ripaula

We had 312. Couldn't have been better! I do not recall any placemats at all, but perhaps I didn't care. Although I have no other river cruise line to compare with, I felt everything was top notch. Also, no odors.

Gahh!!! We did it! Just booked Emerald Waterway's Rhine Discovery for May sailing! AND we got free air! There's not too much info here on Emerald, since it's relatively new, but like all the others, for every four awesome reviews there's one stinko one. Got the cancel for any reason insurance, and most bad reviews for any river cruise seem to be water level related. So, hopefully we'll be able to find out about floods or droughts affecting water levels before we leave. :eek:

Thanks to all who offered advice!:rolleyes:

Thank you, one and all!! All information is being duly noted and going onto my spreadsheets! :)

Thank you!!

Thanks B. Cole! You named 3 cruise companies.. Do you choose by price or itinerary?

Hi ripaula.....I've done 8 river cruises all with Vantage....and of course I highly recommend them. They deliver a really good trip and everything is top of the line, but cheaper than Viking. All shore excursions are included with only a couple of optional tours that usually involve a chartered coach (with bathroom) admission to someplace unique, like a castle and often lunch in a restaurant. Plus they have free wine, beer and soda with dinner on most cruises and the food is excellent. My favorite cruise would have to be my first one, Castles on the Rhine, Amsterdam to Budapest, (now Cologne to Budapest) and that is tied with my last one, which was last month: Amsterdam to Basel, the Rhine and Moselle. Both have wonderful ports with lots of things to see and do and the scenery is magnificent.

Thanks Hydrokitty. What do you like about Vantage?

Wow.. thank you all! This is a big help. So glad I have this resource!!:)

We are considering our first river cruise and would like to ask this most basic of questions..

What was your favorite river cruise (and what cruise line)?

*If you've only done one and would highly recommend, please do!:)