Two things I forgot to mention: they give you 2 huge glass bottles of water in your room each day (and more on request) and there is also a mini fridge in the room. A couple of you asked in the comments so thought I'd pin that here!
Yes! Viking thinks of everything. Can’t go wrong cruising with them. Jen, you should inquire about booking a cruise and inviting your subscribers. We would have a great time 🤗
Viking was a dream for my wife and I last year. We did the Rhine RIver cruise through the Middle Rhine aboard the Viking Idun and it exceeded our already high expectations. We were shockingly upgraded to an Explorer Suite a week before we landed in Amsterdam! The suite is one of only two such suites per long boat and we were so appreciative of the free upgrade! From airport transfers to hotel bookings, Viking made it all seamless. The entire crew, from house keeping to Captain were wonderful! We enjoyed it so much that we booked this coming trip the day after we returned home. We are now booked for this very cruise in June of '25 and we are counting the days. Thank you for the wonderful review! It only makes the anticipation that much greater.
We’ve done numerous Viking river cruises…Bordeaux, Rhine, Rhône, Douro, Danube all the way to the Black Sea. First class, great service, comfortable accommodations, very good food.
We took Viking on the Danube from Nuremburg to Budapest. We have absolutely NO complaints. Didn't need a midnight snack but if we did, there were baked goods at the coffee bar. Excursions were well organizied and educational and/or scenic. The sevice was impecable. Sharing a table with perfect strangers turned out to be great fun. It seems that Viking, or river cruising attract a curious, educated person who is looking to learn more. Fantastic experience. If one was wanting anything, it might be more time in each port (exp: Vienna) But if one enjoys a taste of one of the stops, one can always go back on a later trip and stay there. In our case, we are going back to Vienna for a week. Thank you Jen and Viking!
We took the Viking Grand European cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam and “magical” is the word I used as well. We booked our own “pre and post” stays for a few days in both Budapest and Amsterdam and highly recommend that. Arriving a day or two early at the departure location meant we didn’t have to worry about flight changes and had some time to get over jet lag. At the time, we were 60 yrs old. We met couples we are still friends with. Highly recommend a Viking cruise!
Totally spot on with your review. As a travel advisor who specializes in Europe, I think river cruising is a wonderful way to travel. I too feel it’s magical walking off the ship into town. So happy you were able to enjoy with your son.
We did this cruise in 2022 and had a great time. Viking takes care of you for sure. Normandy was one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had.
Regarding the off-hours food issue: You need to grab a few cookies and pastries when they are present and bring them back to your room. It works and is free! That's how we solved the problem.
My husband has never been to Europe, while I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years 3 decades ago and traveled extensively. A river cruise sounds like a great choice for our first European vacation together in a couple of years. Thank you for this review!
Went on the Viking Cruise on the Rhine in April . Outstanding, wonderful, exciting, excellent. Loved, loved, loved it. Going on another for Thanksgiving. It’s called the Danube Waltz. The service was incredible.
dearest jen, i’ve been recently disappointed by the attitudes and behaviour of another travel creator i had previously enjoyed, so i cannot tell you how much it means to me to watch videos from someone with as much honesty and integrity as you. so happy you had such a wonderful time away with will xx
Avalon and tauck are the two river cruises I have done. Love love love river cruises. I’ve been ocean cruising my whole life but river cruises are just so special. We loved tauck so much we did a land tour with them to Hawaii and it was fabulous. I’m in my 30’s and the older age demographic didn’t bother me because I get along better with old people than my own age lol
We have done four Viking river cruises and never found ourselves hungry! Full breakfast, lunch, dinner every day, supplemented with chocolate cookies and wonderful mini croissants and pastries resulted in about a 5 lb weight increase each cruise!
Please, please try AMAwaterways for your next cruise. Incredible service. Snacks several times a day in the lounge. 95% of excursions included. No need for beverage package. Amazing people. Will do our fifth cruise in May.
My husband and I have been on two Viking River cruises and loved them. We most loved the Grand European, Amsterdam to Budapest with extra days in Prague. So wonderful. You’ll love it. Thank you for your video today. Saw the unpacked video and found it helpful. When we cruised from Switzerland to France we stayed in Paris for a week and took a shopping tour. So cool to see a different part of the city and the shopping was awesome.
I have been in several Viking River cruises and absolutely loved every single one. They do service right. The excursions are well planned and the guides were all well-informed.
Nice video! My husband and I are in our late 30s and have LOVED Viking. We've done 2 river cruises and are about to take our second ocean cruise with them; We've had nothing but wonderful experiences ❤️
We just finished a river cruise on the Danube. It was fantastic in every respect. I must say, that I was never hungry or looking for a snack like you mention. You have a full buffet breakfast, as much lunch as you want, and then finish with a 3 course evening meal. We took an apple and a banana from the breakfast buffet each morning, if we wanted a snack.
My husband I went on our first river cruise on the Viking RA in Egypt. It is was specifically built to navigate the Nile, It was amazing! It Accommodating just 52 guests. You knew everyone by the end of the cruise. The room was large and beautiful and the food was great. We are booked on a Tauck river cruise The Blue Danube on the Ms. Savor long ship with 130 guest from Prague to Budapest. looking forward to seeing the difference between the two!
Went on a Viking river cruise in 2017 and had the best time. I do not drink much alcohol so people should know that you get free soda at lunch and dinner.
Hi Jen!! I'm so happy you had a wonderful trip on Viking River Cruises! I was a travel agent for many years and every client I booked on a Viking River Cruise itinerary returned to report that it was "MAGICAL"! So it came as no surprise to me that you described it the exact same way. River cruising is definitely on my bucket list. I haven't yet tried one.
My husband and I have been to 3 river cruises through Uniworld. All inclusive and service is impeccable. The laundry service is free if you’re a returning customer and you get other perks. We’re active so we are glad that there are many hiking and biking activities offered. Food choices are excellent, also.
My friend and I took the Paris to Normandy trip in 2019 and it was wonderful. It was our first Viking cruise and we felt as you did it was magical!!!!! So much fun to see the places we saw. The food and service is first class. ❤
River cruising is my favorite! I suffer from motion sickness so I avoid ocean cruising. Never been disappointed with my trips. I agree with you, get off the ship every day and enjoy the towns and the excursions.
Having been on 2 Viking River cruises before (with a third one scheduled for July), I thought you did a good job at covering the bases. The fact that it only has one restaurant is no big deal for us as there are so many choices of food. The space also gives a very intimate experience making it easy to make new friends, if you’re feeling social. 😊. We are hoping to do this cruise next year!
