rahrah50 Posted December 9, 2015 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2015 A group of us are thinking of taking the Viking Bavaria to Budapest river cruise with the Prague extension. We all have done the Viking China trip and loved it. What things should we keep in mind when booking? Water levels??? anything else?? We prefer to not travel during June, July, and August..... Thanks in advance for any helpful tips....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted December 9, 2015 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Welcome to the River Cruising forum! Even though you have already taken one river cruise, it sounds like you are still basically new to the issues of river cruising. I will also point out that river cruises in China are very different from the experience in Europe. Don't just assume that the cruise line and river you have chosen is the right one for your next cruise -- do some research so you can be sure. I suggest you start by reading the sticky New to RIVER CRUISING??? at the top of this forum, especially the downloadable pdf: http://pdf.cruisecritic.com/travel-guide/UltimateGuidetoRiverCruising.pdf?et_cid=1262487&et_rid=99616845 which discusses each cruise line and compares them to ocean cruise lines and hotels [this will give you a frame of reference]. The range among river cruise lines that market in the US is fairly small -- but there are differences from the bottom to the top, and the prices don't vary as much as it first appears because the more expensive lines include more things that cost extra on the "cheaper" lines. For information on choosing a river, read the sticky River Cruise Basics articles on Cruise Critic at the top of this forum. I also recommend the book Berlitz guide to River Cruising in Europe by Douglas Ward, which may be found at your public library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahrah50 Posted December 9, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thank you Jazzbeau for the links. We have reviewed cruise companies and itineraries so we are fairly comfortable with our choice of Viking. I think I read every post on Viking China before we left. I am not fond of ocean cruising as I am not very interested in the ship's amenities and shows, and all the people. I loved the China trip and thinking rivers in Europe may be a better way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Swedishfish Posted December 9, 2015 #4 Share Posted December 9, 2015 We traveled the Danube in the spring (April) and had really nice weather (one day of rain in Belgrade). I've heard summer can be very hot. We are leaving Saturday for Budapest to Passau and it looks like it will be in the 30s and 40s with some rain or drizzle. I think it depends what you want to do and see on your trip--I love the Christmas markets. We won't enjoy the wine country as much since it's winter. I think there are a lot fewer tourists at the historical sites (palaces and cathedrals) than in the summer but the markets are quite busy if you don't mind the crowds. The winter trips do limit your time up on the sun deck but having done summer and winter trips, you can hang out in the Aquavit lounge and enjoy the scenery as well. Take a look at the different itineraries. The Danube Waltz and the Romantic Danube have different stops--I really like Bratislava which is on the Waltz, but not the Romantic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dln929 Posted December 10, 2015 #5 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Thank you Jazzbeau for the links. We have reviewed cruise companies and itineraries so we are fairly comfortable with our choice of Viking. I think I read every post on Viking China before we left. I am not fond of ocean cruising as I am not very interested in the ship's amenities and shows, and all the people. I loved the China trip and thinking rivers in Europe may be a better way to go. Before we went on our Viking Romantic Danube cruise, I looked at all the Roll Calls to see what people were saying. I got a lot of good information from those posts, as well as from the trip reports people wrote afterward. We adored our Viking cruise with all the lively Christmas Markets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahrah50 Posted December 10, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted December 10, 2015 River levels are an obvious issue on the Bavaria to Budapest cruises. Is there a river cruise company that handles low or high water better than others? In doing more reading it appears Viking does not handle the situation very well. Does anyone have a suggestion of another company? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1333 Posted December 10, 2015 #7 Share Posted December 10, 2015 We (two couples) did our first river cruise in early June on Uniworld, Budapest to Passau. We all loved it. We also did three days in Prague on our own. We had a wonderful Prague guide, Nina, who picked us up in Passau, took us to Cesky Krumlov and then on to Prague for 2 more days of guided tours. Her husband drives the van. With all our luggage the van could comfortably accommodate 4 passengers so if your group is 6 the van would probably need to have a small trailer to carry the luggage. This itinerary could work in reverse if you fly in to Prague. Check out ninapragueguide.com Judging from what I read on Cruise Critic....Uniworld handled the low water problems much better than Viking. ps. Nina has a PHD and speaks perfect English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted December 10, 2015 #8 Share Posted December 10, 2015 The company that did the best this year with low water was AMA. Worst was Viking. Several others also did well, but AMA stands out because they had 0 bus tours, 0 ship swaps, and the itinerary changes were limited to 1-2 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahrah50 Posted December 10, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Thank you for the information. We love private guides and I will stash this information. Thank you for the info on Uniworld. I am going to do more research on the cruise companies. We loved Viking in China but I am reading more and more negatives so I