Following our pre trip to Prague, we joined fellow travelers at the Intercontinental Hotel in Budapest since the Splendor could not reach us due to a lock problem. Vantage was able to adjust and provide an outstanding evening and all guests truly enjoyed strolling the banks of the Danube and the excursion in Budapest before a bus trip to Vienna where we boarded the Splendor. Vienna with the Schonbrunn Palace and gardens were magnificent, plus the private concert at the Kursalon was a highlight of the trip. We found every tour guide knowledgeable with exceptional English. Every port experience was different, thus I really could not rate them. Bamberg, Rudesheim, and the winery visit with tasting, lunch and a local band was such fun. After so many immaculate towns and the cruise past the many castle, Cologne was my least favorite, but it may have been that it was our last and I had to get ready to depart one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
The Splendor is a beautiful ship with spacious staterooms with French balconies, free Wi-Fi, first class amenities and a lovely upper deck for walking and viewing the exceptional scenery. The staff was exceptional. They took care of our every need always with a smile and humor. The meals were the best we have had on any cruise; both the quality and presentation. It was evident that the chef loved his job and was trained in nutrition. The shipboard experience included demonstrations, lectures, local entertainment. Everything was so enjoyable we hardly had time to sleep. Our cruise director, Veronica, provided a daily briefing where she shared the itinerary of the following day complete with maps and questions. Everything was so organized we could just enjoy. We especially liked having all excursions included so we could see it all. The pace was appropriate for the group of travelers and the guides very knowledgeable. There was security in knowing that Vantage understood all of our needs from bathroom breaks and water to taking us to the front of lines that we had not experienced on other cruise lines. Our transportation included taking us to and from the airport without delays and being there with visible signs to take us promptly to the bus.
We loved our second Vantage cruise so much that we signed up for Paris and the Seine before we left the Splendor. We did cruise another line in January and often commented "this is not Vantage". We love the luxury of Vantage cruises and recommend them to everyone