{"id":21115,"date":"2014-10-29T18:32:54","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T18:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/avidcruiser.com\/livevoyagereports\/?page_id=7294"},"modified":"2016-06-29T08:11:34","modified_gmt":"2016-06-29T14:11:34","slug":"day-2-embarking-viking-baldur","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/live-voyage-reports\/viking-baldur-danube-waltz-christmas-markets\/day-2-embarking-viking-baldur\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 2 – Embarking Viking Baldur"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embarking Viking Baldur in Budapest<\/h3>\n
\"Viking<\/a>

Viking Baldur docked in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Aaron Saunders, Live Voyage Reports<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

November 30, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

This morning, I left the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest<\/strong> and pulled my luggage a few blocks south, where Viking River Cruises\u2019 Viking Baldur<\/em> <\/strong>sat at her berth near the historic Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This would be the start of my fourth Christmas Markets<\/strong> cruise, and my third on the Danube. In fact, my very first river cruise experience took place three years ago in December of 2011, and it was then that I discovered two things. One, river cruising was fantastic. Two: there\u2019s absolutely nothing like Europe\u2019s Christmas Markets.<\/p>\n

\"Viking<\/a>

Viking Baldur was berthed right next to…Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"...the<\/a>

…the historic Chain Bridge. Completely destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the postwar era. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

North Americans might not know exactly what these are. The tradition of the Christmas Markets dates back to the late-middle-ages, and every city likes to claim that they were the first to develop the tradition. There\u2019s a lot of evidence to support the fact that they originated first in Germany and Austria, but quickly spread to parts of France and Northern Italy as well. These days, Christmas Markets are prevalent throughout much of Europe, though in varying intensity. The Dutch capital of Amsterdam, for example, doesn\u2019t really do too much in this regard, and sun-drenched cities like Nice aren\u2019t likely to have the kinds of markets that Vienna, Frankfurt and Munich have.<\/p>\n

\"Viking<\/a>

Viking Baldur’s atrium and main staircase. Each Longship uses slightly different accent materials next to the stairs. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

While Viking River Cruises operates this Danube Waltz<\/em><\/strong><\/a> itinerary throughout the year beginning in March, it is the departures after November 30 that are so sought-after. It is then that the Christmas Markets open up and remain in full swing throughout most of December, typically until December 23 or 24.<\/p>\n

In the next seven days, we\u2019ll be calling on Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Durnstein, Melk, Linz <\/strong>and Salzburg, Austria<\/strong>; and finally, the Bavarian town of Passau, Germany<\/strong> where we\u2019ll have a full day of touring before disembarking and transferring to Munich for our flights home.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My room is mainly the same as my one aboard Viking Forseti last week – but with some notable differences. Shown here is the stateroom bathroom on Viking Baldur…Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

…and my bathroom onboard Viking Forseti last week. Can you spot the differences? There’s two major ones. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Arriving at the Viking Baldur <\/em>just after 12:30 p.m., embarkation was a simple affair: as I was arriving independently, I wheeled my luggage down the gangway and presented my passport to the Reception Desk for verification against the manifest. Then, I was given my keycard and shown to my room, which is a carbon-copy of the room I occupied last week aboard the Viking Forseti<\/em> in France. <\/strong>In fact, it\u2019s just two doors down \u2013 confusing, as I keep walking past it and to the room I had before. Kids, when you book a back-to-back cruise, make sure the room numbers are either the same, or on a different deck!<\/p>\n

The entire process, from check-in to stateroom: under five minutes. After the first thirty minutes onboard, I was unpacked yet again and had settled into the Lounge, where the few guests who had embarked around the same time as me were enjoying a light lunch. With a bowl of soup, a Cuban sandwich and a glass of red wine, I was once again beginning to feel very \u2018at home.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Relaxing<\/a>

Relaxing in Viking Baldur’s main lounge…Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"...with<\/a>

…with a glass of wine at lunch. Wine, beer and soft drinks are complimentary at lunch and dinner. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

If there\u2019s one thing Viking does incredibly well, it is that they create ships that have a wonderful sense of warmth to them. For first-time Viking guests, no doubt the soft, soothing colours will impress them, along with the views out the magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows. For returning guests like myself, feeling \u2018at home\u2019 takes only seconds. In fact, Viking Baldur<\/em> is so similar to Viking Forseti<\/em> that I almost expected the crew and guests I had come to know so well over the last week to materialize at any second.<\/p>\n

That kind of familiarity is great, particularly for guests who are arriving the day of the cruise and like to know where everything is and how everything works. Viking makes it very easy for guests to know what they can expect from each day of their cruise thanks to the printed Viking Daily<\/em>, which is really one of the best in the industry. Not only does it contain important information about what is happening around the ship, but there are also important facts about the places you\u2019re either in or will be visiting, along with tidbits, trivia, and quotes.<\/p>\n

\"Love<\/a>

Love Locks have even made it to Budapest’s Chain Bridge. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

By two o\u2019clock, what I like to call the \u201cViking Express\u201d began to turn up. These are the white Viking-branded Mercedes coaches that can be seen zipping smoothly along the highways and streets of many European cities, and in this case, they\u2019re all bringing full loads of guests straight from Budapest\u2019s Ferenc Liszt International Airport to the Viking Baldur<\/em>.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to purchase transfers with your Viking river cruise \u2013 but I would. Unless you\u2019re an experienced traveller, it takes the guesswork out of taxi fares, currency conversion rates and even luggage handling.<\/p>\n

