Sparky333

I see, so if you just buy a transfer from them you're a little more likely to have to wait for a flight with a large # of Viking passengers on it than if you've bought the flight through Viking, too. Something to keep in mind for the future. Thanks.

id4elizabeth - oh, it was too good to be true to get the transfer included also, I should've known :rolleyes:

Your shuttle plan sounds like a good one. It's a shame that you had to wait so long that time for a Viking transfer. I hope that was a goof on their part not the way they normally handle those.

id4elizabeth: if Viking books that hotel for you does that price also include a transfer from the airport or just the hotel room?

Thanks for the kind words re: my photos. We were there Oct 9 - 23 so not much later in the year than your dates. I'm sure you'll have pretty foliage!

alexandra cruiser -

I'm not against trying other lines. I would like to try others and see how the lines compare. I did look at AMA for Portugal and it was a fair amount more than Viking and since I've been pleased with Viking thus far I booked with them for the Douro. I know, apples to apples comparison it may not be and you get what you pay for, etc. But for me price point is a factor (means I can take more trips!) and since so far I'm happy with Viking I don't feel I need to pay $$$ more. Just me!! Also, if I did try AMA and got spoiled it would be impossible to go back so sometimes ignorance is bliss ;)

I think having a guide there is a great idea - you'll be able to cover a lot of territory with her and see more than you could on your own - and obviously learn about what you're seeing. I try to set up private guides when we visit new cities - it's just such an efficient way of seeing a lot, IMHO. And they always know about quirky off-the-beaten path spots, etc.

Have fun!

Thanks, familygoboston -- I'm happy to share and glad to add to your excitement in getting ready for your cruise :)

I haven't done any other river cruises to compare firsthand but from what I've read I think this itinerary is unique and wouldn't necessarily appeal to everyone. But for those who have an interest in Eastern European history and the way those countries are now after communism this is a truly interesting itinerary. I think this cruise gives a glimpse at places it would be logistically challenging -- or more work anyway -- to see on a land-based trip.

This is a good question. I've always left mine locked up in my cabin unless we're told we need to take it off the ship at a particular port.

But on a Carib. cruise we were on in the fall 2 passengers didn't make it back to the ship at our Cozumel stop. Someone said (this is just what I read on the roll call not an official news) that since they didn't have their passports they couldn't make arrangements to catch up to the ship at its next stop and so they had to just fly home. But I'm not sure how you would handle booking even a flight home if you didn't have your passport.

I don't know how far a copy of your passport will help in that kind of situation. I know it can help to have one and I do carry that but I don't imagine an airline would book a flight using that copy and let you on a flight or would they under those kind of circumstances?

So if you're out in the back of beyond and miss the ship there must be some type of ship agent that you can contact for assistance. But would it be best to start carrying our passports with us off the ship? I hate that idea - seems the risk of getting it stolen is higher than missing the ship!

I didn't use the Budapest card so I don't know if that would give you a discount on a Parliament tour or not. But that's the only one I booked ahead of time at home - I do think that was recommended since the tours fill up. If you do that tour make sure you leave yourself time to get to the right entrance. Maybe the construction outside will be finished by the time you go but some of the doors (including main entrance I think) were blocked off last November and it was a little confusing getting to the tour entrance which was on one side.

Biking on Margaret Island sounds fun!

Familygoboston -

We were on Viking so your AMA tours will be different but here's a basic idea of what we did:

In Budapest the 1/2 day included tour is pretty basic. They took us by bus to Heroe's Square and we got out and learned a bit about the statues there then back in the bus to drive past through the nearby park and then by the large synagogue -- the guide pointed it out but we didn't get out of the bus. Then across the river. We got out there and watched the changing of the guard (President's Palace? or ? gosh how quickly I've forgotten) and then walked up to St. Matthias church where we did go inside (I've read some of the tours don't but I think that was because of renovations - but if the guide doesn't go inside make sure you do afterward, it's lovely). And from there we were cut loose to walk around Fishermen's Bastion on our own and make our way back to the bus a bit later. So...not that much of a tour.

But we found the city easy to get around and saw a lot in the time we had on our own. St. Stephen's is a must to see inside. We did a tour of the Opera House (you can look online ahead of time and see what the times are for tours in English or whatever language you prefer!). We did the Terror Museum (very interesting but if you use the audioguide it does require an investment of time, it took a few hours I think at that pace, maybe better to walk through at your own pace and read the printouts in each room rather than the audio guide, IMHO). We had also booked a tour of the Parliament before we left home and that was a pretty great tour. Beautiful inside. What else...oh, we did one of the evening boat cruises on the river to see the city at night with the lights. So pretty!

I think the Viking ship will cast off at night and you do get to see some of the lights if you stay up late enough for that (haha, I think we were asleep by then).

We didn't make it to the big market or to a bath or to the underground hospital - which I'd try to do next time we're there (I hope we go back some day, it's a wonderful city!).

