JaynBNA Posted September 25, 2015 #1 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Been tracking Viking ships on Marine Traffic in advance of our trip departing next Friday. Seems like ships are being held up outside of Regensburg and 60 miles from Budapest. Any recent experiences from Viking cruisers on this Danube? Any concessions made for the extended bus tours? Is Viking doing anything special? Thanks from a first time poster! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DouginLA Posted September 25, 2015 #2 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looks like Viking has updates on the Danube and Elbe cruises on their site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted September 25, 2015 #3 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Just arrived Budapest on the Avalon Illumination from Amsterdam. We made it all the way thru and it has been raining buckets here in Budapest all day. I must say initially we had been advised we could not sail into Budapest because of low water but would dock an hour outside of Budapest and bus into town. Our Captain decided to sail like a turtle and we arrived BP on time.... Hoping this rain and it's really coming down, helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krobins100 Posted September 25, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 25, 2015 We were on the Viking Mimir and had to bus from Passau to Nuremberg today. We are now on the Viking g Vili for the next week. It was a three hour bus drive Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeMe4A&J Posted September 25, 2015 #5 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looks like Viking has updates on the Danube and Elbe cruises on their site. Where is the info on Viking site? I have looked and can't find any updates. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalibooNewYork Posted September 25, 2015 #6 Share Posted September 25, 2015 We are leaving for the Danube Waltz cruise Passau to Budapest on October 17. Does anyone have any info on that section of the Danube? I've called Viking and have looked at their site but haven't gleaned any useful information. Our ship is the Prestige. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaynBNA Posted September 25, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Viking periodically updates this page -- by removing cruise interruptions on past cruises or those underway. http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/my-trip/about-my-cruise/current-sailings.html ...but they have made no updates to future date cruises in at least a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbarb1111 Posted September 26, 2015 #8 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Just got back from trip on viking var yesterday. Turned out to be an expensive bus trip. We had to stop in Regensberg , and had bus tours to Passau or Munich (3 hours on the bus). The next day we were transferred to the viking Tor after they had a broken engine fixed??? To keep us busy they bussed us to Melk(4 hours) and gave us a river tour/lunch and a tour of the abbey. Then they bussed us to Linz to meet the ship(another hour). We then learned that because of the low water we would not be able to get into Budapest. We were bussed the next day to Budapest(1 1/2 hours each way) had a short tour and lunch in a restaurant a had only 2 hours to walk around town. We had to leave the ship by 6:30(some people left earlier) the next morning to be bussed to airport(1 1/2 hours). Not a pleasant experience. All we saw was while docked was industrial sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted September 26, 2015 #9 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Currently in Budapest, arrived on the Avalon Illumination sailed from Amsterdam 9/11 and "Sailed" (not bussed) into Budapest 9/24 on Thursday morning. We did not have any bussing and was able to sail thru the troubled low water spots but just before Budapest was advised of not only low water but a broken lock. Miraculously our fabulous Captain was able to sail us into Budapest when we had originally been told it was not possible and that we would "Disembark" an hour outside of Budapest and be bussed. We got very lucky as did the Avalon Panarama who arrived Budapest the day after us, each cruise lines boats are capable of different low water navigation. Apparently Viking long boats need more/deeper water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneStarCruisinCouple Posted September 26, 2015 #10 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Currently in Budapest, arrived on the Avalon Illumination sailed from Amsterdam 9/11 and "Sailed" (not bussed) into Budapest 9/24 on Thursday morning. We did not have any bussing and was able to sail thru the troubled low water spots but just before Budapest was advised of not only low water but a broken lock. Miraculously our fabulous Captain was able to sail us into Budapest when we had originally been told it was not possible and that we would "Disembark" an hour outside of Budapest and be bussed. We got very lucky as did the Avalon Panarama who arrived Budapest the day after us, each cruise lines boats are capable of different low water navigation. Apparently Viking long boats need more/deeper water. Morning Like JVilleGal we were on The Scenic Jasper September 2- 16 and had no issues at all with the Low Water Levels however did see and talk with a lot of folks that were on Viking ships and like some of you enjoyed expensive bus rides to get to various different ports and excursions. Yes it is a shame that some of the ships are having issues but then again it isn't the fault of the various companies as they are relying on Mother Nature. I can also side with those of you that are experiencing having to be bused here and there as that isn't what you have paid for or traveled so far to have to wind up in doing. River cruising is a New Venue for most but it is also such a Great and Wonderful way as to see some of those out of the way places that most only ever get to read about. There is certainly a lot of companies out there as to try and figure out which one is the Right One. I guess what it boils down to is The Time that you may want to be traveling and what it is that you want to experience while doing so as various companies offer so much more than others. For us we were booked on a Viking ship key word is were as we cancelled On The Lif and rebooked with Scenic. They are truly a Luxury River Cruise Line in every sense of the word and in our case didn't want their Final Payment 16 months prior to departure. How insane plus if some of you are really doing your homework not to long ago The Better Business Bureau rating for Viking had been revoked and then seemingly overnite was back. Makes one wonder. Anyways all I can say is I hope that all that are getting ready to go and for those of you that are in The Planning Stages I wish all a Great and Wonderful Time. Yes the cruise is oh so very nice but it is the folks that you meet and the Friendships that are formed as those are The Ships that shall Sail Forever Wishing All Smooth Sailings Lisa and Gary LoneStarCruisinCouple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbarb1111 Posted September 26, 2015 #11 Share Posted September 26, 2015 We were not offered anything for our trouble, not even a free drink!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted September 26, 2015 #12 Share Posted September 26, 2015 We were not offered anything for our trouble, not even a free drink!!! Well in all fairness, Viking has zero control over the Danube and its low water. Some boats were able to sail thru and others not. Some days everybody got thru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbarb1111 Posted September 26, 2015 #13 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Just answering the original question did Viking do anything special for us!