This is a highly scheduled and fast-paced cruise as are many of the river cruises. I would describe it as an introduction and that is exactly what we got. The ship is well appointed and we were glad to have a suite. We never really felt crowded. Generally we had an enjoyable time and will consider doing another Viking Cruise.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Very Easy and Well Organized
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
All proper meals were prepared in the dining room. Most were set menus but there were always multiple options and multiple courses to pick and choose from. The food was very good quality and showcased regional cuisines. Included beverages also reflected regional selections including wines and other drinks. My husband has an allergy and the restaurant manager ensured that he was informed of ingredients and when necessary that an alternative preparation was done. Very thoughtful.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
didn't really have any extra activities
Entertainment
3 out of 5
This is a tough one. We had a very nice musician on board but honestly his singing wasn't great. People had fun but he was OK. There were special performances by local groups as we sailed from place to place and they were a nice touch.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I think the staff really went above and beyond. Our steward was wonderful and really went out of his way. Generally the staff was cheerful and helpful. Some of the guests were demanding and the staff always did their best. Our route needed to be changed because of flooding and made some things challenging but the staff always made it seem easy.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was always impeccably clean and well stocked.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Very nice layout and lots of storage. We had plenty of space and amenities, well stocked fridge, ice, always cookies and treats and lovely flowers. Baths had plenty of toiletry items and the whole space was super clean. The beds were very hard for our liking so sleep wasn't great. Only real drawback.
Ship tip
Make sure you have a meal in Aquavit, nice to have a quieter and more scenic meal.
We did the Belogradchik hike and Wine. Absolutely beautiful scenery. It was a very challenging hike to the top. Would not recommend for anyone with any walking issues. The wines were OK but the people were very nice and friendly.
The cruising was good. Nice to slow down a bit. I really enjoyed the optional excursion to Lepinski Vir, an archaeological site that was removed prior to the flooding of the valley as part of the dam construction.
We did a walking tour and unfortunately the weather was miserable. Our guide made the most of it and she was very well informed. We visited the Kalemegdan Park, the Moscow Hotel for coffee and the Temple of Saint Sava which was absolutely stunning and the highlight.
I would have much preferred the chance to tour the historic town along the river with its history and architecture but we chose an excursion that kept us on a bus. However, the we spent time visiting local families and learned first hand how the area dealt with was and communist take over and their recovery. Very compelling.
Budapest is amazing and am so glad we ended here. The excursion we took, Snapshots of Budapest, was Ok. Our guide did not layout the Buda visit very well and she seemed very nervous and rushed. Fortunately we had a chance to spend time on our own there.
Our trip was tough because the Danube flooded and we had to be taken off and bused into Budapest. The staff did their best but it was a let down by mother nature that was unavoidable. We were not really happy with the Hotel Corinthia however. Our room was small and tired. Our room keys stopped working three times which was very inconvenient. The bed pillows were lumpy and very small. Not sure what that was about.
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