Viking River Cruises

Our one disappointment was our trip to Vienna; we were in the "less able" walking group and despite many requests we did not once have the opportunity to sit and rest. However this was really the fault of the guide. Hasn't put us off taking another Viking trip this year.

Whilst we enjoyed our cruise and have booked another it's annoying to find that cruises to China are offered both earlier and with more extensive options to the USA. We would also like to have liked the 18 day cultural delights option but Viking for some reason don't sell this to UK clients. Not great customer service!

My husband and I have been on 2 Viking River Cruises, both of which we enjoyed. The first was on the Danube and the second, the Rhine. We both loved the Danube experience and would certainly recommend it to all potential travellers. The Rhine cruise however was taken too early in the year (the first week of the season) and we had to contend with cold, wet and windy weather at the start of the cruise - which wasn't the fault of Viking!! Unfortunately, my husband caught a virus at the start of the cruise which put a 'damper' on participating in all the events provided for the passengers. However, we have no complaints on either the staff/crew, the boat or quality of the food provided. Our next trip though will certainly be taken later in the year!

I will shortly be leaving on my fourth river cruise with Viking and so far I have nothing but praise for the company, it's staff and the selection of cruises available. As far as value for money is concerned I would say that up until 2014 it was excellent. However, to increase prices at a time when Sterling was appreciating against the Euro and fuel prices were falling, I would say that the last increase was much too high. The new Longships are excellent with the exception of the size of the French window rooms on the middle decks which are smaller than on the older ships. However, all in all we very much enjoy the experience.

We have had two Viking Cruises (Moscow to St Petersburg and China). What it says in the brochure is what you get - well planned programme, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff, excellent food.

At the end of March the weather in Prague was brilliant, as was the weather up to Magdeburg and Berlin. The cabin was excellent and the meals first class. The star of the show was Dresden, with so many beautiful churches and buildings in close proximity. The spectacular rock formation, called the Bastei, was truly impressive. Meissen was also interesting but we would like to have seen the firing of the pottery. We enjoyed the trip to Worlitz as it reminded us of National Trust houses and gardens in Britain, but it was at the expense of a visit to Magdeburg. We felt that when we departed for Worlitz, the boat could have moved on to Magdeburg, enabling us to return to the boat for lunch, and get a full afternoon in the town. It is worth a longer visit. Cecilienhof, in Potsdam, was a little disappointing as we stood outside the palace for an hour, listening to a lecture, but did not go inside. However, the trip to Sans Souci was excellent, especially for lovers of Baroque architecture. Our final stop was Berlin, and we chose to go to the Pergammon Museum. A worthwhile trip.

We have enjoyed two Viking river cruises very much, the Danube more so as we traveled through several very different countries and had more time on deck, where as Portraites of southern France was not quite so varied but still a good holiday. Staff and hospitality were of a high standard on both trips.

I have been on nearly all the Viking European & Russia River Cruises and found the standard of service and quality outstanding. My favourite would possibly be Waterways of the Tsars and perhaps my least favourite Heart of Bordeaux where I discovered I only need to see a limited number of vineyards.

We have now been on 2 Viking river cruises, The Danube and The Rhone both lived up to our expectations so much that we can't wait for November and our trip on The Douro. very pleased with everything about Viking.

The boats and on board facilities, the on board staff from the Captains, to the Tour Directors, the bar and restaurant staff, not forgetting the essential state room attendants and cleaners have been first rate. In addition the meals and the entertainment and off boat itineraries are of such a high standard...next week we embarque on our 4th Viking river cruise and expect there will be more to come.

My wife and I with 2 friends have just come back from your China cruise and we agree it was the best holiday we have ever had but full on. Our guide Oliver gave 110 percent to everybody. The hotels were top class. The ships crew made you feel part of the family. The food was exemplary on the ship and in the hotels and also the restaurants. We are thinking of doing a Viking river cruise next year Tony and Lorna Bragg

This was our fourth cruise with Viking and it was not one of the best. At the start our Eurostar train was delayed for 2hrs 45mins because of a problem with the Channel Tunnel. As a consequence we missed out connection from Brussels to Amsterdam and had to catch a later train. Our reserved seats did not apply and we stood for the journey. There was no one to meet us at Amsterdam station. We took a taxi to the ship. We were reimbursed for the fare. Another major disappointment was the change of itinerary. We booked this trip in particular to visit Paleis Het Loo. Our final itinerary showed that the sequence of sailing had changed so the palace was closed on the date we arrived in Arnhem. We enjoyed the trip and the rest lived up to the standards we expect from Viking.

