This was our first river cruise and we enjoyed it immensely. We loved visiting various European locations and seeing a lot of countryside, vineyards, and castles onshore in between. We went through many locks on the river (maybe a dozen). Some of them were at night so we slept through those. This might have been our best vacation ever. So memorable.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Couldn't be easier. Very low key and easy, especially compared to ocean cuiseliners. Our rooms were ready by 2:00 and we enjoyed lunch while waiting.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I enjoyed their clean dining areas and great food. They offer good buffets for breakfast and lunch as well as menu options. Dinner is all menu options, with the exception of the Chef's Table where the menu is preset. They also offer more limited food in the lounge for early or late breakfast options, as well as at other times.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
As a river cruise ship, activities are more limited. They had chess and open-air seating/viewing on the top deck. And a warm pool on the top deck. We had cooler, inclement weather, so we didn't go up there as much as we might otherwise.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
There was a DJ and piano player, plus a couple of guest entertainers. Ship is too small to have a stage.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Wonderful, friendly staff. They were helpful and accommodating. Our room steward had our room clean before we got back from breakfast every day.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was always kept clean and looked well-maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was clean and comfortable. They have a neat little electronic device that controls the temperature and lights throughout the cabin. The bathroom was very nice, especially the shower. A nice glassed-in, fairly roomy shower. There was an interior window between the bathroom and the bedroom, so you could see into the room and also the view outside while brushing your teeth if you wanted to. With the flick of a switch in the bathroom you could obscure the window glass. The location was mid-ship and pretty quiet.
Took a city tour to Salzburg. It was actually snowing in May the day we toured, so it was quite cold. Regardless of the cold, we enjoyed hearing about the history the city and about the von Trapp Family (and subsequent movie - Sound of Music filmed there). Almost every store was closed on Sunday. We enjoyed a nice lunch in a warm restaurant.
Our excursion included a city tour of Durnstein which is very small and quaint. Then we boarded the bus across the river to visit the Melk Abbey. Photos are not allowed to be taken inside.
We did a walking tour of the beautiful old city center. The main streets were bustling with tourists, but just a turn off the main street and you can find a bench to sit on or a church to enter. We hiked up to the castle but didn't have time to go in. I heard it was quite interesting. There is a sad history to this city (read about their bridge) and also a strong optimism of the future. Lovely people.
We took a city tour by bus through these two great cities (Buda and Pest). There was so much to see and experience, and we were glad to have two full days there. Our last night on the ship, the captain took a slow tour down the river to see how beautiful Budapest is all lit up at night.
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