Europe River Cruise Reviews & Best European River Cruises

32 Responses

1. Best Article !!Ralph thank you so much for sharing with us .

2. Wow — over 50 river cruises! Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of experience and making it so easy to navigate through your reviews. The level of detail, variety of formats, and honest insights are incredibly helpful for anyone considering a river cruise. I really appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into creating such a valuable resource — it’s clear you’re passionate about this type of travel, and it shows!

3. Viking Balcony Rooms – Don’t Waste Your Money

   If you think getting a balcony room over a standard (interior) cabin is worth the money you may want to reconsider. We paid the extra $2,600 for a French balcony assuming the view would be spectacular while cruising down the river. The Veranda rooms are even more. Although the view is nice while in motion, it’s what you see when parked that might surprise you.

   When docked, Viking ties each of their boats together. They apparently do this to save money on docking fees. That means there could be two or even three boats connected to each other. At that point you have a good chance of having a straight line view into the cabin on the adjacent boat. We spent several days during our 15 day voyage looking into someone else’s room or peering into a parking lot. Not exactly what we expected. And if you’re really lucky when the boat pulls away you might get a birds eye view of everyone’s underwear literally hanging from the railing as you sail by

4. Viking River Cruises – No Security or Medical Personnel On-Board

   In the event this is important to you – Viking river boats do not have security or medical personnel on board. When I asked about security, the hotel manager stated there’s no need for security since they’ve never had a problem. Yet while in Vienna personally witnessed the police on board another Viking ship tied to ours writing up a report. Witnessed individuals on our ship walking the halls who were not guests on our boat. Apparently it’s common for people to walk off the street or from other adjacent ships to explore. Skadi staff acknowledged this happens all the time but there is nothing to worry about. I suppose that’s what TSA thought before the terrorist slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Wake up Viking! That’s not okay.

   For those of us getting older – Viking has zero medical staff on board any of the river boats. An elder woman on our boat tripped over several cables/hoses when disembarking doing a face plant onto the concrete. The Skadi staff went into panic mode looking for a first aid kit. Another elder patient slipped on the stairs resulting in a fairly deep cut on their leg. Fortunately both were okay. It could have been a lot worse.
   Viking’s answer – river boats sail close to the shore. If a guest needs urgent medical care the ship will dump you and your bags off at the side of the river. You are then left to fend for yourself. Good luck!

5. What started out as a wonderful trip turned out to be a terrible experience. Our journey started in Amsterdam on the Viking Bragi. Cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest via the Grand European tour celebrating our 41st wedding anniversary. The staff/crew on the Bragi were exceptional. Unfortunately about midway through the trip the river level got too low. As a result we were forced to leave the Bragi which involved taking a 3 hour bus ride to catch a different ship downstream. That’s when the trip ran off the rails. The ship they moved us to was the Skadi. Sadly the Skadi staff was no comparison to the crew on the Bragi. Sure our cabin steward and several of the waiters including members of the restaurant staff were nice an accommodating. However the Skadi hotel manager (Stoyan Yanchev) and bar manager (Alexander) were extremely rude, abrasive, and condescending. The bar manager aggressively screamed at my wife the first night which set the tone for the remainder of the trip. Never once did they hint or offer an apology. We later heard the bar manager had been drinking throughout the day which may have contributed to his behavior. Regardless that’s no excuse.

   I witnessed;
   • Alexander doing shots while working behind the bar and drinking with other cruise guests
   • Alexander closed the ship lounge before 11:00pm on multiple nights yet it was difficult to find staff members in the lounge throughout the day
   • Skadi bar staff poured house brand liquor and wine into our glass even though we purchased the silver spirits package and requested upgrades
   • Refused to leave the wine bottle on the table during dinner stating it was against Viking corporate policy even though staff on the Bragi had no problem doing so
   • After knowing people were missing from the boat, the ship Program Director left a deaf couple behind forcing them to find their own may back to the boat costing them $100
   • On the last night of our trip in Budapest caught two Skadi crew members having sex on the top deck

   Other observations;
   • Skadi staff refused to open the sliding doors in the Aquavit Terrace in the afternoon or evening until given permission by the hotel manager
   • Floor in the Aquavit Terrace was filthy. Don’t believe it was swept or mopped a single time during our visit
   • Accidentally dropped a couple peanuts on the floor in the lounge. Five days later the peanuts were still on the floor in the same spot
   • Skadi staff knew there were people on our boat with Covid yet they allowed these individuals to remain on the ship and participate on tours without notifying other passengers

   Unbelievable would be an understatement. I’m sure our experience would have been quite different if not forced to transfer ships. However that’s no excuse for the behavior or lack of professionalism displayed by members of the Skadi staff. If you think Viking corporate cares or has any control over employees on the boat think again. I called Viking three times and have yet to receive a return call.

