kerryis25

49 minutes ago, Abiding said:

I took a Viking  Romantic Danube Christmas Market River Cruise early December 2018.  It was a trip of a lifetime!  I’ve been on several ocean cruises and this was completely different;  more like a floating 5star all inclusive hotel. The smaller size made it a more personal experience and we were able to get to know people from mostly English speaking countries.  Honestly, my aunt treated me to this trip- I could never have afforded it myself, and I was a bit apprehensive at spending a week with “rich folks” but all the passengers were just regular people!  Definitely with more life experiences but never in a flashy way. It was a casual atmosphere. The crew were mostly from Europe, including Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Portugal, but also from the Phillipines. We got to know them well;  they shared an insiders view of the countries we visited.  It was really special!  And it’s amazing at how the crew knew just how we liked our meals and favorite drinks. They were amazing!  I was also a little hesitant about going to Europe in December, usually vacationing in the Caribbean, but it was totally worth it!  The cities just glistened with all the holiday decorations- magical!  Our tour guides were knowledgeable and personable. My favorite spot was Budapest. They have several Christmas markets and were easy to get to from the hotel. One word of advise:  The Christmas markets are in the Pest side of down, and they’re easy to get to by walking down the steep hill, crossing over the Chain Bridge, and right into town. Getting back to the hotel was different. Unless you’re an athlete, I wouldn’t attempt climbing back uphill.  And don’t take a cab- the cabbie took us for a “ride”!  Next t time we went we walked back over the Chain Bridge and took the lift up the hill. Just st cost about  $4. Well worth it!  We stayed at the Hilton Castle in the Buda section for a 3 day pre-cruise and it was outstanding!  Vienna was a beautiful city and Krems, Passau and Regensberg were all special in their own way. The only thing I didn’t care for so much was ending in Nuremberg. While we went to some historical locations, and will be forever remembered, the trip ended on a profound emotional downer.  Might have been better to end the trip at a different location.  I hope this wasn’t more info than you wanted, but I wanted to give you a feel of how a river cruise was different than a traditional ocean cruise. Safe travels😊

Thank you very helpful 

Have cruised numerous times all over the world Never did a river cruise and looking for ideas on best cruises and cruise lines Thanks for the help appreciated