Smooth pick-up at Munich airport and transfer to hotel in Nuremburg as we couldn't board until around 5pm. We received a warm welcome and we were delighted with our cabin - Panoramic Balcony Suite - comfortable, plenty of storage spaces - compact but up to the standard of a 4 star hotel The food was excellent - from the great range of breakfast choices through to the 4 course dinner menus. Always plenty of choices and found the "Chef's Favourites" for dinner was usually a good choice. Whether you wanted a continental style breakfast, or hot breakfast, there was a great deal of choice and self-service was easy. Lunch had a variety of choices which changed every day, usually including speciality dishes from the region. Best to do a complete circuit of the lunch table first to see all the offerings, before deciding what to choose. The four course dinners always had plenty of choices and the seating of 2, 4 or 6 meant that you could choose how many to sit with and offered a great opportunity to meet other people and strike up new friendships. The shore excursions were always well organised and the local guides and the "Quiet Voice" units meant that you could really see and understand all the interesting parts of the tours. Also a good balance between guided tours and free-time meant that you can also explore on your own. The service was excellent, everybody, including the Cruise Director (Wes), Head Chef, waiters, bar staff, cabin stewards were polite, helpful and professional. I liked the well-organised aspect of the cruise - at all times, we could relax and enjoy the cruise as all the staff worked hard to keep everything running smoothly and ensuring that you had an enjoyable time. This was our first river cruise and we will definitely be booking again with Emerald Waterways (just can't decide where to go next!) Read Less

This was our first river cruise and understood Viking was a top provider. BUT, we were very disappointed. The crew/staff were excellent, but after that things fell down. Getting a balcony is a waste of money as many times we were moored next to another Viking ship's balcony which was just 2 feet away. No view or privacy! Breakfast was fine but other meals were poor. It became the joke many times to see what was served compared to what was ordered. Many times when we docked at a town we then had to be bussed. We were not able to simply get off the ship and walk around. A couple times we docked in industrial areas. On included tours guides were friendly and knowledgeable, but we were always rushed. Numerous times we had to move along as there was a group behind us. No time for questions (later) and photos. A typical tour was bussing, see a cathedral/palace/castle listen to some history/stories & then some free time. When you combine the amount of ships of Viking & it's competitors, tours become a herd! For the price do not recommend Viking. Will not use again. Viking may have been a class outfit, but possibly have lost control with expansion. Deep research needed for any river cruise. Have taken over a dozen land trips with success, but our ages require a more leisurely experience. Read Less

This cruise had a great variety of large cities and small towns and 4 countries to visit. The High speed train ride to Paris was what clinched it for me. The cruise went like clockwork. Avalon took care of everything. Our cruise director Mark was superb. He was extremely thorough, smart, and had great sense of humor. He is also fluent in 6 different languages. The crew was mostly young. They all worked very hard and we enjoyed getting to know them a little bit. The ship was "just right" in size and scale. We had 85 passengers and 40 crew. This created a very intimate and comfortable environment. The total opposite of the monster cruise ships with 3,000+ passengers on board. The excursions were well thought out and went like clockwork. We would highly recommend Avalon to anyone that asks me for a cruise line. A river cruise is definitely the way to see Europe. Read Less

We were disappointed with our late April, 2018, Danube cruise and would not recommend Viking to others. First "problem": we paid more for a Veranda room with an outside deck and found that Viking has SO MANY boats traveling the Danube, at the same time, that it STACKS its boats when it docks, side by side, leaving us with "a view" of ANOTHER Viking boat's outside deck one foot away from OUR outside deck, at EVERY docking. Secondly, our boat "cruised" in daylight hours, where one can see the sights, only ONE DAY, along the Wachau Valley. It was "in port", docked, during other daylight times. Thirdly, all of Viking's "docking locations" are a LONG walk, along a narrow passageway, to GET TO a street and access where one can catch a cab or other transportation in order to "independently see/tour a town" on one's own time, for which Viking provide sufficient time. Finally, our "Tour Director", and a few other staff members, noticeably and continuously outwardly displayed a "very overpowering/aggressive/obtrusive so-called friendliness" in their attitudes, talks, and personalities. Informally, I think of that as their "coming on" WAY too strong, to the point of making the trip "uncomfortable". Also, Viking's excursion leaders were, generally, not very good. These negatives far outweighed the ship's cleanliness and good food/meals provided, and made it a trip I wish I had NOT paid for, and made. I would NOT make the mistake of making a Viking river boat trip in the future. We have travelled with two OTHER river boat companies in other areas of the world, and BOTH those trips were MUCH more enjoyable. Read Less

