Dawn McKiernan, our Supplier Relations Manager, recently travelled as a guest of Viking on their Romantic Danube voyage aboard the Viking Tor. Here is Dawn’s Viking river cruise review.
Boarding and cabin:
Boarding our Viking river cruise in Regensburg Germany, we were welcomed as if we were family. The staff really are Viking’s biggest asset. They were very helpful and as we had already completed our preliminary boarding documents, it was a seamless check in. We were given our keys and one of the team showed us to our cabin and explained how everything worked.
On first appearances, the cabin was a tight fit for the two of us and our luggage but the great thing about a river cruise is that you only unpack once. We therefore fully unpacked our suitcases and once we had put our suitcases under the beds, we found that the room was functional with plenty of space for our belongings. There are lots of cupboards and drawers for your clothing and enough hangers for two people.
There’s also a safe, hair dryer and if you need it, an iron can be requested from housekeeping. There was only one power socket for charging stuff in the bedroom, although the one in the bathroom might also do.
The bathroom amenities are lovely and fragrant but not too overpowering. There are plenty of shelves for your toiletries. The showers are small but functional with plenty of hot water. The floor is heated which makes for a very warm room. We had quite a lot of rain on one of the days I went for a bike ride and my clothes were soaked. By turning up the floor heat in the bathroom, I had an instant drying room and my jeans dried within a day. Just remember to turn the heating down once you are done!
The beds were lovely and comfy.
Our cabin was on the lowest deck. These are the smallest cabins on the ship with windows that didn’t open, which meant the room got stuffy and getting the right temperature on the air conditioner was a challenge. I would recommend upgrading to a different cabin.
The best cabins are on the upper two levels. These cabins are spacious and either have a Juliet balcony with sliding doors for fresh air and great views or the balcony cabin which is slightly bigger again.
However, it would be up to your budget what type of cabin would suit you best. Keep in mind that most of the cruising is done at night so you don’t really miss that much if you are in a lower cabin as there are plenty of other spacious places on the ship to relax and take in the view.
The ship:
After we had unpacked, we explored the ship. The first floor houses the reception area and the dining room which was spacious with loads of light, lovely furniture and large windows to watch the scenery pass by.
The second level has the lounge area which again was welcoming, filled with light and very comfortable to relax and unwind, read a book or just sit and chat to other travellers.
Moving though the lounge brought you to the Aquavit terrace. It has an outdoor dining area with glass screens to protect you from the wind and shady overhead covers giving the feel of an outdoor cafe. This was my favourite area on the ship. It was such a great place to sit and enjoy an afternoon drink or canapé. Or as we found out, a lovely place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Moving around the ship is easy. There are three levels inside and then the roof top. The roof top has three different areas - the front of the ship, the mid-section with shade and relaxing lounges and sun-beds, a mini golf course.
I thought the ship was very cleverly designed – Viking have done an excellent job in making use of every square inch of the ship.
Food and drinks:
WOW! The food is exquisite and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We found the portion sizes more than adequate and the flavours fresh and delightful.
Breakfast is either from the buffet or there is an a la carte menu with a generous selection including eggs to your liking.
Lunch is three courses with two menus to choose from - the daily menu or the special menu of the day which showcased local foods typical of the region.
Dinner is again a three course meal with two menu choices - the daily menu which usually consisted of regular fare and a second option with the flavours of the region or chef’s choice.
Dessert is delicious and you have to have excellent willpower not to eat every dessert!
Beer, wine and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner and champagne is also available at
breakfast! However, if you like to sample the local wines or enjoy a cocktail or two, I recommend purchasing the silver beverage package. There is a very impressive menu for every taste and even a long list of mocktails. If you didn’t purchase the package, drinks could get costly quickly.
The bar is open all day and well into the evening, I believe they call last drinks at 11pm. The coffee and water station is complimentary, as are soft drinks, and open 24/7.
Viking cater for all dietary needs, however they do not offer Kosher meals.
There aren’t any restaurants as such on the ship. It is free seating so you can choose to eat your meals in either the dining area or on the Aquavit terrace. There are plenty of different size tables available so you can enjoy a meal on your own with a good book, sit with your travel companions or join a table and make some new friends.
Onboard entertainment:
After dinner, there is usually an event or show, depending on where you are docked. In Regensberg, we enjoyed a performance by a local opera singer and her group. While we were in Vienna, ‘Mozart’ visited the ship and told us his life story which included a performance by the onboard pianist (who was fabulous) of some of Mozart’s most famous works.
On another night, the staff transformed the dining room into a German beer hall with schnapps poured freely and on-tap beer. It was lots of fun for everyone. A local chef also hosted an apricot strudel cooking demonstration - with tasting!
We also enjoyed a couple of quiz nights which were very funny and the questions tailored for those onboard.
There’s a lovely library with a great selection of books and on many nights, there were informative ‘port talks’ where you learn more about the culture and history of the destination you’re currently in.
There aren’t any casinos or floor shows onboard nor are there any formal nights.
Shore excursions:
Walking tours are included in the cost and well-designed for all fitness levels – if you want to stop for a photo or an interesting shop window, there’s plenty of time to do so. There are also ‘whisper mics’ in each cabin – you hang it around your neck and plug your headphones in so you can hear the guide at a volume appropriate for you. I thought this was a great idea as everyone could therefore hear the guide clearly. The guides were fantastic – funny, helpful and kept everyone engaged.
Optional full day and half day tours ranged from tours to cities or other areas a bit further away, hikes, music tours, bike rides – all sorts of interesting activities. I recommend booking the activities when you book your cruise as they do sell out and some have quite limited numbers. Depending on availability, some tours were able to be booked with the concierge team aboard the ship.
I enjoyed two e-bike tours which were leisurely paced and mainly on bike paths. It was a really great way to see the countryside and little villages. I also went on a Behind the Scenes at the Lipizzans tour which is a walk through of the stables of the historic riding school of the famous Lipizzan horses.
The Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna was wonderful – we enjoyed free time to view the magnificent gardens & external areas of the Palace. We then had a great tour of the palace itself & learnt all about the people who lived in the place & their quirky lifestyle, along with the art and history of the building. It was one of the best things to do in Vienna.
Dress code:
My travelling companion was concerned about the dress code but Viking is relaxed and casual. Most people were wearing what they normally wear at home although some people did dress up a little for dinner – but no more than a nice top, shirt or dress. As mentioned above, there aren’t any formal evenings so you don’t need to worry about packing your ball gown or tux!
It’s important to mention that good walking shoes or runners are a must as Europe is full of cobblestones which can be quite dangerous, particularly if it’s been raining.
my Viking river cruise review summary:
What a wonderful experience! I was very impressed by the open spaces, the well-designed ship, the helpful and professional staff and the extensive and delicious cuisine on board. Viking offer a casual, down to earth style of luxury and would appeal to many people wishing to see Europe this way.
Keen to try a river cruise yourself? Contact our expert team to find out more or to book your river cruise.