Just back from Viking Grand European Voyge

[loum140]

Just returned from Viking's Amsteram to Budapest river cruise. We had a wonderful time: lots of scenic cruising, great itinerary, fabulous staff, very comprehensive tours, terrific food (local specialties). Glad to answer any questions. Marsha and Lou

[ddean52]

Just returned from Viking's Amsteram to Budapest river cruise. We had a wonderful time: lots of scenic cruising, great itinerary, fabulous staff, very comprehensive tours, terrific food (local specialties). Glad to answer any questions. Marsha and Lou

 

we do the budapest-amsterdam tour with viking in a month, so here are a few questions;

 

1-how was the food?

2-did u do the residenz palace tour and the romantic road (with lunch) in wurzburg and (rothenburg)?

3-any issues with the depth of the rivers?

4-were there any alterations in with the ports of call?

i have more questions <S> but im trying to be kind<S>

dean:)

[Nippy Sweetie]

I`m assuming you read our various comments re Grand European tour last year? Looking back on it our main problem apart from the regimentation- (made us Brits a bit twitchy!) was the constant parking alongside other boats which meant that often the only views we had from our (quite nice) cabins was straight into some other people`s cabins in the ship next door. Really close.

However it was a relaxing change for us. We resisted the urge to sightsee constantly. Non stop ticking off each boring Catherdral was not for us. We liked the company & general change of pace from real life.

Hope you have fun. You`ll probably find a boatload of Americans- enjoy

[ddean52]

yep, the parking along side other boats is an issue that i have not passed on to my wife. there is no real remedy for this im afraid! as river cruises become increasingly popular so will river/dock congestion . as far as being on a ship full of Americans..... i would prefer a nice euro/american mix.

happy to hear you had a fine time! welcome back<S>:cool:

[ddean52]

Nippy,

did you notice/perceive any pull back of viking services that might be attributed to economic down turn?

[loum140]

The food was very good. New to us (since 2003) was the addition of a light lunch buffet served in the lounge -- soup, salads, sandwiches, one hot entree, cheese, fruit and dessert. We were also glad to find 24-hr. availability of ice water and tea, hot coffee, tea, cappucino, mochachino, cafe au lait, and hot cocoa.

 

Yes, we did the Residenz (fantastic!!!), and the Romantic Road and lunch.

 

We had no problems with the river levels, but other boats did. Tauk for one had to bus their people to the next port and others sailing the reverse (Budapest to Amsterdam) had some problems because the flooding was very bad in Budapest. We had some close calls fitting under the bridges, but we made every stop on the itinerary.

 

Parking along side other boats was not an issue until very near the end of our journey. We were blissfully alone almost every day and evening. There were other boats in port, but plenty of dock space.

 

Sadly, the free wireless internet was problematic due to the depth and frequency of the locks and the 550 bridges we passed under. We would habitually lose the connection every time we went under a bridge, so I just gave up trying.

 

Getting back to the food: most evenings there were theme menus -- International, Hungarian, German, Austrian, Imperial, etc. Of course, there is always a steak, chicken or Caesar Salad available, though nearly everyone took one of the three main course choices (a meat, a fish or vegetarian....the fish was really excellent). There was also a selection of 2 appetizers, 2 soups and 2 desserts. Brerakfast was buffet plus special order from the waiters, lunch was buffet salads and sandwiches plus a couple of hot dishes you could order.

 

....to be continued! Marsha

[loum140]

I also want to mention a new (this year) innovation about the daily included tours. In addition to the regular bus and/or walking tour in each city, you could also opt to take a relaxed tour (same sights at a slower pace for thosse with mobility issues), a high lights tour (main sights with more free time for shopping) or an extended tour (regular tour, plus one or two additional stops that might appeal only to certain passengers). We took one extended tour with a focus on Jewish history, plus a "roughing it" tour in Budapest which included trips by tram, funicular, city bus and a visit to the central market. All at no extra cost.