Hi Jen, We used Orlando Transportation by Mike for our last trip to Disney World. Everyone was amazing. We had Stella going and Justin coming back. So easy and comfortable. Thank you for mentioning them.
Thanks for this wonderful review! I will be going on a Danube one next year and you actually answered a lot of the questions I had! Indeed it seems a lot more relaxed than ocean cruise!
Monique I honestly cannot express how chill it was. For me, trips to Europe have always meant STRESS (fun and culture but stress) and this completely eliminated all of that!
Loved your review and that you traveled with your son. I will travel with mine too, and think is a great gift to give that kind of memory to see beautiful places together. I look forward to your other videos as I subscribed. Thank you.
We have taken two river cruises so far. Our third is in October. We just completed a Rhine River cruise. Love this mode of travel. We especially love, as you did, the villages we had access to. Keep travelling and sharing!
Thank you for doing such an excellent job describing river cruising. We've done 14 and we want to point out that there are a number of river cruise lines. We especially like Avalon and Ama Waterways. Avalon has more excursion choices, many of which are geared to more active travelers. Ama Waterways is more luxurious. As you said, your true balcony stateroom was small but very nice. Again, be aware that the other almost 50% of staterooms are French Balcony which are much smaller. Happy cruising to everyone!
So very excited for this video. My husband and I have been considering a river cruise for years. I appreciate all of your advice, observations, and input.
We did this very cruise over Labor Day in 2023 on the Viking Kari. It was the best trip I’ve had so far. We loved everything about it. My favorite part was the excursion to Honfleur.
Hello Jen! I am booked on a Viking River cruise to visit the Christmas markets this December. I will be traveling with my 22 year old son. I already told him he would most likely be the youngest person on board and he is fine with that. The Christmas markets are on our bucket list and I thought this would be the most hassle free way to visit numerous markets. We leave from Amsterdam and finish in Basel. We have been on many ocean cruises and this is our first river cruise. A few observations so far are that once you make your reservation with a mere $50.00, you only have 30 days to pay the full fare! Since the Christmas Market sailings book up very early, we had to pay the full fare over a year in advance! Also, since it is a one way trip it appears we will have to buy one way airfare tickets which are considerably more expensive. We are working on that and figure this once in a lifetime trip will be worth it. One last observation is that the cabin you had wasn't the smallest one! The cabins below you have a window that is at the water line. They refer to them as the Swan cabins as you see swans swim by your window! As a lover of balcony cabins, I opted for a balcony cabin, even though it will be winter. The "swan" cabins are so small that you cannot even fit a small chair in them, there is only a stool that tucks into the vanity. I really need a chair to sit on as I am not comfortable sitting on the bed to watch tv, read, etc. Just a few observations, I know we are going to have a FANTASTIC time. Thanks for the tip on snacks. We will be sure to pick some up in Amsterdam!
We did the Christmas cruise and you don't have to worry about being hungry. You'll eat a lot at the Christmas markets if you want to. We would buy cookies to bring back and roast nuts, etc.. We had a balcony too and it was fun to step out and see the locks up close. If you are a foodie, bring a checked bag. We bought home a ton of liquor (apricot--- so good and they give samples out) and vinegars.
Also, contact Viking regarding your air arrangements. Many trips have airfare included and are round trip flying into your starting city and returning from your final destination. Airport transfers are also included and arranged for you. I have done 2 Viking River cruises and a 3rd coming up June 1.
I loved this Viking cruise! The only time there isn’t food laid out is between maybe 10pm and 6am, and even during those hours they would have brought to your cabin a snack if you had asked. I used to take a cookie or pastry from the snack area every evening right after dinner, and I was never hungry during the cruise!!
Great review! Hubby and I are doing the Rhine Getaway in August and as a new traveler to Europe I can’t be more excited to see it from this type of accommodation. Loved that you enjoyed it so much and that you and your son got such a special vacation together. Kudos to Viking for hosting such an astute traveler like you. Love all your videos and I always look forward to watching them.
Nice you got hosted for a cruise. We did Viking Christmas Market cruise and enjoyed it. Not sure if I'd do a Christmas cruise again but would do a river cruise. Most of our ports you either walked to the Christmas Market or shuttled in. We noticed almost immediately they put the younger people on the bus furthest way. I thought it was very thoughtful of them to think of that detail. So, the passengers with walkers, etc.. were on the very first shuttle off the ship. Luckily, we didn't have that food issue since we ate and ate at all the Christmas markets, but I can see how that would be different. We met some wonderful people on our cruise and we are friends with them on Facebook. Everyone was very nice. Your cruise looked very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Another great video. Thanks so much for your honest reviews done with tact and grace. So glad you got to spend time with your son. He's a lucky boy to have such an awesome Mom. Really enjoyed it. ❤
I really enjoyed your video. My friend and I enjoyed a trip to Paris several years ago, staying in a VRBO for 2 weeks. Now, as I am 80, that did not appeal so much, and we have discussed river (and ocean) cruises. I just shared your Viking review with her as we further our contemplating. Thanks for your insights.
My wife wants to see the next eclipse in Spain 2026. Unlikely that we could pair it with a Holland America cruise efficiently in the med, so I just booked our first Viking River cruise this very morning, Germany to Hungary. Great info, we'll buy German snacks before we set sail! Looking forward to trying Viking Ocean occasionally too, when the price makes sense.
My husband and I have taken two luxury barge cruises in France on the C’est La Vie barge and loved them. Only 8 passengers and top quality everything! Privately owned and operated by a family who is on board to ensure everything is top notch.
In 2012, we did a Viking River Cruise in China. It was a slightly different experience. First, there was meals were offered at a certain time on the ship, we had the same coffee/ cookie snack bar. Second was we were broken up into groups of about 30 and during the 12 days you stayed with the same group touring each day. There were no choice of excursions, but we went down the Yangtze River, going to the Three Gorges Dam, seeing Pandas, also flying to Xian to see Terracotta Warriors to Beijing to see Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, the Great Wall. While some may have enjoyed travel like overall we had a great time. Within the group you tend to make a group of your own that might be in the similar stage of life as you. Also with that group in general you know which ones needed help, which ones that you needed to keep tabs on when wandering (my husband😬) we always had the same tour guide throughout the trip. There were only a couple of extras offered that was additional cost, a show and Peking Duck dinner. We did expect there was going to be additional flights involved. It was very well thought out during the whole trip. Sadly they do not offer this anymore. (Could it be because you boarded the Wuhan? )😬🤤😷
Hi from Switzerland! We have done 3 river cruises (we are in our mid 60s) with a swiss ship company: one from Porto, Spain on the Duoro river, one from Passau,Germany to Budapest on the Danube and a 4 day one for the Christmas markets on the Rhine. LOVE river cruising for all the reasons you gave. Cruising the Duoro is incredible with the scenery and we always spent 1/2 day cruising and 1/2 sightseeing. This trip included going through 10 or so locks, all during daylight, so that was a fun experience. The Danube also had locks but we passed in the night while sleeping. The rolling hills of vineyards, olive groves and cork trees during sooo many days in Spain was magnificent!