This was our third Scenic river cruise. All have been great but this one was the best. Great boat, friendly crew, fantastic food and excellent day tours. Portuguese food and wine is superb, and the cruise focus on local dishes, ingredients and wines was well placed. At each daily brief the chef and tour director highlighted that night’s recommended local dish and wines. As always with Scenic there was lots of choice on the menu, but the local dishes were our favourites. We had a little trouble with high water given the heavy rains before we arrived and were required by the Portuguese authorities to dock at unplanned locations. But Scenic did a great job of keeping us informed, arranging for day trips when we were docked unexpectedly, and making sure everyone got to the airport to get on to their next destination. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who likes history, food and wine. Read Less

A friend we were traveling with found Scenic and we just took his recommendation. The ship was excellent and the crew were superb. The only disappointment was our butler, who did very little and for the the odd time that we asked for something he still didn't come through. Otherwise, the entire experience was excellent. The shore excursions were very well organized and we were very pleased that all the gratuities were included. The motor-assisted bicycles were also a great amenity. We used two of them on one occasion and thoroughly enjoyed them. They were also very easy to learn to use. The meals were outstanding and the chef took great pride in his craft. The selection of wines was mediocre but sufficient. The bar selection was likewise very good and the bar staff carried the torch for service excellence. Overall, we had good value for our money and will likely cruise with Scenic again. Read Less

We loved every aspect of the cruise. The service and attention to our every need as top priority for the crew. Once they knew what we wanted, we never had to ask for something again. It was always there for us without asking. The excursions were fun and enlightening, helping us to experience the culture of the communities we visited. The food was top quality. We particularly enjoyed La Rive with the white glove service. What we really liked is that everything was included. We didn't have to pay for excursions. The only costs for us were the souvenirs we purchased. The room was large and we loved being able to lower the windows in the balcony. Scenic had special cultural events only available to Scenic passengers that were very high caliber. From an Oktoberfest to Medieval banquet, to a symphony performance, we were always entertained. They managed the logistics perfectly. We often arrived at our ports early which gave us more time to enjoy our destinations. Read Less

This cruise, "Melodies of the Danube", was chosen by our travel agent. Upon entering the AmaCerto, we were so impressed by the elegance of the foyer and the lounge. The cabin was well-appointed with adequate space for clothing storage. Even though this cabin was not a suite, we had two balconies. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom very adequate with a great shower, and the entire cabin was scrupulously maintained by the Amacerto housekeeping staff. The cruise manager, Nikola Grujin, was fantastic! Humorous and exceedingly helpful. Nikola was there for all of us in planning the trips to care of an injured passenger. Due to no fault of the Ship's crew, a passenger hurt her finger. All this is to say that Nikola accompanied the injured guest to Vienna hospital. Message to us: Ama Waterways staff will go the extra mile in the care of its passengers. Food & Drink: For all three meals, passengers can choose from the abundant buffet, or order from the menu. One of our friends ate vegetarian; a special elegant breakfast, lunch, and dinner was served to her. This was a wine-tasting cruise with Dr. Doug Garman, wine expert, that gave special lectures and wine tastings for all passengers. Touring & Entertainment: The guides were very well informed supplied by the local population. Choice of gentle to vigorous touring were offered. Opportunities for biking trips were for the younger folks. Since we are an elderly couple, we chose the more moderate excursions. Our favorite entertainment was a special concert of Mozart and Strauss at the beautiful Vienna Konzerthaus. We were entertained by Wiener Hofburg-Orchestra under the direction of Svetoslav Borisov; operatic solos and duets by soprano Ella Tyran and baritone, Michael Havlicek. Classical ballet pieces and Vienna folk dances were also included in the program. Every evening hours: beautiful music was provided by pianist, Gabor. A special onboard musical vocal duet of Vienna music was delightful. Even an Octoberfest beer celebration was provided by the local population. Disembarkation was professionally accomplished. All passengers were carefully delivered to the Munich airport. I cannot believe any other longship river cruise could offer a passenger more enjoyment. Don't miss a fabulous opportunity for a river cruise. Select Ama Waterways to be guaranteed fabulous experience. Read Less

