all the services from presentations by the Cruise Director, departure for excursions to opening of the restaurants were completely on time and very timely. The Chef on our cruise provided an excellent array of culinary delights both on the buffet and a la carte services. The cut on everything from slices meats to vegetables and dessert items was flawless. I inquired with the Chef who frequently made table checks about the "secrets" about a "Clear Tomato" that was being served for lunch. Chef Broccoli was most generous and provided a recipe for this exceptional soup. The effort put in by the entire staff of our trip was 110%. They worked well as a team and professional ignored the occasional unthinking and too casual guest. My only concern would be that the dining room was a slight bit noisy and congested and that for "older" folks (70 +) might find it tiring after more than a week. Likewise the rooms will be a tad small for those on the "heavier or tall" side. The Tailormade Scenic software very innovative and highly effective. I only recently have been using a smart phone but found it enhanced the trip. The system was occasionally nonfunctional when listening to the tour guides in large congested areas. However the information and pictures while sailing down the picturesque Danube River very complementary. Did find the survey questionare at the end of the tour rather long and time consuming. I thought it might take 20 minutes to complete but it had so many questions that I ran out of time and had to omit the last quarter of the survey. Cabin balcony excellent. Really liked the size, the glass, even the comfortable chairs. Read Less

My wife had always wanted to visit Prague. I thought: if we are going to do that, why not do a "river cruise" also? It was the best decision we could have ever made! I had researched cruise lines and Avalon Waterways always received top marks. Plus they had a Prague to Paris cruise. It was a "no brainer"! The stateroom was the perfect size for the two of us and the bed was fantastic; when we wanted to we could lie in bed with the curtains open watching the scenery go by. And the food onboard was top notch! The breakfast and lunch buffets were fantastic! And dinner was terrific! We were never lacking in anything. All of the crew - from the captain and cruise directory on down were extremely friendly and helpful. At each of our ports of call, again there was another fantastic excursion with a local guide that provided us with a tremendous amount of information and history. Would we do it again? Without a doubt!! Read Less

This wasn't our first river cruise. We did the Rhine last year. Both vacations were amazing, but the Rhine wasn't as popular/crowded (fewer ships). The Danube was high due to recent rainfall and bridge clearance was an issue. Avalon did a great job of working around difficult conditions. The quality of the shore excursions depend, in large part, on the local guides. Many of the guides were entertaining and knowledgeable but not all of them. 1. The food selection and preparation was excellent, but the dining room is noisy, particularly at dinner time. It's much easier to hear conversations from the center (bench) side of the tables. 2. We really enjoyed having time to explore Prague on our own. I think we over scheduled our time with guided tours throughout the trip. Some time to explore on your own ought to be welcomed. I think bus tours (e.g. Vienna) are worthless. A video on the TV would give you the same information and sense of the place. 3. Our guides for Prague were wonderful. Anna (classic) and Christian(Secrets of Prague) were outstanding. 4. The excursion to Terezin was outstanding. Don't miss it! 5. Our guide to Nuremberg was not wonderful (I'm being very kind). I regret wasting the time on the old city and missing the rally ground. On our last excursion of the cruise, I found evaluation/feedback forms for the guides. Be advised they exist and use them! 6. Regensburg is a delight. It wasn't bombed during WWII and it's old and beautiful... dating back to Roman times. Our guide was excellent and the city is beautiful. Enjoy! 7. We mostly missed Passau because of the high water (delays for bridge clearance issues). We had only an hour or so at Passau before we had to sail on. Most of the day was spent in Salzburg which was strikingly beautiful as was all of Austria. 8. The Melk Abbey and gardens are beautiful. Be forewarned that no photographs are allowed in the abbey. The Wachau Valley is spectacular. Bring a serious zoom (400mm) lens to photograph the vineyards, castles and churches. 9. Vienna is beautiful. The Royal Waltz Concert is not to be missed. It was amazing. However, the guided city tour is pretty weak. Too much of the tour is bussed. We did the food tour which was fun. 10. Budapest. Almost all of the city tour is bussed- covering both Buda and Pest. Only a few minutes are free for walking. It's the worst of the lot. (Traffic is heavy and the journey was slow.) The view from the castle is the best part of the city tour. We took the "Bites of Budapest" food tour in the afternoon. It was a significantly better exposure to the city. We traveled with friends and between the four of us we experienced eleven faulty receivers which meant we missed much of several tours. The guides ran out of spare receivers for walkers a few times. This was an ongoing and persistent problem with many passengers. All in all, it was a great (if not perfect) tour! I would do it again, but the rain and high water created a high density of tourists in the cities. I had the feeling the +90% of the pedestrians were riverboat tourists.... Read Less