Jen. We recommend the Danube Waltze Itin in Viking. Just got back (added Budapest on the front end and Prague on the back end). Had a super time. Viking Aegir.
That looks like a lovely trip. We did a bike river cruise a few years ago and loved it. Perhaps because we were cycling, they feed us at every turn 😂 afternoon charcuterie, evening snacks on top of the main meals. The best thing about cruises (I've only been on two) is the floating hotel aspect. Not having to pack and unpack while you move between cities is ideal. We cycled by day, then the ship would sail in the evening and overnight or sometimes it would relocate while we cycled.
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge it was. And ours was a tiny boat, and almost all of us knew each other. An amazing experience I got to share with my best friend who was overtaken by cancer only a few years later. I cherish the memories.
I’m so glad Viking hosted you! We have a Viking sea cruise booked for next year and I feel like it’s not a company that most people consider when thinking of booking a cruise in our age range (40s). I feel like they’re such a great company.
So happy to see your review. We are going on a Viking river cruise for the first time next month in France. Really looking forward to it! Your input was so helpful. We definitely plan to spend time on our own exploring and just having lunch or dinner off the boat. We do not want to be booked with excursions all day. We will also have snacks handy in our cabin 😊
FYI- We just got back from the Viking Danube Waltz cruise and they also had fruit such as apples in different places on the ship each day. The meals were so extensive that we did not need to snack!
DAWN THIS EXACTLY. What I didn't love about my DCL mediterranean cruise is we were all (all 2800 of us) arriving at the same port at the same time. The much smaller ships (168 people small) means very little impact and you can just kind of hang out. I LOVED that.
Thanks for this terrific review, Jen! My husband & I are traveling to Prague (pre-cruise), cruise through Germany then end in Paris next month. This will be our first Viking cruise so appreciate your timely review. ~Melissa
Love Viking. Yes the cabin is small, but the light Scandinavian design…and visually seeing a balcony…thur large windows, makes it feel “airy”. Even the bathroom, with the swivel shower door…opens up the space. Very good design throughout the ship.
This post just showed up on my feed….I really wonder sometimes if the internet has bugs planted in our houses…I haven’t mentioned out plans to many people…we’re doing the Viking Budapest to Amsterdam cruise in November. This heightened my anticipation! Thanks!
I love Viking! We went on this cruise the week of Thanksgiving last year and had a wonderful time. Our first cruise with Viking was the Romantic Danube in 2019. Beautiful cruise!
I’m curious as to whether you felt you missed out on use of upper deck or outside dining on the boat in November because of colder weather. I’m considering a November cruise but am hesitant because of this.
@@charlenemartin7467 We did a bit. We loved sitting on the upper deck on our Danube cruise which was September 2019. The weather was definitely warmer. If we did it all over again we would go when the weather was better. But still it was a beautiful cruise. We went because it was a good price and we wanted to get away for Thanksgiving- do something different. We don’t regret it at all. We started to see some Christmas decorations and that was beautiful to see.
I booked the Rhine getaway on the Kara, excited but hesitant at the same time. I mostly cruise Royal Caribbean, they have so much to do, boredom is my worry. This was very helpful, I feel better about my decision.
First time to your channel. I have never been on any type of cruise, but this video has me interested. I had a chuckle at the thought your cabin was small. If you had been in some of the dormitories and military ship accommodations that I have experienced, you would have thought your cabin as spacious. It is all relative, right? LOL I like your presentation and the balance of information. If I ever take one of these trips, it will be because of you and the effort you put into your communication. I wish you a long and happy life!
we were in Paris at the same time! How fun! Thanks for documenting your trip. I've been hesitant to do a river cruise, but I'm thinking I might try one having watched this video.
I think a perfect trip would be a few days in Paris and then board the cruise for a week of the more scenic side of things. It was so relaxing and lovely!
Thanks so much for your review. We had a river cruise in the planning stages when COVID hit. We are now looking into going. We've heard mostly positive things about river cruising and I really feel I can trust your opinion. Since we're both in our 70's, this type of travel sometimes can be challenging but, we've wanted to do it for so long. Thanks again.
We completed the Rhine cruise 2 summers ago. It was incredible. It was our first European adventure. We went early to Amsterdam for a pre excursion. We regret not doing a post excursion in Basal. We will be doing the Danube cruise this summer. We are doing the pre and post excursions this time. We are looking forward to these adventures.
This was great! You answered questions that I didn't even know I had! We are big cruisers and recently, while in Amsterdam, we walked by a river cruise ship. It caused both of us to think that maybe this would be in our near future! Thanks in advance!
This was our first Viking cruise and I loved it and agree about the river cruising. I loved going to the farm and tasting the calvados. Le Peq is a nice docking location.
I'm so glad you did this review! I was on the fence about these river cruises and am totally up for one now. We leave for Normandy, France this Sunday and are doing a tour of the region via bus/ walking.....I now am excited to taste the Calvados! Thanks for the great review of Viking River cruises.
I mean this most respectfully, all Viking River vessels are boats, not ships. You can fit a boat in a ship, but not a ship in a boat. BTW. I LOVE your video. This is probably the 100th one I have seen and it is amazing!!! So much, that we booked. a Viking Cruise on the Rhine next month! Thank you.
Traci YES there were a few older folks who were making their first big Europe trip and it was perfect - no worries about the language barrier or not being able to find food they liked or concern about transportation, etc., so great for them and great for their grown kids traveling with them. Fabulous choice in my opinion.
Such a great review! First started looking at Viking after your ocean cruise with you mum. Ended up suggesting to others and my dad and his sister have done two now. Such a great cruise line and having your seal of approval proves that.
I really enjoyed your video! We have cruised on Emerald Waterways and did their 15 day Grand Eurorpean cruise....Budapest to Amsterdam. We had normally just taken bus tours but river cruising has become my favorite way to see Europe. We have and will still do that mode of travel but we have two river cruises booked for this year. One with Emerald and one with Avalon. Maybe we will try Viking after that. Loved hearing of your trip. We will be doing the Avalon Paris to Normandy in early fall. We have already been to Normandy so we are opting to see Monet's home and VanGogh's last place of residency instead. I'm so happy that you are informing people about how relaxing this mode of travel is. I just love it! Thank you for sharing!