We were invited by dear friends and had never been on a river cruise before and really had no expectations. Without reservation the experience for both my husband and I was wonderful - The adventures from Budapest through Prague were incredible not only from a historic perspective but from a cultural one also. The cruise was most appropriate for us in that it balanced relaxation with historic touring ( we can still picture both of us sitting on the top deck and viewing the magnificent bridges and churches in Budapest and viewing the vastness and beauty as we traveled along the Danube) . We took advantage of the walking tours offered by Emerald Star which were lead by the most informative tour guides and extended our experience by attending an optional tour to the Opera House where we attended a Viennese concert with music from Mozart and Strauss - an awesome night!! Wish we had an extra day in Vienna - loved the enchanting village of Durnstein - my handmade Christmas ornament will be front and center on the tree this year. The accommodations and service on the Emerald Star were outstanding - While we weren't big fans of the two buffets they had the meals were excellent with attention to details. Amazed at how efficient the staff was - kudos to the chef - Cannot say enough about the staff - professional and courteous - attentive but not overbearing - looked forward to seeing them each day ( especially Sasha) - the crew presented a "show" one night which we are still talking about - I recorded the "happy birthday" song they sang to celebrate someone's birthday at dinner - will play it now that we are home as it brings a smile to our faces. Accommodations were perfect for us - room well appointed - very clean - beds and pillows very comfortable. Glad we had the "balcony" which gave us more space and viewing opportunities. Arrival and Departures very organized and orchestrated. It was obvious that we were in good hands with Bolash. Great Experience - Thank you dear friends for the invitation and thank you Emerald Star!! Read Less

We were invited to join friends on this cruise and are so glad we did. Our cabin was on the lower deck (230) and was very comfortable. It was above the water level and had a full picture window, unlike the standard cabins on the Rhine and Danube. No complaints at all. The food was excellent as was some of the local Russian wine. Our somewhat complex travel arrangements were expertly handled by the Viking travel desk. The only negative was that two of my flights in Europe were booked in basic economy class so I got hit with two unexpected baggage charges, but when I complained to Viking they refunded the amount of the charges. You can see photos and some background on our cruise at tsarwaterways.shutterfly.com but here are some additional comments. Our cruise began in St. Petersburg and ended in Moscow - I think that's probably the best direction to do it. We had spent two days in St. Petersburg in 2009 and were happy to repeat some experiences and add new ones. Repeat visits to Catherine Palace and Peterhof were excellent and I would highly recommend visiting these places. The canal cruise was most enjoyable and really showed how St. Petersburg was designed and built around the canals - an appreciation one doesn't get from driving around. An evening at the ballet was most enjoyable even though the performance wasn't by the Mariinsky as they were on tour for the summer. The folkloric show was totally geared to tourists but good fun and well done. The middle section of the cruise on the waterways took us through remote countryside. Because of this, most of the excursions required a bus ride to get to the site of interest and in some cases the amount of time to explore was less than one wanted. However, the quality of the guides was very good. Three (Russian) Viking guides accompanied the cruise from beginning to end and they were excellent in explaining the historical and cultural background to what we were seeing as well as in general organization (including locating one traveler who got lost in Moscow!). Yes, one sees a lot of churches but their beauty is outstanding. Despite the distance from towns of any size, the ship was adequately provisioned with fresh and plentiful food and even fresh flowers every day. We opted for the extension in Moscow and easily filled the extra days: there is so much to see. After being shown the ropes we became quite adept at traveling on the metro. It's really not that difficult, though it helps if you have learned the Russian alphabet (there are a few lessons on that on board the ship). While we didn't speak any Russian, I was glad I had taught myself the alphabet and a few words in advance. Most of the museums we visited had some English language displays and audio guides in English. The hotel in Moscow, the old Soviet Ukraina, was great: luxurious and centrally located. One thing that was different from our previous Viking river cruises was that we had to select most excursions before departure and many of them involved an additional charge. I imagine this is because the logistics of running such excursions is so much more complex in Russia. The main negative on this cruise, which is out of Viking's control, is that the ships have to dock far out of the center of St. Petersburg and Moscow so getting into the city involved a bus or metro ride. All in all, the few negatives were minor while the positives were huge and I have no hesitation in recommending this cruise. Read Less