   Almost forgot to mention our parting gift; my wife and I both tested positive for Covid the day after leaving the Skadi

   Don’t just take my word for it. Of the reviews on Trustpilot 84% of those responding gave Viking a 2 star or below rating

6. On the cruise right now.Was on the BRAGI but had to move to the Skadi because of the water level. What a disaster. Took a 3 hr bus trip to get to the new ship. Along the trip they left 2 deaf people behind on a cruise sponsored tour which costing them $100 to catch up with the ship. Service on the Skadi is terrible. When we brought our complaints to staff management they said we were being too loud. Very rude and obnoxious staff. Staff on the Bragi was lights out better. I spent $20k on this trip. Not what we expected. Based on this experience will never sail on Viking again. Very disappointed.

7. Looking forward to a trip this Oct.

8. It’s an amazing way to get knowledge for your article

9. Looking forward to do this trip!

10. I would like to thank S-cruises for organizing a wonderful and informative river cruise in Russia, especially in the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The week cruise passed very quickly and we managed to see a lot and enjoy the beautiful views in this wonderful country. Our ship the Little Prince was incredibly roomy for so many tourists, a large restaurant, a terrace, one could also sit on the deck and enjoy this cruise.St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Hermitage and the Moscow metro stations are special places worth visiting for every foreign tourist. The Volga River is an incredibly beautiful natural creation, it beckons with its mysteriousness, when you swim along it you are imbued with the history of this city.It seems to me that this was my best cruise in all 10 years, I have already been to Russia before but have never ordered river cruises.I also want to thank the staff of the company for the professional approach, service, especially the delicious dishes in the restaurant, everyone is polite and ready to help guests in any situation.I really hope that I will return to this beautiful country and thanks to this S-cruises company I will be able to visit other attractions and fill myself with this atmosphere and imbued with the spirit of this great country.

11. Looking forward to a trip this Oct.

12. Hi Kathie,

    I’m far from a cruise expert as we are heading to our very first river cruise in April as well. We will also cruise from Basel to Amsterdam but with Scenic. I do however have years of experience planning all our independent travel itineraries around the world as well as travel agent background. I’m curious to see how being on river cruise ship will compare to my usual independent travel style.
    Scenic offered their hotel in Zurich for $400 CAD per night for the night before the cruise starts. It’s more than I’m willing to spend on a night in a hotel. So instead of taking their offered hotel I found my own airport hotel for under $200 CAD. Including free transfers to and from airport. Since we are not looking for a resort or to spend any time in the city of Zurich (unfortunately) I just wanted a hotel near airport with good reviews and breakfast included. Idea being we get to have a night of rest before meeting the group at Zurich airport and before being transferred to Basel and the boat.
    We have booked a river barge AirBnB in Jordaan, Amsterdam for 5 nights after the cruise. Our cruise ends on May 6th which will hopefully allow us to enjoy the last days of the tulip fields. I’m sure early May will be beautiful in Amsterdam even if we miss them.
    As for water levels, I’m hearing we are better off at the end of April than later in the summer. But Mother Nature does unpredictable things and I intend to enjoy my holiday come whatever. Which brings me to our new cause of worry…the Corona Virus. As of today, March 3rd, we are fully intending to go and do our cruise at the end of April. Should Scenic cancel our cruise we would rebook for later this year. But i’m looking at this virus as another seasonal flu and intend to take all precautions to stay healthy.
    I booked our own flights as well. Scenic offered free flights for our booking and I had the freedom to make my own reservations instead of letting them decide how we get from Vancouver to Zurich and back. This way I could use an airline I collect points with and they covered the expense.
    Have fun customizing your trip!
    Sissi

13. I’m planning a cruise on the Rhine river. First river cruise for the family. Going to be husband, me and our 10 year old. Can someone tell me which premium ship takes kids? I was excited for emerald Maykong River Cruise but then read 21 and older.

14. Hello, We are planning our first River Tour on AMA in April 2020 from Basel to Amsterdam.. Should we be worried about cancellations due to water levels? This has taken much of our savings. When we arrive in Switzerland how do we figure out where to stay to get ready to board the boat in Basel? The same goes when we get off in Amsterdam. We do not want to do the AMA land tours, we just want to do our own thing at the beginning and the end. Any advice?