Honestly, I had no idea how relaxing it would be! All of my previous trips to Europe have been lovely but somewhat stressful and this just felt completely different. Loved it and hope to do it again in the not so distant future!Thanks for watching!
Great review and covers things others don’t consider. Having somewhere else to sit whilst another person gets ready is a great shout. The snack thing is also really useful to know. So many people, particularly my husband get peckish at night. More so in Europe I find so surprising no snacks on board
We took this cruise in 2021 the first Welcome Back after COVID. First passengers on a new ship, the Forgyn. So nice to revisit this itinerary! Great review & lots of great information!
Great review! I agree with everything you said. Recently took Viking 15-day Grand European cruise with extensions in Amsterdam and Prague and would highly recommend doing so to others. We also paid for several smaller excursions that were well worth the expense. Snack issue was identified early on in the cruise and rectified by shopping in the open air markets for wonderful fruit, bread and pastries. Such a treat! We have 15 Disney cruises under our belt but my husband and I have already booked a Viking Ocean cruise for 2025. Looking forward to the Viking ocean experience!
We have river cruised the past few years in Europe. It truly is magical! It was so relaxed and planned out. That is how we like our tours. We are getting ready to do 2 big ship cruises this summer. There is so much more pre-planning that go into those cruises. I look forward to the end of the summer to decide what type of cruise I like better. But then again, they are 2 different species!😊
Jen. Thank you for your review. My husband and i did the budapest cruise, loved it and immediately booked the normandy cruise.. however covid hit and we had to cancel twice. I have hesitated to bookagain, i am 77 and my husband is 81. Thankfully we are in both pretty healthy and with your great review have made me decide to book again and make this trip happen. I think it is really meant to be because this is the first time i have ever watched one your vlogs, thank you so much. Nk
Jen, So glad you enjoyed your river cruise! Weve been on several and love them, as well as ocean cruising. Our favorite was Vietnam and Cambodia, a combo of land and river. What an experience!! The 14 day Grand from Budapest to Amsterdam was also fantastic!
Belli Jenn and thank you for the nice views of the Region. My ancestors on my father’s side of the family came from Rouen and I still have to visit! Been once in France 5 days.
Marie you must go! I have to tell you, I liked it maybe better than Paris! So many smaller and amazing museums, great food, and the people were SO friendly and lovely!
We always go through a travel agent as I refuse to make connections in the US, especially on the way home; absolute nightmare. Viking doesn’t always have good flights, unless you leave from an airport on the Eastern Seaboard. I’m in Denver which makes flight connections a bit more complicated. We had one of the two suites in the aft, which was wonderful, and quite expensive. We did the Danube Waltz, from Passau, Germany to Budapest. Viking is really one of the best! Ocean cruise next, Athens to Rome, and I can’t wait.
We just came home from a Viking cruise on the Danube - lack of any kind of snack, and few evening activities were my biggest issues (which wasn't much, and yes, we stopped and got some snacks in some of the towns. Aldi (Hofer) is everywhere in Germany and Austria.).
Two things I forgot to mention: they give you 2 huge glass bottles of water in your room each day (and more on request) and there is also a mini fridge in the room. A couple of you asked in the comments so thought I'd pin that here!
Yes! Viking thinks of everything. Can’t go wrong cruising with them. Jen, you should inquire about booking a cruise and inviting your subscribers. We would have a great time 🤗
Viking was a dream for my wife and I last year. We did the Rhine RIver cruise through the Middle Rhine aboard the Viking Idun and it exceeded our already high expectations. We were shockingly upgraded to an Explorer Suite a week before we landed in Amsterdam! The suite is one of only two such suites per long boat and we were so appreciative of the free upgrade! From airport transfers to hotel bookings, Viking made it all seamless. The entire crew, from house keeping to Captain were wonderful! We enjoyed it so much that we booked this coming trip the day after we returned home. We are now booked for this very cruise in June of '25 and we are counting the days. Thank you for the wonderful review! It only makes the anticipation that much greater.
I love to hear it! Have fun planning for your next adventure!
We’ve done numerous Viking river cruises…Bordeaux, Rhine, Rhône, Douro, Danube all the way to the Black Sea. First class, great service, comfortable accommodations, very good food.
We took Viking on the Danube from Nuremburg to Budapest. We have absolutely NO complaints. Didn't need a midnight snack but if we did, there were baked goods at the coffee bar. Excursions were well organizied and educational and/or scenic. The sevice was impecable. Sharing a table with perfect strangers turned out to be great fun. It seems that Viking, or river cruising attract a curious, educated person who is looking to learn more. Fantastic experience. If one was wanting anything, it might be more time in each port (exp: Vienna) But if one enjoys a taste of one of the stops, one can always go back on a later trip and stay there. In our case, we are going back to Vienna for a week. Thank you Jen and Viking!
We took the Viking Grand European cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam and “magical” is the word I used as well. We booked our own “pre and post” stays for a few days in both Budapest and Amsterdam and highly recommend that. Arriving a day or two early at the departure location meant we didn’t have to worry about flight changes and had some time to get over jet lag. At the time, we were 60 yrs old. We met couples we are still friends with. Highly recommend a Viking cruise!
Oh I love hearing that!
Ahh ~! That sounds so- good !! 👍👍😍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
Deb here. We did the exact same trip and agree it was magical.
Totally spot on with your review. As a travel advisor who specializes in Europe, I think river cruising is a wonderful way to travel. I too feel it’s magical walking off the ship into town. So happy you were able to enjoy with your son.
Memories that will last a lifetime!
No snacking between meals ! That’s how the French stay so slim 🤩
We did this cruise in 2022 and had a great time. Viking takes care of you for sure. Normandy was one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had.
Regarding the off-hours food issue: You need to grab a few cookies and pastries when they are present and bring them back to your room. It works and is free! That's how we solved the problem.
We already have snacks packed to fill the late night munchies!
My husband has never been to Europe, while I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years 3 decades ago and traveled extensively. A river cruise sounds like a great choice for our first European vacation together in a couple of years. Thank you for this review!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
I think that'll be a wonderful, memorable travel !! 👍👍😍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
Went on the Viking Cruise on the Rhine in April . Outstanding, wonderful, exciting, excellent. Loved, loved, loved it. Going on another for Thanksgiving. It’s called the Danube Waltz. The service was incredible.
dearest jen, i’ve been recently disappointed by the attitudes and behaviour of another travel creator i had previously enjoyed, so i cannot tell you how much it means to me to watch videos from someone with as much honesty and integrity as you. so happy you had such a wonderful time away with will xx
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Avalon and tauck are the two river cruises I have done. Love love love river cruises. I’ve been ocean cruising my whole life but river cruises are just so special. We loved tauck so much we did a land tour with them to Hawaii and it was fabulous. I’m in my 30’s and the older age demographic didn’t bother me because I get along better with old people than my own age lol
I'm glad you mentioned Tauck! I'm now looking at their Japan tour packages.
