River Cruises

[Pizzalady]

hi,
Saw a commercial for Viking River Cruises recently. I looked them up online today and just saw an ad on TOTV now. Has anyone taken one of their cruises? Good or bad?
Thanks! Pizzalady

[LittleDog]

We took one about 3 years ago with the Villages Concert Band. We sailed from Nuremburg to Budapest. The trip was great. Our stateroom on the ship was better than any staterooms that we have had on ocean cruises. The stops we made were interesting with local guides. We also had entertainment on the ship. One that was interesting was a glass blower.

I can recommend Viking. However, as you can see they are quite expensive but I believe most river cruises are expensive.

John

[Pizzalady]

Thank you for your input. Yes they seem like they will be expensive but I am thinking for a big year anniversary!

[swrinfla]

pizzalady:

My friend and travel companion took a week's cruise aboard Viking's Primadonna in August 2011.

I think that that particular vessel has been retired, but Viking has also added at least a half-dozen new ships this year!

Viking is undoubtedly the largest - and, best - river cruise line going! While they began cultivating the European traveler, they quickly learned that the 'affluent American' is where the money is!

We were 99.85% satisfied with Viking. The 0.15% dissatisfaction ties into their ability to adjust to the American's comfort levels. In this particular situation: our American view of our walking capaity versus their European view of anyone's walking capacity!

As to expense: That is, of course, very subjective. However, my friend and I were hugely satisfied with the bottom-line we received, each traveling as singles. This is a matter worthy of considerable and detailed research! I urge strongly that you do NOT jump at the first offer, but, instead, study each offer thoroughly, then make a decision based on all 'best available' offers.

Once you have decided, resist every effort to change your mind, as such an action may very well - indeed, will most probably - change the dynamics of your booking dramatically!

As a former travel agent - long retired - as well as an inveterate traveler, I think that I have some expertise. I am always willing to share my thoughts!

SWR
:beer3:

[asianthree]

Our friends just got back and were so happy, she said yep it was alot of money but would do it again in a heart beat

[Pizzalady]

SWR... What a great review of this company! I will now considerate it worthwhile doing the research. Thank you very much!
asianthree ... It must be a good trip if your friends would spend a lot of money in a heartbeat! That is the kind of statement I say when I have had a wonferful experience. Thanks!

[tkret]

We did a Tauck Tours river cruise Amsterdam to Budapest. Pricey and more than worth it with private showing of some of the museums and ballet/classical music performances. We liked the fact that, because the boat stations itself each day in the center of the city, the tour bus was about 30 feet from the gangway. Check out Tauck along with other river cruise companies.

[Hancle704]

Have often thought about a river cruise, but I am no longer comfortable with long walks and even longer international air travel to and from the ship.

[Hal :-)]

We did the Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland with Uniworld last year. Incredible! We picked Uniworld after some research. Friends took Viking and Vantage, and recommended both. We decided on Uniworld for two reasons. It was top rated by Conde Nast, and the ship was brand new in March (SS Antoinette). The highest rated on Conde Nast was Grand Circle. Overall, I think the River cruises are wonderful and whoever you go with you will probably recommend afterward. I suspect most people only get to choose once, if you go again, you'll go with the same line.

[fraurauch]

We went last year on an AMA Waterways ship (Amadolce). It was the most fabulous vacation we have ever had. Sailed from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. The tour guides were wonderful. The walking tours were broken down in groups by walking ability. The ship itself and the food were top notch. Check them out.

[k2at]

We did a" Grand Circle "tour to Holland during the tulip festivals. Grand Circle treated us like Kings and if u r interested in a river cruise in Europe, u ought to check this line out also. We were more than pleased with the entire trip.

[Pizzalady]

Is AMA Waterways another company other than Viking? Arnadolce the name of the ship? I am interested in the Berlin to Prague route with Viking so the trip you did sounds interesting also. Thanks!

[Pizzalady]

Thank you for the recommendation. Have never heard of them. More and more it looks like I have a lot of research to do!

[fraurauch]

AMA Waterways is a separate cruise line. When we were researching, we found Tauck to be the top of the line but so were there prices. Uniworld and AMA were next in our opinion so we chose to go with AMA because of the destination. My husband has relatives close to Vilshofen, so it was very convenient for us to see them and then board the ship. Viking also has a very good reputation. Their prices seems to be a bit cheaper. We are thinking about going again next summer, maybe Amsterdam down to Vilshofen. We shall see.

[Madelaine Amee]

We got back exactly a week ago from a Uniworld River Cruise, Budapest to Amsterdam. It had been at the top of the bucket list for a while and we decided to do it.

It is a GREAT way to see Europe, you unpack once instead of packing and unpacking as you would on a bus trip. It is expensive, but if you work out the cost of staying 15 days in a first class European hotel along with the cost of traveling from country to country, with all meals and wine, entertainment every night and excellent guides, it is a good deal.

We were on the Empress, which is not one of their new ships, but was way above expectation. We had a stateroom on the top deck with a Balcony, which is basically sliding glass doors with bars so that you don't fall out into the River. The room was excellent, the bathroom was very small, but we are not big people so that was not a problem. The staff were incredible, everyone spoke perfect English, and most of them spoke several languages. The staff we spoke with were all college educated and had to work the ships because they either cannot get a job in their own country, or cannot make enough money to live decently in their own countries. The staff on the Empress were all from Eastern Europe.

