Travel
Related: About this forumcilla4progress
(25,968 posts)They seem to have liked it.
Going?
liberal N proud
(60,968 posts)European River Cruise. Just cant get the time
cbabe
(4,236 posts)Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the
Utterly heartbreaking and vivid account of life and death aboard the cruise ship Zaandam during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. When passengers, most of them over age 65, streamed onto the Holland America ship in Argentina, they had only minimal concern about the novel coronavirus that was just starting to hit the news.
It was like a Stephen King novel.
Fiendish Thingy
(18,670 posts)Although the itinerary could have been better (didnt go North enough to see the best fjords, a couple of stops were wastes of time), the service, comfort and amenities were top notch. Only 800-900 passengers instead of the usual 2000-3000 on most cruises.
They have pared down their offerings due to COVID and the Ukraine war (no more stops in St. Petersburg), but they do have a Scandinavian cruise that goes to some of the better fjord areas (but not the best IMO, and that cruise doesnt go to Oslo either).
I would definitely recommend Viking, but encourage you to research the itineraries beforehand, and not just trust the description of the stops by the cruise line.
TeamProg
(6,630 posts)through Prague, Germany and France and really liked it.
No complaints from my B I L who would complain about accommodations given the chance.
Mme. Defarge
(8,559 posts)Disappointed that we couldnt continue on the Rhine due to extremely low water levels. Viking, however, did its best to work around the problem. And no complaints about the accommodations or the food or the service.
RamblingRose
(1,098 posts)RamblingRose
(1,098 posts)On one of their cruises. Im just starting my research.
KarenS
(4,667 posts)They really liked it,,,, It was a river cruise and they would travel from city to city and enjoy the food and shopping in each one. This was 2018 or so.
Not my cup of tea, but they enjoyed themselves.
Ocelot II
(121,224 posts)and really enjoyed it - said the accommodations and food were excellent, he was really happy with the whole operation.
Staph
(6,353 posts)I loved it! I never wanted to take a cruise - I had visions of drinks with little umbrellas, crowds of people in sandals with socks, screaming children.
But Viking doesn't allow children, the river cruise ships only have 190 guests, and the atmosphere is laid back. The food reflects the local area; in two weeks I never had the same dinner twice. The walking tours in each port are led by knowledgeable guides in small groups, and you can choose to join a limited-mobility group, an average-mobility group, or an energetic group. Or you can just wander on your own.
I'd go again in a heartbeat!
RamblingRose
(1,098 posts)energetic group and I'd be in the average-mobility
lark
(24,280 posts)I've been on the Euro river cruises with Uniworld and had the Vikings ships pull up next to us. Their tours were so big while ours had 20-30 max and were so much better, more intimate. Viking does have some really good ocean trips in Europe, so if you want multiple countries these seem good.
RamblingRose
(1,098 posts)lark
(24,280 posts)We really have loved our 4 trips with them.
LNM
(1,129 posts)back in 2014 about 10 minutes before Russia got kicked out of the G8. I haven't done any other cruises so I can't compare but the service was good, food and guides were great. They're having some really bad PR issues with the Mississippi River cruise now with cancellations and poor customer service. I'd check out more current issues before booking with them.
lindysalsagal
(22,402 posts)It's the Viking Star, 900 people. Greek Odyssey. I hope I can find another woman to share the room with. They don't give a solo discount on VIking.
Randomthought
(897 posts)Istanbul to Athens. It was very nice and the shore excursions well done for the short time frame.
We have booked a Nile cruise for next winter.
surfered
(3,500 posts)Our only cruise, as we usually drive ourselves around Europe. We took their cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. I would give them high marks. Their guides are great. Food and drink was great. Only 190 guests on board, great! They got us upgraded air fare into London 2 weeks before their cruise and returning from Amsterdam at the end, great, as we made our way to Budapest independently .
Our only complaint was they use buses a lot to and from docking to the center of the towns and for excursions. By the end of the cruise, we caught Covid from the bus rides (we think) as we could hear coughing on the buss and the seats are closer than airplanes. We would take another of their cruise.
Theres a TV in your cabin which gives you tomorrows planned excursions. Every one on board, even their maids. speak English. Everyone is helpful.