We chose this cruise because my wife's family is from Germany and we've visited the western side already and wanted to see the Easter portion. Also we heard so much about Prague and that topped it off. Started in Prague for several nights and found the city as beautiful as our favorite, Paris. People so friendly! The hotel we stayed in was total luxury! We toured on our own from info gotten prior to our trip. As an art history instructor I found the Dresden, Wittenburg, etc.tours were outstanding. Berlin was disappointing as a city although the bus tour, especially noting WWII sites, was excellent. The total excursion was outstanding and everything we wished for and more. We highly recommend it to everyone who might find Eastern European history interesting. The boat was a smaller edition of the normal Viking boats but it was equal in space and luxury. We loved it. The cabin was the same excellent quality as was the service which is always outstanding! The food is like a 6 star level, if there ever was one!! I was even given a recipe for one dish that I expressed interest in and that is not a common occurrence. Everything involved with Viking seems organized down to the finest details and clearly designed to provide the traveler with the utmost experience, which they always have for us. This was our third Vikiing trip and we are already signed up for a fourth to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. I honestly can't think of any organization I would rather consider for it. One last thing which may not be significant to most individuals but both my wife and I travel with a C-pap for sleeping. Not only did Viking provide us with the distilled water necessary for use but rearranged our cabin specifically so we would have a place to put our machines. To me that is far beyond what is expected and why we would go with no other group. That is the mark of class and a top level organization. Read Less

Viking made the whole process easy and seamless from our arrival in Prague to our departure from Paris. The cruise director was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, entertaining--both fun and funny! The on-board service was outstanding throughout the ship. The reception desk staff went above and beyond to repair an item of my husband's that had been damaged in transit. And the dining room staff were very attentive and greeted us by name by the second day on-board. I enjoyed the itinerary which traversed 3 rivers through Germany as we went from Prague to Paris. The Middle Rhine is so scenic to cruise, with 35 castles dotting both sides of that stretch of the river. The view from the top deck was perfect, along with informative commentary and warm blankets to snuggle in against the chilly morning air! The included excursions were excellent, especially Bamburg, Cochem, and the not-to-be-missed Bishop's Residenz in Wurzburg. With one exception, the tour guides were fantastic (she was good, but a bit dry). Although the bus trip into Paris was long, the stop in Luxembourg City was a bonus, especially the American Cemetery, which is beautiful, historical, and very moving. Read Less

We chose the cruise because of the cities we were visiting and the brochure which spoke to some education regarding the history. The service was wonderful. Food was good but definitely not exceptional . I like the concept of have beverages available during the dinner and lunch. The lounge was very comfortable and the front deck, when the sun came out ,was fantastic. It was a bit cool during the first half of the cruise so the top deck was not available. That and the locks prevented the top deck from being open. For the most part, the ship was lovely and very well attended to. Due to the brochures prior to the trip I expected more discussion regarding the city and the surrounds to be visited next, prior to the each excursion. There were announcements each evening prior to dinner, however the dialog was very difficult to comprehend/understand due to linguistics etc.With the only information to come was from the tour guides and the crowds of the excursion it became impossible to keep together and hear clearly what the guide was saying. The connection upon arriving at the airport was great and very organized. However the announcements prior to the first excursion were unclear and consequently we missed the first one we paid for and got on the wrong shuttle bus. For the staff standing on the stairs in lobby of the hotel and shouting out "instructions for the next event it was impossible to comprehend instructions with large groups of people and poor organization in that instance. The departure in Paris was quite different - it was a real nightmare with not nearly enough help at the airport. Our flight was canceled so we were hustled to another flight, but left with little an to no assistance. We were delivered to a little room for assistance but had no idea why and little knowledge of how to get to our plain. As it was we almost missed our flight causing a great deal of stress in an unfamiliar airport and staff who kept telling us we had to wait in line for a wheel chair which we did not need. The staff had no idea why we were left in a room with one service person (who spoke little Eng) and waiting for help. Viking really missed the mark on this issue as it was way to close to being a disaster for my us as well as another couple who were in the same predicament. Often the excursions were not given enough information regarding the difficulty walking etc. Quite often we got half way into a tour and found out we would not be capable to completing (i.e the Castle and Trier) We got up to the castle and then were told that the climb would be far too difficult for my spouse, so we could do nothing but sit and wait for all to complete the tour. Read Less