 

The trip was wonderful and we can't wait for our next voyage!! Marsha

[ddean52]

I also want to mention a new (this year) innovation about the daily included tours. In addition to the regular bus and/or walking tour in each city, you could also opt to take a relaxed tour (same sights at a slower pace for thosse with mobility issues), a high lights tour (main sights with more free time for shopping) or an extended tour (regular tour, plus one or two additional stops that might appeal only to certain passengers). We took one extended tour with a focus on Jewish history, plus a "roughing it" tour in Budapest which included trips by tram, funicular, city bus and a visit to the central market. All at no extra cost.

 

The trip was wonderful and we can't wait for our next voyage!! Marsha

 

Marsha,

keep up the great reporting! your a wealth of information! thanks!

Dean:cool:

[billinyucatan]

Thanks for the feedback. We are making the same trip in August. I assume you were on the Viking Legend? How do you rate the ship?

 

Do you know what their recorking fee is? Since my wife drinks and I don't, we figure that we will not get their all exclusive package (which has to be the same for both). I have heard various rates from 7.50 to 10 USD.. though I assume it is actually in euros which may account for the various numbers I see.

 

Also, how would you rate the demographic of your cruise. From what I understand about Viking Cruises, the passengers seem to range in ages from 30s through 80s with majority in 50s and 60s. Would you concur with that? We expect we will be the only cruisers living in Mexico but on your cruise... was there a diversity of where cruisers were from or were they almost entirely from the US?

 

Also (sorry for all of the questions)... could you opt out of a return from an AM tour to the boat for lunch... i.e. opt out of lunch for more time ashore?

[ddean52]

Marsha,

how did the daily tour options work? you said there were 3 tour options daily( regular, slow paced and in depth)? how did viking know how many people would be in each tour? if i understand you correctly then i like the concept! were you on legend? if so how would you rate her? thanks!!

Dean

[loum140]

Sorry, I should have said -- we were on the Spirit.

 

Billy: I don't know the corkage fee. We had the occasional glass of house wine at the table for about 5 euro (?) -- everything purchased on board is in euros -- Of course if you drink in your stateroom, there's no fee at all.

 

re: demographics -- we were mostly Americans. With the exception of one 11 yr. old and two young adults, ages ranged from mid-30's up as you said.

 

re: shore excursions -- you could always opt out of a tour or a return from a tour as long as you kept to the "all aboard" time schedule. In some cities, there were late evening and/or overnight stays, in which case you could go ashore for a stroll, dinner, pub visit, etc. and stay out until the "all aboard".

 

Dean: When you board the ship, you are assigned to a tour group (1,2,3). When the Program Director gives the nightly briefing, he/she discusses the tour options and sign up sheets are available at the desk. In the a.m., you pick up your headset based on your regular tour group assignment if you want the usual tour (1,2,3), or by option (4,5, etc.) The head set determines which giude you listen to. It's all well organized and you can always change your mind before the tour starts, as long as you tell Viking program staff so they can accomodate you with the correct head set.

 

Please note: high water levels affected a number of other ships that could not sail under the bridges and passengers had to be bused, but the Spirit was okay and we made it all the way through from Amsterdam to Budapest on schedule, making all stops.

 

Enjoy your voyages! Please post a report on the Legend. Marsha

[linda joy]

we'll be on the same cruise at the end of aug. this will be our first river, so any help will be appreciated. if you can tell us about the rooms, are there hairdryers and refr. what kind of clothing did you bring? we are 3 couples and very excited about the trip, we have sailed 29 ocean cruises, which I am sure is a lot different then river cruising. so we need some help.

how much free time did you have in budapest? I am going to try for a couple of hours at a spa. do you need a tour guide to go into the cities at night, is it safe on your own? did you do the viennese concert? any info. is appreciated. thanks

[loum140]

Dear Linda and George:

 

The rooms are a nice size -- no refrigerator, but hairdryer in desk drawer. Make sure to plug it in on the right side outlet otherwise there's not enough power to actually dry your hair. (The plug on the left side of the desk is for US appliances: curling iron, flat iron, battery charger for camera, etc.) Lots of drawers and shelf space, but I was glad I brought my own plastic slack hangers (the giveaway kind from the chain stores) as I reserved the wooden hangers they provide for blouses/shirts/jackets.

