River Cruises

[FJB]

....in Europe. Which cruise companies do you recommend for this? Why?  Please answer from personal experience. 

[PaulB]

@FJB Personally I haven't been on a river cruise, but it is definitely something I would like to do. If it's only the once I get to do this, then I would pick a sail through the Danube as it's goes through some of the countries I would like to visit such as Germany, Austria and Hungary. There is something magical about these countries, almost fairytale in its way.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@FJB I'm right there with Paul B. I wish I could offer some insight here, but I think a river cruise sounds amazing! What destinations are you looking at? Let us know what you end up discovering. It would be great info for a personal river cruise in the future! 

[FJB]

So my daughter was presented with an opportunity to do a 2 week Viking River Cruise this month. She is currently on the ship now, sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest, visiting Germany and Austria along the way. She called this evening to give an update - a much different experience than what she is used to with the big ships visiting the Caribbean and Alaska. Granted she is probably the youngest passenger on the ship at 23 with everyone else being 60+.  I think she is enjoying it but it has made me rethink taking one.  I don’t think she is convinced it is worth the money they command. Luckily she only had to pay for airfare and incidentals.   I will get the full report next week when she returns. 

[3Sisters]

@FJB It's so cool that your daughter was able to do a 2 week Viking River Cruise this month! These cruise ships are so VERY different from the major cruise lines. The major cruise lines offer a vast amount of amenities, especially for someone younger like herself. The areas she is visiting sound very amazing. So even if the ship isn't the best, the destinations totally are! You have a vast history of cruising. I would say, take a Viking River Cruise only for the destinations you visit and the itinerary. Don't take this cruise for the ship because it likely won't compare to some of the great ones you have been on!

[FJB]

1 hour ago, 3Sisters said:

@FJB It's so cool that your daughter was able to do a 2 week Viking River Cruise this month! These cruise ships are so VERY different from the major cruise lines. The major cruise lines offer a vast amount of amenities, especially for someone younger like herself. The areas she is visiting sound very amazing. So even if the ship isn't the best, the destinations totally are! You have a vast history of cruising. I would say, take a Viking River Cruise only for the destinations you visit and the itinerary. Don't take this cruise for the ship because it likely won't compare to some of the great ones you have been on!

If we do a river cruise now, I will put much thought in the itinerary. Maybe a Christmas market cruise, though I am a bah humbug type of person when it comes to Christmas. But I would score mucho points with my wife! 

[3Sisters]

@FJB I actually think that's such a smart idea! From a wife's perspective, doing special things like that definitely earn some serious bonus points. I haven't heard of a "Christmas market cruise." Is this just the traditional Christmas itinerary with a special meal and decor or is there more to this themed cruise? It sounds like a win-win. You get to cruise (ultimate vacation) and your wife gets to celebrate Christmas on a ship with a super relaxed husband! Does Viking have a Christmas itinerary that interests you?

[FJB]

On 7/25/2023 at 2:51 PM, 3Sisters said:

@FJB I actually think that's such a smart idea! From a wife's perspective, doing special things like that definitely earn some serious bonus points. I haven't heard of a "Christmas market cruise." Is this just the traditional Christmas itinerary with a special meal and decor or is there more to this themed cruise? It sounds like a win-win. You get to cruise (ultimate vacation) and your wife gets to celebrate Christmas on a ship with a super relaxed husband! Does Viking have a Christmas itinerary that interests you?

In Europe, Christmas markets are popular. I think there are River Cruises that highlight these markets. I haven’t really looked any Viking itineraries other than the one my daughter is currently on. 
 

Speaking of which, my daughter is really disappointed in the food quality and choices on this Viking River Cruise.  Yeah she’s only 23 and not really a foodie, but she knows good food when she tastes it. The much older friend she is with has the same opinion of the food onboard. This is really making me reconsider a River Cruise. I thought Viking was one of the premier cruiselines in this segment. Hmmmm

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@FJB A Christmas market cruise sounds so festive! As someone who enjoys all holidays, I think this would make for such a lovely Christmas experience. This could be the Christmas gift of a lifetime. I actually think this gift would be an object. I found some amazing Viking River Cruise Christmas itineraries. Now I want to book one! How long would you want to cruise for? The Paris to Prague one sounds really epic.

https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/christmas-market-cruises/index.html

That's a bummer the food quality has been subpar for her on Viking. Are the food options very different than the big-name, popular US-based cruise lines? How long is your daughter's itinerary? Hopefully, she gets enough options to eat off the ship and enjoy the culinary diversity of the places she is traveling to. 

 

[FJB]

5 hours ago, Kendall James-Vargas said:

@FJB A Christmas market cruise sounds so festive! As someone who enjoys all holidays, I think this would make for such a lovely Christmas experience. This could be the Christmas gift of a lifetime. I actually think this gift would be an object. I found some amazing Viking River Cruise Christmas itineraries. Now I want to book one! How long would you want to cruise for? The Paris to Prague one sounds really epic.

https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/christmas-market-cruises/index.html

That's a bummer the food quality has been subpar for her on Viking. Are the food options very different than the big-name, popular US-based cruise lines? How long is your daughter's itinerary? Hopefully, she gets enough options to eat off the ship and enjoy the culinary diversity of the places she is traveling to. 

