Is River Cruising Really This Miserable?

[jaybell]

usavvy, you can read about our wonderful experience on the AMA Amadante on the following link:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=58260

 

Everything was so spectacular on that ship and cruise that I can't imagine you would experience any of the listed complaints on any AMA cruise. I'm completely sold on AMA. There aren't many Member Reviews for AMA but if you'll read all the ones there are, they are all reviewed as first-class! You can't beat that! :)

[marco]

We've been on 8 river cruises and never experienced ANY of the conditions you mentioned. We've alwasy found staff WAY more professional, curtious, and friendly than on any ocean liner cruise and dining experience better. As far as river levels being too low and having to use a bus, circumstances like that, no one has any control over and that type of issue is something that anyone who travels realizes things like that can happen.

[wallygator]

We have taken five river cruises and all have ranged from very enjoyable to absolutely wonderful--not a miserable one in the lot!:):)

 

We did only one river cruise. The "Grand European Viking Amsterdam to Budapest" this past August. I totally enjoyed this cruise. So much that we are booked on the Viking Century Sun's "China’s Cultural Delights" with a add on to Hong Kong. Go for it.:):)

[dtwtraveler]

* Unsympathetic and uncommunicative staff reference special needs passengers

 

This isn't true for the Viking River Cruise that we just returned from on Sunday, November 8, 2009! We had multiple special dietary needs and our maitre 'd (Janos) and waiter (Cata) were great about them! I met with Janos at breakfast everyday to go over that day's menu. (They made lactose-free oatmeal for one guest.) We had a grilled chicken breast with no sodium or added fats on a green salad for lunch everyday. For dinner we eliminated the appetizers, soup, sauces, salt and added fats, beef and veal and had steamed veggies, green salad and plain rice. We usually had the protein choice on the menu which often included fish. Boring but healthy!

[rico567]

We have been on two Viking river cruises, one in Europe and we just returned from their China's Cultural Delights cruise. I don't know from what sources you compiled your list, but we have experienced NONE of these things.

 

As far as glitches and things going wrong, well, my experience is that in this world, that's inevitable. The question is, are the problems dealt with in an expeditious manner? On the cruise we returned from last week, we had such an incident. One day, the shower in our cabin wouldn't dispense hot water. I called the front desk, and someone from housekeeping was there in about a minute to check it out. They then called a maintenance team, which determined that the faucet assembly needed to be changed out. They did this and the shower was back in operation in about 15 minutes. This speaks volumes about the quality of Viking service.

 

And anything like this, in any number of categories, can happen on ocean cruise ships, too, or in any other resort or vacation facility. It comes down to personnel and organization, and I really couldn't say how our Viking experience could be improved in this regard.

[drcpa]

We have been on two Viking river cruises, one in Europe and we just returned from their China's Cultural Delights cruise. I don't know from what sources you compiled your list, but we have experienced NONE of these things.

**************************************

I was quoting actual posting and comments over just a few days from this very forum. As someone who has never gone on a river cruise, but was strongly considering, I must admit that I initially found all this negativity troubling.

People have been most kind in qualifying and explaining some of those comments (or, as in your case, have said they have never experienced any of these issues) which was refreshing and most helpful.

[FeeFeeCat]

My sister and I have gone on two river cruises, one with Viking in China and one booked via Gate 1 Travel on the Danube. These trips were different yet similar and we enjoyed both very much. I can't say enough good about the Danube cruise...Gate 1 Travel contracts with an Austrian company named Luftner Cruises. They offered a great product for a very economical price. I would sail with them again in a minute. Before boarding, I was a little hesitant regarding what to expect but I wasn't disappointed. I'm now contemplating two Main/Rhine/Moselle itineraries; one is through Gate 1/Luftner and the other is with Viking.

