Viking Elegant Elbe - the good, the bad & the ugly!!

[burrma]

Nice to see this response from Viking; keep us posted.

[rosijim]

We gone on four Viking cruises. We have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Last fall (2012) we did a back to back. We took the Seine cruise from Paris and then flew to Berlin to take the Elegant Elbe cruise. We were on the Schumann.

 

We had the foresight to read the details and were able to get one of the larger rooms. We had more than enough space. The Schumann and Fontane are typical "Viking". Just a little smaller. The service, food, entertainment and excursions were what we are used to on Viking.

 

We held our breath on the water level. We made it all the way to Litomerice (the last port before Prague) before we had to board a bus for the last leg to Prague.

 

Viking could stand to update their policies on ticketing and paying for the trips. We had to pay in full over a year before the trip. We tried to change the date and they were not cooperative at all. So I can imagine that trying to get refunds or adjustments for shortened cruises would be quite frustrating.

 

Have not done a longship. Will do that in 14 or 15. But we are also looking at Avalon, Uniworld, and AMA Waterways.

[kfran]

I have been reading about the issues some have had with Viking and wish to relate our story. In April of 2010 we sailed on Viking's Windmills and Tulips cruise. This was our second cruise with them having done the Romantic Danube the year before. We had a wonderful 10 days, great tours and fortunate to have great weather. However, that was the time when there was a volcanic eruption in Iceland that stopped air traffic for days on end. On our last day we along with 3 other couples were taken to the airport, which had just officially closed. Pretty scary situation. The staff from Viking offered to take us back to the ship or you could get hotel vouchers. Two couples choose vouchers, we and the couple traveling with us headed back to the ship in Amsterdam. There were a number of other passengers who were still on the ship, needless to say many new passengers never arrived due to the volcanic ash conditions. Viking kept us on the ship and worked for days trying to get flights when available to get us home. In the meantime we were comfortable in our cabins with all amenities. We started sailing along with the few new passengers and when they were finally able to get us out, we and six others were given an early dinner and personally escorted on the train from Belgium back to Amsterdam, put up overnight on the Viking Legend and escorted to the airport the following morning. I can't say enough about how well we were all treated during this stressful time for travelers. We were on the Viking Pride one of the smaller ships. We were lucky enough to do the Danube Waltz Christmas Markets cruise, on the Pride, in December 2010 and got to travel once again with so many of the terrific crew on that ship. Needless to say based on our situation we are very loyal to Viking.

 

Karen

[burrma]

Wonderful to hear Viking went way beyond what was expected.

[TravelBugM]

Great story kfran. We too are Viking cheerleaders having had an extremely positive experience this past June. Looking forward to our Rhine cruise next year.

[burrma]

Awesome to hear; Hope I also become a cheerleader after our Danube cruise in three weeks.

PS. Love your profile picture

Thanks from another Canuck!

[jacksonnh]

Our story is similar to kfran. We sailed on the Seine with VRC in April 2010 and decided to spend 3 additional days in Paris pre-cruise on our own. We flew out of Boston Wednesday evening arriving at CDG early Thursday morning just as the air space was being shut down due to the eruptions.

Just a side note - As we were waiting for the Blue Van to pick us up and drive us to the hotel a young couple from the states were trying to make a flight out, gave us two museum passes good for our stay in Paris. We looked at each other and my wife said, "what a great way to start our trip" and it was. We stayed at a very small french hotel near the Louvre and caught a cab to the ship on Sunday. Second time in Paris and ready to go back.

We had not realized the severity of the eruptions until we got to the ship and were told by the crew greeters that there may not be many new cruisers showing up. When we got on board there were about 20 passengers who sailed the week before and could not fly home. There were others but they had a choice to stay in Paris in a hotel.

If I remember correctly, there were about 44 total passangers on this cruise and as flights became available, Viking would drive those affected to CDG for their flight home. All in all, Viking did a great job and we ended up having a great cruise.

[Arizonasunshine]

Dear Arizonasunshine,

 

If we somehow missed your email and failed to follow-up – and it sounds like we did – then we are truly sorry for that error. We’re so happy to hear that you’ll be joining us on our Memories of Mandalay itinerary next year, but we’d still like to get a better understanding of the concerns from your trip in 2010. We hope you’ll consider contacting us again at TellUs@vikingcruises.com with your name and phone number so that we may have a member of our Customer Relations team call you.

 

January will be here before you know it and we hope you are looking forward to your upcoming trip! And we hope to hear from you soon.

 

Very best,

Viking Cruises

 

I sent a copy of my original e-mail to Viking. I received a call from Viking's Customer Service today. The Viking rep sounded sincere, listened to my concerns and suggestions. All in all I felt satisfied that my issues were heard and understood.

 

I have a much better feeling about my upcoming Viking trip to Myanmar.

