We stayed in one of those cabins and it was just fine!
We would stay in one of these rooms again! There were several windows that let in a lot of light. On Viking you are not in your room
except to sleep! We were on a fairly new boat.

Agree that for most people, a standard cabin would work just fine. There are, however, some folks who just can't do it...my wife being one. She is claustrophobic, and being in a small enclosed room with no means of fresh air is very troubling for her. We have done dozens of ocean cruises, always in a balcony cabin. We are doing a Viking river cruise next year, and it will be in a veranda cabin. Her peace of mind and comfort are worth the extra expense.

Which ones do you recommend

Uniworld is my favorite! Food is much better than Viking, and includes drinks and gratuities.

We took a Viking River Cruise on the Danube River. A balcony cabin is a must! There is a small chance that sickness could spread on the cruise, and it's important to have access to fresh outside air from the balcony. The balcony also makes the cruise much more enjoyable. However, when multiple river boats are docked at the port, the boats are tied together, side to side, so you're balcony won't have a view during the times with the boats are tied together.

We took the west to east cruise on the Danube River. We were going to take the east to west Viking River Cruise, but changed out mind at the last minute to go with the west to east cruise. Both cruises started at the same date, going in the opposite directions on the Danube River. An accident happened with the east to west Viking River Cruise boat, which we didn't take. The east to west Viking River Cruise boat hit a smaller river boat on the Danube River. The smaller river boat sunk in seconds. Many people were killed on the smaller river boat. There weren't any fatalities on the Viking River Cruise boat. The cause for the accident was an intoxicated captain of the Viking River Cruise boat.

An accident where the river boat could sink and kill people is probably very rare. But the people killed on the smaller river boat were probably in the lower cost cabins at the water level, and could not escape. If they had balcony cabins, they might have had a better chance to survive.

Our trip was not impacted by the accident which killed many people, because by luck, we took a different Viking River Cruise. I also heard a story about a person being killed in a lower deck cabin on a Antarctica cruise by a rouge severe wave that broke through the window. I think it's worth the extra cost to have a balcony cabin which is higher on the River Boat or Cruise ship just in case there is a health outbreak problem or if there is some kind of accident. If all the better cabins are booked, there's always another cruise in the future. You might have to wait till next year for the next ideal cruise at the best time of the year to take the cruise.

Would you please send me your info so I have it for a future river cruise?

We live in the Village of Linden. Thinking about taking Riverboat Cruise in 2024. Wife and I would love to chat with you. Please let me know how we can contact you.

"...regardless of what cabin you end up booking, I doubt you'll spend much time in it
 

Exactly! Well said....

Do you wear a mask and life jacket all the time as well?
Just in case!:icon_wink:

Thought they only wanted payment a year ahead of time. Guess better to use your customer for working capital than a bank.

River cruise
 

I would be interested in speaking with you about a river cruise. Thanks!

I am interested in talking with you about a river cruise. Thanks, Chris

That is exactly what we found ! Much different on a river cruise, only did the lux category once, after that, definitely not worth it on a river vessel, only a couple stair ways up, and much preferred to spend our days on one of the open, and covered, decks.

Good point.

Originally Posted by MacScuba View Post
"We try to book on the Starboard side. The ship tends to keep to the right of the river, so you are closer to see whatever is on shore.

Good point."

From what I remember, the Rhine river isn't as wide as you might imagine. And I don't think the others are either. So, it isn't much of a difference and I doubt you will be in your cabin much for it to make or break your room selection. And if you are in one of the Standard cabins, you are near waterline, so again I don't think it matters much. Incidentally, we were woken up in our standard cabin one morning with noise at the window. When we looked out, there were a couple of swans right at our window pecking at the ship. We watched them for quite awhile until they moved off.