Love Love Love Tauck Tours done their River cruises and land tours. Going again this summer
Tauck is awesome ! We love them but they are pricey.
@@lei1474 As another commenter noted, Tauck is pricey, but it is first class all the way. They do an excellent job of curating a trip/tour.
Jen, I’m so delighted you were hosted! I know you will always tell the truth, hosted or not! What a great memory for you and your son!
It truly was such an amazing experience and THANK YOU!
We have done four Viking river cruises and never found ourselves hungry! Full breakfast, lunch, dinner every day, supplemented with chocolate cookies and wonderful mini croissants and pastries resulted in about a 5 lb weight increase each cruise!
Please, please try AMAwaterways for your next cruise. Incredible service. Snacks several times a day in the lounge. 95% of excursions included. No need for beverage package. Amazing people. Will do our fifth cruise in May.
We have booked 2 & 3 cruises for this year, Emerald & Avalon, but would love to try Amawaterways as well as Viking. Glad to hear a recommendation!
@@pamelawooden6012 And try our favorite, Uniworld.
I have done 2 AMA European river cruises. Couldn't agree more.
My husband and I have been on two Viking River cruises and loved them. We most loved the Grand European, Amsterdam to Budapest with extra days in Prague. So wonderful. You’ll love it. Thank you for your video today. Saw the unpacked video and found it helpful. When we cruised from Switzerland to France we stayed in Paris for a week and took a shopping tour. So cool to see a different part of the city and the shopping was awesome.
I have been in several Viking River cruises and absolutely loved every single one. They do service right. The excursions are well planned and the guides were all well-informed.
Nice video! My husband and I are in our late 30s and have LOVED Viking. We've done 2 river cruises and are about to take our second ocean cruise with them; We've had nothing but wonderful experiences ❤️
We just finished a river cruise on the Danube. It was fantastic in every respect. I must say, that I was never hungry or looking for a snack like you mention. You have a full buffet breakfast, as much lunch as you want, and then finish with a 3 course evening meal. We took an apple and a banana from the breakfast buffet each morning, if we wanted a snack.
Good for you Frank!
Oh,yeah -! Danube !! Danube river or Rhine river are the ones I want to go on river cruises !!! I am so jealous if you ~!! Lol. 😍👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶⛴️💞
@@spark_6710 the cruise was an absolute highlight of our holidays. Beg, borrow or steal, but do one.
@frankdenison5819 😍😍👍👍I get excited by reading this !!Thank you so much for your reply !! 💜
My husband I went on our first river cruise on the Viking RA in Egypt. It is was specifically built to navigate the Nile, It was amazing! It Accommodating just 52 guests. You knew everyone by the end of the cruise. The room was large and beautiful and the food was great. We are booked on a Tauck river cruise The Blue Danube on the Ms. Savor long ship with 130 guest from Prague to Budapest. looking forward to seeing the difference between the two!
The Nile is absolutely on our bucket list!!!
Went on a Viking river cruise in 2017 and had the best time. I do not drink much alcohol so people should know that you get free soda at lunch and dinner.
Hi Jen!! I'm so happy you had a wonderful trip on Viking River Cruises! I was a travel agent for many years and every client I booked on a Viking River Cruise itinerary returned to report that it was "MAGICAL"! So it came as no surprise to me that you described it the exact same way. River cruising is definitely on my bucket list. I haven't yet tried one.
People told me but I don't think I really got it? Now I do! Can't wait to do it again!
What a lovely review! Your commentary made it seem even more magical! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
What a great way to explore France. Really appealing arriving at small villages and being able to take in the local life ! What a trip !
I found places I will DEFINITELY return to (like Rouen) that I had never even heard of! Amazing trip.
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge ❤️
My husband and I have been to 3 river cruises through Uniworld. All inclusive and service is impeccable. The laundry service is free if you’re a returning customer and you get other perks. We’re active so we are glad that there are many hiking and biking activities offered. Food choices are excellent, also.
My friend and I took the Paris to Normandy trip in 2019 and it was wonderful. It was our first Viking cruise and we felt as you did it was magical!!!!! So much fun to see the places we saw. The food and service is first class. ❤
YES and I didn't even really get into the customer service but it was impeccable! Can't wait to sail with them again.
River cruising is my favorite! I suffer from motion sickness so I avoid ocean cruising. Never been disappointed with my trips. I agree with you, get off the ship every day and enjoy the towns and the excursions.
I’ve never felt so relaxed in Europe ❤
Having been on 2 Viking River cruises before (with a third one scheduled for July), I thought you did a good job at covering the bases. The fact that it only has one restaurant is no big deal for us as there are so many choices of food. The space also gives a very intimate experience making it easy to make new friends, if you’re feeling social. 😊. We are hoping to do this cruise next year!
Hi Jen, We used Orlando Transportation by Mike for our last trip to Disney World. Everyone was amazing. We had Stella going and Justin coming back. So easy and comfortable. Thank you for mentioning them.
Oh I love hearing that! Using them in a few weeks!
We just finished our 12 th Viking cruise. Love everything about them. Going on the Egypt cruise in September. Glad you enjoyed it. God bless.
Love, love river cruising. Never getting on a big boat again. Thanks for the tips.
We just made reservations to take this trip based on your two videos! Can’t wait!!
It’s truly a wonderful itinerary - I’m so happy for you!!
Thanks for this wonderful review! I will be going on a Danube one next year and you actually answered a lot of the questions I had! Indeed it seems a lot more relaxed than ocean cruise!
Monique I honestly cannot express how chill it was. For me, trips to Europe have always meant STRESS (fun and culture but stress) and this completely eliminated all of that!
A Viking river cruise is going to be my first trip when kiddos are in college! It looks so relaxing and perfect.
Ashlee you will love it! It’s just lovely and cozy and yet look we are in France!
Loved your review and that you traveled with your son. I will travel with mine too, and think is a great gift to give that kind of memory to see beautiful places together. I look forward to your other videos as I subscribed. Thank you.
Welcome and thank you!! Lifetime memories for sure!
We have taken two river cruises so far. Our third is in October. We just completed a Rhine River cruise. Love this mode of travel. We especially love, as you did, the villages we had access to. Keep travelling and sharing!
Thank you so much, Pamela!