\"Budapest's<\/a>

Budapest’s Christmas Markets are a feast for the senses. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

This evening, it only made sense to head out to take in Budapest\u2019s Christmas Markets \u2013 and thanks to the folks at the Kempinski where I stayed last night, I even learned there was another market that I had never even been to before, right at the foot of the Basilica.<\/p>\n

Hungarian Christmas Markets have their own unique style and flair. Sure, you can get mulled wine, but you can also have it spiked with Palinka, a traditional Hungarian spirit that\u2019s sure to knock the cold right out of you!<\/p>\n

\"Hungry?<\/a>

Hungry? Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Food is also suitably unique, with plenty of spiced sausages, hearty goulash soups spiced with paprika, and heavymeats grilled to perfection. There\u2019s also one item you may not be familiar with: Rooster Testicle Stew. Yes, you too can indulge on some rooster testicles. I\u2019m up for trying a lot of things, but I had to draw the line somewhere. It must be quite good, because people were lined up to get a helping of it. I was trying to work out the fact that a) roosters had testicles and b) that they were quite large.<\/p>\n

Animal anatomy aside, the food at the Hungarian Christmas Markets is really spectacular and you should try most of it \u2013 particularly the soups. Hungarian goulash isn\u2019t the stew that North Americans think of, but rather a warming cross between soup and stew.<\/p>\n

Some photos of our adventures at the Budapest Christmas Markets:<\/p>\n

\"Although<\/a>

Although it’s not called Gluhwein here in Hungary, hot mulled wine is served up all the same. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"By<\/a>

By night, the markets are quite busy. Budapest is a reasonably safe city, but watch your personal belongings at night in crowds like this! Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"You<\/a>

You can also take a spin on the Budapest Eye, a ferris wheel that was just opened this past May. It stands as tall as Viking Baldur is long. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The view from halfway up the Budapest Eye. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Tonight, I tried something new for my first dinner onboard. Viking offers casual dining each evening from a fixed menu in the Aquavit Terrace<\/strong> \u2013 a feature I\u2019d seen two years ago onboard Viking Freya<\/em>, but one that had seemed to quietly disappear last year. Not so this year: from 7 p.m. each evening, you can dine on a variety of casual meals here. It\u2019s a great alternative to the main dining room if you\u2019re looking to have a quicker or perhaps quieter meal.<\/p>\n

\"Tonight,<\/a>

Tonight, I dined casually in the Aquavit Terrace…Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Our waiter, Johnny, recommended the quesadilla, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Full and flavourful. I may have also had a hamburger. What can I say? My Budapest walkabout made me hungry. Beverages like wine and beer are still available complimentary here, and looking out through the large oversized glass windows at the Chain Bridge, resplendent in its evening lights, was a real treat.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The casual menu in the Aquavit Terrace remains the same throughout the week for dinner. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Aquavit<\/a>

Aquavit Terrace Burger. Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a nice, casual, low-key start to what I hope will be another fantastic journey along the Christmas Markets of the Danube \u2013 and on Viking River Cruises.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo \u00a9 2014 Aaron Saunders<\/p><\/div>\n

Our full journey:<\/p>\n

\"Illustration<\/a>

Illustration courtesy of Viking River Cruises.<\/p><\/div>\n

Viking Baldur - Danube Waltz Christmas Markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
DAY<\/B><\/th>PORT<\/B><\/th>ACTIVITIES<\/B><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
November 29, 2014<\/a><\/td>Budapest, Hungary<\/td>Flight from Bordeaux, France to Budapest, Hungary. Overnight in Budapest at the Kempinski Budapest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
November 30<\/a><\/td>Budapest, Hungary<\/td>Embark Viking Baldur; free time to visit the Christmas Market. Traditional Hungarian dinner onboard.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 1, 2014<\/a><\/td>Budapest, Hungary<\/td>City tour of Buda and Pest, including Castle District - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 2<\/a><\/td>Bratislava, Slovakia<\/td>City tour through Slovakia's capital<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 3<\/a><\/td>Vienna, Austria<\/td>Ringstrasse tour or free time; optional excursion to the Christmas Market at Schonbrunn Palace; optional evening concert. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 4<\/a><\/td>Durnstein & Melk, Austria<\/td>Free time or optional walking tour in Durnstein; tour of Melk Abbey. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 5<\/a><\/td>Linz, Austria \/ Salzburg, Austria<\/td>Full day excursion to Salzburg, Austria; free time. Return to ship late at night. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 6<\/a><\/td>Passau, Germany<\/td>Walking tour & free time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December 7, 2014<\/td>Passau, Germany<\/td>Disembark Viking Baldur; transfer to Munich, Germany for onward journey home.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Embarking Viking Baldur in Budapest Aaron Saunders, Live Voyage Reports November 30, 2014 This morning, I left the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest and pulled my luggage a few blocks south, where Viking River Cruises\u2019 Viking Baldur sat at her berth near the historic Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary. This would be the start of my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":21107,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21115"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21115\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}