I wanted to visit Prague and Berlin as well as Wittenberg...not disappointed. Great hotels, ship staff and food were excellent. Enjoyed included excursions, and my granddaughter was so excited to see this part of the world. Very pleased;l had travelled Viking previously, and am considering an ocean voyage with tthem next. Some wasted time awaiting transfer to ship in Prague and again on another transfer. Our cruise director (EVA) was excellent in every way. She was pleasant, professional, and was available and helpful!! Some confusion about drinks that were included, but no worries...wine was plentiful. Resaurants visited in various ports such as Potsdam and Berlin were very good. Both hotel stays were very good!! With the exception of one, all guides were superb!!! Very knowledgeable and friendly!!! Buses were comfortable and all excursions were timely. Sad to see/hear of danger of pickpockets!! An experience of that occurred at the airportt in Berlin....fortunately just an observer; I was lucky!!! Read Less

This was the first river cruise for both my wife and I. This was a honeymoon trip for us (in our mid-60's), and we could not have been more pleased. The basic package was a 10-day trip from Prague to Budapest. We added an extra day at each end, and that was a very wise decision. We really could have used more time in each of those two cities. The cruise staff at the hotel in Prague were very attentive and informative. We opted to book several of the shore excursions offered, and that really enhanced our trip. The The castle tour and and wine tasting in Melnk was a real treat. And the symphony in Vienna vastly exceeded my expectations. The Artistry II was wonderful, and our cabin was large (for a cruise ship) and very clean. The food on this ship was amazing! The plating for dinner meals was beautiful, and the food was all cooked to perfection. The complimentary beer and wine for lunch and dinner was a great bonus. We also really appreciated that our wine for dinner each evening reflected the region. Our wait staff was prompt and attentive, and got to know our preferences. Fortunately for us, the weather was perfect all throughout our vacation. All in all, this was our best vacation ever! Read Less

We choose the Elegant Elbe because of the cities we would see, the days before and after in Prague and Berlin, and also because we wanted to see this part of Europe. Since we had already had one Viking River Cruise, we knew we wanted to cruise with them again...our first trip, two years ago was also amazing. One of the best things about cruising with Viking are the friendships we made on the trip. The meals were delicious--loved the many choices, too. At mealtimes, there was plenty of time to get acquainted with others on the boat. It was nice not having seating assignments, and also having the choice of where to eat...we enjoyed having breakfast on the Acquivet Terrace and watching the scenery as we ate. The crew members on the ship were also very accommodating---everyone made sure that all we having a good, but safe time, too. Read Less

We chose this cruise as my grandmother was born in Prague. We liked the idea of a small ship with fewer passengers than an ocean cruise. Our first 2 days in Prague were exceptional with a wonderful walking tour with our guide Charlie. We then enjoyed plenty of time on our own to explore the city. Everything went smoothly from being met at the airport and transported to the hotel where Claudia Diederix our tour director met us and stayed with us through to Berlin. She was organized, knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor and made our time exceptional. The Beyla was a small ship. The cabins were small but efficient and comfortable. Janos, the hotel manager, was delightful with a wonderful sense of humor. The food was outstanding, something for all different palates, beautifully presented and plentiful. We enjoyed listening to Robert the piano player. The shore excursions (some tour guides were better than others) were very educational and we were happy to use the Quiet Vox so we did not miss anything said by the guide. All of the crew were outstanding and worked together like a well oiled machine. They worked tirelessly and made for a great cruise. We enjoyed getting to know them. We would recommend Viking River Cruises and hope to take another one. Read Less

We love Avalon Waterways, have had great experiences with their ships! Embarking and disembarking smooth as can be, love the way you can place your suitcase at end of cruise for early morning pickup and not midnight like big ships! 2 nights in Prague before boarding the ship was a good start. Cabins have plenty of room, love the full glass sliding doors with bed facing the doors. Dining room beautiful with terrific service, flowing wine, and many food choices at all meals! Great room with coffee/snacks available at back of ship all day. The staff and cruise director Tony on our cruise were exceptional! All ports and shore excursions were so well planned, afternoons at leisure to go off on your own, easy access on and off boat. If thinking about river cruising, don't wait any longer!! We really loved our trip and will definitely sail again with Avalon! Read Less