Thank you for doing such an excellent job describing river cruising. We've done 14 and we want to point out that there are a number of river cruise lines. We especially like Avalon and Ama Waterways. Avalon has more excursion choices, many of which are geared to more active travelers. Ama Waterways is more luxurious. As you said, your true balcony stateroom was small but very nice. Again, be aware that the other almost 50% of staterooms are French Balcony which are much smaller. Happy cruising to everyone!
So very excited for this video. My husband and I have been considering a river cruise for years. I appreciate all of your advice, observations, and input.
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for the kind words, Robin!
We did this very cruise over Labor Day in 2023 on the Viking Kari. It was the best trip I’ve had so far. We loved everything about it. My favorite part was the excursion to Honfleur.
I’m so glad you had fun!
Hello Jen! I am booked on a Viking River cruise to visit the Christmas markets this December. I will be traveling with my 22 year old son. I already told him he would most likely be the youngest person on board and he is fine with that. The Christmas markets are on our bucket list and I thought this would be the most hassle free way to visit numerous markets. We leave from Amsterdam and finish in Basel. We have been on many ocean cruises and this is our first river cruise. A few observations so far are that once you make your reservation with a mere $50.00, you only have 30 days to pay the full fare! Since the Christmas Market sailings book up very early, we had to pay the full fare over a year in advance! Also, since it is a one way trip it appears we will have to buy one way airfare tickets which are considerably more expensive. We are working on that and figure this once in a lifetime trip will be worth it. One last observation is that the cabin you had wasn't the smallest one! The cabins below you have a window that is at the water line. They refer to them as the Swan cabins as you see swans swim by your window! As a lover of balcony cabins, I opted for a balcony cabin, even though it will be winter. The "swan" cabins are so small that you cannot even fit a small chair in them, there is only a stool that tucks into the vanity. I really need a chair to sit on as I am not comfortable sitting on the bed to watch tv, read, etc. Just a few observations, I know we are going to have a FANTASTIC time. Thanks for the tip on snacks. We will be sure to pick some up in Amsterdam!
I will tell you our cruise director, Mia, did an amazing job of making Will feel at home and he really did have a good time!
We did the Christmas cruise and you don't have to worry about being hungry. You'll eat a lot at the Christmas markets if you want to. We would buy cookies to bring back and roast nuts, etc.. We had a balcony too and it was fun to step out and see the locks up close. If you are a foodie, bring a checked bag. We bought home a ton of liquor (apricot--- so good and they give samples out) and vinegars.
Also, contact Viking regarding your air arrangements. Many trips have airfare included and are round trip flying into your starting city and returning from your final destination. Airport transfers are also included and arranged for you. I have done 2 Viking River cruises and a 3rd coming up June 1.
I loved this Viking cruise! The only time there isn’t food laid out is between maybe 10pm and 6am, and even during those hours they would have brought to your cabin a snack if you had asked. I used to take a cookie or pastry from the snack area every evening right after dinner, and I was never hungry during the cruise!!
Great review! Hubby and I are doing the Rhine Getaway in August and as a new traveler to Europe I can’t be more excited to see it from this type of accommodation. Loved that you enjoyed it so much and that you and your son got such a special vacation together. Kudos to Viking for hosting such an astute traveler like you. Love all your videos and I always look forward to watching them.
What a kind comment! Thank you! And I hope you have a beautiful vacation.
Nice you got hosted for a cruise. We did Viking Christmas Market cruise and enjoyed it. Not sure if I'd do a Christmas cruise again but would do a river cruise. Most of our ports you either walked to the Christmas Market or shuttled in. We noticed almost immediately they put the younger people on the bus furthest way. I thought it was very thoughtful of them to think of that detail. So, the passengers with walkers, etc.. were on the very first shuttle off the ship. Luckily, we didn't have that food issue since we ate and ate at all the Christmas markets, but I can see how that would be different. We met some wonderful people on our cruise and we are friends with them on Facebook. Everyone was very nice. Your cruise looked very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Oh wow, such a great point. For the Christmas Markets cruise additional snacks would NOT be necessary. I've never been but I've heard . . .LOL
Another great video. Thanks so much for your honest reviews done with tact and grace. So glad you got to spend time with your son. He's a lucky boy to have such an awesome Mom. Really enjoyed it. ❤
You're so kind - I'm very lucky to have him as my kid!
I really enjoyed your video. My friend and I enjoyed a trip to Paris several years ago, staying in a VRBO for 2 weeks. Now, as I am 80, that did not appeal so much, and we have discussed river (and ocean) cruises. I just shared your Viking review with her as we further our contemplating. Thanks for your insights.
Oh I love that, Celine! Happy planning!
My wife wants to see the next eclipse in Spain 2026. Unlikely that we could pair it with a Holland America cruise efficiently in the med, so I just booked our first Viking River cruise this very morning, Germany to Hungary. Great info, we'll buy German snacks before we set sail! Looking forward to trying Viking Ocean occasionally too, when the price makes sense.
Now I want German snacks . . . .Thanks for the kind comment! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
My husband and I have taken two luxury barge cruises in France on the C’est La Vie barge and loved them. Only 8 passengers and top quality everything! Privately owned and operated by a family who is on board to ensure everything is top notch.
Wow that sounds amazing!
In 2012, we did a Viking River Cruise in China. It was a slightly different experience. First, there was meals were offered at a certain time on the ship, we had the same coffee/ cookie snack bar. Second was we were broken up into groups of about 30 and during the 12 days you stayed with the same group touring each day. There were no choice of excursions, but we went down the Yangtze River, going to the Three Gorges Dam, seeing Pandas, also flying to Xian to see Terracotta Warriors to Beijing to see Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, the Great Wall. While some may have enjoyed travel like overall we had a great time. Within the group you tend to make a group of your own that might be in the similar stage of life as you. Also with that group in general you know which ones needed help, which ones that you needed to keep tabs on when wandering (my husband😬) we always had the same tour guide throughout the trip. There were only a couple of extras offered that was additional cost, a show and Peking Duck dinner. We did expect there was going to be additional flights involved. It was very well thought out during the whole trip. Sadly they do not offer this anymore. (Could it be because you boarded the Wuhan? )😬🤤😷
Thanks for this video. I am one of those people who were on the fence about a Viking river cruise. Definitely going to go now!
Oh hurray!!
Hi from Switzerland! We have done 3 river cruises (we are in our mid 60s) with a swiss ship company: one from Porto, Spain on the Duoro river, one from Passau,Germany to Budapest on the Danube and a 4 day one for the Christmas markets on the Rhine. LOVE river cruising for all the reasons you gave. Cruising the Duoro is incredible with the scenery and we always spent 1/2 day cruising and 1/2 sightseeing. This trip included going through 10 or so locks, all during daylight, so that was a fun experience. The Danube also had locks but we passed in the night while sleeping. The rolling hills of vineyards, olive groves and cork trees during sooo many days in Spain was magnificent!
