If visiting multiple cities in Europe is on your bucket list, I highly recommend a River cruise! Setting sail on a cruise along one of Europe’s iconic rivers gives you the opportunity to see several cities while unpacking just once and having a home base to return to each night.
I recently took my daughter on Viking’s Romantic Danube sailing. We started in Regensburg, Germany and visited Passau, Germany; and then sailed to Austria where we visited Krems and Vienna before ending our sailing in Budapest, Hungary.
I’ll share details about our ports in a separate blog. Today I’m focusing on what to expect on a Viking European River Cruise.
What’s Included
Life Onboard
As soon as you arrive to your ship, Viking’s crew is there to make sure your vacation is off to a great start. We were greeted by the program director who directed us to the incredibly easy check in desk. Check in took less than 5 minutes and then another crew member escorted us to our cabin.
All meals are served in the main dining room or the Aquavit terrace. You will be dining with other guests, unless you choose one of the few tables for 2 on the terrace. We enjoyed this aspect of the cruise as it gives you the chance to meet your fellow sailors, but if that doesn’t appeal to you, you can dine on the terrace.
The menus for breakfast and lunch are consistent throughout the sailing. For dinner, there is a standard set menu, as well as the featured menu that changes nightly based on the region. Everything was truly delicious.
In the evenings your program director will present information on the next day’s ports. There are also different cultural programs available on select nights.
On our sailing we enjoyed opera singers from Vienna, ballet dancers, a cooking demonstration and nightly music in the lounge.
In the evenings after dinner, we would relax on the Sun Deck and take in the beautiful scenery as we sailed to our next destination. If docked overnight, you can easily go explore the city.
On your final evening onboard, the program director goes over everything you need to know for disembarking the next day. The process is as seamless as arrival day. Crew pick up your bags outside of your stateroom and have them waiting for you at the shuttle if you are using Viking’s transfer service.
If you have a late flight, you are welcome to store your luggage onboard and continue to enjoy the ship or the port.
For guests extending their vacation with a post-cruise stay, your bags will be transported for you to your hotel.
For me, I just love the ease and convenience of seeing so many beautiful destinations while not having to sweat the details of multiple hotels and transfers. It really is such a relaxing way to see the world!
Journeys with Jen 