[pacmom]

dtwtraveler,

Wasn't Janos wonderful. He was our maitre'd on 2 cruises. One on the Elbe and the other on the Sun. He was the outstanding crew member in my mind. He was a true Maitre'd--knew what was happening in all parts of the dining room. I remember Cata, great server. Lazlo was a favorite of ours because he had also been on the Elbe. Thanks for bringing up fond memories. Pat

[By Design]

Just returned from our 11th river cruise and only one has not met our expectations. It is a most enjoyable way to travel and meet English speaking from all over the world. Never out of sight of land and not a wave in sight. We have 2 more booked for next year and can't wait. You MUST do research before you travel on the rivers, so that you know what could happen. We are blessed to never hava had a trip turn into a bus trip. Don't let our rantings about 1 or 2 lines put you off. Give it a try.

Pat

With your experience in so many river cruises, have you traveled with Viking and if so, what are your thoughts? We've only taken one river cruise (UniWorld) and love the experience.

 

Thanks.

[pacmom]

Bydesign,

We have sailed with Cruise West, Uniworld, Vantage, Viking and GAPadventures. Our two trips with Viking were like nite and day. Our trip on the Elbe was wonderful. We had an a/c glitch which took 3 days to convince them something was wrong. All cabins were the same--one pullman style bed and one daybed. We knew tis before we sailed and were ok with it. There was a chair lift to all decks which was well used on our trip. The crew was great. Our CD Christian was a graduate of Wittenberg and gave lectures about this area of Germany and Martin Luther. The food was very good--dining room smoothly run by Janos. We even made an unscheduled stop to bring aboard a retired captain--the father of our captain and grandfather of one of the seamen. The tours were excellent--sometimes we had the same guide more than one day. Prague and Berlin were fantastic. We spent extra days on our own in both cities. That was day.

 

This was nite. This spring we sailed on the Viking Sun--Antwerp-Basel. Boat has a passenger accommadation of 198 pax and we sailed with 198. It was too many for my liking on a river cruise. The River Cloud was berthed right downtown on the waterfront. We had to take a 20 min cab drive to an industrial port area to the Sun. She is very long and most piers can't accommate her--thus industrial docks or a good walk from the farthest pier to town. We were on the bottom deck--verry, very noisey due to plumbing noises. We could hear more than our neighbors flushes and showers. There were a few large groups traveling together--making it difficult to get a good size table at meals. Sometimes it was even hard to get a seat in the lounge because of "this is saved". Our CD was a very young (green) lady who just wasn't forceful about anything. Eva our cabin steward was sooo good. The best crew member was Janos, our maitre'd. Yes, the same as on the Schumann. Even tho this was not a great cruise we have booked Russia with them next Sept. Viking seems to shine in both Russia and China.

The Viking boats in Europe are just too big for my liking. We do love Uniworld also. Pat

[judie43]

not on Avalon's Tapestry last month. It was wonderful!

 

We just booked the Tapestry for August..Budapest to Nuremberg with 3 days is Prague. Do you have pictures to share ? Also I would love to hear specifics about the boat.

Thanks

[Bojangles]

Judy43 we have also booked the same cruise from Budapest to Nuremburg with 3 days in Prague. We are on the August 22 thru Sept. 4. Which one are you on? Donna

[judie43]

Hi Donna..we are doing the 8/9 trip...We have been on so many ocean cruises,and will still do more,but this river cruise has me so excited. I am trying to gather all the info I can.

[franski]

Can't speak to the Tapestry, but Avalon uses the Intercontinental in Budapest - and the location is perfect... Right on the Danube, within walking distance of shopping, sights, the Chain Bridge. I don't know if you could get a better location.

[letsgo39]

Can't speak to the Tapestry, but Avalon uses the Intercontinental in Budapest - and the location is perfect... Right on the Danube, within walking distance of shopping, sights, the Chain Bridge. I don't know if you could get a better location.

 

 

THe Tapestry is a Avalon ship.:D

[franski]

THe Tapestry is a Avalon ship.:D

 

Hi -

 

Sorry, I did know that - was just responding to the comment from judie43 where she stated she was looking for all the info she could find on the trip. I can't speak to the Tapestry - as I haven't traveled with Avalon - but I could speak to the hotel they use in Budapest.