[milling73]

Having read 100's of threads on CC it is very clear, anybody in there right mind should not use Viking or Scenic Cruise Co's, they will continue do what they have done in the past, treat customers poorly.

How much more need to be written for people to understand.

 

Peter..That is an untrue statement regarding Viking's Customer Service or Policy. We have made 4 sailings with Viking and had nothing but exemplary service from reservations through sailing. We had a booking cancelled because of a boat change, andand Viking allowed us to rebook at any date of choce with no change in price including airfare. And they included a cabin upgrade. Every email / request I've sent, has been promptly answered.

 

Look at their reservations that are filled months / year in advance, and by the number of posts from people who have taken multiple trips with Viking.

 

That alone should speak well of their service and trips.

[id est]

Peter..That is an untrue statement regarding Viking's Customer Service or Policy. We have made 4 sailings with Viking and had nothing but exemplary service from reservations through sailing. We had a booking cancelled because of a boat change, andand Viking allowed us to rebook at any date of choce with no change in price including airfare. And they included a cabin upgrade. Every email / request I've sent, has been promptly answered.

 

Look at their reservations that are filled months / year in advance, and by the number of posts from people who have taken multiple trips with Viking.

 

That alone should speak well of their service and trips.

 

I agree. Viking's customer relations team does a fantastic job! By the way here is a good thread about it:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1833337

[Arizonasunshine]

Peter..That is an untrue statement regarding Viking's Customer Service or Policy. We have made 4 sailings with Viking and had nothing but exemplary service from reservations through sailing. We had a booking cancelled because of a boat change, andand Viking allowed us to rebook at any date of choce with no change in price including airfare. And they included a cabin upgrade. Every email / request I've sent, has been promptly answered.

 

Look at their reservations that are filled months / year in advance, and by the number of posts from people who have taken multiple trips with Viking.

 

That alone should speak well of their service and trips.

 

Totally agree, my last experience with Viking Customer Service was exemplary.

[HDS]

Question about the Elbe River ships only. Can anyone tell me which end of the boat the engines are and if there is any engine noise in the lower deck cabins?

Also if the single beds are indeed stand-alone beds or Pullman style, i.e. attached to the wall and thereby to the bed in the adjoining cabin?

[burrma]

I haven't been on their ships yet but when I researched the lower cabins; I hear they were the nosiest. Ask me in three weeks, after we come back as my friends have a lower cabin.

[HDS]

Thanks burrma but I'm asking specifically about the Elbe River boats which are older, I think smaller and have a shallower draft that the swish new ones on the Rhine and Danube.

[hendenne]

Perhaps this Reply is already too late for you HDS? We have just been on the Fontane from 6 October to 13 October, Berlin to Prague.

Due to low water in the Elbe the two Viking boats have a flat bottom with a draught/draft of only 80cm. Thus the thrust is by water jets not traditional propellers so maybe engine noise is less. The water jets make for great manoeuvrability when docking/turning.

We were in one of the 8 'suites' on the upper floor and the engine noise was perceptible when moving at night so light sleepers beware. It was not a heavy throbbing but enough to wake me.

So, yes you will hear engine noise and even more on the lower floor.

Apart from the 8 newly fitted 'suites' with floor to ceiling sliding doors and possibility of double or single beds, all other cabins are extremely basic. You open the cabin door to see either two single beds, or a sofa and a bed, at each side wall with a narrow space in between. Toilet shower area is adequate.

Given that the public spaces, i.e. lounge and 'sun' deck, are spacious enough maybe the small cabins will be acceptable to many. Certainly the majority of passengers, Americans, did not seem to mind finding the cabins 'quaint'.

We had no problem with the rather small size of our 'suite' but did find a problem with the extremely poor sound proofing between cabins. This will be more of a problem in the smaller cabins where beds are tight up against the walls of adjoining cabins, just be careful how loudly you cough.

It should be remembered that these 2 boats are older and small because of the size and limited depth of the Elbe. They are the best on the Elbe.

We have a number of criticisms of some aspects of the quality of this trip but no criticism of any of the staff who were all really excellent.

Would we do such a trip again? possibly not but not finally decided.

Maybe I will get around to a full review of the trip if there is any interest.

[cole]

Perhaps this Reply is already too late for you HDS? We have just been on the Fontane from 6 October to 13 October, Berlin to Prague.

Due to low water in the Elbe the two Viking boats have a flat bottom with a draught/draft of only 80cm. Thus the thrust is by water jets not traditional propellers so maybe engine noise is less. The water jets make for great manoeuvrability when docking/turning.

We were in one of the 8 'suites' on the upper floor and the engine noise was perceptible when moving at night so light sleepers beware. It was not a heavy throbbing but enough to wake me.

So, yes you will hear engine noise and even more on the lower floor.

