RCDR

We thought initially that we had been unlucky, but over time it has made us more aware of when service isn't up to the required standard. It's as simple as this: provide the service or go without. It's not an excuse, we're not going to be persuaded to pay in advance for a level of service which we haven't yet received.

If we're content with the way we are treated on the cruise then we reward, if not - well then that's their fault, and without compunction we feel no regret.

People, don't be so hard on Parsley Cruises! He has raised many valid points and i have to say for myself, being on countless number of cruises (4-5 stars), there are MANY rude staff onboard and being required to tip does not site well with me neither! I have endured the guess services line many times to have them take OFF the daily charges, and tip in cash to the staff that was nice!

One thing that is for certain, cruise lines needs to re-evaluate their staff pay policy!!! We have ALL heard how horrible they can be!

First, thanks to nana541 for setting me back on the right track during my cruise! Your kind words really helps :D

I believe our problems has to do with getting used to what a River Cruise is, cultural differences, and choosing the wrong itinerary for our first cruise (Eastern Europe's river is not lined with castles and lush greenery). Having said that, we are glad we saw this part of the world before its turned into like the rest of Europe!

Viking called today to address the problems. Bags we had to go thru TravelGard first, but they will assist if i encounter problems! She will pass the info onto corp about clearing up the ad and language regarding dinning guidelines, i hope! There are NO two seat table in the main dinning room, they definitely need to change that video! It clearly shows a man and a woman sitting at a table for two people!!

I have to say dinning with a group of people all 7 nights is exhausting! Upstairs dining is very limiting.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/videos/#gallery_vtVikingShips_vrcv_longships-new-tour

I have to say, all in all Viking did a good job with customer follow up and customer service!

Front desk staff, our dining room staff (as we sat at the same area all nights), cabin steward (minor issues), all was friendly and cheerful.....I think there was only one Bar area waiter that was rude and appears to be mad all the time! All the Asian staff was so nice and helpful, which is a bit different then our experience on Ocean cruises!

Oh no your not wrong....that fancy ad campaign is very very misleading, but it sure is pretty! And apparently the "customer service" folks who likely have never been on a riverboat much less a river cruise also believe the Ad Campaign they saw during their training to answer customer questions.

 

Now go have a great trip! Don't let the little stuff get you down!

You are so right! Off to another great dinner with new found friends:D

Thanks again for your kind words!

Breakfast and lunch are a bit looser on times because they are mostly buffet style affairs, but at dinner everyone showed up to the dining room promptly at 7, were seated and the servers came within minutes to distribute menus. I think Viking is very clear in their material how this works. You may sit wherever you want, with whomever you want, but everyone has dinner at the same time.

 

I believe that is basically the same format for all RC lines.

 

Perhaps the OP did not fully understand this.

Thanks you all for assuming that the customer is always wrong! For the last time, I was told on the phone by viking agents on top of watching the video on their site! Their agent should know better, they need to change the script on their online video!!!!

I am not disputing what the reality is, I am disputing the deceptive sell. Let's put an end on this subject, please!

RCDR from Viking web site:

 

Meals are open seating during set meal times—no table reservations are accepted. Room service is not available.

 

I think you misunderstood open seating (that they do have) with anytime dining.

I am referring to their video, which I believe the spokeswoman said "WHEN, and with whom u like (choose)"!!!

Possibly over the course of your trip things will all even out! Just give it some time and remember this is a completely different creature than an ocean cruise. Also if you find your ship " Rafted" with another companies boat take the opportunity to snoop around, you might just find another river provider that suits you.

Safe journey :)

Thanks for pointing that out! I have heard about the dock neighbors but so far we have only seen one other tied in front of us. Will def snoop around if we get a chance! Thanks again :)

Viking isn't the best river cruise line (despite what their ads say - you really believe everything you hear in ads? LOL), but your complaints indicate that maybe river cruising just isn't for you even under the best circumstances.

I don't believe what I hear all the time, but I will fight to hold companies responsible for their words! The day when we doubt everything is when it all ends!

RCDR, I am very sorry your trip is not exactly the one you had hoped for. Possibly when it's all over you will have a different opinion.

Much appericate your kind words! I think you might have a point, guess I was just not happy about this trip on the ship so far....

