Viking River Cruises - Anybody ever been on one?

Wilywilly · 10-23-2012, 05:20 PM

My wife booked a Cruise for a Grand European thing. Curious about the barge / ship and the food. service etc. Goes from Amsterdam to Budapest. They have river cruises everywhere so any input of experience anyone has with Viking would be appreciated

Thanks,

Bill

stomachmonkey · 10-23-2012, 05:24 PM

Never been on them but I think it would be cool if it were a real Viking cruise complete with raiding and pillaging small peaceful seaside towns.

SeanPizzle · 10-23-2012, 05:45 PM

I did a lot of reading on them a couple months ago. They sound like a lot of fun. The excursions might be a little pre-canned some some folks liking.

Tripadvisor.com has reviews if you search.

Joeaksa · 10-23-2012, 06:15 PM

Sounds like fun...

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Rape, pillage, and plunder...

Sounds fun to me.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Sounds like a lot of rowing to me.

Wilywilly · 10-24-2012, 04:54 AM

I'll do as much rape, pillaging and burning as I can get away with. The trip starts in Amsterdam and I already told the wife that I'll be strolling through the "Old Town" area in the late night to check out (just look) at the hookers in the windows and will visit one of their Coffee Houses. The last time I was in Amsterdam was almost 50 years ago. Yep the trips are pretty canned, everything is taken care of and for you. It makes several stops along the way, has nearly 100 locks you go through and the elevation changes are something like 1000 feet or meters (big diff I know, but can't really remember). I'll check out TripAdvisor.com but was hoping that someone here went on one of their tours or knew someone that did. May post the stops on here in an effort to hook up and maybe have a beer with some early 911 guys in the area.. Will also post some pics.

Thanks for the input.

Bil

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I've been on two. I'm doing this one in March

Castles along the Rhine - Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

The first one I did was fantastic. Paris to Hanfleur. You don't have to stay on the boat or go on pre-arranged tours, but when you're off the boat they want to know. We stopped at Les Andelys for a tour but I rented a bike and was having such a good time I missed the boat when it left. I rode the bike along the river and got back on when it came to some locks. The captain had a "discussion" with me about being AWOL. I got off the boat with permission someplace (don't remember) and took a taxi to the Normandy American Cemetery and Omaha beach, then met up with the boat in Hanfleur.
The other one wasn't so great. Amesterdam to Brussels. There weren't so many opportunities to get off the boat. Look for one with stops that are close enough together that you can get off the boat and bike or take a taxi to the next stop and see some of the countryside or hang out in a little town.

Wilywilly · 10-24-2012, 06:38 AM

So.....how was the food?

2porscheguy · 2porscheguy's Garage

Bumping this 2 year old thread.....

Wilywilly, did you end up going?

We, too, are considering doing a river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on Scenic Tours Jewels of Europe tour (scenictours.ca) probably in the fall of 2015....has anybody else done this?

....looks pretty amazing!

GLASEM · GLASEM's Garage

Took one for our 40th wedding anniversary last year from Budapest to Nuremburg
Would do it again.......................had a great time
The crew and staff made everyone feel special

Seabear · 05-12-2014, 05:38 PM

Glad to hear you enjoyed the Budapest/Nuremburg trip, Glasem, my wife and I are signed up for that trip Sept of 15. We aren't much for ocean type cruises, we have been on 2 and jumped ship on the last one 15 years ago. But the river trips look both relaxing (no driving) and interesting, and if the canned excursions don't look fun we will go explore on our own.
A good friend took the Viking trip in Russia last year and had a great time.

MBAtarga · 05-12-2014, 06:39 PM

Two co-workers happened to have taken their wives on a Fall '13 trip - I believe Prague/Budapest. Was the coldest winter in almost 50 years or so - the weather was lousy. One had gone a few years earlier - same timeframe and enjoyed it very much!

I checked on-line reviews and found a lot of complaints in terms of weather and rain/flooding. Some of the barges can't clear the lower bridges along the route if the water level is high - so you end up "stuck" at whatever city you happen to be visiting at the time. Other complaints were poor A/C performance and/or lousy food.

I'm sure many enjoy the trip(s) and just a few post the negative comments and the issues in actuality probably rare.

scottmandue · 05-13-2014, 09:30 AM

I'm very interested in this... Europe is on our bucket list and this seems like a super easy way to see it.

cairns · 12:15 PM

Friend went on one and loved it...while I wouldn't do it so much to see western Europe I think it's a great way to see a lot of Eastern Europe comfortably....as noted I would watch weather and water levels though. Also there are others who are reportedly better than Viking (Avalon for one) but I can't speak to that personally.

5String43 · 05-13-2014, 07:40 PM

We've traveled to Europe extensively, always renting cars and following our noses, and never done one of these because to me, they limit your opportunities - so much of Europe's glory lies beyond the river banks. That said, the following: Outside cabin with a veranda, for sure - don't know if there are other kinds, but you sure don't want an inside cabin, if such exist. Yeah, get off the boat and stroll the towns in which it stops.

2porscheguy · 2porscheguy's Garage

55string, with your extensive European travel experience, others can chime in too here, we are thinking about early October in 2015. How is the weather that time of year? We would like to avoid, if at all possible, the long rainy season.

LakeCleElum · 05-14-2014, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

55string, with your extensive European travel experience, others can chime in too here, we are thinking about early October in 2015. How is the weather that time of year? We would like to avoid, if at all possible, the long rainy season.

Been to Europe several times in October as that is when airfare rate are cheaper. I say that unless you are going to the beach, weather is fine. Only had a few days of rain ever. Might have to sit by an outdoor heater on a sidewalk cafe in Amsterdam, but can wear shorts in Venice.

Be there this year all of June and Back in October for a month long cruise in the Mediterranean........

Whoever wants to see hookers in the windows of Amsterdam, I learned the hard way, Look, but don't bring out the camera.....

scottmandue · 05-14-2014, 07:09 AM

Quick Q about these trips, how long are the stop overs in each city? Do you have time to get off the boat, visit a museum and grab a local meal?

07-26-2018, 07:51 PM

Bumping a very old thread—just returning from a Viking Cruise from Paris to Normandy and back. In a word: superb. Beautiful ship, congenial crew, incredible food, and, of course, the splendid French villages and countryside. The highlight for me was the visit to the D-Day beaches and the American Cemetery. A very moving experience.