We chose this cruise as our third river experience, all with Viking, because we wanted another taste of reconstructed former Eastern Europe, and we were offered free air fare. We were in great hands from the moment we stepped off the plane until we waved goodbye to come home. The ship, one of Viking's smaller, made for an intimate and very personable voyage downstream to Martin Luther's Wittenberg, and the service was outstanding, from the captain to every member of the crew. The entertainment aboard as well as the excursions that included entertainment were varied and reflected the rich Czech, Bohemian, and German cultures along the Elbe. We enjoyed the days in Prague and the immersion in Berlin's Cold-War history. My only disappointment was the "Prague by Night" excursion -- I had been expecting a pub crawl as we had had in Cologne two years earlier, instead of the panoramic tour we received, seeing the lights of the city from several viewpoints. I certainly plan to cruise Viking again, probably somewhere in Europe. Read Less

I went with my mother who is in her 80s and we wanted to end up in her childhood home of Berlin, so the Viking Elbe cruise was perfect for us. This was a lovely way to travel in comfort, style and luxury! The food was absolutely phenomenal! Everything was taken care of and planned for us. We met so many wonderful people, some of whom we are still in touch with over a year later! It was relaxing and we saw more of the cities with Viking than we would have been able to do on our own. The excursions were well thought of and planned to perfection. The guides were all very knowledgeable and personable. We were provided maps and other information so we could do a lot on our own in the cities that we were docked at as well. We extended our stay in Berlin and it was a marvelous time and we have such great memories of our lovely vacation. Read Less

We are 55 and found ourselves one of the youngest travellers on the cruise. First experience with river cruise and we enjoyed it. The excursions included in the package are only about 2-3 hours maximum, so you have to explore more with your own plans or pay to join their optional tours. Best thing about Avalon river cruise is that all alcoholic drinks are included with meals, we started our breakfast with champagne. One suggestion is that there could be a richer choice of fruits, would be great if they can include berries, cherries, avocados etc. Also I was expecting they would add local fresh groceries but.....L'occitane toiletries were provided - Good...Bikes are provided so we went for bike rides around the city. The gym room is very small but considering the size of the boat, we couldn't complain, especially it is vacant all the time...I recommend the cruise to my friends. Read Less

We had already done and enjoyed two river cruises with Viking (the Danube; and the river Duoro). Both were extremely well organised. We wanted to see other parts of Europe and were attracted by the idea of the cruise on the river Elbe, starting with 2 days in Prague and concluding with 2 days in Berlin after disembarkation at Wittenberg. Everything about the cruise was excellent. Booking it was easy. The flights arranged by Viking to transport my wife and me from Glasgow Scotland to Prague, and then back to Glasgow from Berlin worked well. The reception and departure arrangements made by by Viking staff in Prague and Berlin were very efficient. The hotel accommodation in each of these cities was excellent. The city tours in Prague and Berlin were imaginative, very informative and very well conducted by extremely knowledgeable guides. The ship Viking Beyla, which we boarded at Decin was very comfortable. All members of the crew were extremely friendly, courteous, efficient and clearly knew and enjoyed their jobs. Our cabin was very comfortable and big enough for our requirements. The cabin staff were discrete and very pleasant. The cuisine was superb and the dining room staff were excellent. The on-board reception and departure procedures were very well organised; and the on-board entertainment events were a delight. We thoroughly enjoyed our shore excursions. They were well organised and the guides assigned to each group were again very knowledgeable. We learned a great deal about the history and the peoples and skills of each place we visited - at Rathen, Dresden, Meissen, Torgau and Wittenberg. Our transfer by coach from Wittenberg to Berlin with stops and tours at various places on the way (Potsdam, Sanssouci Park and others in between) was comfortable and well conducted by the guides. We learned a great deal. Our stay in Berlin was amazing. We had not been there since 1978 and apart from being permitted to drive through Check Point Charlie into East Berlin to see an Opera performance had never been anywhere else in that part of the city. It was so interesting to hear from our guides what life was like in East Berlin before the wall was breached and torn down. All the places that we were taken to in Berlin by Viking were well worth seeing and hearing about. Our expectations for the whole Prague, river Elbe river cruise and Berlin experience were fully met. We met wonderful people everywhere, both on board and on land. We learned a lot. We thank you all at Viking very much indeed for everything. Read Less