Jen, this looks fabulous! Now I have to put a river cruise on my list! Seems like it would be a good/safe way to travel as a single woman, too.
I didn't mention that but I thought it many times, Marisa. TOTALLY great for a single traveller!
Jen. We recommend the Danube Waltze Itin in Viking. Just got back (added Budapest on the front end and Prague on the back end). Had a super time. Viking Aegir.
Oh I love to hear it!!! Adding it to the list!
That looks like a lovely trip. We did a bike river cruise a few years ago and loved it. Perhaps because we were cycling, they feed us at every turn 😂 afternoon charcuterie, evening snacks on top of the main meals. The best thing about cruises (I've only been on two) is the floating hotel aspect. Not having to pack and unpack while you move between cities is ideal. We cycled by day, then the ship would sail in the evening and overnight or sometimes it would relocate while we cycled.
Oh my goodness that sounds lovely!!!!
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge it was. And ours was a tiny boat, and almost all of us knew each other. An amazing experience I got to share with my best friend who was overtaken by cancer only a few years later. I cherish the memories.
I’m so glad Viking hosted you! We have a Viking sea cruise booked for next year and I feel like it’s not a company that most people consider when thinking of booking a cruise in our age range (40s). I feel like they’re such a great company.
They were wonderful to work with on the PR side, too. I knew I liked them when I sailed the first time and this confirmed it! Great company.
So happy to see your review. We are going on a Viking river cruise for the first time next month in France. Really looking forward to it! Your input was so helpful. We definitely plan to spend time on our own exploring and just having lunch or dinner off the boat. We do not want to be booked with excursions all day. We will also have snacks handy in our cabin 😊
It’s really a smart way to do it!
FYI- We just got back from the Viking Danube Waltz cruise and they also had fruit such as apples in different places on the ship each day. The meals were so extensive that we did not need to snack!
Keep in mind I was traveling with a 25 year old young man. So YES food totally sufficient but we noticed the lack of snacks;).
I love Viking River cruises and can't wait to go on my next one! I have never felt so well cared for and the food was fabulous!
They really do an excellent job. This was my second time sailing with them (my other sailing was Viking Sea) and definitely won't be my last!
So it gives you more of a real experience of the different areas as opposed to a tourist trap at port and I love that.
DAWN THIS EXACTLY. What I didn't love about my DCL mediterranean cruise is we were all (all 2800 of us) arriving at the same port at the same time. The much smaller ships (168 people small) means very little impact and you can just kind of hang out. I LOVED that.
Thanks for this terrific review, Jen! My husband & I are traveling to Prague (pre-cruise), cruise through Germany then end in Paris next month. This will be our first Viking cruise so appreciate your timely review.
~Melissa
I know you will have a wonderful time!!
Love Viking. Yes the cabin is small, but the light Scandinavian design…and visually seeing a balcony…thur large windows, makes it feel “airy”. Even the bathroom, with the swivel shower door…opens up the space. Very good design throughout the ship.
Totally agree!
This post just showed up on my feed….I really wonder sometimes if the internet has bugs planted in our houses…I haven’t mentioned out plans to many people…we’re doing the Viking Budapest to Amsterdam cruise in November. This heightened my anticipation! Thanks!
I love Viking! We went on this cruise the week of Thanksgiving last year and had a wonderful time. Our first cruise with Viking was the Romantic Danube in 2019. Beautiful cruise!
I’m curious as to whether you felt you missed out on use of upper deck or outside dining on the boat in November because of colder weather. I’m considering a November cruise but am hesitant because of this.
@@charlenemartin7467 We did a bit. We loved sitting on the upper deck on our Danube cruise which was September 2019. The weather was definitely warmer. If we did it all over again we would go when the weather was better. But still it was a beautiful cruise. We went because it was a good price and we wanted to get away for Thanksgiving- do something different. We don’t regret it at all. We started to see some Christmas decorations and that was beautiful to see.
@@kathyazzarito5950 Thanks so much that’s good to know.
I booked the Rhine getaway on the Kara, excited but hesitant at the same time. I mostly cruise Royal Caribbean, they have so much to do, boredom is my worry. This was very helpful, I feel better about my decision.
You are going to LOVE. IT. I'm so excited FOR you!
First time to your channel. I have never been on any type of cruise, but this video has me interested. I had a chuckle at the thought your cabin was small. If you had been in some of the dormitories and military ship accommodations that I have experienced, you would have thought your cabin as spacious. It is all relative, right? LOL
I like your presentation and the balance of information. If I ever take one of these trips, it will be because of you and the effort you put into your communication. I wish you a long and happy life!
we were in Paris at the same time! How fun! Thanks for documenting your trip. I've been hesitant to do a river cruise, but I'm thinking I might try one having watched this video.
I think a perfect trip would be a few days in Paris and then board the cruise for a week of the more scenic side of things. It was so relaxing and lovely!
Thanks so much for your review. We had a river cruise in the planning stages when COVID hit. We are now looking into going. We've heard mostly positive things about river cruising and I really feel I can trust your opinion. Since we're both in our 70's, this type of travel sometimes can be challenging but, we've wanted to do it for so long. Thanks again.
I predict you will love it!!
We completed the Rhine cruise 2 summers ago. It was incredible. It was our first European adventure. We went early to Amsterdam for a pre excursion. We regret not doing a post excursion in Basal. We will be doing the Danube cruise this summer. We are doing the pre and post excursions this time. We are looking forward to these adventures.
Sounds incredible! Cannot wait for my next river cruise!
This was great! You answered questions that I didn't even know I had! We are big cruisers and recently, while in Amsterdam, we walked by a river cruise ship. It caused both of us to think that maybe this would be in our near future! Thanks in advance!
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. I am going on a river cruise for the first time next year. I am so excited. Love all the tips.
This was our first Viking cruise and I loved it and agree about the river cruising. I loved going to the farm and tasting the calvados. Le Peq is a nice docking location.
I'm so glad you did this review! I was on the fence about these river cruises and am totally up for one now. We leave for Normandy, France this Sunday and are doing a tour of the region via bus/ walking.....I now am excited to taste the Calvados! Thanks for the great review of Viking River cruises.
Just be careful - it's VERY strong and after a couple of sips I was feeling it! Have an amazing time!
You will love it, we just got back. Hope the weather holds up. Omaha Beach incredible.