You are right, river cruise might not be for us! At least we gave it a try after years of wondering if it's a good fit!

Thank you for your imput, I believe Cruise Critic to be an extremely valuable research tool along with Trip Advisor. IMHO I would never ever spend many $1,000's of dollars on a vacation based on the promotional material supplied by the vendor or slick commercials on TV. I come to CC ahead of time to see what fellow travels have to say and see if my dreamed of trip is really what I think it is.

 

I am grateful that after a long career I can now enjoy the opportunity to research the trips I would like to take. As I stated before, river cruising just doesn't seem to be your cup of tea or possibly Viking is not the line for you.

That is a sad state when u cannot trust what is being sold to u!

Tough call. I wouldn't,t want to miss those tours. How is the weather? Have you been able to go topside?

Rain has not been a problem for this cruise so far

What towns?

Romania and Bulgaria

What were your day long tours. Were they anything worth skipping?

Yeah, I could have skipped them but I figured they were paid for as a total cruise package so I should at least give it a try! Both started at 9am and did not end until dark, which I think was around 6 or 7pm

:eek:

I just have to wonder how much research you did here on CC.... There are extensive posts about various Rivercruise journeys that members have taken. Lot of talk of dinner seating in particular and the very busy port intensive tours and long bus trips.

 

Apparently river cruising Is just not for you, it is a completely different experience than an ocean cruise.

You are absolutely right! I should have spend hours looking at posting when planning a trip instead of trusting what the tour company that I am buying from tells me! I just wish I am as luck as u to have that much time looking at posting instead of having a career and working!!

Please do the world a favor, don't contribute if u have nothing but judgement without knowing the facts! This site is for trading helpful information, and yours is of no help what so ever!

I won't get into much of your complaints, but I've taken several river cruises and meal times were always fixed. Your TA was wrong but I won't blame

Viking for that.

Thank you for jumping to conclusions! We did not use a TA, it was booked thru Viking directly! It was several of their agents that told us it's open time seating! Plus it's in their promos!

EXTREMELY soft only! We asked for firmer pillows and was given the soft ones lined with a bath towel inside the pilowcase!

We are currently onboard the Viking Aegir, and in a nut shell, Viking is charging close to 5 Star + prices, but delivering less then a 5 star experience! Viking prices had gone from the bargin basement to 5 star +prices with their rollout of 'longships', but they have a long way to go if they want to keep this luxury market! Their service level is a joke!

First thing, two of the LONGEST day tour is on the first two days of this 10-11 days itinerary! I do understand this is unavoidable because of locations, but hardly a relaxing start or something to go thru after a 10+ hours flight (even with a night's sleep)! You are on a bus for several hours for a tour that last much less then the bus ride.

Once onboard, we were greeted with a cabin stewardess that keeps coming back to our room to 'drop off' stuff that we had requested WHEN we were unpacking with extremely limited space to even walk! She just basically climb over our suitecases! We even got to the point and told her to do this after we are at dinner but she still comes back! Its like getting service by a motel 6 maid! The clincher is when we asked for 4 extra pillows! The reactions we got was like 'why would you need 4 extra pillows'???

Our Heys hardcase was broke in the corner when we saw it in our room! This material is practically indestructible, we have had this bag to Asia and beyond thru miles of rough airlines handling with just cosmetic scratches. Inorder for it to break, it was probably some unimaginable trauma that our bag was meet with!

BEWARE of what u are told by their agent in the US, dinner is not OPEN TIME DINNING, ALL guest are expected to start at the same time! 'Dine when and with whom u wish' is NOT TRUE! Viking need to take this out of their advertising and literature! I will be making a formal complain with whatever appropriate consumer protection department when i return to the US.

With all that said, the things u hear about how excellent their onboard staff is, is absolutely TRUE, at least to 90% of their general staff. Most do try their best (given the cultural differences)! I did overheard a waiter raising his voice to a group of customer asking the status of their drinks, which was a bit shocking (these poor proper English folkes was shocked into silence)!

If Viking is listening, I will not be spending my $$ on Viking on future cruises. They need to get their act together! I can spend the same and stay in a Heaven suite with NCL and get a better product for my money!!!