Went on our first river cruise after many Cruise ship trips. We selected scenic since they advertise a fully inclusive experience. With the exception of our massages EVERYTHING was included except that we arranged our own air and pre hotel. We arrived a few days early in Amsterdam. When we arrived at the ship, we were checked in immediately and they greeted us as they removed our luggage from our taxi and delivered them directly to our cabin. The ship was clean and decorated very nicely. Our cabin was larger than we had on cruise ships with plenty of space for all our clothes and stuff. We had a balcony room that allowed extra seating as well. All rooms were assigned a "butler" to get anything we needed in addition to the room steward. From room service to morning or afternoon coffee/tea all was available. The min bar was refilled daily with anything we requested. Again all included. Each port had multiple excursion available all included. They ranged from hiking and using the on board bikes to trips for the easy walkers. The average age was 65 and 95% of the cruisers were active. Some cruisers were in their 40’s and the majority 50s and 60s. There were private concerts at different venues in port as well as local performances on board. The daily port talks were informative and allowed us to select which level of excursion we wanted in the following ports. The dining room had plenty of space and the food was tasty and the presentation was eye appealing. They were more than happy to cater to any special dietary needs. Daily they offered the daily special, Healthy alternative, Vegetarian meals . If you had any other special requests they were more than happy to accommodate if possible. In addition room service was available as well as the river café for lighter foods. Our cruise director Cathy was always there to make sure everything was perfect. If there were any complaints she was on top of everything to make sure it got corrected quickly. This is an Australian based company so the majority of passengers were from there which only enhanced our travel experience as Americans. We would definitely go on another river cruise with Scenic again Read Less

We were on a large group (wine club) cruise from California. The lack of quality excursions was disappointing. The cruise takes place in the heart of the French wine region yet there were little to no wine related excursions offered. Since we were in multiple towns, in multiple AVA's, there should have been many half and full day excursions offered. I had to search and plan our own trips myself, including drivers to take us to wineries we were interested in visiting. I believe very little effort would be required by Emerald Waterways in securing such excursions. The dining experience on board the Emerald Liberte was just so-so. Breakfast was the same day after day with the only thing changing was the flavor of the yoghurt and the pastries. Lunch was poor with what seemed to be prepared from canned or frozen foods. Meat and gravy, fish, vegetables that didn't seem fresh, and pasta that was flavorless. There were no lunchmeats or cheeses to make a sandwich with. Dinner had good presentation but everything else was lacking. The meat was a poor cut and was tough. The vegetables were fresh, as the chef was seen shopping in town most days, but they were just steamed with no effort to enhance the flavors. We were in France for God sake, at least have some sort of French cuisine. I can get American food everyday of the year at home. Our only true French cuisine was the night we went into town on our own. The ship was wonderful and the staff was excellent, very helpful with any questions we had and were very personable with everyone. The towns were well chosen with a lot of history represented in each. Would I go again? I would really have to consider that with the food being a large part of any cruise. Read Less

We had been on a river cruise before with another company and very much enjoyed this kind of experience which you cannot get on an ocean cruise. We were not disappointed this time around. From the shuttle service which took us to the airport from a hotel in Paris (only four of us in the bus!), we knew we were in the hands of a company that was intent on providing first class service. The food was divine - for lovers of seafood this cruise is a paradise! Snails, mussels, and oysters on the last day! - the wine flowed freely, the staff were super-hospitable and attentive, the shore excursions were well-organized with several options for each venue depending on interest and the level of fitness of the travelers. The cruise director, Helene, is perhaps the greatest asset of this ship, so effervescent, funny and enthusiastic, that I don't think there was a soul on ship who didn't fall in love with her! Add to that the unique pleasure of a river cruise, where you can relax and appreciate the beauty of the scenery along the way and where the small number of passsengers - we were less than 100, I believe - creates a more friendly and intimate atmosphere which enables you to make friends more easily. And of course the beauty of Normandy and of Paris, for those like us who decided to extend our trip by a few days. I cannot think of anything negative to say about this cruise other than the fact it was over too soon! We will definitely go with AMA Waterways on more river cruises, perhaps next time to Vietnam and Cambodia. Read Less

We wanted a type of holiday that we hadn't tried before and didn't involve any type of sea cruise (prone to sea sickness) or long air flights. We also wanted a trip that gave us the option of joining in with day trips to interesting places or just staying on board and relaxing. The cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest certainly did that. The ship is big enough to navigate the rivers and locks yet with only 158 passengers on board, it never once felt crowded. In fact, often the opposite was true. We booked direct with Scenic and were treated to luxury, limousine transfers direct from home to the airport and from the airport to the ship, and the same on return. The daily excursions were to really interesting places, albeit we did take a day off a couple of times to rest because they can be a bit full on!! The ship I will review in the ratings below, but suffice to say it was fantastic. All of the facilities were spotlessly clean, the food was a really good standard and plentiful. The service was superb (big thanks to Branislav and Ricardo...) and it was all superbly coordinated by the Captain and the Cruise Director. A couple of tips though for future passengers. The Scenic paperwork does suggest jackets and ties for the gents as potential evening wear. I wore my jacket (but not tie) twice. Once to the Portobello dinner and once to the concert in Vienna. Hardly any of the passengers wore jackets and ties, and I was in the minority on the occasions I did were mine. There is also some wording in the Scenic literature about them only being responsible for one piece of luggage per person (or words that effect). We clearly didn't read that correctly because we could have used the new cases we bought to be used as carry on luggage on the plane. There was certainly plenty of storage under the bed for the cases during the cruise. All in all though, a fantastic trip and one to be repeated hopefully in the future. Read Less

