Viking Danube Review
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First time in Holland and Belgium for myself and a friend (we have traveled many places), and this turned out to be one of our top 10 favorites, ever. Much of that enjoyment is directly owed to the shipboard staff and crew of the Viking River Cruise organization.
We visited many places and sights in addition to the main ports listed in our itinerary. In most cases, it was as though we were transported directly back, 600 or 700 hundred years in time, to towns and countryside left enough intact for us to step into the life we had only glimpsed in the paintings of those times. It was truly dramatic and beautiful.
I had a number of favorites: Hoorn with it's 14Th century inner harbor and main square, Antwerp's MAS Museum, Cathedral of Our Lady, and Royal Museum of Fine Arts. Of course, Amsterdam has more to see than one can even remember, and has quite an interesting culinary history. Just outside of Amsterdam, we were thrilled to experience the tulips and other blooms of Keukenhof Gardens, right at their peak. The windmills, dikes, bicycle culture and friendly people, also added to an outstanding experience.
Cabin Review
I should in fairness, first mention we were probably the last reservation on a fully booked cruise, so I didn't expect a GREAT cabin. Even so, this was about the least inviting I'd seen.
Our accommodations were in stark contrast to the stellar personnel. Although we could always count on a whistle clean space, it was VERY cramped, and our narrow-width bed mattresses had long since seen better days. The cabin "decor" also left a lot to be desired. The overall impression reminded me of something done up in "a plain brown wrapper."
The bedside tables were smooth, thin wood squares, which were somehow attached to the wall. Flimsy lamps (they kept falling over and were poorly-lit), sat atop each square, so we couldn't really use the squares to rest our books or a glass of water. There was one sad chair which had been jammed into a space next to one of the beds, but couldn't be used if the bed was also occupied.
I didn't mind that we were at the water line, even though our window bottom was sometimes even with the water. Strange water effects when moving, with port or canal views of the stone walls and canal locks, but as I said, that was okay.
I understand the Danube was on it's last sail, and would no longer be a part of the Viking fleet. Good decision!