15. Not so much after being deceived about low water and spontaneous conversion to a bus trip that would have cost half as much or less!
    AMA, Nope not so much anymore.

16. My girlfriend and I have been on three European river cruises. They have all been on AMA. The Rhine was the first, Basel to Amsterdam! It was stunning scenery delicious foods and generous pours of wonderful wines and some very good cold beers. The excursions informative, interesting and all included. Bike tours were available and popular. Our room was very comfortable and with a sliding glass wall that opened all the way!
    Our second, Amsterdam through Belgium and back to Amsterdam. What a great experience. Just like the first. Since we seemed to have a good thing going we booked a third!
    The Danube, Vienna to Nuremberg! We heard about the drought and low water and contacted to cruise line. We were assured that where other ships had deeper drafts AMA could still operate. We called again about a week out and reassured we were good to go! Nothing could have been further from the truth! Directly after the mandatory safety meeting we were told our cruise was now Vienna to Passau. We would be using buses for the rest of our destinations. But, and here was the caveat, we were going to be “well compensated for these changes” and they were very sorry for the changes! This from our cruise director.
    Well to say I was disappointed was an under statement, we were intensionally deceived! AMA or any others had not been past Passau in five weeks! My girlfriend took the bus to Nuremberg and said it was a mistake. I stayed on board and walked around a bit-what a waste! Then the “well compensated” part fell far short-$165US *CREDIT” on a future cruise! We were just swindled like so many others! Never again AMA, because never again AMA…

17. I AM SO HAPPY TO READ ABOUT WATER LEVELS REPORTSON DANUBE
    I am on AMA LEA AUG 09 and expect all to go well- if not I go with the flow
    your hints and those from passengers should be the GOLD STANDARD for knowing what to expect
    thank you a million times

18. AMA Waterways, AMA Waterways, AMA Waterways
    BW

19. Either. They are sister companies. Scenic will likely cost more, and if you’re okay with that, go for Scenic. If not, scale down to Emerald. Scenic should be the better overall experience – but with the price tag reflecting that.

20. Planning on a river boat cruise down the Mekong in February 2020.
    Trying to decide between the Scenic and Emerald cruises.
    Do you have an opinion on which to take.
    Looking for:
    boat and room comfort
    quality of on board service
    quality of expeditions, dinners and entertainment
    We are younger and would like bike tours or opportunities or other active excursions.
    Thanks.
    Neil and Corinnne

21. Hello – I did six cruises with Uniworld, the cruises were wonderful but every boat and staff have there little idiosyncraties. When it came time to go on the Bordeau cruise we changed to Scenic because it was longer for the same money as Uniworld and then we stayed with Scenic for the Burcherest to Budapest cruise and once again the cruise was great bit Scenic did not mention there was a large group going who basically took over the ship.
    We went back to Uniworld and decided to do Venice ( the only company I believe) and the cruise was excellent even tho we did not cruise. Uniworld did move the boat a bit but the whole experience with the cruise and staff was not necessary.
    We now have booked for Tulip and Windmills and hope we have the same experience re staff food and fun but since the someone I met on the Venice cruise went on the Budapest to Burcherest and said the food was awful , the staff partied all nite and the covering on the wall were filthy. When talking to a travel agent she did not recommend going Uniworld as she said they are concentrating on their U by Uniworld boats.
    I tried calling Uniworld and expressing my concerns but the lady spent the whole time telling me that they are #1 .
    These river cruises do cost a lot of money and I do read your reviews and I suppose you cannot say any negative but when a company falls below there grade it would be nice to know
    We have been on Croisieuope and the food was great , the boat was clean, and the staff was excellent . We did not pay top dollar but we got top dollar experience except for the beds.
    Hopefully you can give me some insight regarding my upcoming cruise . I want to book the Douro now so I can get cabin I want but I am hesitant to book Uniworld till after the trip unless you can make a suggestion.
    Thanks for listening to me.