Apart from the 8 newly fitted 'suites' with floor to ceiling sliding doors and possibility of double or single beds, all other cabins are extremely basic. You open the cabin door to see either two single beds, or a sofa and a bed, at each side wall with a narrow space in between. Toilet shower area is adequate.

Given that the public spaces, i.e. lounge and 'sun' deck, are spacious enough maybe the small cabins will be acceptable to many. Certainly the majority of passengers, Americans, did not seem to mind finding the cabins 'quaint'.

We had no problem with the rather small size of our 'suite' but did find a problem with the extremely poor sound proofing between cabins. This will be more of a problem in the smaller cabins where beds are tight up against the walls of adjoining cabins, just be careful how loudly you cough.

It should be remembered that these 2 boats are older and small because of the size and limited depth of the Elbe. They are the best on the Elbe.

We have a number of criticisms of some aspects of the quality of this trip but no criticism of any of the staff who were all really excellent.

Would we do such a trip again? possibly not but not finally decided.

Maybe I will get around to a full review of the trip if there is any interest.

 

Your review would be greatly appreciated. We have wanted to do this river for a couple of years, but have held off because of the quality of the ships that are currently being offered - hoping that one of the other companies will build a ship that will navigate the shallow river, and offer more updated accommodations.

Cole

[franski]

Your review would be greatly appreciated. We have wanted to do this river for a couple of years, but have held off because of the quality of the ships that are currently being offered - hoping that one of the other companies will build a ship that will navigate the shallow river, and offer more updated accommodations.

Cole

 

I agree - a review would be great.

 

However, we are prepared to book anyway - and just figure our accommodations will be more "high end camping" than what we have experienced so far on our previous cruises.

 

Both DH and I are prepared to accept the accommodations to get the trip.

 

Fran

[SOShrink]

Let me just say that a fancy new longship or other ultramodern ship of any kind, would not fit in with the atmosphere of Eastern Germany which struggled during and after the war. The Elegant Elbe trip we took aboard Viking's Clara Schumann 5 years ago remains one of the most memorable trips we ever took, and the old ship had a lot of personality and was comfortable enough....

[HDS]

Thanks hendenne, it's the information I was looking for, though not exactly the outcome I wanted to hear. We travelled on Viking Pakhomov in Russia in 2008 in what sounds like similar discomfort. The small cabins were not problem. The pullman style single bed attached to the wall and thus to the corrensponding bed in the neighbouring cabin was unstable and not comfortable if the next cabin was occupied by a larger person. If he rolled over I bounced! Ditto the soundproofing or lack therof.

We want to visit Prague and Berlin next year and the cruise between would be a pleasant break and a chance to socialise with other english speakers.

Appreciate your help very much.

[travelfirst]

Thanks hendenne, it's the information I was looking for, though not exactly the outcome I wanted to hear. We travelled on Viking Pakhomov in Russia in 2008 in what sounds like similar discomfort. The small cabins were not problem. The pullman style single bed attached to the wall and thus to the corrensponding bed in the neighbouring cabin was unstable and not comfortable if the next cabin was occupied by a larger person. If he rolled over I bounced! Ditto the soundproofing or lack therof.

We want to visit Prague and Berlin next year and the cruise between would be a pleasant break and a chance to socialise with other english speakers.

Appreciate your help very much.

 

That must be a very old ship. How could the bed in one room be attached to the other room??? I have been on three Viking cruises and never seen anything like that.

[jacksonnh]

I'm siding with SOS. We did this trip, our first of seven, back in 2008 on the Schumann and loved every minute of it. I believe the ship was refurbished after we sailed on it. Back then the cruise started with two days in Berlin and ended with two days in Prague. The Elbe in not deep and we encountered low water so a smaller ship with a shallow draft in a must and there are less people on board. This still is our favorite cruise to date.

[Viking Cruises]

Dear hendenne,

 

Welcome back from your Elbe cruise – and thank you for sharing some feedback here. We’re happy to hear that our staff provided excellent service yet again, however, we do wish that your trip hadn’t also been met with some disappointments. Please email us at TellUs@vikingcruises.com so that we may connect you with a member of our Customer Relations team and get a better understanding of your full experience on Viking Fontane – both what you felt worked well and what you felt could be improved upon.

 

We believe that our Elbe itinerary is full of unique river cruise experiences and destinations, and we sincerely hope that you enjoyed your time exploring that part of the world. We look forward to speaking with you and hope to hear from you soon.

 

Kindest regards,

Viking Cruises

 

 

Perhaps this Reply is already too late for you HDS? We have just been on the Fontane from 6 October to 13 October, Berlin to Prague.

Due to low water in the Elbe the two Viking boats have a flat bottom with a draught/draft of only 80cm. Thus the thrust is by water jets not traditional propellers so maybe engine noise is less. The water jets make for great manoeuvrability when docking/turning.