Accommodation first class,staff and service excellent, food good, Destinations met expectations BUT Tulips and Windmills; one half day windmills and one half day tulips and a cruise through the commercial and industrial waterways of Holland.Did not compare with the attractiveness of last years cruise along the Rhone

so well looked after in a very personal way; we thoroughly enjoyed our ten days and found the tours interesting, the exception being Prague which was so crowded and we were tired at the end of the trip, I wonder if this could be replanned and if we could have had a more central hotel so we could have planned our own excursion more easily. The musical evening could should have been longer, they were a very good group. Excellent pianist. Thankyou, Joanna and George Cacanas.

Rhine cruise Amsterdam to Basel April 2015 on board Viking Kavsir. We really enjoyed this trip along the Rhine. This ship is very well appointed and comfortable. The food and service could not be faulted in any way as both were excellent and up to Vikings usual standard. The staff were well trained courteous and always pleasant and nothing was too much bother . Excursions off the ship were very interesting with Strasberg being one of the more memorable ones. Overall a relaxing and memorable cruise and one we might do again some time in the future and certainly with Viking

On board the Viking Forseti at Bordeaux the service was excellent, however our journeys, planned and arranged by Viking from Birmingham airport to Bordeaux and return via Amsterdam, were horrendous. We had the impression from Viking that there was no direct flight available from Birmingham to Bordeaux on Saturdays and thus suffered the journeys, starting from home at 2.00am and eventually arriving at the vessel a 4.00pm (5.00pm French time). On returning we left the vessel at 1.45pm and arrived at Bordeaux airport at about 2.15pm. Our flight back to Amsterdam was due to take off at 4.55pm. During this time waiting at Bordeaux we noticed that there was a direct flight from Bordeaux to Birmingham at 3.25pm. The flight was Air France flight number AF6530. It appeared that the Air France flight had combined with FlyBe flight BE1843 and utilised the FlyBe aircraft. This flight would have arrived in Birmingham at about 5.00pm(4.00pm) British time). Instead we had to go to Amsterdam and be subject to another three hour wait and yet another security check before finally arriving home at 11.00pm. With a little more investigation by Viking into the most convenient route to travel the stress and inconvenience of the journeys could be minimized. The other point we should like to make concerns the information in the Viking Itinerary Booklet (page 4) relating to "On-line check in" which states:- "This facility is available 24 hours before your flight departure time when specific seats can be selected---etc". We checked the availability of seats 48 hours before the flight from Birmingham and found that a large number of seats had already been booked and in particular the only remaining two seats together on the Bordeaux to Amsterdam flight included one seat with extra leg room for which we had to pay an additional £10.70 payment. The seats can therefore be selected at some time before the the flight and the statement in this Brochure is incorrect and misleading

We have been on 2 of your river cruises over the past 2 years - the Elbe in 2014 and the Rhone this year - both of which we found very enjoyable. On both occasions, the boats and crews were impeccable. On the Elbe I needed hospital treatment as I had developed a DVT on the flight to Prague, and the care I received on the boat was excellent. We shall certainly consider another trip.

I have had 3 cruises with you and have enjoyed each one enormously.The service has been fantastic .Also the company on board has always been very enjoyable.Being a single traveller these facts has made my trips with you so much better than others I have been on

This was a wonderful cruise until my husband took ill on the last day and the staff at Viking were most helpful I could not have managed without them they helped me to hospital and found accomadation near also booked my flight back after he passed away I will always be grateful thank you for a wonderful cruise and all your help Barbara Sherburn

My wife and I have cruised the Rhine with Viking in 2014 and Rhone/ Saone this year. We have booked to cruise the Elbe next year. Whereas we enjoy the entire experience, we regard the vessel itself as the highlight. We have found no fault with either vessel.