For Bucharest, we had booked a separate tour (it was just my husband and myself with a guide) for our free time there. We visited some of the sites which correspond to the Dracula myth. It was nice to get out of the city and see the surrounding area. But that didn't give us a chance to see more of Bucharest than is included in the tour -- but that tour does go to several sites and you drive around the city a bunch so you get an overview of it anyway.

The drive from the river to Bucharest was maybe an hour.

I wonder too if you'll see any special acknowledgement of those anniversaries.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Hi Nippy Sweetie -

I did read your review and I was sorry that you had such a disappointing time. Since that was one negative out of several glowing reviews I am hoping your experience was an anomoly!

I've traveled with Viking before so I know basically what to expect and have been pleased in the past with almost all aspects of their product. And, for example, I've really enjoyed the food which I think was a big issue on your cruise. I'm counting on it being a rogue chef you had on that ship!

Thank you for the warning though - if I had a bad cruise I would want to warn others also and then they would have to weigh that in with all the other reviews out there.

Perfect!

One more reason to look forward to our next river cruise :)

That is delightful!

I forget now if there's a mini-fridge in the cabin -- and if so if it has space or is the kind that's prestocked and full to the brim.

I guess getting a bucket of ice would not be difficult.

If you take it to dinner do they charge a corkage fee?

If they would be giving you theirs anyway it seems a savings to them if you drink your own so hopefully they don't penalize you with that fee.

Great review! Thanks for providing so much detail.

TravelBugM -

just got off the phone with Viking :)

I'll be re-reading your review sometime before June 2015! Hopefully other people will be writing about their Douro cruises this summer. That itinerary doesn't have a whole lot of feedback to check out.

hoou - thanks for the info. haha, i'm not worried about not enough toilet stops i'm worried about too many! On our Eastern Europe itinerary I thought we wasted a lot of time waiting for the large groups to queue up for restrooms.

Really tempted to book this - and just got an email from Viking about further travel credit for their Viking Explorer Society members. $600 more off for the two of us so I'm giving that a lot of thought.

Wonderful! Thank you for letting me know :)

Hi goofy559 -

To me, spending time in Budapest and Bucharest alone to add to what the Viking tour shows you would be a good idea but I don't think I'd do any of the other ports on my own or try to arrange another local guide. I could be very wrong but I don't think there's tons of things to see in those areas beyond what you get from the Viking tour.

Belgrade of course you could do/see more but I think with the Viking guide we got around and saw a fair amount and then walked back into the city on our own after lunch on the ship and explored some more.

I think this itinerary is unique in that most of the places the ship docks are not towns you get out and walk around in and have a lot to do - you need to take a bus ride a little away from the port to see what you're going to see.

So, my personal opinion is I would go with the Viking tours but try to do additional touring in Budapest, Bucharest, and Belgrade. If you haven't been to Budapest yet that's definitely worth extra days.

I'm no expert & have only done Aqua class but to me the perks from that really didn't mean much other than Blu. The Persian Gardens is just basically heated tile loungers - very nice to check out but we only used it once and wouldn't factor that in to choosing Aqua class.

I have read about some people with Select Dining in the MDR not always getting a 2-top (or maybe they just had to wait a while for one) so if that's a major priority it sure was nice to have that in Blu every night. Although the tables in Blu are close together so they're not super private - but if you don't feel in the mood to make small talk you don't have to.

I liked Blu not just for the food and the 2-tops but for the smaller, more intimate size of the room, less noise, not having to get dressed up for formal nights (I think I'm in the minority on that but I'm just really into being casual on vacation and DH does NOT want to wear a tie since he has to every day at work).

So since you'll be dining in specialty restaurants a lot and not in Blu every night it seems IMHO you might do better in the Concierge class and you could use the $400 you saved towards trying Persian Gardens once and the other stuff you want to do.

I'm sure in the time it took to type this you've gotten a bunch of more experienced cruisers answers :)

I really miss the T-pool on the S-class ships. The regular Solarium pool they have is definitely not as much fun :(

I might need to do another Connie cruise just for the lovely T-pool.

Also - maybe it's just me but on the Silhouette last month the Solarium felt very air-conditioned and that's not a good feeling when going in a pool or especially after you get out.

No, you don't both have to upgrade.

I was just popping back in to correct my earlier answer of $10 because I think that was before adding gratuity. So, $11.50 as Feelin' Nauti' said.

I don't know if the price is always the same or changes on different sailings for any reason - but for our Silhouette cruise 12/15 it was $10 pppd to ugrade from Classic to Premium on the ship.

I'm a flat-lander too, from Delaware, and I'll have to close my eyes on those twisty mountain roads!

Did you by any chance do the Santiago extension at the end?

Great review, rrgator! Thank you for taking the time to post such an informative, detailed write-up. I always intend to but usually when I get home I can't find the energy to get it completed. I applaud your effort!

Glad you had a wonderful trip and I hope you enjoy your Southern France cruise too.