We were in one of the 8 'suites' on the upper floor and the engine noise was perceptible when moving at night so light sleepers beware. It was not a heavy throbbing but enough to wake me.

So, yes you will hear engine noise and even more on the lower floor.

Apart from the 8 newly fitted 'suites' with floor to ceiling sliding doors and possibility of double or single beds, all other cabins are extremely basic. You open the cabin door to see either two single beds, or a sofa and a bed, at each side wall with a narrow space in between. Toilet shower area is adequate.

Given that the public spaces, i.e. lounge and 'sun' deck, are spacious enough maybe the small cabins will be acceptable to many. Certainly the majority of passengers, Americans, did not seem to mind finding the cabins 'quaint'.

We had no problem with the rather small size of our 'suite' but did find a problem with the extremely poor sound proofing between cabins. This will be more of a problem in the smaller cabins where beds are tight up against the walls of adjoining cabins, just be careful how loudly you cough.

It should be remembered that these 2 boats are older and small because of the size and limited depth of the Elbe. They are the best on the Elbe.

We have a number of criticisms of some aspects of the quality of this trip but no criticism of any of the staff who were all really excellent.

Would we do such a trip again? possibly not but not finally decided.

Maybe I will get around to a full review of the trip if there is any interest.

[Viking Cruises]

Dear HDS,

 

Your disappointment with the bed configurations during your Russian river cruise – even five years later – is unfortunate to hear. It may provide some small bit of comfort to know that in 2011 Viking Pakhomov was fully refurbished and was again updated in 2013. Now, known as Viking Ingvar, the ship features hotel-style beds, modern bathrooms, and many staterooms with full-size verandas. In case you’re interested, you could see how the ship has changed http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruiseships/russia_ukraine/viking-ingvar/shipinfo.aspx.

 

More importantly, we’d like to connect with you directly so that we can better understand your entire Russian experience. Please consider emailing us at TellUs@vikingcruises.com so that a member of our Customer Relations team can speak with you. Also, if you’d like us to connect you with someone who can answer any questions you might have about the Elegant Elbe cruise, we’d of course be happy to do that, too.

 

Very best,

Viking Cruises

 

 

Thanks hendenne, it's the information I was looking for, though not exactly the outcome I wanted to hear. We travelled on Viking Pakhomov in Russia in 2008 in what sounds like similar discomfort. The small cabins were not problem. The pullman style single bed attached to the wall and thus to the corrensponding bed in the neighbouring cabin was unstable and not comfortable if the next cabin was occupied by a larger person. If he rolled over I bounced! Ditto the soundproofing or lack therof.

We want to visit Prague and Berlin next year and the cruise between would be a pleasant break and a chance to socialise with other english speakers.

Appreciate your help very much.

[HDS]

Thanks Viking Cruises for your response. I'm aware that the good ship Pakhomov has morphed into something very glamorous and should we decide to consider an Elbe cruise in 2014, we'll be in touch.

[hendenne]

I'm siding with SOS. We did this trip, our first of seven, back in 2008 on the Schumann and loved every minute of it. I believe the ship was refurbished after we sailed on it. Back then the cruise started with two days in Berlin and ended with two days in Prague. The Elbe in not deep and we encountered low water so a smaller ship with a shallow draft in a must and there are less people on board. This still is our favorite cruise to date.

 

 

I didn't realise that this was a case of 'sides'. The reviews seem to be the honest experiences of contributors, as was mine.

 

Despite a few things that I felt could have been better without any great investment by Viking I would not hesitate to recommend the Viking Fontane trip Berlin to Prague.

 

The Viking boats are the best on the Elbe and I can not imagine a more convenient way to see and learn of the charms of Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, and Prague. If you have not previously been to Prague you will need at least 3 days to fully appreciate all it has to offer.

 

All arrangements from the transfers airport-hotel-airport, at the start and end, to getting bags on and off the boat plus local coach tours were excellent.

 

The local guides were excellent except one and I think that was noted by Chris the Cruise Director who himself was excellent.

 

The room was immaculately maintained, restaurant staff were excellent, as were the bar staff and concierge.

 

Musician Milan was excellent and managed to slip in Colonel Bogey during the 'German' lunch experience.

 

Breakfast buffet was excellent, lunch as buffet in lounge or menu in restaurant was OK. Dinner, particularly, the first course choice, was often disappointing although if you didn't fancy a main course then the standbys of salmon or steak were OK. The house wines were good.

 

I will not comment here on Viking procedural matters such as tipping as that has nothing to do with the service and comfort of the cruise.

 

Finally I suggest to start in Berlin and end in Prague as Prague will give a wow factor to lift the mood after leaving the boat and what will have been an enjoyable trip on the Elbe.