 

It’s a 2 week itinerary. Since it’s such a small ship there is not as many options for food - either choice or venue. No all day ice cream or buffet bar - basically 3 squares a day. I got a picture of her eating at a McDonald’s in Germany one day so she is not starving!

[Cruising Caribbean]

@FJB No all day icecream and buffet is annoying, especially for a younger person who is used to that lifestyle! McDonald’s in Germany?! That is such a shame! I love German food; I hope she's able to find her way to some authentic food joints. Three squares a day doesn't entice me either. It sounds pretty lame. Two weeks isn't too long! I have faith she will make it through, but the line doesn't sound very great in terms of its food options.

[FJB]

My daughter looking for ice cream in Melk, Austria.  I think she had ice cream at almost every stop they made during her 14 day journey.  

 

 

[FJB]

Viking lunch menu

 

[FJB]

Viking dinner menu

 

[FJB]

Another lunch menu

 

[FJB]

And a breakfast menu

 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@FJB The menus don't seem too bad, but hopefully, they aren't just on repeat her whole itinerary! Also, they have to be prepared right, otherwise, it's a huge bust. The menus seem very "standard," nothing out of the ordinary. Does this cruise line do themed nights or fun food nights to sort of spice it up a bit? Also, the photo of your daughter getting ice cream in Austria is great. It must be so nice to know she's out exploring and having a grand time. Those are some serious stacks of cones behind her!

[FJB]

3 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB The menus don't seem too bad, but hopefully, they aren't just on repeat her whole itinerary! Also, they have to be prepared right, otherwise, it's a huge bust. The menus seem very "standard," nothing out of the ordinary. Does this cruise line do themed nights or fun food nights to sort of spice it up a bit? Also, the photo of your daughter getting ice cream in Austria is great. It must be so nice to know she's out exploring and having a grand time. Those are some serious stacks of cones behind her!

On the night of their last port in Germany, they did do a German food themed night.  Did not hear her mention any other themed nights.  Otherwise the menus were different each day, with a classics every night menu. 

[Dennis M]

Having been on five Viking cruises (3 river, 2 ocean) I can say the service level and quality of accommodation on Viking is far and above my experiences on more than a dozen other cruises. True, the river boats have rather limited food options and virtually no on-board entertainment. Those trips are about the destinations. One cannot expect any comparison between river cruise on-board amenities and those on an ocean voyage, especially on one of the larger ships. We have found the  food choices and quality to be excellent and they often try to include

choices featuring local cuisine.The median age does skew older though.

[Cruising Caribbean]

@FJB I missed this comment! The German theme night sounds pretty funny. I have yet to experience a themed night other than an Italian night onboard any of my cruise experiences. It all seems pretty standard. Since your daughter has been cruising for some time, she knows a good dining experience versus a bad one so I totally trust her judgment. 

@Dennis M Thanks for providing this personal insight. From my experience, I don't think the no on-board entertainment option would be sufficient. I enjoy the activity options on board, especially during sea days. I would be dissatisfied if there was nothing to do onboard the ship. The casino isn't usually a consideration of mine when I cruise either. If the food selection is limited and there isn't much entertainment onboard, I see how the crowd skews older. This is probably why younger guests who are used to the fun-based atmosphere of ocean cruises are a bit dismayed. I love cruising to special destinations but the cruise experience is so much more to me!

[LukeJ]

The German theme night sounds amazing. I love their food, and have a fantastic party spirit with plenty of alcohol. It's such a beautiful place to visit too, so to get the theme of that would be topnotch

[Cruising Caribbean]

@LukeJ You nailed it on the head. German themes embody the culture of party and having a great time. I wish there were more German nights onboard cruises. The German Pubs onboard area is always a popular evening spot, but I would love to see some MDR German-themed nights. The typical Italian night gets old. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Italian-themed nights, but switching it up could be a welcomed change. The 70s-themed nights seem a bit antiquated too. Jamaican or Caribbean style would be another appropriate-themed night on board. Maybe if I cruise outside of the Caribbean I will be exposed to better themed nights. A night in Paris would be lovely too! I guess I will need to cruise to Europe to find out if a better alternative exists. For now, I will just have to accept my White Night, 70s Night, and Italian Night themes for what it's worth. 

Are you the typical cruise guest who brings themed outfits? I do love to dress apart, but I'm not willing to wear/bring a costume to truly fit the look. 

[LukeJ]

@Cruising Caribbean agreed. Italian nights, even though are good, they have been done to death I believe and it's nice t get variations like German nights. I'd like to try Australian night, that might be a relaxing experience ha ha

[Cruising Caribbean]

@LukeJ One of the most annoying parts about the Italian night theme is that it's not even authentically done. I appreciate the tribute to Italian culture, but on more U.S.-based cruise lines it becomes very Americanized. If it was a more genuine theme, it could be more enjoyable. How would you expect an Australian night to go? It's hard for me to envision what that would look like. The only thing I can think of is Outback Steakhouse-style meals, and that's such a shame! I could go for some Australian wine though. I have had enough Limoncello shots in the evening of Italian nights.

 

[LukeJ]

@Cruising Caribbean maybe we should have a debate on here what you think an Australian night could be. Certainly a lot of wine corks as decorations and possibly a version of a barbecue is something we could start with. I have tried kangaroo steaks before, i think that could be something.