[jgnova]

We took a river cruise when there were some high-water problems and it did not in any way diminish the pleasure of the trip. For full details on all aspects of the experience from the perspective of a U.S. newbie to river cruising, read our review as linked from our signature.

 

I can add to that review that, while river levels prevented us from seeing a few places, the entire experience only whetted our appetite for more - and the fact that we missed the opportunity to see two ports gives us a stronger incentive to do it again. I've told several people that we would take the exact same cruise again at the drop of a hat (and a credit card) without being bored because we already know new things we want to do. Just waiting for some health issues to resolve before we go again.

 

j

[cohengm]

get to your review... a little more explicit

[jgnova]

get to your review... a little more explicit

 

Sorry - I forgot that many readers turn off signatures. To get to my review, go here. If that doesn't work, go to the main boards page, click on "Peter Deilmann Cruises" under "Cruise Lines P-Z". Then click on the word "Views" at the top of the right column to sort by the number of views, and my review should be at the top just below Laura's "sticky" posting.

 

Feel free to email us if you have any questions that I don't notice here as we're entering "pack" mode for a 12 nighter.

 

j

[sueswny]

I've been on several river cruises, and always had a wonderful experience. My favorite is AMA Waterways, but there are many others that are equally good. The one itinerary that might be problematic is the Danube, where water levels can somtimes be too low (or even too high, as happened to me once). But your other concerns have never been an issue to me--just be sure to pick a good river cruise line. A travel agent who specializes in river cruises can be a big help, and you won't pay any more than if you book individually. (Grand Circle and Vantage don't work with travel agents, though, so you'd have to look at them yourself if you want to consider them)

sue

[sdianem]

We have been on 5 river boat trips: Nile in 1994 with Abercrombie (7 nights), Amsterdam to Vienna (Viking), China (Viking), Russia (Viking) and Budapest to Prague (AMA Waterways). Except for Egypt these were from 2003 to 2009. We loved them all but for different reasons since itineraries were different. We have no complaints with any of the boats or companies.

In October 2003 we had some low level water problems (as was common through the entire summer) and were bused to a few towns but on the Danube River we were all actually pleased as we got to avoid some of the locks. We got very tired of going through locks on that river.

Food was satisfactory, cabins fine, great laundry service, excellent crew. The one outstanding aspect of China was the crew - we had two of the most incredible cruise directors plus each group had its own tour escort. Viking warned that the Russian experience was not "their usual product" so we were prepared but were pleasantly surprised.

The reason we keep coming back to river boating is the pleasure of getting off and walking into town or a site. The charm of these river towns cannot be over emphasized and cannot be gotten to from an ocean liner.

[franski]

This is where everyone's opinion is so different... We actually enjoyed the locks - found the whole experience fascinating. We were not aware that there were locks on the Seine, so that was a nice addition to our cruise there.

 

Fran

[letsgo39]

This is where everyone's opinion is so different... We actually enjoyed the locks - found the whole experience fascinating. We were not aware that there were locks on the Seine, so that was a nice addition to our cruise there.

 

Fran

 

 

We also found the locks fascinating on our Budapest to Amsterdam cruise. Actually I have never been bored for even 1 second in my 7 trips to Europe over the last 7 years. It is enough for me that I am in Europe and I delight in the whole experience!!:D I know full well how blessed I am that I can see the things I do.

[no fuss travel]

As my spouse is an engineer, he found the locks fascinating. I find it quite interesting to compare the locks of different parts of the world, i.e. Panama Canal, vs China vs Europe. Each one is unique and we did enjoy our river cruises.

[eandj]

As my spouse is an engineer, he found the locks fascinating. I find it quite interesting to compare the locks of different parts of the world, i.e. Panama Canal, vs China vs Europe. Each one is unique and we did enjoy our river cruises.

 

 

Funny...My dh is a mechanical engineer and he too will be so interested in any trip that has locks or moveable bridges, that he pulls me into his world! Even the short river cruise in Chicago has a lock which we didn't know about before. The Panama Canal was ....well he LOVED it.