This was our first river cruise. We were so grateful for options to explore Jewish history at almost every port. The dinners were delicious and varied, featuring local wines. Breakfasts and lunches, served buffet style, offered many vegetarian/fish options for those who don't eat meat or shellfish. We can't say enough about our charming, knowledgeable cruise manager (Veronica) who shared details of history and geography all along the way and made sure everyone knew how to access their individual programs each day. The days flew by but we will treasure all of the photos and memories.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We were grateful for the transfer from the Prague airport to the hotel and were greeted warmly by our cruise manager. The procedure for embarkation was explained clearly and there were no complications or delays.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The dining room and lounge were beautiful and spotlessly clean. Waitstaff and bartenders were warm and friendly. They were happy to provide reservations at a table for a larger group if a few couples wanted to sit together. We are pescatarians, eating only vegetables and fish. There were always delicious options from which to choose. It would have been fun to see vegetarian flatbread or sandwich options for lunch. But these could always be provided on request.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There weren't many activity options on the small boat. We appreciated having our cruise director narrate our trip down the Danube to Budapest, so we could learn about the sites along the way. There was a good lecture on the Hapsburg Empire one afternoon in the lounge. We weren't able to get spa treatments as hoped, as all the desirable times were already taken.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Entertainment options were limited but fun! We laughed so hard at our yodeling lesson, and really enjoyed the 70s dance party. The classical chamber orchestra concert in Vienna was definitely a highlight.
Children's Programs
This was not a children's cruise.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Ship personnel were highly attentive and friendly. We had a minor problem with our TV and the engineer came promptly to fix it. When a more significant issue around with plumbing in our room, we were immediately moved to another room. Checking in/out for day trips was quick and easy. Desk staff were always available and knowledgeable to answer questions about everything from use of the laundry to the daily schedule.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Common areas were always immaculate. The design was practical and easily accessible for us.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
The room was lovely and we were surprised to find so much storage space! Even the small bathroom had ample counter space. Room 312 had a plumbing problem -- a strange, loud slurping noise coming from the shower and a noxious odor. After two days, we requested to move. Fortunately, this request was accommodated immediately. Room 319 was clean and we had no problem at all (Five stars for room 319)
Ship tip
Don't bother bringing formal wear. The passengers on our ship were "casually elegant" and low key. Be sure to check out the onboard activities. The entertainers tried hard to please and deserved a good turn out.
The local guide was extremely knowledgeable about the Jewish history of the town. She addressed the holocaust history respectfully. She also pointed out highlights in the town (ex: beer garden) so that we could explore them after the tour.
We took the optional day-trip to Salzburg, which was certainly a highlight of the cruise. So glad we didn't miss out on this wonderful walking tour of the Sound of Music filming sites with our talented, musical guide, Elizabeth, who sang excerpts from the musicals at the sites of their filming. Worth the extra money to see this charming little city.
I enjoyed the little shipping museum, the wine/brandy tasting and the view of the vineyards. However, it was raining that day and we couldn't really walk through the town. What was more disappointing was that we learned that the shops were mostly closed on Tuesdays! So, even if it had been nice weather, we wouldn't have been able to wander the shops. That was an oversight in planning.
Vienna is a gorgeous city and it was just so frustrated to only have one day to explore it.
The Jewish history of the city is tragic and there were none of the former synagogues to explore. The walking tour should have included a group tour of the one existing synagogue. We were able to take in one additional museum (The Treasury) but will have to check out the Belvedere another time...
We so enjoyed our local guide taking us through the Jewish quarter of this beautiful city. She was knowledgeable and animated, and took us for a special pastry tasting. There was so much incredible Jewish history here and the city bridges/skylines are gorgeous. Again, one day in Budapest was not nearly enough for shopping or touring on both sides of the city.
The process for disembarkation was explained clearly and bags were transferred without incident. It was so kind of the staff to prepare fruit and sandwiches for the trip, since we were missing breakfast.. However, to make our early flight out of Budapest, our group had to have bags out at 2:30 a.m and were on the shuttles at 3:00 a.m. Since the airport kiosks didn't even open until 4:30, we had no one to direct us where to line up and had to stand around for 45 minutes before we could check our bags.
Thank you for writing this review .our very first river Cruise was on the river Duchess, and it was absolutely fantastic. we did Amsterdam to Bucharest. uni World River cruises are not the cheapest by any means but I like the fact that you pay that one amount and you never put your hand in your pocket again. Have to agree the staff for amazing the cabins are small but very functional, the food was really good, the whole experience was amazing
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