22. Just returned from a Viking Rhine River Cruise, Amsterdam to Basel, Nov 16-23.
    I have read the other “comments” re: Viking’s handling of low water levels, and, although we were notified a week before our departure that we would not be on our original ship in Amsterdam due to low water levels , we did not experience the appalling treatment that others experienced. Yes, we were “bused” on two occasions , a total of 5 hours , when navigation was impossible and switched to another ship mid-cruise, 3 days in. Viking handled the transfers to insure our trip was inconvenienced as little as possible . Other than the long walks from the ship docking to board motor coaches in very cold weather, we did not experience missing out on any of our planned itinerary. In fact, when we were unable to cruise the most picturesque part of the Rhine on our ship , Viking hired a “day cruise boat” where all quests were served lunch & unlimited beer and wine and cruised the Rhine Gorge for 4 hours. Prior to our departure, we knew there may be navigation issues with low water levels , however, Viking “stepped up” and made our River Cruise experience enjoyable and comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

23. We took a Viking cruise (which really was a non-cruise) in October 2018. We were notified 3 days before the cruise “there might be a schedule change due to low water levels.” We were not able to board in Basel so we were bused to the next port which was Speyer. The Rhine was so low that people were walking on it. Needless to say Viking knew the river was too low to cruise and still did not cancel the cruise. We were bused for hours on end to our destinations and then back to Speyer. Some days we spent over 10 hours on the bus. “Traveling the World in Comfort” is their logo, but we spent the week “Traveling the World in Misery.” We were so exhausted from getting up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus, traveling for hours, taking a very rushed tour, traveling for hours back to Speyer, eating dinner (food was not exceptional) and then doing it all again the next day. We signed up for a cruise not a bus tour. Viking did not deliver. They have terrible customer service and refuse to reimburse passengers for a terrible experience.

24. I took a Viking river cruise in August, and it was the worst experience I have ever had cruising. During our week long cruise, we only cruise for 45 minutes. The ship broke down, and we were bused everywhere, and we also missed visiting several of the cruise stops that we had arranged. The company refuses to reimburse the passengers for the waste of money and time.

25. Hi, new to the site and could use some advice. This is our first river cruise and we’re likely going to book one one Scenic for Sept 2018. They offer travel insurance thru Trip Mates; but to be hones I’m seeing some less than good reviews about them online … any personal experience anyone can share would be appreciated. I’m also pricing out Travel Guard which a travel agent friend recommended.

26. nice article Ralph. Thank you.

27. Seems to be a pretty good explanation to me. Thank you!

    _____________________________

28. Have never booked on Vantage, but they seem to be different than most other cruise lines in their marketing and advertising. Since I don’t think they own a lot of ships they would have to rely on replacing the thruster rather then the ship. Ship would probably have to go back to the yard to be repaired. Engines do fail and thrusters are really important on river cruisers. Now if it happened on Viking they would bring in another ship, I’m thinking as they have lots. If it was Uniworld which doesn’t have many spare ships, they would comp you big time for what you missed. We are loyal Uniworld folks and we have never sailed on Viking or any other lines for that matter, so I admit we are prejudiced. And we did experience low water on Uniworld and we were comped big time because our ship couldn’t finish the cruise.

29. Good questions. I hope Vantage is reading and will respond.

30. What should happen when things don’t go right on a cruise? We
    recently booked a River Cruise with Vantage on their latest and newest vessel the
    River Voyager launched on April 26, 2016, its first themed ship highlighting
    jazz music. Why then would this ship, well past shakedown fail with the bow
    thruster going out of service into the 6th of a 13 day cruise on July 13, 2016?
    Was it human error or some other cause? And how should Vantage have performed
    in light of this development? As things stand today no reasonable compensation
    has been offered. Vantages immediate
    reaction was to make a 15 day river cruise into a bus excursion something to
    horrendous to even considers and yet they went ahead notwithstanding the
    complaints and criticism of most passengers. To those who wanted to leave then
    and there, nothing reasonable was offered in the way of a refund, not then and
    not now. How safe is this vessel for any future river cruise? Can it happen
    again? Up to this time passengers have been too stunned to respond; but I feel
    that will change in the near future as more of the 170 plus on that ill-fated
    adventure begin to speak out and demand compensation. There are many precedents
    as to what others lines have done in similar circumstances, why does Vantage
    feel that they are different?

31. I have. Scenic strives to be the most inclusive of all river cruise companies. So naturally gratuities and 24/7 bar is included, but also laundry service and nearly everything else you can think of. The ships are beautiful with gorgeous staterooms. There are also multiple dining venues. Scenic’s competitors are Tauck, Uniworld and Crystal. Search Scenic on our site and you’ll find lots of articles.

32. Anyone been on Scenic? I am leaning on that for a Prague to Budapest river cruise in 2017. All inclusive but with many choices. Would love feedback.

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