 

Clothing: We kept watching the temperatures in the major cities before we sailed and it was still cool in Amsterdam but hot in Budapest, so we took light-weight windbreakers and fleece jackets which were needed. Most tours began early but the days warmed up, so T-shirt or tank with a blouse or windbreaker over it worked for me, worn with zip-off slacks or capris. Lou wore cotton shirts and zip-off slacks (convert to shorts if needed) or knit golf shirts. Except for one long day, we were back at the boat for lunch, so you could change if it got hot. Don't forget a folding umbrella -- it's insurance for good weather! And some afternoon/evening sailing is chilly, so keep the windbreaker handy.

 

Dinners are casual -- golf shirts or Hawaiian shirts for men, nice tops and slacks/skirt/capris for women. Since it's open dining, it's okay to repeat -- no one will remember what you wore.

 

There is a half-day free in Budapest. You can either take the optional excursion to see a very exciting horse show or you're on your own. While the boat is docked, you may always eat, shop, have a beer, or sightsee in town as long as you're back on board before it sails. You do not need a guide, however our Program Director offered to escort some of us on a night walk through one of the towns and it was lots of fun. We walked through Linz on our own after dinner with another couple.

 

Had been to the Vienna concert on a previous trip and loved it. Those who went this time said it was one of the highlights of the entire cruise. The optional excursion to the Music Museum in Rudesheim was magical.

 

If you have any other questions, please ask away. River cruising is very different from ocean cruising, but it's a really wonderful experience. Happy sailing! Marsha

[ddean52]

we'll be on the same cruise at the end of aug. this will be our first river, so any help will be appreciated. if you can tell us about the rooms, are there hairdryers and refr. what kind of clothing did you bring? we are 3 couples and very excited about the trip, we have sailed 29 ocean cruises, which I am sure is a lot different then river cruising. so we need some help.

how much free time did you have in budapest? I am going to try for a couple of hours at a spa. do you need a tour guide to go into the cities at night, is it safe on your own? did you do the viennese concert? any info. is appreciated. thanks

 

we are in the same boat (sorry) as you! i have done a lot of research..it seems the cabins (in a + b classes) are comp to big ship cabins with balconies. Our cabin on viking's legend is 155 sq feet and it has everything a balcony cabin on say royal carb. has except the balcony LOL...in place of the balcony we have a 'French balcony" which means the door opens but there is no room to sit. forget fancy clothes no need for them! we are going to budapest 3 days in adnavce of our sailing....on embarkation day in budapest..check in is at 3pm.....there is a welcome walk with a crew member or you can go off on your own. after dinner that night you again have free time. the next day after excursin and lunch you have the afternoon to explore Budapest. which ship are you going on? oh i forgot, there is not much entertainment at night. Alice and i are looking at this trip as a very casual/more intimate affair. if we find this trip enjoyable we will probably do china and a French barge next yr. ocean cruising has become a very predictable (and enjoyable) experience. this trip is cool because it will be new! i have done a wealth of research on rive cruising and Budapest so if you have any questions happy to help! have to run

Dean

[linda joy]

I have a lot of questions, we leave aug. 14th, I am very busy right now, but I will be posting in the next week or two. any infor. is appreciated. Linda

[billinyucatan]

Do you know for a fact that the august sailing will indeed be on the Viking Legend? Because we live in the Yucatan, we will likely not get the final itinerary until days before the cruise or perhaps it could even arrive after we have left. or not at all! (Not a cut on mail delivery here.. just one of those things we put up with that is balanced by other very positive aspects).

 

I know there were delays in finishing the Legend. Too, I have heard and read that Danube has been high so that the larger vessels could not cruise under the bridges. Friends in Munich have said that it has been raining there straight for a long time and that rivers are flooding. I have not seen anyone confirm the Viking is set for August cruising. Last August was very dry, so hopefully the weather will repeat. Anyone know the facts on the Viking Legend's status? Thanks.