We chose this because of my sister and I had never experienced the Danube and we stopped in Vienna and Budapest. The river cruise was much better than we anticipated. All of the crew were just wonderful. Deb was always on top of everything and she helped in so many ways. My sister and I both loved Deb. The cabin was beautiful and always kept clean and tidy by the cabin attendant. The entertainment and piano was spectacular. Vienna was undoubtably more than we expected. The extra special excursion to the Vienna Opera and Vienna City Orchestra was something we will never forget. I never wanted the performance to end! We had a wonderful vacation and one will never forget. This was our second Viking River Cruise. The first cruise was on the Rhine and was also memorable but with a different itinerary. Thank you Viking and a special thank you to the host, Debra Read Less

One of my friends and I have been talking about taking a river cruise for years. Let's face it - those Viking commercials are very inviting. Now that my three kids are grown, in the spring of 2016 we decided now was the time to start planning. I first sent for brochures from several river cruise companies to compare intineraries etc. My friend and I have both travelled to Europe previously and wanted to go someplace new so we chose to take a Danube river cruise. I then met with a local travel agent who specificalizes in river cruises. She steered me away from Viking and helped me narrow our choices to AMA or Avalon. When she quoted out the price it was much higher than we had anticipated so we chose to watch and wait. By the fall of 2016 Avalon came out with a great sale - $1000 off per person + free air. That seemed too good to be true. I called the travel agent and we were booked within a few days! We ended up choosing this itinerary since it was short and we did not know if we would like river cruising. About a week after we booked my 27 year old daughter decided she wanted to go with us. She was able to get the single supplement waived and she booked as well. She could not get the single supplement waiver and free air but she was able to book on the same flights we were on so we could fly together. We all absolutely loved this cruise!! Everything about it was wonderful. It was a nice mix of small towns and big cities. We added a few days to the end of cruise and took the train to Budapest. We wished we had chosen a longer intinerary that included Budapest so we could stay on the ship. The ship: Our ship was the Avalon Passion. This was a new ship in 2016 and it was beautiful. Everything was sparkling clean and very tastefully decorated. The ship was actually much longer than I had anticipated. The rooms were spacious and that wall of windows was in the room was just awesome. We loved waking up in the morning and looking out at the river going by. The lounges, sky deck and dining room were equally beautiful. The age of passengers: Our sailing had a mix of American, Canadian, British, Australians, New Zealanders, one mom/daughter from India and two young ladies from Korea. I had expected mostly retirement age passangers but that was not the case at all. There was a real mix of 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s on up. I am in my early 50s and I felt like one of the older people on the cruise. There were quite a few mother/daughter pairs and several groups of younger women traveling together. We had a wonderful time chatting with everyone and hearing about everyone's travel experiences. Crew: I cannot say enough about how attentive and friendly the crew was. They went above and beyond on a daily basis. Our cruise director was Andrej (sp?). He was awesome. He was a kind person with a quirky sense of humor. His nightly port talks were always informative and entertaining at the same time. We added three days at the end of cruise and travelled on our own to Budapest. He gave us a Budapest map and recommended some sights and restaturants for us to see during our time there. So nice of him! Our server at dinner was Liza from the Phillipines. We sat in her section most meals since she was so nice and friendly. She got to know what we liked and we looked forward to seeing her at every meal. Valentin was the person who cleaned our room daily. He always had a smile on his face and left us a wonderful towel animal on our last day. Food: My friend and my daughter are both vegetarians and I am a "meat and potatoes" kind of person so it is not easy to find meals we all like. Avalon started their Avalon Fresh menu offerings in 2017 offereing enhanced menu options for vegetarians which sounded like a good fit for our group. Each one of us ended up loving the food!! It was so nice to have a floating restaurant with awesome food each day instead of searching around for a restaurant in each city. Breakfast and lunch were buffet with loads of choices. We loved the Belgian waffles and made to order omelets at breakfast. We loved all the desserts too. Dinner had several choices and none of us had any problem finding something we liked. We tried different wines each night and Liza just kept filling our glasses. In addition to the meals every day about 4pm was cake time with several different cakes to try. And...on the third floor was a lounge with cookies and cakes all day long. I have to admit - we visited the "cookie room" on more than one night about 11pm. Entertainment: We came on this cruise to sightsee at the various cities and were not expecing much in the way of entertainment. We did end up taking part in some of the nightly entertainment and it was really nice. Every night there was a piano player playing which was nice if you wanted to grab a drink or dance a little. One night there was a wine tasting demonstration which was perfect since we were sailing through the Wachau Valley past numerous vineyards. One night we had a singer/guitar player who played a mix of country and oldies. He was quite good and the dance floor was full for most of the night. The Australians were a bit rowdier than the rest of us and frankly made it so much more fun. I cannot think of anything I would change from this cruise. I can't wait to take another Avalon cruise. I am hooked! Read Less