The food was incredible, breakfast and lunch were buffet style, dinner was from the menu with plenty of choices.

My own personal opinion of the trip was that it was basically educational, Cathedrals, Churches, Palaces, Monuments and detailed history lessons etc., and I got to the point where if I never saw another Monument it would be too soon. My other half is a photographer and he was in heaven!

We had a daily excursion off the ship which usually entailed plenty of walking, and I do mean PLENTY of walking; but we liked the fact that the ship pulls up into the center of most of the towns and you can just walk off and explore on your own if you want to.

We probably would not do another River Cruise, but I would highly recommend this type of travel to anyone who wants to see Europe in style.

[Pizzalady]

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. Have looked at AMA this morning but apparently I have at least 3 more companies to check-out! Yes I thought it would be a unique way to see Europe.

[casita37]

Have often thought about a river cruise, but I am no longer comfortable with long walks and even longer international air travel to and from the ship.


Hancle704,
There are also USA riverboat tours. Friends of our recently did the Columbia River and loved it. If interested, you could just google American Riverboat Tours, and you will find a couple of options.

[deano_hoosier]

Here's link to a listing of "best" river cruise ships....

Details, Photos and Ratings of the Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World : Cruises : Cond� Nast Traveler (http://www.cntraveler.com/cruises/2012/02/photos-top-100-cruise-ships-small-medium-large-river#slide=68)

[Pizzalady]

Thanks for the link. It should be a useful reference. I appreciate it!
Pizzalady

[Fourpar]

We also took the Castles along the Rhine (Amsterdam - Basel) cruise with Uniworld, Aug 27 - Sep 8, 2011 on The S S Antionette. Ditto the comments above. Loved it so much we are booked on Danube cruise this year in Sept, Passau to Budapest. Also with Uniworld. Looking forward to it!
River cruising is far better in so many ways to ocean cruising IMHO. If you go, stick with one of the name lines and I am sure you will enjoy it!

[Pizzalady]

I have gotten so many positive and wonderful stories it will take quite awhile doing research and making a final decion. If there are any more suggestions good or bad please let me know!
pizzalady

[swrinfla]

pizzalady:

Obviously, you have so much input here from TOTVers that you'll never get around to actually doing a river cruise, but your research will make you the ultimate expert! :bigbow:

As a Tauck fan (seven trips with them), I urge special attention to what they offer. Their bottom line often (that is, usually) seems way expensive, but if you delve deeper, you'll find that virtually everything is included in their price.

After the first trip I took with them, I spent lots of time estimating what the trip might have cost me had I made individual arrangements, as opposed to what I spent letting them do it all.

On my own, for a week: about $375 a night.

With Tauck, same week: about $275 a night. $100 less.

SWR
:beer3:

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Hi,

I did not read through all the posts on this subject. Sorry - have a sinus infection and am not up to reading.

When you check out river cruise lines please ask about beds. Friends of ours took a river cruise - their bed was a fold out futon chair. This meant if they wanted to lie down during the day, they had to make up their bed from the futon.

Some river cruise lines offer quite a few optional tours, others have these tours included as part of the tours that are included. We have been on AMA and Uniglobe and they offered about two optional tours respectively. Viking offered numerous optional tours.

Viking has an excellent advertising campaign. Wen they promote a special and say it will end the end of the month it will not. They end a campaign when X number of staterooms are sold, therefore you can see the same campaign with a diffeerent end date. There fares are worded so that it sounds like you will save a lot of money compared to other ricer cruise lines - sometimes you do and sometimes you do not.

River cruise companies that are rated by the travel industry have other cruise lines rated much higher than Viking, If you feel you want to go on a higher rated river cruise line, you can always call the line and ask them if they will match the price and/or ask them what they are offering that Viking isn't.

I have done the above and have been successful 100% of the time.

Hope some of this info is helpful.

Vicar

[Pizzalady]

Hi,

I did not read through all the posts on this subject. Sorry - have a sinus infection and am not up to reading.

When you check out river cruise lines please ask about beds. Friends of ours took a river cruise - their bed was a fold out futon chair. This meant if they wanted to lie down during the day, they had to make up their bed from the futon.

Some river cruise lines offer quite a few optional tours, others have these tours included as part of the tours that are included. We have been on AMA and Uniglobe and they offered about two optional tours respectively. Viking offered numerous optional tours.

Viking has an excellent advertising campaign. Wen they promote a special and say it will end the end of the month it will not. They end a campaign when X number of staterooms are sold, therefore you can see the same campaign with a diffeerent end date. There fares are worded so that it sounds like you will save a lot of money compared to other ricer cruise lines - sometimes you do and sometimes you do not.

River cruise companies that are rated by the travel industry have other cruise lines rated much higher than Viking, If you feel you want to go on a higher rated river cruise line, you can always call the line and ask them if they will match the price and/or ask them what they are offering that Viking isn't.

I have done the above and have been successful 100% of the time.

Hope some of this info is helpful.

Vicar

Thanks for the advice about calling and asking if they can match prices and whar they are offering that Viking is not.
Hope you a feeling a little better today!
Pizzalady