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVilleGal Posted September 26, 2015 #14 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Just answering the original question did Viking do anything special for us!!!!! Really Zip??? Ouch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaynBNA Posted September 26, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Thank you all for the updates/info. I'm hoping, doing rain dances, etc., between now and next week in hopes of improvements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snocat Posted September 26, 2015 #16 Share Posted September 26, 2015 We were not offered anything for our trouble, not even a free drink!!! I was also on Viking Var/Tor and our biggest disappointment was not making port in Budapest and being able to see that wonderful city at night. In defense, when many complained about missing the daytime cruise through the Wachau Valley, Viking arranged for a river cruise with lunch on the river cruiser "Austria" while we were in Melk at no charge. Also, when we arrived in Vienna there was an evening Opera additional excursion @73 euros pp that Viking made available to everyone without charge...and I did somehow get a free drink on our last night. The CD did everything he could to work within the limitations. While we were not happy with the cruise overall,it was nature related and out of the control of Viking. We were told our recourse would be to complain to Viking Customer Service and negotiate restitution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snocat Posted September 26, 2015 #17 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Thank you all for the updates/info. I'm hoping, doing rain dances, etc., between now and next week in hopes of improvements. It was raining in Budapest Friday morning when we left and current weather shows rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbarb1111 Posted September 26, 2015 #18 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Snocat glad you got a free drink we did not, we were also disappointed not to see Budapest's lights wish we had more time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylakers Posted September 26, 2015 #19 Share Posted September 26, 2015 We are due to board viking Bragi in Amsterdam Saturday 10/3. Well it arrives in Budapest 10/2 so it looks like we will board a different ship and possibly swap mid cruise. Viking has not notified us yet. Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolebludger Posted September 26, 2015 #20 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Therein lies the problem, as I see it. If a cruse line knows in advance that it will not be able to offer a guest what he/she paid for, the guest should be given the opportunity to cancel without penalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylakers Posted September 26, 2015 #21 Share Posted September 26, 2015 I agree. I even emailed viking and asked and they said they did not know yet. That was 2 days ago. I am fine with whatever ship they put us on as long as it is a long ship of theirs. The question is will we have to swap ships mid cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolebludger Posted September 26, 2015 #22 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Having just returned from that itinerary on Scenic, I expect that you will at least be bussed from your ship of embarkation to another ship in another port. However, the question is how far you will be bussed, how many times, and will there be any overnight stays in hotels involved. On our cruise during the first two weeks of September, we were bussed from Nuremberg to Passau, from the original ship to an identical one. It should have been less than a 2 hour bus trip, but it was 2 1/2 hours due to a jam on the autobahn. Scenic strongly suspected this would be the case before any guests left their homes. We were not given notice or opportunity to cancel without penalty. However, I am not unhappy with Scenic, as this was a very minor deviation, and Scenic knew it would be. However, there have been reports of guests of other lines being bussed all over the place for days, and some guests being sent home early. I feel that Viking owes you a more complete explanation, including what they have done in the past and what they will do if low water persists at the time of your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolebludger Posted September 27, 2015 #23 Share Posted September 27, 2015 To answer the question of why some line's ships are making it through and some are not, the answer probably is in the draft of the various ships. "Draft" means how deeply the ships extend into the water, and they are different. Apparently, Viking ships have a fairly deep draft, while Avalon has a shallow draft and can make it through with low water. Our line (Scenic) apparently is somewhere in between. While neither we (nor our fellow guests) considered a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to be a "cruise killer", Scenic did do some things to compensate us. The cruise director scheduled some additional events in several ports which were fun. Scenic can't compensate us with a free drink, as all drinks on Scenic are always free, as they should be on any cruise line with the pricing of river cruises! I have never cruised Viking and have no first hand knowledge of them. But from what I heard (hearsay) of their treatment of their guests who encountered the low water problem during the first half of September, it would seem that they were unprepared for the problem and inconsiderate of their guests. European bus tours are cheap, and are worth even less than that IMHO (we took one -- never again -- would prefer to stay home). If half of my river cruise turned into a bus/hotel tour, I would never take that line again. Cruise lines have no control over water level, that is true. But this is not the first time water level in these rivers has been a problem. A little over a year ago, HIGH WATER was the problem, for example. Because this is a recurring situation, good cruise lines should be expected to have contingency plans that will give guests full value -- without inordinate bussing and alternative overnight accommodations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 27, 2015 #24 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Cruise lines have no control over water level, that is true. But this is not the first time water level in these rivers has been a problem. A little over a year ago, HIGH WATER was the problem, for example. Because this is a recurring situation, good cruise lines should be expected to have contingency plans that will give guests full value -- without inordinate bussing and alternative overnight accommodations. And guess what? In the High Water situation, it was the same ships that had the most trouble making it through. That's what comes from squeezing so many passengers on the same size ship. This is a vital part of pre-cruise research that too many cruisers fail to do [because it isn't easy to figure out]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaw58 Posted September 27, 2015 #25 Share Posted September 27, 2015 We are on the Viking aegir we had to be bussed from Nuremberg to passau. Viking handled it well everything went smoothly. We are getting the Vienna concert free. Hopefully we will be able to sail into Budapest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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