We did a Rhine River Cruise on the AMACerto in May of 2016 and loved it. We booked this longer cruise soon after. The 2016 cruise was all on the Rhine and only 7 days. This one was on the Rhine, Maine and Danube, 14 days. We requested that the same Cruise Manager be assigned to our cruise and she was! AMA crews are the best. Everyone without exception is dedicated to making sure you have the best possible time. Cruise Manager Martina Valachova makes everything always the best. As she admits, she always says that, but, "This time I really mean it!" Captain Vlad, Hotel Manager Daniel, Purser Cristine, Reception host Adam, Matre'd Alin, and all the servers and operational crew always went out of their way to meet every need. We had the same suite that we had in 2016, but there were some upgrades: free laundry (only in the suites, but fees for others are very reasonable), personal butler (again only for suites). People in the other cabins were uniformly pleased with their accommodations, too. As usual, way too much great food and beer and wine included at lunch and dinner. One seating and open seating, so you can find a private place or sit with 8 or 10 other passengers. And vary it as you feel like it at the time. Maximum of 164 passengers and we only had 133. So it is never crowded. We didn't do all of the entertainment, but the several we did attend were terrific. The entertainers all come from the area we are in at the time. They hop on and off at the nearest locks or piers if in town. The shore excursions are mostly included, but their are several optional ones that you can sign up for for an extra fee if you want to. The included ones are all led by local guides who are pros at it! If you have never taken a river cruise or never on an AMA ship, do it at the next opportunity. Only one thing, these are not oriented toward families. There is very little for young kids to do. But for adults who want to see and learn about some part of the world, a river cruise can't be beat. Read Less

AMAWaterways provided the perfect experience for us and our friends to enjoy a vacation in Europe together! We were 4 couples from all over the US. We wanted time to visit and party together but also have time to persue our own interests. Personally, this was our third AMAWaterways River Cruise in two years. We have enjoyed the Seine and the Mosel, Rhine and Main previously. The "floating hotel"/ship was fantastic. Our room was comfortable and spotless. The food was award-winning and always delicious. We seemed to eat continuously. The crew was superb, friendly and culturally diverse. The excursions were delightful! They thought of everything, thank goodness!! The local guides were top notch. Entertainment on board included an in-house musician who played the piano beautifully. Local entertainers were quality vocalists, musicians, and folk dancers. Fun, fun, fun!! The only problem any of us could think of was it was just 7 days long. Read Less