 

When I called Viking, the girl that I talked with could not give me details, but said that the information would be in the itinerary that they mail out a couple of weeks before the cruise. However, since I never know when or if I will receive mail here, I asked to be informed by email... yet I have heard nothing. Thus internet forums are our best source of info. Thanks.

[ddean52]

Wildbill,

We were to sail on Legend in June but were canceled due to legend not being complete. we sail on her aug 16 and have not heard anything from Viking about the trip being canceled. i just emailed viking and will post when i rec. a reply. I am confident that she will be ready if not all ready in service!

Dean

[billinyucatan]

Dean and Alice, thanks.

 

Also, I see that our cruising package is on its way to Mexico with our final itinerary. I am glad they sent it by Fed Ex because I can trace it online and seek to pick it up if it is not delivered to us here. I feared that they would try to send it by mail or by UPS which is very iffy on delivery. At this point, according to the FedEx website, over the past couple of days the package has left California for Memphis, then Memphis for Miami, and it is now en route from Miami to Merida, Yucatan.. Therefore, we should hopefuly have the package this weekend or Monday... we hope! I will post it wheni we retrieve it.

 

Loum 140, also many thanks to you for the excellent detailed and helpful information.

 

Bill and Sara

[billinyucatan]

Loum140... what did you do about clothing. I understand that there is laundry service on Viking ships and I assume that you did not take a 16-day supply of clothing. Is that correct?

 

We usually travel light, but this is the longest "cruise" outside of my own boat that I have taken, so I am curious as to how much clothing others bring with them.

[ddean52]

Loum140... what did you do about clothing. I understand that there is laundry service on Viking ships and I assume that you did not take a 16-day supply of clothing. Is that correct?

 

We usually travel light, but this is the longest "cruise" outside of my own boat that I have taken, so I am curious as to how much clothing others bring with them.

 

I travel med-heavy, alice travels light. she seems to get buy with just a bit of washing of this and that. you will not need any fancy clothes unless you have some special nights planed. we are doing the optional night concert in Vienna and i dont plan on wearing a dinner jacket or any thing like that and attire on legend is very casual!

Dean

[ddean52]

Billy,

are you from Germany? i lived there for all most 2 yrs. Worms. have a great time!

Dean

[billinyucatan]

Billy,

are you from Germany? i lived there for all most 2 yrs. Worms. have a great time!

Dean

 

No, we live full-time in the Yucatan of Mexico and hold US passports with Mexican residency visas. Ancestry mostly from Germany .

[loum140]

Bill: We sailed late June and had both cool and warm/hot weather, so we needed layers. Lou took light weight slacks and two pair of zip-off (to shorts) slacks for days and I wore zip-off slacks/shorts or capris. We both had Tee shirts, cotton shirts and light windbreakers for morning tours and afternoon sailing on the Rhine. For dinners, basic slacks (capris for me) and golf or Hawaiian shirts for Lou, dressier thin knit or light-weight packable blouses for me. I found the dining room a little warm at dinner, so packed accordingly.

 

They offer laundry service on board but we preferred to hand wash a few things as needed. If you wring them out in a bath towel, they dry within a day. Unlike traditional, formal, ocean cruises, many, many passengers repeated their attire even for dinner. As it is open seating, no one remembers or will notice.

 

Don't forget sneakers and/or comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestones and occasional hilly terrain.

 

The key to river cruising is "relax, relax, relax".

 

Marsha

[linda joy]

Hi, could tell us about the concert in Vienna, is it all music? is there any opera? can you describe it for us? thank you Linda

[loum140]

Linda: We did not go to the concert on this trip as we had gone on a previous Viking cruise that stopped in Vienna. I recall that it was wonderful, a mix of Strauss and Mozart music, mostly orchestral, but also sung and danced (ballet). It was definitely a highlight for us, a feeling echoed by those who attended from this cruise. It is held in a lovely venue, a palace if memory serves, a there is complimentary wine at intermission. Marsha