We selected Avalon because it offered a cruise through the Christmas Markets along the Danube. The ship was beautiful, our stateroom was spacious and lovely. The breakfast and lunch buffets offered many delicious selections, and the plated dinner options were varied and scrumptious. The onboard staff were excellent, from front desk to dining room, to housekeeping! Since the weather was cold, we were unable to enjoy the outdoor upper deck but that was too be expected. The busses provided for our excursions were prompt, and comfortable, and for the most part the tour guides were very good (we encountered just one who was not entertaining). My only "criticism" is that we were a bit rushed at one or two stops. We did not have much time to explore the Market at Nurnberg -- our first. At Melk -- where we had an amazing tour of the Abbey, we were rushed to return to the ship and had little time for their market even though it was small. Read Less

Enjoyed the cruise and crew were really great. Sebastian was informative and very helpful. The chef and servers were friendly, efficient, and would have nothing but great words for all of them. Always service with a smile and asking what could they get you or how could they help you. This was my second Viking River cruise - my first was to Russia Czar about six or so years ago. Tours and guides are always so informative - learn so much on the tours. And for two women traveling together you always feels safe. My travel companion has traveled on over 7 Viking River cruises. Liked the size of the ship and it was easy to make friends and recognize fellow travelers. Would certainly recommend Viking - in fact I've book another cruise February 25th out of Rome going to Barcelona. This will be my first ocean cruise with Viking. Read Less

Friends had told us that Prague was a must see city, and we had always wanted to visit Berlin. The Elegant Elbe seemed a perfect way to combine a history lesson and our desire to leisurely travel. The Astrild was a very new ship and with a maximum capacity of 99 (we only had 79)- was just what we were looking for. Travelling through what had been East Germany and learning through the shore excursions and the enhancement discussions when locals came on board was very rewarding. We are not big "entertainment fans" but the local cultural activities were well done. Our favourite memories are of our Program Director Vikki who was with us on both extensions in Prague and Berlin, she provided great insight to both cities and on our daily excursions. Vikki took pictures of us on our outings - so we have a great USB key of not only the sites we visited but of some of the folks we were travelling with. I also have to give a shout out to Chef Bobby who provided an excellent bill of fare, and willingly made custom breakfast omelettes to set the stage for day. We are happily repeat Viking customers and can hardly wait for our next trip France's Finest. Read Less

We wanted to go to places on this cruise. We were also intrigued by the smaller ship. We could not have been more pleased. This is my third river cruise and my favorite favorite. We were able to get too know more of the people. People did not seem to stay in the same group the entire cruise but mingled with others people. The crew was very visible and could not have been nicer. The program director was great! I would recommend this cruise to everyone. The places were delightful. We had a mix of larger and smaller cities. The cruise ship is decorated beautifully. When there was a task to be done such as taking our luggage off, the entire crew pitched in, including the captain and everyone. The golf hole on the top deck was a good distraction. We were scheduled for the Viking Beyla but it had been used on the other end of the river because the Astrid could not sail because of the depth of the water,. The entertainment was excellent and appropriate for the places we visited,. Read Less

This was our first cruise of any kind, although we are experienced travelers. It was nice to turn all of the logistics over to Viking, and we would trust them with another vacation, based on our experience. We liked the small scale of the the boat at 170 passengers. Walking tours in our ports of call were the heart of the trip. We usually divided into groups of 10-15 for each guide. Our local guides ranged from good to excellent. Service and food on board were very good. Our room was small, but well designed and practical even for a large tall person like me. There were a variety of common spaces, all of which were comfortable and relaxing. Everything on the boat is well designed, attractive, and clean. We were seldom in our cabin except to sleep. Access to outdoor decks was sometimes limited by cool weather and low bridges. Onboard entertainment and activities were good, if low key; but that's not the focus of a river cruise. We appreciated the briefings every evening that prepared us for the following day's activities. Viking staff make sure that you have everything that you need plus some nice touches. The itinerary of this cruise included two long legs by bus: Prague to Bamberg and Trier to Paris. Those days were acceptable but not our favorites. The payoff was the opportunity to visit two wonderful cosmopolitan cities on one trip. Hotel accommodations in Prague and Paris were very good and provided easy access to scenic and historic areas of the cities. Those cities provided a nice balance to the smaller cities and villages along the river route following the Main, Rhine, and Mosel. We slipped past Frankfurt at night. We added a couple of optional excursions, but you could have a great trip with only what's included in the basic package. Our only glitch was a missed flight connection in Dallas/Fort Worth on our return trip. American Airlines boarding procedures were chaotic and the layout of the customs area in DFW is difficult. You have to clear customs and then go back through TSA security to reach your domestic flight. We'll allow more time next trip. Read Less