For a trip of a lifetime it was far beyond anything we could have expected. The boat...amazing. No sway, very luxurious. The roooms were bigger than we thought they would be. And we had a room next to our friends so sitting out on our veranda at nite was great. The food, WOW. I've eaten at alot of high end restaurants and the food on the ship was the best I've ever had, every night surprisingly it got better, even though I thought the food was the best I've ever tasted that nite. Thanks Chef Bobby. The staff was incredible. We mostly had Adrian and Krista look after us and they spoiled us rotten, we didn't want to leave the ship. the excursions were out of this world, I had black forest cake in the black forest WOOO! Just the history you experience makes you feel like your in a great dream that you don't want to end. We started out with four people in our group and by the end we had 17 people with us for dinner each nite. Great bunch of people. Gigi the lounge pianist was incredible. We interacted with him every nite and he took requests and even learned a song for someone in our group. We love you Gigi. He had as must fun as we did. We talked to just about everyone on the ship asking them where they were from and about their lives. Incredible bunch of people. I think they liked us too because one nite the Chef and the Captain came out and partied and danced with us in the lounge to the amazement of the servers haha. It was like one big happy bunch of friends, our gang and the crew. We booked our flight through Viking so we had everything taken care of from the time we landed until the time we left. We didn't have to worry about anything they had it all under control. What a load off that is. We got the silver package which lets you choose spirits, wine and beer off a high end list of alcohols. They give you wine or beer with lunch and dinner but you get a separate upscale menu for drinks if you have the silver package. That made our trip as well, because it let you try some of the finer alcohol with the food you were eating, and Krista was very knowledgeable about pairings and would recommend us to try this or that with certain foods. It ups the quality of your meals 10 fold and you have the added bonus of not having to sing for anything. Once we said we had the silver package Krista said she would take care of what ever we needed. And she did. Ivan the bartender was also amazing. We wanted to have mamosas on our balcony while cruising the Rhine at night and Ivan put a bottle of champagne, a bottle of orange juice and 4 glasses for us and our friends and walked it to our room for us. The excursions were so organized and timed our perfectly with one exception at one castle. there wasn't enough time to shop afterwards so it was really rushed. Everyone made them aware of that and all the future trips should have more time. All the other excursions were relaxed and their lollipop system for hearing the guide worked really well. The bus drivers were amazing drivers, and very professional. Top notch from start to end. Even though it's an expensive trip both my wife and I felt like we got our moneys worth and more. My wife said I have to end before I write a book lol. the best ship (Hlin) the best food the best crew the best excursions = the best trip ever Thank you Viking Read Less

They met us at the airport, led us to the bus taking us to the port. We had not one minute to worry about anything. The ship was clean, the food was good, and the staff were wonderful. From the Captain, Hotel Director, Cruise Director to the kitchen staff--they were wonderful. They met every request with a smile. Our cabin was always and promptly cleaned. We enjoyed all the shore excursions. In fact, most days we did both morning and afternoon tours. The end of the tour, they got us to their staff at the airport, and the staff walked us wherever we needed to go and offered to stay with us through each step. We came home happy and relaxed--like you should be after a vacation. Would we go again? You bet. We are already looking at other Ama cruises and are excited to find many places we'd like to see. Read Less

My husband gave me this cruise as a Xmas gift. What a gift!!!!! We went on Danube cruise from 4/1 to 4-8. It was awesome, fantastic, outstanding cruise. Everything was perfect. The cities we visited were lovely, fellow passengers were friendly, staff was outstanding, meals were delicious, guides on excursions were great, loved the daily excursions. The views from our stateroom were absolutely incredible. Staff were friendly and very professional. Communication was very good. Daily verbal briefings about excursions supplemented by daily newsletter. Viking knows how to do cruises right. Transportation to and from ship went very smoothly and we even were docked overnight from city of origin of cruise which is great in case your flight is delayed. I have been on ocean cruises previously which were great but I found the river cruise to e much more to my liking although I would have liked a gym and on board ship but no room for these. Read Less

We booked a pre-extension excursion in Lake Luzern prior to our Rhine River trip. The Palace Hotel was beautiful. We had a view of the Lake from our room. Transfers from Airport/Hotel/Ship were so easy! Please allow Viking staff to do this.....you will be well cared for. Embarkation was easy and smooth. Cabin was well appointed with everything you need. I LOVE the heated bathroom floors...so nice! The housekeeping staff work SO hard and do a great job. All the ships' service staff are amazing....thank you Hemët!!! Chef Peter cut herbs from the Decktop Roof Herb Garden for our meals everyday. Everything is so fresh and tasty. Wine selections were subperb. Special guest performers at night were unbelievable. Don't miss these lounge activities in the evening following dinner. They really add to the cruise experience. All included excursions are above and beyond what you would expect. Beautiful Viking Buses transport you to locations of interest and there is plenty of time to view all the special sights. You never feel rushed. Local guides are so knowledgeable. If you get a chance, please take the Colmar WWII excursion with JOSEPH! He makes you feel like you were there. We had Dinner in Rudësheim at a wonderful restaurant with a great German Band. Food was excellent and the entertainment was so much fun. While all the excursions are great, this is where Viking goes over and beyond.....our traveling friends' father was deeply involved in capturing the Bridge at Remagen during the war. We cruised by the remains of the bridge at 5:00am and the Mani Captain put a spotlight on the Bridge as we sailed by in the dark so we could "toast" to Benny and Bernie, the two Army soldiers who held the bridge for the 1st Army! How wonderful is that? Program Director, George, makes traveling fun and easy. We don't know how he is able to watch over all the excursions, keep track of the buses and make sure we enjoy EVERY day onboard......but he does. Our final day is always hectic for travelers, but not so with the staff. Transfers to the airport are so well organized and they make sure you get to where you need to be. I left my phone onboard Read Less