will continue to search for info. I understand the river levels are a risk when booking this cruise but I want a company that handles it well and communicates with the passengers. From some of the reading I have done it sounds like Viking longships have the deepest draft of the river boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahrah50 Posted December 11, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Thank you thank you Jazzbeau!!! Perfect information. Viking is now off the list, as I have read too many negatives about this itinerary. I do not want a bus tour!!!! I am a good traveler and realize things can happen and I will make the best of most situations, but I don't think this is the trip for me on Viking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrokitty Posted December 11, 2015 #11 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The company that did the best this year with low water was AMA. Worst was Viking. Several others also did well, but AMA stands out because they had 0 bus tours, 0 ship swaps, and the itinerary changes were limited to 1-2 hours. Vantage did well also apparently because they need lesser draft than some of the bigger ships (like Viking). We were on the Rhine in late August and the river was very noticeably low....people were actually fishing from chairs they set on what is usually the river bottom! The only thing that impacted us was the length of time it took to go through the gorge in single file! To my knowledge, Vantage did not cancel any trips or convert to buses either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rahrah50 Posted December 11, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Thanks Hydrokitty. I will check out Vantage also....I really like this itinerary and while I have gone on ocean cruises they just are not my favorite way to travel. There are 5 other gals and we are all widows so the river cruise sounds like a good fit for us. I am the researcher for the group so I will keep doing my research!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted December 11, 2015 #13 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Well, what the heck . . . you might as well check out Grand Circle too. Some folks don't like that the beds can't. Be made as a double . . . If that isn't an issue for you it may be a good match. We really enjoy having several program directors on board. Your PD will learn the group and adapt tours as needed . . . you also get to know the PD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovable and daisy Posted December 12, 2015 #14 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Quote:Originally Posted by Host Jazzbeau View Post The company that did the best this year with low water was AMA. Worst was Viking. Several others also did well, but AMA stands out because they had 0 bus tours, 0 ship swaps, and the itinerary changes were limited to 1-2 hours.. we were on the Amabella leaving Amsterdam to Budapest 31 October to 14 November and we kept advised of the possibility of a ship change from week one of the cruise, right up to the last week the Captain Arjen was optimistic about our chances of sailing all the way to Budapest, but it was not to be and we changed on the 12th to the AmaPrima, it necessitated a four hour bus trip and the program resumed, the ship change was handled in a mater of fact manner and although there are always people who have difficulty making lemonade out of lemons, most were happy to get the opportunity to do the evening sailing past the lit up buildings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted December 12, 2015 #15 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) we were on the Amabella leaving Amsterdam to Budapest 31 October to 14 November and we kept advised of the possibility of a ship change from week one of the cruise, right up to the last week the Captain Arjen was optimistic about our chances of sailing all the way to Budapest, but it was not to be and we changed on the 12th to the AmaPrima, it necessitated a four hour bus trip and the program resumed, the ship change was handled in a mater of fact manner and although there are always people who have difficulty making lemonade out of lemons, most were happy to get the opportunity to do the evening sailing past the lit up buildings. Thanks for this correction. I have been searching for information about problems with AMA because it seemed impossible that even the best-designed ships could make it through every week this year -- but all prior reports have been that there were no interruptions. So now I know there was at least one. And welcome to Cruise Critic! Please start a thread and post more about your trip. Everyone here loves to cruise vicariously as much as we can! Edited December 12, 2015 by Host Jazzbeau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giraffe123 Posted April 20, 2016 #16 Share Posted April 20, 2016 We really enjoyed our Viking Bordeaux river cruise and will be traveling on Viking again on their new itinerary - Nuremberg to Budapest. The reason I chose this is that one gets 2 1/2 days in Vienna instead of the typical 1 1/2 days. We selected October 17th in hopes that the Danube will be high enough from fall rain. Anyone else on this sailing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregdude Posted April 20, 2016 #17 Share Posted April 20, 2016 You may also want to check out Tauck, "Blue Danube" cruise. Truck did very well during high and low water level situations plus Tauck is all inclusive and their cruise includes two nights in Pague and two nights in Budapest. We have booked this trip for next spring after having a fabulous Rhine River cruise last May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giraffe123 Posted July 11, 2016 #18 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Yes, we're booked on the same cruise. we are two couples from California. We also took the Viking Bordeaux cruise last summer - I believe it was the July 18th sailing. Were you on that sailing? Looking forward to this October's trip. Have you made a decision on any of the excursions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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