I mean this most respectfully, all Viking River vessels are boats, not ships. You can fit a boat in a ship, but not a ship in a boat. BTW. I LOVE your video. This is probably the 100th one I have seen and it is amazing!!! So much, that we booked. a Viking Cruise on the Rhine next month! Thank you.
Well Viking themselves refer to them as LONGSHIPS? So that’s why I did. And thank you for the compliment!!
We’ve had great river cruise experiences with Amadeus/Lueftner too
Thank you for this informative and thoughtful review. A river cruise sounds like a great option for taking my father on his first trip to Europe.
Traci YES there were a few older folks who were making their first big Europe trip and it was perfect - no worries about the language barrier or not being able to find food they liked or concern about transportation, etc., so great for them and great for their grown kids traveling with them. Fabulous choice in my opinion.
Viking Rhine Getaway June 2024! Can’t wait! So glad you had this opportunity and thank you for your honest/candid review!
Of course and in June you will definitely have better weather then we did!
Such a great review! First started looking at Viking after your ocean cruise with you mum. Ended up suggesting to others and my dad and his sister have done two now. Such a great cruise line and having your seal of approval proves that.
Oh Shannon thank you so much! Your faith in me is so appreciated.
We did a lovely one with Viking last year in Portugal up the Doro taking in 4 days in Lisbon. Thoroughly recommend it.
That sounds heavenly. Scott has been wanting for me to see Portugal for years (he's been with work but I've never visited).
I love river cruises and thought you did an excellent job describing your trip. Thanks as always!
Oh thank you so much!
I really enjoyed your video! We have cruised on Emerald Waterways and did their 15 day Grand Eurorpean cruise....Budapest to Amsterdam. We had normally just taken bus tours but river cruising has become my favorite way to see Europe. We have and will still do that mode of travel but we have two river cruises booked for this year. One with Emerald and one with Avalon. Maybe we will try Viking after that. Loved hearing of your trip. We will be doing the Avalon Paris to Normandy in early fall. We have already been to Normandy so we are opting to see Monet's home and VanGogh's last place of residency instead. I'm so happy that you are informing people about how relaxing this mode of travel is. I just love it! Thank you for sharing!
Honestly, I had no idea how relaxing it would be! All of my previous trips to Europe have been lovely but somewhat stressful and this just felt completely different. Loved it and hope to do it again in the not so distant future!Thanks for watching!
Great review and covers things others don’t consider. Having somewhere else to sit whilst another person gets ready is a great shout. The snack thing is also really useful to know. So many people, particularly my husband get peckish at night. More so in Europe I find so surprising no snacks on board
Thanks so much Suzy!
A Viking river cruise is my dream. Hopefully once the last child finishes college we can go.
I hope that works out! It's the least amount of planning I've ever done for an incredible trip.
We took this cruise in 2021 the first Welcome Back after COVID. First passengers on a new ship, the Forgyn. So nice to revisit this itinerary! Great review & lots of great information!
Great review! I agree with everything you said. Recently took Viking 15-day Grand European cruise with extensions in Amsterdam and Prague and would highly recommend doing so to others. We also paid for several smaller excursions that were well worth the expense. Snack issue was identified early on in the cruise and rectified by shopping in the open air markets for wonderful fruit, bread and pastries. Such a treat! We have 15 Disney cruises under our belt but my husband and I have already booked a Viking Ocean cruise for 2025. Looking forward to the Viking ocean experience!
YES as long as you know the snack situation going in . . it's delightfully rectified! LOL
We have river cruised the past few years in Europe. It truly is magical! It was so relaxed and planned out. That is how we like our tours. We are getting ready to do 2 big ship cruises this summer. There is so much more pre-planning that go into those cruises. I look forward to the end of the summer to decide what type of cruise I like better. But then again, they are 2 different species!😊
I was so interested in the Viking River cruises and this clog answered so many questions I had. It’s now on my bucket list! Great review.
Oh I’m so glad you found it helpful!
This was helpful bcs we currently use Tauck which we love but have wondered about Viking.
Oh I'm so glad I could help! Thank you for your kind comment!
Jen. Thank you for your review. My husband and i did the budapest cruise, loved it and immediately booked the normandy cruise.. however covid hit and we had to cancel twice. I have hesitated to bookagain, i am 77 and my husband is 81. Thankfully we are in both pretty healthy and with your great review have made me decide to book again and make this trip happen. I think it is really meant to be because this is the first time i have ever watched one your vlogs, thank you so much.
Nk
Oh I love to hear it! Yes book the cruise!
This was my very first cruise of three river cruises with Viking and my very favorite!
Love love love Viking Cruise ❤ I have been on both the ocean and river cruises - and I love them both ❤
Just Wow. We've wanted to go on a Viking River Cruise for years, but life interferes. Now I really want to go.🤩
Oh I hope you can make it happen, Katy!
Thanks for this. I'd be grabbing some wonderful French snacks, cheeses and pastries before I even got on the ship. This looks amazing!
Not a bad thing in any way!🥰🤣
Also.. loved the self serve coffee machines! So much better than Nespresso or Kuerig machines.
In 2021,we took our first river cruise with Viking. The trip from Budapest to Amsterdam was wonderful! We are interested in the cruise that you did.
I am trying to decide what itinerary I want to do next!
Jen,
So glad you enjoyed your river cruise! Weve been on several and love them, as well as ocean cruising. Our favorite was Vietnam and Cambodia, a combo of land and river. What an experience!! The 14 day Grand from Budapest to Amsterdam was also fantastic!
Thanks for info. For us beer drinkers you can include some details on beer versus just wines as well.
Belli Jenn and thank you for the nice views of the Region. My ancestors on my father’s side of the family came from Rouen and I still have to visit! Been once in France 5 days.
Marie you must go! I have to tell you, I liked it maybe better than Paris! So many smaller and amazing museums, great food, and the people were SO friendly and lovely!
We always go through a travel agent as I refuse to make connections in the US, especially on the way home; absolute nightmare. Viking doesn’t always have good flights, unless you leave from an airport on the Eastern Seaboard. I’m in Denver which makes flight connections a bit more complicated. We had one of the two suites in the aft, which was wonderful, and quite expensive. We did the Danube Waltz, from Passau, Germany to Budapest. Viking is really one of the best! Ocean cruise next, Athens to Rome, and I can’t wait.
Excellent video. We are considering this cruise, and our video helped fill in gaps not addressed in Viking or travel agent videos.
We just came home from a Viking cruise on the Danube - lack of any kind of snack, and few evening activities were my biggest issues (which wasn't much, and yes, we stopped and got some snacks in some of the towns. Aldi (Hofer) is everywhere in Germany and Austria.).