My husband and I chose the Uniworld cruise, Tulips and Windmills, because we wanted to travel in early spring. It was a wonderful experience. We have traveled extensively for over thirty years and, at the conclusion of this trip, my husband stated that he thought this was the best vacation we had ever taken! The food (presentation and taste) and the friendliness and caring attitude of the crew were excellent. Very informative programs were given on-board about Holland and Belgium. Shore excursion guides were knowledgeable. Overall impression was one of competent organization, friendliness, and helpfulness. I loved the fact that the cruise was all-inclusive (i.e. on-shore excursions, gratuities and alcohol). Bottom line: I did not want to get off the ship at the conclusion of the cruise, which is very unusual for me. I usually am more than ready to get home! We look forward to booking another Uniworld cruise next year. We would not travel with another river cruise company. Read Less

This was my first time traveling alone. I chose UniWorld because I wanted to be taken care of and they did not disappoint. There were other solo travelers because UniWorld offers single supplement waiver. But even the couples were open and welcoming. I liked the fact that guests were from several English-speaking countries. At first I hung out with New Zealanders, then partied with the Australians. I flew into Marseilles. UniWorld supplied me with easy-to-follow instructions to call the hotel shuttle that promptly picked me up at the airport and took me to the hotel. The next morning a van picked me up along with some other guests and brought us to the ship. We got to know each other during the drive. They take your photo when you check in and by the second day they know your name. On my cruise there were 56 crew for 88 passengers. In the lounge they knew what I liked to drink and it was in front of me without having to ask. The only "complaint" is that it was easier to get a glass of wine than an iced tea. The liquor flowed freely making for a very friendly atmosphere. I loved the food onboard. Breakfast and lunch are buffets. The scrambled eggs on the buffet were the best I've ever had. I don't know what they do to them but they are a must eat. The eggs Benedict was also good. At lunch I looked forward to the French cheeses. Hot options, soup, salad, and panini options at lunch. I thought the dinners were great. Just the right amount of food and very high quality. I got to try fois grois. Desserts were a little too sweet for my taste. If you are looking for nightly entertainment like ocean cruisers you are not going to find it. After dinner most of us headed for the lounge where there is music, lots of liquor, and fun guests. I would just walk up to the group that looked like it was having the most fun and ask to join. I was always welcome. By the end of the cruise most of us knew each other. One guest remarked she felt like she was leaving her family. The excursions were excellent. There were only a few that you can pay extra. I had a shipboard credit that I used to attend a cooking demonstration and lunch at the Paul Bocuse culinary school in Lyon. We assisted the chef and had a wonderful lunch. I loved the audio systems used on the excursions. They allowed me to wander away to look at things that interested me and still hear what the guide was saying. Almost every excursion included a sampling of local wines and delicacies. Most excursions were no more than ½ day allowing time to venture into town. The ship docks right at the town so it was easy to walk into town and shop or explore. One afternoon we took the bicycles available onboard and cycled around town. When they say all inclusive they mean it. One couple had a $500 shipboard credit and could not find a way to spend it. I was so spoiled that it took adjusting when I returned home and realized I had to plan my own meals and activities. The best part of this cruise was that after all the tastings, food and liquor, somehow I managed to lose a pound! I can only guess it was all the walking we did in the excursions. I met terrific people and would recommend this highly. I just contacted my travel agent to book my next UniWorld cruise. Highly looking forward to it. Read Less

We had serious limitations as to the dates and the amount of time for traveling this year; we have always been intrigued by some of the former communist countries with a great past and their way back to democracy. While we were told that this trip went to places that were not that interesting, we found that, on the contrary, they were very different from other places and enjoyable in their own way. The cruise might not be at par with some of our previous cruises that went to Praga, Budapest, Amsterdam, etc., but the ship made for it. Brand new, the cabins were bigger and more comfortable that all the others in Avalon and Viking. There were 2 dinners that were spectacular with 5 course meals; all the others were very good. Tours were interesting and the price unbeatable. Highly recommended. The only negative was the lack of entertainment at night. Even the hiring of local artist in the different ports or a good DJ would had made a difference Read Less